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ZUKIWORLD Discussion Forum => Suzuki 4x4 Forum => Topic started by: zo6gun on January 26, 2009, 02:13:05 PM

Title: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: zo6gun on January 26, 2009, 02:13:05 PM
Hi Everyone... I'm at a impass. I would like to by tires for my 94 2 door Sidekick which has a 3" lift. I do mostly fire roads, desert trails and some rocks and sand. I currently have 215/75R 15 on her but with a lift these look puny. I would like something around 225/75R 15, has anyone had and luck with Uniroyal Liberator M/S or Toyo  op country A/T's ?  ??? Any advice would help a lot. All the best to you and yours...... ZO6GUN   
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: mike5721947 on January 26, 2009, 04:17:53 PM
why only that size... (im running 235/75r15's on my kick, no lift)
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Merlin93 on January 26, 2009, 04:34:16 PM
why only that size... (im running 235/75r15's on my kick, no lift)

 
What Mike said....
235/75R15's (29" tires) are widely reported to fit a stock 'Kick.  With a 3" lift you might consider 30 or 31" tires if you want 'em.  Gearing is another matter. Your tire choice might be constrained my your gearing options. 
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: jstrong89 on January 26, 2009, 05:21:37 PM
BFG all terrains 30"  the best tires for what you will need.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: 96Kicker on January 26, 2009, 05:22:39 PM
BFG all terrains 30"  the best tires for what you will need.
100%agreed
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: jeff1997 on January 26, 2009, 05:23:21 PM
I'd go with the 235's. The Liberator's are good tires. I had the M/T version on mine before the Swampers. I ran 245/75/16's they are 30.5" tall. They rode quiet on the highway and seemed to wear well. You can't beat the price either. The best wearing M/T tire in my exp. is the BFG's but they don't give them away. My .02
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: zo6gun on January 26, 2009, 06:07:22 PM
Thanks a bunch you guys....
         I was worried about my gear ratio, since I do hit the freeways at times. Thats why I thought 225/75R 15 would be a good compromise. Most of those tires are about 28.5 high. If I do go 29/30 would be a there be gearing problem?  ???
I'm new to this"Kick" thing and the info I get from you guys is like gold.
         All the best to you and yours.......ZO6GUN 
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Jeremiah on January 26, 2009, 06:35:37 PM
What type of wheeling will you be doing, how often, and is this your DD? Do you care if the tiers are noisy, or do you like tires that are noisy? Do you have any safety concerns where you live (like snow & ice on the roads)?
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: zo6gun on January 26, 2009, 06:52:13 PM
Hey.....Jeremiah .... Mostly fire roads, desert and some beach stuf, noise is not a factorbut comfort in importain since i'm getting old and my old Bronco beat me to death so I shot it.
 In SOCa we don't get snow and ice. We flat tow to our distanations but do travel on the freeways to get to some spots. I looking a tire that will work in most condition but won't break the bank. BFG's are a great tire but holy cow they are expesive. Thanks   ZO6-Gun
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Hillbillydave on January 26, 2009, 06:53:51 PM
The 30's won't change your gearing a whole lot,  but any thing bigger will be noticed in mpg and power. I run 235's daily and keep my 31" mud grips for wheeling. I've got the pit stop routine down pretty good now...
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: sunrunner891 on January 26, 2009, 08:16:25 PM
I am totally lurking on this thread. I have 15 x 8.5  3.5 backspace wheels sitting in my garage. Ii really want 30x9.5 tires but am concerned about loss of power and drivability for those commuting days.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Jeremiah on January 27, 2009, 01:29:01 AM
If it's not a DD, then you can get away with bigger tires (30/31"), and can always get your low-range back with t-case gears. If you have the 3-speed auto (and the 4.xxx diff gears), you can get the 5.125 diff gears from a 5 or 4 speed. For on-road I don't recommend going bigger than 29" tires unless you're okay with taking significant MPG & power hits.

I didn't hear you say you like to play in mud, so I'd go with a good All Terrain tire. Something that rips off BFG's design (virtually every tire manufacturer does, check wal-mart, pep-boys etc until you find a set on sale. And, if you're going on beaches - GET LOCKERS. You'll need them.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: zo6gun on January 27, 2009, 09:19:29 PM
Thanks....
      To everyone for their advice, I think I'm going for the Liberators. the price is right and they have my size. You guys rock....".Life is a race against boredom" ...... ZO6-GUN :police:
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Lrp_wicky on January 28, 2009, 10:49:37 AM
If it's not a DD, then you can get away with bigger tires (30/31"), and can always get your low-range back with t-case gears. If you have the 3-speed auto (and the 4.xxx diff gears), you can get the 5.125 diff gears from a 5 or 4 speed. For on-road I don't recommend going bigger than 29" tires unless you're okay with taking significant MPG & power hits.

