I'm looking at some Cooper Discoverer S/T 255/70/R16.  Will these tires be too hard on the drive train of my '02 Vitara because of the size? I had 235/70/R16s Discoverer S/Ts on my '96 Sidekick and liked them real well.  I just want to make sure these larger tires won't hurt anything.

Let me know what you all think.

i run 245/75 16 and theres no problems;
acceleration suffers though

i run 245/75 16 and theres no problems;
acceleration suffers though

is your truck lifted, if so, how much? and is it a V6, or 2L?

Thanks.

UR gonna need wheel spacers.  I have 235 70 16s, and they rub ever so slightly on the frame on tight turns.  I'm thinking about 245 70 16s, or maybe 245 75 16s, and I know they may give me a little grief, even with the 1" spacers I got from Spidertrax.  May have to hack the wheel wells some more!  BTW, Spidertrax spacers have been updated to fit the Grand Vitara.  They have a lip cut into them now so they work with Samurai, Sidekick, and Grand Vitaras.  Just make sure to tell them you need the updated spacers for the GV.  I don't think they're making the other ones now, but just in case, you should let them know you have a GV.

As far as acceleration, that's one thing that's nice about having the 5 speed.  I determine the shift points, so I can still accelerate pretty good.  I recommend a K&N filter, and maybe some top-o-the-line spark plugs to help with the power loss...maybe Bosch Platinum +4 plugs.

http://www.spidertrax.com/


Dave Turner
1999 Grand Vitara JLX+ 5 speed
122,300 Miles
Rocky Road Suspension Lift
Rocky Road Body Lift
235 70 16 All Terrain Tires (29.2�)
SP Performance Drilled/Slotted Rotors
EBC Greenstuff Heavy Duty SUV Brake Pads
K&N Filtercharger
Triple Platinum Sparkplugs
Kenwood Audio w/ Sirius Satellite Radio
Silver Wire Carbon Fiber Dash Kit
Optima 34/78 Redtop Battery
1500 Watt Vector MAXX Power Inverter
Thule Roof Rack
Bugflector II
Deep Tinted Windows

  BTW, Spidertrax spacers have been updated to fit the Grand Vitara.  They have a lip cut into them now so they work with Samurai, Sidekick, and Grand Vitaras.  Just make sure to tell them you need the updated spacers for the GV. 

And after you tell them once you may want to tell them a few more times. Received 4 spacers a couple weeks ago and they didn't fit without modification. Emailed them June 25th to let them know and still haven't gotten a response.

I plan on putting a 2" lift in conjunction with the new tires.

Perhaps I'll stick with the 235/70/R16s...I didn't have any problems with those and really didn't notice much of a power loss with my 1.8L Sidekick sport.

When everyone talks about drivetrain items fitting GVs, does that mean they'll fit regular Vitaras as well?

I've never used wheel spacers...pros and con?

Thanks everyone.

235/70/16's hit the frame on a GV? crap. that's the size I want to get and I'm stuck with stock rims and no wheel spacers. (long story there, best to not ask) how bad is it? I have 2 inches of lift up front about and 1.5 in the back about and no body lift. I've been tolg the 235/70's fit with no lift.

any extra info or pics of this would be so greatly appreciated

is your truck lifted, if so, how much? and is it a V6, or 2L?

Thanks.

v6, with a 3 inch lift

235/70/16's hit the frame on a GV? crap. that's the size I want to get and I'm stuck with stock rims and no wheel spacers. (long story there, best to not ask) how bad is it? I have 2 inches of lift up front about and 1.5 in the back about and no body lift. I've been tolg the 235/70's fit with no lift.

any extra info or pics of this would be so greatly appreciated

ive run them stock and didnt rub much, maybe the wheel well , but never the frame

I noticed today while I was putting my front lift on that on the driver's side it appears that the 225/75R16's rub the frame just a teensy bit.  Like a very teensy bit, there's about a 1" long mark on the top of the frame.  Makes me wonder if it will do it with the suspension lift.

I noticed today while I was putting my front lift on that on the driver's side it appears that the 225/75R16's rub the frame just a teensy bit.  Like a very teensy bit, there's about a 1" long mark on the top of the frame.  Makes me wonder if it will do it with the suspension lift.

I was noticing with the lift and stock tires that the tire gets pretty close to the frame. haven't checked with the steering completely maxed but I think I'll just go ahead and get the bigger tires anyway. worse comes to worse I'll just keep putting primer on that spot so it doesn't rust and avoid turing the wheel all the way

from what thrash says it sounds like it should be fine especially with my 2 inch or so lift up front

Mine's so small that a bet a pair of super small wheel spacers would fix it.  Like 1/8 to 1/4 inch or so.

the rubbage is so small you mean?

I'm getting 29's (235/70/R16) right after my alighnment is done and my extra wheels get powder coated!

Yeah, the only mark I could find (and hell, it might be from me banging around in there but it sure looks like tire scuff) is a 1" or so sorta curved mark on the top of the frame towards the rear of the driver's side front wheel well.  As if when you cranked the tire all the way over it'd grab right there.  From where it is I bet it requires a bit of flexing or bumping and max turning to do it.

Keep in mind though that my 225/75R16's are muds and are an actual 29" tall with the weight of the vehicle on them.  They were only like 3/4" shorter than the 31x10.5R15 BFG all seasons that were on my Tracker when I got it.  They obviously don't compress much.  With their height and the lugs I can see them having just a bit more reach than similar normal (non-retreaded) tires.  Of course yours will be slightly wider so that might change the equation.

Yeah, the only mark I could find (and hell, it might be from me banging around in there but it sure looks like tire scuff) is a 1" or so sorta curved mark on the top of the frame towards the rear of the driver's side front wheel well.  As if when you cranked the tire all the way over it'd grab right there.  From where it is I bet it requires a bit of flexing or bumping and max turning to do it.

Keep in mind though that my 225/75R16's are muds and are an actual 29" tall with the weight of the vehicle on them.  They were only like 3/4" shorter than the 31x10.5R15 BFG all seasons that were on my Tracker when I got it.  They obviously don't compress much.  With their height and the lugs I can see them having just a bit more reach than similar normal (non-retreaded) tires.  Of course yours will be slightly wider so that might change the equation.

yea, I'm most likely getting general grabber at2's. I have heard some MT's run a bit big and most that don't actually run small. most 31's aren't even quite 31's from what I've heard. I don't know how the generals or a BFG at would compare to your tires but I was wondering what the effect was on power and mileage with those