[nicktoozoff]

Hi All,

I am looking at putting new feet on my 94 LWB Vitara. It is currently running stock 205/75/R15's but would like to run 215/75 or 85/R15's. I am not running any lift (yet ) as this is a daily driver.

I am looking for recommendations for AT style tyres in the middle to upper price range.

Cheers Nick.

[alien]

when you say AT, what percentages or terrains do you drive?

-Road
-Rock
-Mud
-Sand

for me its like this:
-Road -80% (daily driver)
-Rock -20%
-Mud -0% (lately, cos theres no rain although prefer 10%)
Sand -0% (hate the stuff)

I'm running Kumho KL71 and also have a set of BFG KM2 - both are great and wearing well (ie: not at all) - i have great grip on roads dry and wet, and offroad i've got good tread for what i do. I honestly consider these tyres AT's because they suit all the terrain i drive. If i drove sand as well however it'd be a different story i think.

[nicktoozoff]

It will be about 80% black stuff with 20% dirt. No rock crawling in this one just yet, and minimal Mud (those days are a bit behind me). I have looked at the Kuhmo AT KL78 and they seem OK. What did you pay for your
KL 71's?

Nick

[nicktoozoff]

I think I have the tyres measurements a bit confused. Can someone explain what 215/75/R15 means. I understand that R = Radial, 15 is the rim size in Inches, what does the 215/75 mean?

Cheers Nick.

[Jester]

215 means the tread face is 215mm wide and the 75 means that the sidewall is 75% of the treadface

[nicktoozoff]

So, with that in mind, an 85 aspect tyre should be taller than a 75 then?

Nick.

p.s. Thanks, Jester for your reply!!

[whincup]

nicktoozoff wrote:

So, with that in mind, an 85 aspect tyre should be taller than a 75 then?

yes, by about one and a half inches.

[shandy92]

mate, i ran 235/75/15 (29") on my swb vitara with no lift for almost 2 yrs, i had some rubbing issues but only because of the off-set rim that i had. if i had bought new tyres again before i got lift, i would get 30's. but thats only me.

i ran maxis 751 AT, they did everything (sand, mud, rock, gravel, road) when i got semi stuck it wasnt because of the tyres but clearance, travel and open diff's. only bad thing about the 751's was the wet rd handling, they spun fairly easily. but would recommend them ....and buy them again.

[whincup]

i'll basically say exactly the same thing about BFG A/Ts... i have a set of 215/75R15's on my sierra, and i've only ever been stuck due to clearance. again, absolutely terrible on wet tarmac, but will outdo almost any other tyre on gravel. they just love the stuff. also not fantastic on sand, but still do a good job.

only reason i wont be buying them again is that i'm upgrading to a cheap M/T but would definitely recommend them. cost me ~$250 each for that size fitted.

[alien]

i think thats the biggest issue with most AT tyres... theyre more aggressive than a road tyre but not as much as an offroad tyre (a muddy).. so theyre just "OK" on all surfaces but dont really shine in any other than perhaps dry road.

thats why i asked about the percentages you drive of each, as that will help determine the tyre you choose.

if youre doing lots of road and just some bush tracks go for an all out road tyre - you'll get better economy, less noise and realistically you're not ever going to get stuck on a bush track anyway (if you do you still have 4wd to get out).

[nicktoozoff]

Thanks for all your input guys. I have priced the Kumho KL78's (215/75/R15) and at $195 ea fitted they fit the budget and should do evrything I want.

Thanks again for your help.

Cheers Nick.

[alien]

that price seems high??? i got KL71 in 31x10.5r15 fitted for $190ea. (i had bought from the store before though and they looked after me).

[Fatzook]

alien wrote:

that price seems high??? i got KL71 in 31x10.5r15 fitted for $190ea. (i had bought from the store before though and they looked after me).

Thats about right actually.

I paid $215ea for my 225/75 16's.

[royce]

whincup wrote:

nicktoozoff wrote:

So, with that in mind, an 85 aspect tyre should be taller than a 75 then?

yes, by about one and a half inches.

its a 400mm wide tyre?

I have Wrangler ATR/s they are a good not cheap crap tyre, on my 3rd set now

[whincup]

royce wrote:

whincup wrote:

nicktoozoff wrote:

So, with that in mind, an 85 aspect tyre should be taller than a 75 then?

yes, by about one and a half inches.

its a 400mm wide tyre?

I have Wrangler ATR/s they are a good not cheap crap tyre, on my 3rd set now

taller, not wider. 215/85R15 over 215/75R15. sorry, should have specified height...