I didn't hear you say you like to play in mud, so I'd go with a good All Terrain tire. Something that rips off BFG's design (virtually every tire manufacturer does, check wal-mart, pep-boys etc until you find a set on sale. And, if you're going on beaches - GET LOCKERS. You'll need them.


I support this. During my buildup, I used a couple of different tires, sizes and brands, I would look at the Walmart Lorado AT in a 29-31, I had good luck with them, a bit stiff compound, but worked well when aired down and squished on a few rocks, another outstanding AT I have ran for the price is the Nitto Terra Grappler, I found them on ebay, new and shipped to my door for much less than the BFG's, nothing against BFG's but they are a bit on the costly side. If you run over 30's on your rig, you should really look for the 5.12's, which are a dime a dozen in the SoCal junk yards, just look for the older manual tranny Sidekicks or Trackers, while your installing them, you may want to buy your locker(s) too. If you find an newer Sidekick or Tracker, commonly 96's, and better, you want to steel the 26 spline front inner axle shafts and sidegears on both sides and get yourself the 26 spline front locker instead of the 22 spline locker, that will save you the heartache of busting your inners if you go up in tire size. While on this subject, if you ever end up busting an outer on your front, it may be worth your wild to buy a replacement and warranty from autozone, then if you break it again, you can take it in and get a new one. Good luck and have fun. (http://i559.photobucket.com/albums/ss31/Lrp_wicky/1232997819.jpg)
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: john1974 on January 28, 2009, 11:56:32 AM
I ran 31x10.5's on my tracker with my 3 inch lift... loved it.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Uncivilized on January 28, 2009, 03:21:25 PM
At one time, I had 31's with just a 2" lift - the rig was demoted to DD and light wheeling(no heavy articulation) and it was awesome, I loved it. Probably was my favorite time for driving it.  It had(and still has) plenty of power, I use fifth gear all the time, and I still race civics off the line - Plus! I get an actual 26mpg, accounting for the larger tire circumference. The odometer says different of course, but clocking less miles than what you're actually travelling is a good thing I think.

I drive it everyday, it's my only vehicle. (has a 2" body lift now)

(http://i27.photobucket.com/albums/c180/uncivilized121/P1030277.jpg)
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: zo6gun on January 29, 2009, 08:11:24 AM
Hey Lrp-Wicky......Thanks for the advice, I watched your video" Holy Cow" I hope I don't get in that rough of country :P  You did an excellent job, where was that anyway ?That is one bad ass wheeler!   
All the best......ZO6-GUN  :police:
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Lrp_wicky on January 29, 2009, 05:03:31 PM
Hey Lrp-Wicky......Thanks for the advice, I watched your video" Holy Cow" I hope I don't get in that rough of country :P  You did an excellent job, where was that anyway ?That is one bad ass wheeler!   
All the best......ZO6-GUN  :police:
Thanks, that is in Arizona, in the hills above Bullhead, I have a second house out there. If you are out that way, there are lots of wonderful trails to run, to include Sleeping Princess. I actually live out in Beaumont, SoCal. We have some excellent trails in Beaumont too. Anyone interested in wheelin out my way, give me an email at russell_e2001|removethispart|@yahoo.com. Also, a bunch of us will be heading out to Tierra Del Sol, which is held the first weekend of March 2009 near Salton Sea, CA. The info is on the Tierra Del Sol club website. We go every year and it is a blast.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Jeremiah on January 31, 2009, 01:04:59 AM
You doing Zukapaluza this year?
http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0 (http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0)
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: tracker8v4x4 on January 31, 2009, 08:56:44 AM
Since you do not get snow it would not be a problem for u but the thing i didnt like about the bfg a/t tires is that the snow seems to pack into the trads making them near worthless in the snow
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Jeremiah on January 31, 2009, 09:51:31 AM
I snow wheel with guys with A/T - they do quite well. They do better than us M/T guys when we get into ice. My M/T have the advantage in the fluff.
Title: Re: Tires,tires,tires..What is best for me!
Post by: Lrp_wicky on February 02, 2009, 06:54:57 PM
You doing Zukapaluza this year?
[url]http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0[/url] ([url]http://www.zukiworld.com/forum/index.php?board=36.0[/url])


I was thinking bout it, Iwill check the details. Thanks