Hi!

[Eddie Auckland]

Hi all, found this website and thought I would join in. Looks like a good font of info.

A bit about me, I am obviously Eddie from Auckland. I previously did quite a bit of 4X4 stuff (although not through a club or anything) and have owned an old LWB 2.5TD Pajero (which I managed to strand in Woodhill 10 years ago), an SJ413 and a '95 Surf. Recently returned to the fold, swapping my lovely Mondeo (only kidding, it was a coma on wheels) for a well-used '96 GX Cruiser, last of the 80 Series. Awesome truck. So much wrong with it that I have endless tinkering to do. Love every minute.

I am planning on joining a club and going on a few tag-alongs. The thing with the Cruiser is that it is also my day commuter, so I need to keep it (and the occupants, obviously) in relatively good shape!

Looking at a long list of enhancements, but don't need too many, the truck has been lifted, has a snorkel, has a good bullbar, tow hooks, etc.

Question for y'all, though, is about wheels. I drive on standard alloys with AT tyres up front and STs at the back. In the future, I would like to get another set of wheels to fit good tyres to get me further, MTs being the thought.

What I have read is that you HAVE to buy steel wheels. Why is steel preferred over alloys? Also, do I have to do 16" (as per the current wheels) or can I go 15" provided the stud alignment is correct?

(Incidentally, what is the difference between ATs and STs?)

Cheers in advance, Eddie

[DEATH_INC]

Hi.
Some 80 series must use 16's to clear the rear brakes.
Alloys are ok for off road, but you've gotta get good ones, not the japanese 2 and 3 piece jobbies for example. The down side of most alloys is they break, not bend if you hit 'em hard enough.
Usually an AT is an 'all terrain' where an st is a 'sport truck' or road only tyre.

[tweake]

i keep hearing that alloys tend to a bit more slippery on the bead of the tire. so a bit more risk of popping a tire off. however i think a bit of patch or bead glue would fix that.

AT can mean just about anything from almost mud tires to tarseal only tires. it gets more use as a marketing term rather than having a real meaning.

[Eddie Auckland]

Thanks for that. I called up the Cooper tyres local agent and he reckons that S/T in their "language" is an AT tyre and S/TT is a mud tyre. Go figure!

[Filthy4x4]

Hey mate,

Welcome to ORE.

80 Series is a good start for building a daily driven weapon.

As for joining a club there a few around Auckland.

Im currently with the Norwest OHV Club so am slightly biased - http://www.norwestohv.org

There is also:

Auckland 4wd Club - http://auckland4wd.org.nz

Rodney OffRoad Club - http://www.rodneyoffroadclub.co.nz

Manukau 4wd Club - http://www.manukau4wd.org.nz/

Shore Four Wheelers - (Do you guys have a site?)


Hopefully we see you out and about or at a club meeting.

Cheers

Caleb