Desert tire recommendations

7191 Views 152 Replies 28 Participants Last post by 2020RR, 2 d ago

McCarthy

Discussion Starter · 18 d ago

Hey guys,

Been a while! Haven't really been on the forum since I got back from the grand canyon trip this fall, we had a brutal and early winter so all the good riding was snowed in by Nov 1. Rode some of the lower stuff later in the winter with chains on all 4. Pic below, fun, but different tire for winter.

Wheel Sky Tire Ice racing Snow

Anyways, I currently run (in the the summer) 32x10x14 BFG KM3's, and while they are a good tire, looking for some improvements. The KM3's have had 2 catastrophic sidewall punctures, which I should note is the only 2 i've ever had, but in theory that could be really bad luck.

Needs:

-Tough tire that can handle sharp rock, shale, desert scrub etc,
-Good on rock. (KM3's were fine here)
-Tire that has good high speed stability, and can handle high load transitions at speed. (KM3's are okay here, looking for improvement. For comparison something like the ITP Terrahook (great tire elsewhere) is horrible here.
-Competent on the streets up to highway speeds (KM3 was great here)
-Acceptable in light mud/snow (KM3 was fine here)
-32x10x14 or 32x11x14 (wish there were options in an 11 width- KM3's only measure out at 9" wide, would like more width for more traction)

What I really want is a KM3 that is better in higher speed stuff, especially with cornering and lateral traction.

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2020RR

· #121 · 4 d ago

Thopper said:
What is the optimum ride height for CV preservation? I believe the better question is what is the best angle for the axles for reliability. Understanding flat or parallel to the ground would be a terrible ride ht would flat be a good thing or a bad thing for CV’s and axles?

The flatter the better when it comes to CV's (not realistic) Just get the ride height on the car correct and dont worry about it too much. If you are wanting to limit CV angle when the suspension droops, put some adjustable "limit straps" on the car (limits suspension droop).

Sandman_73

· #122 · 4 d ago (Edited)

McCarthy said:
Here's a 32x10x14 BFG KM3 on a 7" wide wheel. Look how short of true they are. Not even close. Tire has 14/32 of tread, new is 18/32, so 4/32nd= 2.90mm = 1/10th of an inch shorter than new. Tire @ 16PSI. Flat cement garage floor.

Tire measures 31.1"x8" wide.

View attachment 296398

View attachment 296399

Looks like your measuring on the car with the weight of the car. If that’s the case we are talking apples-to-oranges. That’s not how you measure a tire. Take the tire OFF then measure…👍

I still don’t get why some think tire diameter should be determined ON the car. Makes absolutely no sense for very obvious reasons🤦

McCarthy

Discussion Starter · #123 · 4 d ago

Sandman_73 said:
Looks like your measuring on the car with the weight of the car. If that’s the case we are talking apples-to-oranges. That’s not how you measure a tire. Take the tire OFF then measure…👍

I still don’t get why some think tire diameter should be determined ON the car. Makes absolutely no sense for very obvious reasons🤦

Because it's an easy way to measure a tire for comparison purposes... 🤦‍♂️

2020RR

· #124 · 4 d ago

I guess that depends on how you measure, whether you measure from the balls to the tip or just the shaft to the tip..

Scott F

· #125 · 4 d ago

2020RR said:
I guess that depends on how you measure, whether you measure from the balls to the tip or just the shaft to the tip..

For wheel travel, Poo measures from anus to tip.

Reactions: 2

2020RR

· #126 · 4 d ago

I "think" Can-am does the same... as there is no clearance under the skid plates when the shocks are bottomed out (30" tires).

sand shark

· #127 · 4 d ago

2020RR said:
I "think" Can-am does the same... as there is no clearance under the skid plates when the shocks are bottomed out (30" tires).

Can Am measure actual suspension travel, they just forget to mention the last 1" or so is subterranean. LOL!

Reactions: 3

lelando42

· #128 · 4 d ago

sand shark said:
Can Am measure actual suspension travel, they just forget to mention the last 1" or so is subterranean. LOL!

