Front Drive Shaft Update

[Dokatd]

Only trails I see requiring 37" or above is rock buggy trails in reality. 40" has to be a buggy trail. To me 37" tires are optimal, but 35s will do about anything you want, just not always as easy. Take the Rubicon, you can do it on 33s with endless stucks and recoveries, with 35s its very doable, with 37s almost too easy for a good driver. Fordyce is the most difficult overlanding trail I can think of that is not just a buggy trail up a dry wash, or even the new slick rock obstacles in California. Those I would definitely want 37s and 40s would rock. But that sure is the minority.

37's are pretty ideal for most, but we used to say that about 35's and before that we said the same about 33's. I think 40's are on the cusp of being the ideal size these days, but they are probably too much on the wrong side of diminishing returns to truly take over. They are certainly too big for the Overlanding world.

 

[pmatusov]

Take the Rubicon, you can do it on 33s with endless stucks and recoveries

7.50R16s do okay on a Disco 1...

 

[cyson]

7.50R16s do okay on a Disco 1...

Yeah, coming from Discos it's pretty wild to hear that 33 is a minimum.

Have been getting a little bug lately, which will probably fade, but this could have been fun:

No Reserve: 1996 Land Rover Discovery XD 5-Speed

Bid for the chance to own a No Reserve: 1996 Land Rover Discovery XD 5-Speed at auction with Bring a Trailer, the home of the best vintage and classic cars online. Lot #211,298.

bringatrailer.com

 

[Tom109]

7.50R16s do okay on a Disco 1...

Peter - do you have 255/85’s now? Any thoughts on the Mickey tread pattern?

 

[pmatusov]

Peter - do you have 255/85’s now? Any thoughts on the Mickey tread pattern?

I sold my D1, so don't have it anymore. Have the 7.50R16s on the Classic - a street set and a set of XZLs.
On the Gren - 255/80R17 Falken AT4Ws (tall 33 from the box). Love the tread pattern and grip - on anything from ice/snow to rocks/sand.

 

[Mountain4x4]

Oh, tire creep is real. In 1990 I ran 31s and it blew some away that I had such large tires As tire creep continues, then folks want trails harder...and tires get larger. But its crazy to think 35 and even 37" tires can be had on factory rigs today. But at some point you lose stability, drivability and of course durability. Really needs to be a balance for sure.

 

[cyson]

Oh, tire creep is real. In 1990 I ran 31s and it blew some away that I had such large tires As tire creep continues, then folks want trails harder...and tires get larger. But its crazy to think 35 and even 37" tires can be had on factory rigs today. But at some point you lose stability, drivability and of course durability. Really needs to be a balance for sure.

I'm cheap so I'm enjoying the stock tires until they get a decent amount of usage. I hit some trails recently with a Bronco that came with bigger tires and I didn't feel like there was much difference in terms of overall off road performance as some claim...

Stock height is nice on the highways and mountain passes though.

 

[TCMColorado]

I'm cheap so I'm enjoying the stock tires until they get a decent amount of usage. I hit some trails recently with a Bronco that came with bigger tires and I didn't feel like there was much difference in terms of overall off road performance as some claim...

Stock height is nice on the highways and mountain passes though.

A nice perk of the Grenadier is that when you are ready for new tires you can fit 33s, 34s or skinny 35s without a lift.

 

[Dokatd]

I'm cheap so I'm enjoying the stock tires until they get a decent amount of usage. I hit some trails recently with a Bronco that came with bigger tires and I didn't feel like there was much difference in terms of overall off road performance as some claim...

Stock height is nice on the highways and mountain passes though.

You won't notice much of a difference on typical trails. The difference starts to really show in larger rocks and rutted out mud holes.

Think rocks the size of beach balls and larger. Think undercut ledges 2ft tall or more etc.

Think muddy trails where Bro's have gone through in their jacked to the sky mud rigs and torn up the trail heavily.

 

[GN4HIR]

Come on.. it is the man, not the machine. I remember running the Rubicon in my Mom's 77 Olds Delta 88 with the Chevy V8 running on a G70/15 donut spare on the back right. Prove it didn't happen.

 

[parb]

I did it in my dad's beetle using the spare tire

... But I think the rocks where much smaller back in the day...

 

[Mountain4x4]

LOL, funny thing is the Rubicon WAS that easy at one time! They Drove regular cars to and from Rubicon Springs. When you do the much harder entrance of Wentworth Springs which I always do, there are concrete bridges between boulders from the old car road. Large tires are a HUGE difference in capability, from traction, clearance and overlooked aspects like body protection, molding around rocks and keeping out of ruts.

 

[Mountain4x4]

Come on.. it is the man, not the machine. I remember running the Rubicon in my Mom's 77 Olds Delta 88 with the Chevy V8 running on a G70/15 donut spare on the back right. Prove it didn't happen.

I want to see the slide show!