Need some wheel/tyre combination height details please.

[Pacswoman]

Currently have my converted LWB T30 2023 T6.1 on stock wheels/tyres (205 65 16) and suspension. I am looking at changing to SuperMetal Rocket 18x8J 5x120 with 255/55/18 General Grabber AT3 tyres.

Does anyone know how much of a change in height of the vehicle this would make. I currently keep the van in my garage and want to continue to do this.

Reason I am changing set up is as I need a bit more grip as we camp a lot on grass/muddy areas, but do not really want to go full on AT tyres, and have read so many reviews and seem the AT3 give the best reviews for off road and road driving.

Any other advice on alternatives would be a consideration, but the height of the van will be a decider for me. I currently have 2.1m height door clearance.

Thanks in advance for any input/advice from you guys

 

[Kind of Blue]

Try tyre comparison sites for changes in tyre dimensions. Just put in all the details that are asked for for original and proposed tyres. If you also include original tyre pressure a new value will be given for the new tyres. It will probably indicate a lower tyre pressure.

For the majority of people here unless specifically needing All Terrain Tyres because of where they live or work say a Farmer, Forestry worker or someone who just might live off road or even people who do frequent off road travel, then an All Season Tyre would be normally sufficient. General Grabber AT3 are les aggressive than some AT tyres and have high speed ratings but something like Michelin Crossclimate All Season might be fine and because of a change to a different size with more air and lower pressure will give additional traction. Of course I am generalising and do not really know exactly the conditions that you will be regularly experiencing. Wet Grass over the winter can be very difficult of course, especially when climbing or descending steep fields and muddy tracks. AT tyres tend to wear faster that AS tyres and tend to generate more noise as the wear with higher mileages. I have used General Grabber AT3 on an other vehicle and they are a good tyre. At the present time I have been using BFG KO tyres at 255/55R18XL but I live Off Road on a remote small holding and the last years has been terribly wet. My access routes both have gradients are like a broken up green lane in one directions and grass fields with cattle or sheep in another direction Aprox a mile each way. The poor weather here can change the going dramatically and at times I need to air down my tyres for additional traction even though I have 4Motion and a rear Differential lock. During the winter I may also encounter ground clearance problems also from time to time We have a lot of Off Road driving experience before living here 30 years ago.

Pacswoman, are you driving off road fairly frequently is the vehicle presenting difficulties when camping? Are you camping off road through out the year? Is it a 4Motion or normal 2 wheel drive vehicle? I am just trying to forge a picture of use for the best compromise as all tyres are a compromise to some extent or other. The best AT tyres these days also have All Season season capability with 3Peaks Mud and Snow symbol. It is always a good idea in my opinion to have All Season capability for safety over winter months and some countries demand it is some regions if travelling abroad over winter.

​

 

[manfrotto]

This is my "go to" site for doing the calculations:

Rim & Tire Size Calculator. Custom Offsets

Tire Tech Information - The Wheel Fitment, Tyre Stretch, Rolling Radius and Speedometer Error Calculator. Play with specs, try different settings, compare results

www.wheel-size.com

I have the same van as you with stock wheels. After getting stuck a few weeks back my next set will likely be 17" with AT tyres. I will probably also invest in some recovery boards. It would be interesting to hear comments on how useful others find them.

 

[JumpShip]

 

[Pacswoman]

Pacswoman, are you driving off road fairly frequently is the vehicle presenting difficulties when camping? Are you camping off road through out the year? Is it a 4Motion or normal 2 wheel drive vehicle? I am just trying to forge a picture of use for the best compromise as all tyres are a compromise to some extent or other.

Thank you for your response. Ņot so much driving of road, but camping on grass most of the year round and have had a couple of occasions were I have got stuck and many where it was a very close call. Not 4 motion, just 2wd. Am just looking for that extra bit of grip really.

 

[Sasquatch]

I'm on 235 55 r18 with a pop top of average profile and it's 2.1 metres.

If you go 255 then, like for like, your tyre will be 22mm taller than mine, adding a further 11mm total height over mine.

 

[JumpShip]

I think many if not most people running A/T's are more for the rugged look rather than necessity .
We have Grabbers on the pick up and yes they do get plenty off road use but there is a trade off with using them on road .
When selecting new tyres for our van I'm defo not gonna be fitting off road tyres to something that see's 95% of it's time on tarmac and 5% driving across campsites.

 

[doncarlyon]

Which tyres do you have now?

Could be that they are particularly poor in the muddy/grassy conditions and a set of decent all season tyres may give you the extra grip you need.

