Which Tyre? Question from Complete Novice

[vandaman Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close vandaman]

I am about to take delivery of a Grande D4D and am a complete 4WD novice. Why I'm even asking the question is probably a story worth telling.....

I decided to buy an off-road camper trailer, more for the camping than the off-road. Plan was to tow with the current Mazda CX7 (great car, BTW), until it turned over in a couple of years, when we would get a "real" 4WD. But had to make a decision on wheel matching for the trailer and wanted to match the future 4WD. Researched and Prado seemed to be the winner, but thought a test drive essential before making the wheel matching decision. Visited the local Toyota dealer on the weekend - now taking delivery of the Demo on Monday...... Surprisingly little pain on the Mazda, given only 12 months old!

I've found this great forum and have been busily researching all the tyre issues. My first thought was to try to change the tyres before delivery. But, on reflection, have almost decided to stick with the standard tyres, progressively get into the whole 4WD thing and make the longer term tyre decision on the second set. I reckon the first couple of years will be fairly sedate, rough roading, rather than off-roading.

Interested to hear views on whether this is sensible or not?

Thanks again for a great forum - the Trip photos are fantastic.

[D4D Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close D4D]

Change tyres on delivery to BFG AT

[Grandeman Avid PP Poster! Find all posts View Profile Close Grandeman]

Sounds as though the Grandcraps might be sufficient for you in the short term... as long as you understand the compromise - they are a great road tyre and that's it. They are absolute crap offroad and offer very little in the way of puncture resistance.

If you decide to change, you can either decide to stay with a 65 series profile to maintain OEM status quo and avoid warranty and other issues.

If you stay with 65 series, you have choices - see other threads about D694, Geolander, Pirelli etc

Otherwise, you can go to a 70 series Light Truck tyre - this changes many things - legality in NSW is questionable for a start. The car isn't as zippy off the line and your fuel consumption may also increase. If you have standard suspension and a steel bar and dual batteries, you may also have inner guard clearance issues. Trade that off against slightly better diff clearance, a huge increase in puncture resistance and a far far better serious all-round tyre. Incidentally, this is my choice for the best way to go for me.

It all depends on your priorities... good luck with selecting what's best for you.

[Dobbo Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close Dobbo]

Hi Vandaman,

I am on my second set of Grandtreks, only for the simple reason that most of my driving is on road and I picked up the second set off fleabay cheap, although I did a trip last year into the Flinders Ranges and did the Skytrek circuit with no problems at all on them.
My next set will be something more suited to off road since I intend to join some of the trips the other lads on here organise from time to time, and I don't want to embarrass myself by having to be snatched out of a greasy bog.
For the price of a new set of Grandtreks or less, you can pick up a set of much more capable tyres.
Have a read of the other posts to give you some idea.

cheers,

Dobbo

[Guest Close Guest]

I would be changing at least to a 694.

I drove back from mid NSW the other day in the rain, with a convoy of Prado's and pajeros. After watching all the grandcrap drivers sliding around in the water (Aquaplaning) and I was rock solid I know what I would be buying.

[LostDingo2 Find all posts View Profile Close LostDingo2]

do the stock tyres work ok in sand?

Might be a bit (I have already been told :evil: ) before I get a set of tyres. My last set on my Jackaroo were Goodyear MTR's....they are like having another low gear 8) but horrible on the fuel mileage.

Next tyres will be less agressive.

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

I would change them pre delivery, you will save heaps that way.
Its what I wished I'd done, I ve done a couple of trips on the Grandtreks and they did ok but I've nothing to compare, all Im saying is we got back in one piece!
If you go on a PP trip you will be traveling with some heavily upgraded cars, I found that I had to mess around with tire pressures to get through some sections whereas the guys with better tires did not.
Mine have done 4k and Im thinking maybe I'll done another 20k before I upgrade. Although if they start getting puntures etc I may change my thoughts on that.
From a standard Prado to get into off-roading tyres are important but maybe not quite as important as suspension and a bullbar (that the way I see it anyway)

[gavdan1968 Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close gavdan1968]

Re: Which Tyre? Question from Complete Novice

[quote="vandaman"]I am about to take delivery of a Grande D4D and am a complete 4WD novice. .........

