sand tires

[trigger]

Hey im looking for a new set of tires anyone know what the best width of tires for sand are?

[Landynut]

Hey im looking for a new set of tires anyone know what the best width of tires for sand are?

wider the better for sand.. tread is kind of irrelevant, and can even be a pitfall (wide mud tyres will still dig big holes in sand)

the aim of the game for sand is more surface contact to stay on top and not sink, so go as wide as will fit on your truck without modifying gaurds etc, if you dont mind modifying gaurds etc then go wider!

tyre pressure is your saviour when voyaging in sandy terrain, carry a wee 12v compressor or even a foot pump so you can let your tyres right down to 6-7 psi and you can go almost anywhere you like..

[trigger]

sweet cheers bud does the hight of the tyre affect anything but the ground clearance on sand?

[Landynut]

sweet cheers bud does the hight of the tyre affect anything but the ground clearance on sand?

not really unless clearance is already an issue? then you may want to consider going up in height too, generally wider means taller as well, (30x9.5 / 31x10.5 / 32 x 11.5 / 33x12.5) but tyres come in all shapes and sizes...

in my experience for sand you either want either wide fatties or tall skinnies, I have a set of 235x85 R16 which are very tall and not overly wide, I use them on my landrover in sand and they work extremely well.. I also have a set of 31x11.5 R15 muds which I use in mud etc, and if i get into sand on those I can get into real trouble (almost always end up letting the tyre pressure right down) because the deep tread just digs holes rather fast...

most people opt for the widest a/t tyres in sand so i'd stick with that...

[trigger]

ok thanks heaps of help

[mudy1]

hi, i have a nissan and run 33/12.5/15 mud,s all good in sand.

[trigger]

hi, i have a nissan and run 33/12.5/15 mud,s all good in sand.

true, I took my truck up muriwai on sunday for the first time on the sand she handled pretty well but could feel it digging in in spots. so want to change them


i'm running factory tires at mo 225/75/r16

[Landynut]

hi, i have a nissan and run 33/12.5/15 mud,s all good in sand.

true, I took my truck up muriwai on sunday for the first time on the sand she handled pretty well but could feel it digging in in spots. so want to change them


i'm running factory tires at mo 225/75/r16

you'd probly be pretty sweet on those aye, just let the pressure down if you start getting stuck... preferably before you dig in too much

I find a mini compressor invaluable for beach runs aye, only costs 10 bucks for a warehouse one, $60~ for a decent one..
I quite often drive along the soft stuff at high tide for 6-7km on my 235/85's no worries.. can stop anywhere and start again without digging a hole.. tried it a couple of times on the 31x11.5 muds and it was a lot harder, had to let the pressure down and keep the revs right up to avoid diggin in...

this is on the west coast between foxton and wanganui tho - might be a different scenario where you are from?

[aLUX]

true, I took my truck up muriwai on sunday for the first time on the sand she handled pretty well but could feel it digging in in spots. so want to change them


i'm running factory tires at mo 225/75/r16

As said letting some air out is the best easiest cheapest way.

But your tyre size is small (i think) so you can't let too much pressure out. If you need to drive over a bit of rock or you still find your getting a bit stuck you start spinning the rim inside the tyre (as the pressure is low and its not holding it on as tight) and you may pop a bead . - I learnt this the hard way - a couple of times Then again I was having fun and doing silly stuff If you have tubes then you could rip the tube inside by having the rim spinning in the tyre.

I have never run your size so not sure what psi but I would say 20psi would be safe, if you get into trouble let about 3psi more out and work your way down until your OK. I wouldn't go below 20psi, unless your stuck and there is no help 12psi would be my max (or min if you know what I mean).

This is based on my experience with smaller tyres but hey I could be wrong and I am sure there are loads of people with different opinions...

Go to repco get a tyre pressure gague so you know how much you are running on - about 15 bux or so. Don't get a pen one with the rod in the middle - they are shite.

Always take a spade and tow rope.

If you get stuck, give me a PM and about $8k is the going rate for a recovery

[GEC-MAX]

Hey guy's over here in West Oz we run on the sand all the time, we run around 16 to18 psi and as long as you dont turn sharply at speed your bead should stay intact. Just remember to drive to the conditions and you should be right. We also always carry a good quality compressor for airing up after the run, Cheers hope this helps

[trigger]

true, I took my truck up muriwai on sunday for the first time on the sand she handled pretty well but could feel it digging in in spots. so want to change them


i'm running factory tires at mo 225/75/r16

As said letting some air out is the best easiest cheapest way.