Ours is a 4Motion and I plan on changing the wheels as soon as something comes along for a decent price. I'd like to go with all seasons if I can find some at a decent price point as that's what we've used for years on cars and never had issues.

 

[manfrotto]

Currently have my converted LWB T30 2023 T6.1 on stock wheels/tyres (205 65 16) and suspension. I am looking at changing to SuperMetal Rocket 18x8J 5x120 with 255/55/18 General Grabber AT3 tyres.

Does anyone know how much of a change in height of the vehicle this would make. I currently keep the van in my garage and want to continue to do this.

Reason I am changing set up is as I need a bit more grip as we camp a lot on grass/muddy areas, but do not really want to go full on AT tyres, and have read so many reviews and seem the AT3 give the best reviews for off road and road driving.

Any other advice on alternatives would be a consideration, but the height of the van will be a decider for me. I currently have 2.1m height door clearance.

Thanks in advance for any input/advice from you guys

Bear in mind also that you may want to add roofracks, awning etc. that will add extra height (if you don't already). My van is just over 2 metres including the awning height, with the std wheels/tyres.

 

[AeonMach]

To add to what others have said, look at an AT tyre: it has big knobbly blocks that are good in SOFT terrain (mud, soft sand), or thick soft snow (we don’t really get that in the UK!) and burly enough to cope with rock (the sort of conditions @Kind of Blue has to deal with but not very common on UK campsites )…
…but those smooth big blocks are NOT actually very good on wet grass (bc unless it’s very soft and muddy they can’t get the grip), or packed snow and ice for that matter which is what we mostly get (despite them being 3PMSF rated bc they’re still better than summer tyres and can cope with soft stuff )!

Most people running them are frankly doing so simply for show for the swamper look. Fair enough, it does look quite cool!

Frankly though, you will be much better off with All Season (AS) tyres - that are nearly all 3PMSF / M+S (mud & snow) rated - since the grip pattern will cope better with simple wet grass!
AND it will be a better all-round road tyre for the 99% of road driving you will do!


PS I read your post re camping on grass but see your first post does mention “muddy”; if it’s genuinely thick mud then an AT tyre would be useful but really, how much mud and how often?
An AS tyre should cope fine if we’re just talking about wet muddy grass - unless the mud is like this
Your favorite pic of your Transporter
(bearing in mind that ironically those tyres might actually still be AS tyres but on a 4Mo?!)
…

…and maybe just avoid shit campsites with a lot of mud?
The issue of course I suppose is that a lot of basic campsites - the best ones - might not start muddy but can become so eh?
(I have a 4Mo so less worried! )

 

[Kind of Blue]

Which tyres do you have now?

Could be that they are particularly poor in the muddy/grassy conditions and a set of decent all season tyres may give you the extra grip you need.

Ours is a 4Motion and I plan on changing the wheels as soon as something comes along for a decent price. I'd like to go with all seasons if I can find some at a decent price point as that's what we've used for years on cars and never had issues.

If you are considering new rims, then think about a Steel set of 18". Cheaper than alloy and the saving would help towards financing the AS tyres.

 

[Moodz]

I have Agilis cross climates on 17" Devonports on my van and they are not very good for grip in wet grassy fields. I have got stuck a couple of times and have had to use my boards which I carry all the time to get out. I was considering the AT3's but the road noise and fuel consumption puts me off. I have also been looking at winches to pull myself out with. I have not tried letting the tyres down to get out yet.

 

[AeonMach]

Which tyres do you have now?

Could be that they are particularly poor in the muddy/grassy conditions and a set of decent all season tyres may give you the extra grip you need.

Ours is a 4Motion and I plan on changing the wheels as soon as something comes along for a decent price. I'd like to go with all seasons if I can find some at a decent price point as that's what we've used for years on cars and never had issues.

Aye, I changed to AS last autumn (and will now run them year round) - I went with Hankooks (Kinergy 4s2) since they have excellent reviews (and particularly suited to a largely wet rather than actually snowy UK climate) at a reasonable price:

Hankook Kinergy 4S2 review | Auto Express

The Hankook coped well in most of our tests

www.autoexpress.co.uk

 

[doncarlyon]

If you are considering new rims, then think about a Steel set of 18". Cheaper than alloy and the saving would help towards financing the AS tyres.