Does anyone know how much is actually below ground? I’m on 35’s now and still touched my anus to the ground twice on my last ride out.
Granted I was hauling ass and they were last minute g-outs you can’t avoid at that speed lol. Still thought I’d got past that with the bigger tires too

2020RR

· #129 · 3 d ago

Just add some a couple of clicks (clockwise) of high speed compression (maybe a click or 2 of low speed too). How much air you running in your tires?

lelando42

· #130 · 3 d ago

2020RR said:
Just add some a couple of clicks (clockwise) of high speed compression (maybe a click or 2 of low speed too). How much air you running in your tires?

I’ve messed with my high speed and have it pretty far clockwise, if I remember right it’s 1/4 turn from all the way tight (I’ll have to double check tonight). 18psi in the tires. I’ve got stiffer springs, I just haven’t had them valved yet but I’ll do that later this year or beginning of next as there’s a few mods that will change my weight to be done before then

2020RR

· #131 · 3 d ago

where are you low speed set at? as a G out could be considered a slow speed event too..

What good do stiffer springs (or stiffer valving or adjustments) do when you are just COMPRESSING THE TIRES? (smashing the sidewalls) due to NOT enough pressure. By running the pressure low you are muddying/dulling what the shocks can "sense" and control...

2020RR

· #132 · 3 d ago

Also might want to lower the crossover for the rear about 1/2 or so.. this will help with bottom out resistance... But again if the tires are compressing (worse with a taller tire), you are just chasing your tail... Or anus...

lelando42

· #133 · 3 d ago

Low speed I’d have to go back and look, I got my settings and springs from The Suspension Guy a year ago and have done some minor tweaking based off that.

18psi ain’t that low when a lot of desert racers are running 20, I know they’ll run up to 28ish though.
I’ll try out increasing the pressure in the rears though, my front end rides like a dream in my opinion so I ain’t touching it for now

2020RR

· #134 · 3 d ago

My high speed and low speeds are just about closed depending on the terrain (stock valving). I tend to drive hard and fast. Fronts are around 23 ish and rears 25-28 for high speed desert.

Reactions: 1

lelando42

· #135 · 3 d ago

So back to the question of does anyone actually know how far the skid goes into the ground before our shocks bottom out? On any sized tire? Lol
I can’t think of an easy way to measure that without taking my springs completely off which I don’t feel like doing

2020RR

· #136 · 3 d ago

(Jack up the car) Fully extend the shocks.. measure how much shaft is exposed and measure ride height... lower car to ride height, measure again.. now you have an idea on the "ratio" of suspension travel vs shock travel.. now you can roughly calculate how much room you have or dont have at full shock compression. I "think" its 1-2 inches (negative)

Reactions: 1

Scott F

· #137 · 3 d ago

2020RR said:
(Jack up the car) Fully extend the shocks.. measure how much shaft is exposed and measure ride height... lower car to ride height, measure again.. now you have an idea on the "ratio" of suspension travel vs shock travel.. now you can roughly calculate how much room you have or dont have at full shock compression. I "think" its 1-2 inches (negative)

That will not be accurate because the motion ratio changes significantly throughout the travel.

2020RR

· #138 · 3 d ago

I know it does.. but how else can it be measured?? without take the shocks off or springs off

sand shark

· #139 · 3 d ago

lelando42 said:
Does anyone know how much is actually below ground? I’m on 35’s now and still touched my anus to the ground twice on my last ride out.
Granted I was hauling ass and they were last minute g-outs you can’t avoid at that speed lol. Still thought I’d got past that with the bigger tires too

I want to say @Megadesertdiesel measured it when he did the frame swap to a 4 seater. At full bump it was a less than 1" of clearance.

My X3 on 32" is set at 16" of ground clearance and out in the desert I don't think I have tapped the rear. In the dunes still tap on some transitions depending on speed.

Reactions: 2

2020RR

· #140 · 3 d ago

another way would be to take the shock off... Measure the collapsed shock height (no shaft showing) with the rubber bumper taken out of the equation.. Get that measurement.. now lower the car (no shock) and measure from upper and lower mounts to the same length as the compressed shock.

This should get you really close.

Reactions: 1

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