[vermin]

I did do a search, but can't find exactly what I am looking for.

So I have the opportunity to swap my tyres this week. It would be swapping from BGF A/T to BFG M/T.

There is a definite need for MT's on rock climbing and mud, but my concern is that I really enjoy beach driving as well - will this make my life more difficult or is the difference minimal?

I keep hearing differing opinions, but I figured that the Jimny is not just any 4WD so looking to hear from actual Zook owners

It will be the same tyre size for the moment - 215 75 15 as I am not going for more lift just yet.

Thanks again guys.

[MacDaddy]

vermin wrote:

I did do a search, but can't find exactly what I am looking for.

So I have the opportunity to swap my tyres this week. It would be swapping from BGF A/T to BFG M/T.

There is a definite need for MT's on rock climbing and mud, but my concern is that I really enjoy beach driving as well - will this make my life more difficult or is the difference minimal?

I keep hearing differing opinions, but I figured that the Jimny is not just any 4WD so looking to hear from actual Zook owners

It will be the same tyre size for the moment - 215 75 15 as I am not going for more lift just yet.

Thanks again guys.

Hi Vermin,

From my understanding, and i may be wrong, AT's are designed as a good all rounder, so AT's are pretty good on sand, rocks and mud, depending on certain brands, some do it better than others...

MT's are a more specific terrain tyre, mainly mud and rocks, MT's are usually a much lower pressure tyre than AT's, so you cant really let the pressure down much with MT's, like you can with AT's, therefore, MT's are not a good tyre for sand... also the very aggressive tyre tread on MT's means they dig into the sand and chew it up, it would be quite easy to be up to your axle with them, AT's are designed to float over the sand with the lower tyre pressure...

But even with the best tyres, its the person at the wheel, that can make the tyres totally ineffective, lol... But zooks are pretty light, and they do float on sand alot better !

In my opinion, unless you are gonna be doing mostly rock and mud terrain, stick with the AT's, they have much better sand capability than MT's...

And AT''s are usually a fair bit cheaper too !

[SuziBlu]

MacBear,

The more aggressive the tyre the better it is for sand. I run baja claws and I recon they are the ultimate sand tyre, I leave far less of a mark than others with a less aggressive tread pattern.

[Rusho]

SuziBlu wrote:

MacBear,

The more aggressive the tyre the better it is for sand. I run baja claws and I recon they are the ultimate sand tyre, I leave far less of a mark than others with a less aggressive tread pattern.

x2, I don't have baja clawa though but I have never had problems with a muddy on sand. I sometimes, well most times,are too lazy to let tyre pressures down for beach driving, so even at 18psi they are fine. Even in my old navara ute, it had maxxis bighorns, still fine

[Damo]

SuziBlu wrote:

MacBear,

The more aggressive the tyre the better it is for sand. I run baja claws and I recon they are the ultimate sand tyre, I leave far less of a mark than others with a less aggressive tread pattern.

I have found the opposite to be honest. I've found that MTs tend to dig you in more, any wheel spin and they just start digging holes. On my first zook the worn out old 30x9.5 Desert Duelers were magic on even the softest sand.

[SuziBlu]

I get a lot of people telling me that a sand tyre is a smooth tyre, and if I want to really go well in the sand, get rid of my claws.

I will take anyone on in the sand, and be in 2wd up against their 4wd, and go further everytime.

There is driver skill in any medium you drive, I would be over my head ina rock challenge, but not sand.

When I had my big block 4wd, with smooth AT tires all that happened was I would bog, or lay giant rooster tails, then I went to Cooper SSTs and then got sand traction, then went to bigger and bolder treds till I tried claws, and find them to be the very best tyre for sand.

I also love sand riding on thumpers, and they only do well with big agro Knobbies, if you do not have giant grippers, you just get wheel spin and go nowhere.

[bitingmidge]

SuziBlu wrote:

I also love sand riding on thumpers, and they only do well with big agro Knobbies, if you do not have giant grippers, you just get wheel spin and go nowhere.