I Visited the local Toyota dealer on the weekend - now taking delivery of the Demo on Monday......

........ My first thought was to try to change the tyres before delivery. But, on reflection, have almost decided to stick with the standard tyres, progressively get into the whole 4WD thing and make the longer term tyre decision on the second set. I reckon the first couple of years will be fairly sedate, rough roading, rather than off-roading.

- Vandaman, from what you've said - the driving you are planning on doing, the original tyres will be fine until it rains & you're not on the bitumen! You have plenty of tyre options as others have offered. The main choice you have in off road tyres with a prado is whether to stick with the original rolling diameter - 65 series profile in a passenger tyre construction - or a 70 series profile, which is a light truck construction, stiffer and better puncture resistance. In making this decision, you need to consider that in some instances - In Vic and NSW that I know of - if you put 70 series on you are technically not roadworthy as the added height takes you above what is legally allowed. From what you describe, you could get a Cooper ATR - All terrain in 265/65 r 17 and this will be a good all round tyre for what you say you intend to do. good luck.

[lc120_man Advanced Member Find all posts View Profile Close lc120_man]

As you are just starting out the standard tyres will be fine for camping.
However if you can get them replaced cheap pre-delivery I would recommend you take that option. Something like Bridgestone D694 would
be fine. The benefits - better car handling while cornering/decreased stopping distance/much better handling on wet roads all of which give you improved safety.

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Slightly off topic,
will the Prado Grandtreks fit on a Rav 4?
215 70 R15 is the size of the existing tyres on the Rav 4. Excuse my ignorance but I've not much idea what the sizes actually mean, its a learning curve for me.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Quite simply NO. i doubt they would even fit under the guard, and one is 16inch and one is 17inch.

[pomp Senior Member Find all posts View Profile Close pomp]

Cheers Hutch, thats that idea out the window then.
I'll just have to keep the grandtreks in the corner of the garage and maybe stick them back on the car in a few years when I trade it.

[Schaffer Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Schaffer]

Re: Which Tyre? Question from Complete Novice

My first thought was to try to change the tyres before delivery. But, on reflection, have almost decided to stick with the standard tyres, progressively get into the whole 4WD thing and make the longer term tyre decision on the second set. I reckon the first couple of years will be fairly sedate, rough roading, rather than off-roading.

Interested to hear views on whether this is sensible or not?

Thanks again for a great forum - the Trip photos are fantastic.

My approach was to keep the Grandcraps, which I still have :cry: .
I've taken them on a number of trips where I was the ONLY one to get stuck but I've been able to have fun in them without the additional cost of new tyres (I know that is lame and tyres dont cost that much). On the trips I've been on I've never had a puncture from the off road trips but did get one driving across some gravel in the Adelaide hills going to the Berenberg Stawberry farm with the family.

The Grandcraps even got me through this, altough I did have to reverse back and thrash that car a bit to get out:

[PRADOKING Lurker Find all posts View Profile Close PRADOKING]

Just returned from a wet weekend in the Hunter, and noticed tyres are looking a bit shabby.
Got 43k out of grandtrekies and I'm thinking of changing to D694s.
(Read the forums , seem to be the upgrade that most are doing)
I dont do any serious off roading and definitely dont want noisy tyres.
Are the D694s suitable for mainly sealed roads ?
Are they noisier than the GTs?
Can i expect same lifespan as the GTs?
Anybody get a good deal recently in Sydney for the D694s ?
Opinions much appreciated.

[Hutch Addicted PP Member Find all posts View Profile Close Hutch]

Tyhe 694's have slightly louder humm, if you want a quite AT the pirelli ATR is the quietest. Offroad much the same but a bit better on the blacktop.