I want 20's... might regret it but you don't know till you know haha

 

[AeonMach]

I want 20's... might regret it but you don't know till you know haha

I have some 20” alloys for sale

 

[Kind of Blue]

If someone gets stuck off road or is finding traction really difficult, perhaps its wet slippery grass with an incline or a field that is becoming muddy through lots of vehicle going to and from damaging the surface, then letting some air from the tyres may help. Lower to approximately, 1 atmosphere, 1bar say 15psi. That will dramatically increase the surface area of the tyre that is in contact with the surface. That aught to be enough for those very tricky situations. Reinflation is an absolute necessity for on road for safety and legality. Occasionality here, I have aired down to 6psi, this is not just for traction but to help prevent rutting the grass breaking the surface and creating furrows. I have to take great care at such pressures because the tyre bead can be forced away from the rim and rapid deflation then occurs. this has happened on occasion so I drive very slow and deliberate especially when turning or on a side slope at this very low pressure. 15 psi should be OK for most wheel and tyres though I have know idea about banded tyres that are fitted to wider wheels than is recommended! I have two powerful inflation pumps that can quickly reinflate and also force the tyre to seal against the rim in that eventuality. Sometimes I am forced to take my upper grassy slippery route when the bottom track has been blocked with trees falling or a washout so I may have to air out and reinflate frequently. For that I use a set of tyre deflators that I have set to a low psi. Cannot quite remember what the setting is right now but they can be set at number of psi pressures. They save me time because by the time I have fitted the last of four it is practically time to remove them and replace valve cap and move off. There are quite a few varieties about I do not have the best, I think that Staun which are made of brass might take the title. Their are a number of types too some even remove the valve core fore very rapid deflation and then screw it back in again. Not tried them, sounds interesting perhaps I should buy some new ones. It is really for people needing that facility frequently and it saves time and some waiting and hassle.

An other trick, is to prevent the traction or slip control over doing its job, easy on 4Motion vehicles, they have a switch, something that 2 wheel drive vehicles normally do not have! It can still be defeated, though the process is different between manufacturers and vehicles. I think that it is covered in these pages somewhere. Perhaps the switch might be retrofitted, I have absolutely no idea about that, I can grantee however some on here will know the answer to that and exactly what might be involved. Driving in slippery conditions is improved by experience and becomes intuitive. Usually softly softly is the best advice, preventing breaking traction at all costs but at times a little more force or even Brute Force and aggression is needed and that is what anti slip prevents. Sometimes its a case of getting going but easing back just a little through the worst patches, this may help with traction, before applying more throttle to then carry on. The big thing though is keeping an eye on safety and damage through loosing control so be careful. Even at slow speed a slipping vehicle could kill or maim someone not aware, if they where run into and crushed. An other obvious thing is, if expecting those sort of situations take some Rated Towing strops or and ropes and a few shackles. Elasticated snatch ropes or strops are available, they can make recovery so much easier and gentle if used properly. They must be attached to strong mounting points because they can be a killer if the come off and propel a lump of iron like a catapult. I have seen that happen. Used carefully and with thought a great asset!

 

[Sasquatch]

We have Grabbers on the pick up and yes they do get plenty off road use but there is a trade off with using them on road .

Although I've yet to find the trade off. No undue noise, rosdholding and stopping is fine in all conditions and to push it beyond that puts you into the realms of criminal driving behaviour anyway.

ATs are a broad spectrum. Some really are off road biased (I always found BFGs that way), some are reasonable all rounders (Hankook AT2, one of my favourites), and some have a more continuous tread pattern and more of a tarmac bias (Cooper), so it does very much depend on the individual tyre as to the degree, if any, of compromise on tarmac.

 

[Sasquatch]

An other trick, is to prevent the traction or slip control over doing its job, easy on 4Motion vehicles, they have a switch, something that 2 wheel drive vehicles normally do not have!

T6 and 6.1 do have the switch, model dependent (my 6.1 Shartline with Business Pack has one.)

 

[Pacswoman]

Which tyres do you have now?

Could be that they are particularly poor in the muddy/grassy conditions and a set of decent all season tyres may give you the extra grip you need.

Ours is a 4Motion and I plan on changing the wheels as soon as something comes along for a decent price. I'd like to go with all seasons if I can find some at a decent price point as that's what we've used for years on cars and never had issues.

Currently have my converted LWB T30 2023 T6.1 on stock wheels/tyres (205 65 16).

Hmm, not sure to be honest, tyres are not in bad condition, have only done just over 12,000 on them.

Thanks, I will do some research on All season tyres too. Thanks for suggestion.

 

[Pacswoman]

Bear in mind also that you may want to add roofracks, awning etc. that will add extra height (if you don't already). My van is just over 2 metres including the awning height, with the std wheels/tyres.

No intentions of having a roof rack, already have pop top roof and awning, so it will just be the consideration of height changing wheels and tyres to be honest.