But your tyre size is small (i think) so you can't let too much pressure out. If you need to drive over a bit of rock or you still find your getting a bit stuck you start spinning the rim inside the tyre (as the pressure is low and its not holding it on as tight) and you may pop a bead . - I learnt this the hard way - a couple of times Then again I was having fun and doing silly stuff If you have tubes then you could rip the tube inside by having the rim spinning in the tyre.

I have never run your size so not sure what psi but I would say 20psi would be safe, if you get into trouble let about 3psi more out and work your way down until your OK. I wouldn't go below 20psi, unless your stuck and there is no help 12psi would be my max (or min if you know what I mean).

This is based on my experience with smaller tyres but hey I could be wrong and I am sure there are loads of people with different opinions...

Go to repco get a tyre pressure gague so you know how much you are running on - about 15 bux or so. Don't get a pen one with the rod in the middle - they are shite.

Always take a spade and tow rope.

If you get stuck, give me a PM and about $8k is the going rate for a recovery

Yeah the truck is still in the projects on becoming an off roader. I actually hate my tires they make the truck look girly to behonest they are small. i want bigger wheels but want to do it right the first time as its abit expensive to do it over again lol I've already had a 2" suspention lift

oh i have a winch tow, rope, sand mats, spade, and air compresser in the boot lol never know when you need it

[Landynut]

sounds like you are pretty sorted .. take it down to the tyre shop and roll a 235/85R16 up next to your current tyres, see what you think..
I picked up a pair of 235/85R16 a/t retreads (brand new 100% tread) for $100 each a while back..

[trigger]

Hmm and where would i find this trye shop or a set of 235/85R16 a/t retreads

[Landynut]

Hmm and where would i find this trye shop or a set of 235/85R16 a/t retreads

even some of the smallest towns in nz have tyre shops.. firestone, beaurepairs, tonys tyre service? and a million others...

let your fingers do the walking mate, ring a few shops in the yellow pages and ask for a price on 235/85R16's - also ask about retreads, its not common to pick up retreads I dont think, but they do pop up from time to time.. I got my ones from a small town tyre shop, they got them retreaded for a guy but he never showed with the cash.....

[bruntonjm]

I always carry a compresser, pressure gauge, pieces of plyboard, spade, and some common sence. generally it works. I have 33 12.5 15's i run at 15 psi in sand not a problem thats on a surf and a hilux. just be mindful of the tides, take a buddy in another truck and its then a matter of building up your experience...

[aLUX]

I always carry a compresser, pressure gauge, pieces of plyboard, spade, and some common sence. generally it works. I have 33 12.5 15's i run at 15 psi in sand not a problem thats on a surf and a hilux. just be mindful of the tides, take a buddy in another truck and its then a matter of building up your experience...

You have buddies Johnny Dangerous???...

[bruntonjm]

I do, is a new concept for you?

[DieselBoy]

In order of preference:

H/T's (Highway Tyres)
A/T's (All Terrains)
M/Ts (Mud Tyres that are over half worn)

Eitherway, you should get tubes fitted

We never venture out onto the sand with anything over 20psi.

If you want to have fun confusing everybody else on the beach by driving places at a crawl and watching them get stuck trying to follow you, drop your pressures to around the 12psi and walk everywhere with ease

Like the other guys said, make sure you a got a compressor!!!!

[trigger]

hahahaha i might have to do that tomo ahahaha

[Andrew1706]

Just to add my 0.02..

I've had 35" wranglers on my 80 series in the sand. With quick dump valves I normally drop them to 15psi, not only does it make a world of difference in the place I can take it but also the load on the truck - fuel consumption is an obvious plus...

My 35s are on 10" rims and I've never had a problem popping off a bead at 15psi and even though I've put the truck through death I realise that sand is more forgiving then earth.

I still to this day can't believe some of the guys I drive with that refuse to drop pressures in sand, must be an ego thing...

[sam_surf]

in my experience i have found bigger the better,usually height over width( but both are great) i think thats because 1" taller gives a larger footprint than 1"wider does,

ive found cooper STTs as my overall best sand tyre

my 2c