True, if you get wheel spin you go nowhere, but you don't need claws to stop wheel spin, just a delicate touch on the right foot!

I'm no rockhopper I'm afraid, but it's really interesting to me to have seen the Arkaroola (Flinders Ranges) ridge top tour Troopies at work in rock country, and then to see that they had Bridgestone Duellers with almost no tread. They carry loads of paying passengers with technically unroadworthy tyres! In a four hour trip, not one hint of wheelspin, just a heap of skill and patience.

Talking to one of the drivers, he took me to their tyre dump which was littered with Cooper and BFG chunky treads, with big lumps torn off by the gibbers. Low pressure and smooth(ish) tread seems to be the go for them.

For me, well the only place I'm likely to encounter mud at the moment is out west where a D9 can't move when it's wet, so I don't reckon I need M/T's!

If rooster tails and spinning wheels are your thing, you need tread and horsepower I suppose.

Cheers,

P

[SuziBlu]

I don't like rooster tails nor spinning my tires, thats why I choose big chunky tread. Big chunky tread means no slip. Why do tractors have chunky tread, seems to me most cockys do not like wheel spin.

How much fun can you have in the sand with a delicate touch of the right foot, its pedl to medl 9/10s of the time, or its fukn booring. You cannot get up hills with soft touch, nor get airborne, or up on 2 wheels, keep the slik tread for the black stuff.

[vermin]

So for the people with actual experience with MT's I am hearing that they are just fine, but for everyone else it's just working on the theory that less tread is better.

hmmmm...

[bron5on]

Muddies work fine in sand matey. Tyre pressure is one of the key factors. I run bfg muddies, they work a treat. My mate runs claws and he swears by em. Have heard that pedes can be a little aggressive for sand but I dont have any experience with them personally. There is a definite train of thought that highway and a/t tyres are better for sand but if you go with a m/t and be sensible with your tyre pressures you'll have a better all rounder. Just my 2c. Cheers!

Bronson

[shep]

SuziBlu wrote:

I don't like rooster tails nor spinning my tires, thats why I choose big chunky tread. Big chunky tread means no slip. Why do tractors have chunky tread, seems to me most cockys do not like wheel spin.

How much fun can you have in the sand with a delicate touch of the right foot, its pedl to medl 9/10s of the time, or its fukn booring. You cannot get up hills with soft touch, nor get airborne, or up on 2 wheels, keep the slik tread for the black stuff.

do ya fill your tyres with water? as that is the main reason tractor tyres are so big. weight = traction

[Reubs]

vermin wrote:

There is a definite need for MT's on rock climbing and mud, but my concern is that I really enjoy beach driving as well - will this make my life more difficult or is the difference minimal?

Upgrade. The difference with normal beach driving will be almost negligible. ATs or indeed HTs are typically the best for sand, but as i've said, negligible unless your trying to climb dunes or something. You also might notice them digging a bit much if you are towing a trailer through soft stuff.

As for extreme tyres, such as Simex Extreme Trekkers, Silverstone Extremes and Monoform Mongrels, they absolutely suck on normally very capable (even twin locked) vehicles when trying to climb sand dunes.

[SuziBlu]

Im heavy enuf to add traction to 100 cars i recon.

Just went to the docs to get a mole cut out, she gave me the blood test crap, an recons as I have to get down to 110kg, I sed to her, geezus woman, do you know how much this gut cost me, an now you want me to get rid of it, aaahhhhh

[MacDaddy]

SuziBlu wrote:

I don't like rooster tails nor spinning my tires, thats why I choose big chunky tread. Big chunky tread means no slip. Why do tractors have chunky tread, seems to me most cockys do not like wheel spin.

How much fun can you have in the sand with a delicate touch of the right foot, its pedl to medl 9/10s of the time, or its fukn booring. You cannot get up hills with soft touch, nor get airborne, or up on 2 wheels, keep the slik tread for the black stuff.

Hi SuziBlu,

While it is fun to put pedal to the metal in the sand, and have it rooster tailing everywhere... doing this just adds fuel to the cause of the Right Wing Hardcore Environmentalist who wants to close of these area's to all 4WD's !

Yes i do like to have fun 4wheelin, but i have a healthy respect for the Environment and the creatures that live in it, so if we can reduce the impact we make, then they, the Environmentalists, wont be screaming for all 4WD's to be shot on sight, and we will still have area's to drive in !

It all comes down to responsible driving offroad... its your choice...

[SuziBlu]

I do not like spinning tires in sand, it means lost traction.

I have claws on because they give the very best grip in sand, I used ats but THEY spun like crap, claws do not spin.

Where I go wheeling, i never see another vehicle unless its one I have gone out with, huge area, bout 16k x 12k, giant sandhills.

Not many environmentalist out there., I doubt they even know its there.

[vermin]

To hell with it!

I ordered them - I guess if it's a mistake I will find out on Sat when I head 20km up a beach!

Will keep ya posted. As always thanks for all the advice.

[TASSIETOYUKI]

Just run the right preasures and you will have no prob's..

[Joe]

vermin wrote:

To hell with it!

I ordered them - I guess if it's a mistake I will find out on Sat when I head 20km up a beach!

Will keep ya posted. As always thanks for all the advice.

What M/Ts are ya going with???????????? and how much?????????????????

[MacDaddy]

SuziBlu wrote:

I do not like spinning tires in sand, it means lost traction.

I have claws on because they give the very best grip in sand, I used ats but THEY spun like crap, claws do not spin.

Where I go wheeling, i never see another vehicle unless its one I have gone out with, huge area, bout 16k x 12k, giant sandhills.

Not many environmentalist out there., I doubt they even know its there.

I agree spinning tyres, anywhere, means lost traction...

Ahhh very remote hey... since satellites, and google satellite, nothing is remote, and eyes are everywhere, they study environmental damage thru satellite pictures, they dont have to actually be there nowadays...

Hmmm ok... so are you saying, because its remote, and you think no one is watching, its ok to put pedal to the metal
Or did i read that wrong...

There are enough irresponsible 4WD cowboys out there already, giving us responsible 4WDers a bad name... why add to them...

Please dont get me wrong, i am not saying You are one of those...

I have been a volunteer, in the Bush Fire Brigade, St John Ambulance, and Wildlife Care/rescue... i have seen the damage irresponsible 4WDers do to the bush/beaches, themselves and others, and the wildlife...

As i said, it all comes back to being a responsible driver offroad...

Ok i will step off my soapbox now please excuse my sermon peaceout

[SuziBlu]

The beauty of shifting sands is that half an hour after you drive over them, the winds have covered your tracks.

In winter they will remain for some time, in summer, 10mins can pass and all evidence of your being is gone.

This area is still an active sand mining lease area. They stopped mining a couple of years ago, but all the structure is there for when they need more sand.

[303zuke]

And that's the issue that needs to be clarified when you ask about the best tyres for "Sand". The Eskimos have 29 words for Ice, so what type of Sand are we talking about? The main beach on Fraser is a very different type of sand to the dunes on Stockton Beach, and different again to the big dunes found in the Simpson. Is it dry/wet, hard packed/windrift, steep dunes/flat beach, or fine dust/coarse grit? Each version of sand needs to be "Attacked" in it's own way and there is no one hard fast rule (or tyre, or pressures) that suits all varieties of sand you will encounter.

[SuziBlu]

Yea true, where I play is silica sand, wind blown, giant hills drifting as seasons change.

Our predominate summer winds are south east, and so, all the razor backs face to the norwest, as the hills walk to the north. During winter we get more south westerly, and so the hills walk south, and the razor backs are on the eastern side.

During the wet of winter, the hills are stable and firm, but very tricky to drive on and not so much fun, as no one will come out to play with me.

Main thing with soft sand is grip, and largest possible footprint so as you have the least weight per square inch of track.