Re: Definitive Washboard Protocols
Posted by Zardoz on July 09, 2003 at 11:07:02:
In Reply to: Re: Definitive Washboard Protocols posted by Bodie the Dog on July 08, 2003 at 13:09:06:
A bunch of us spend about 4 to 5 weeks a year in
various desert places. We collected the data regarding tire problems over the last ten years.
We came up with the following non-scientific conclusions.
Go fast over the rock roads (Saline Valley for example) and tires do seems to have problems more often than people with like tires driving slow.
People who had 3/4 ton trucks with 8 ply rated
tires seem to have no problems compared to your
standard C load rated tires.
Airing up and down seems to make the vehicle ride
better but not enough data to determine how this
effects tire reliability. We usually are taking
stuff in for a week long stay so we tend to be heavy and we can't lower the air pressure enough
to get a good ride and support the weight carried
on the rear tires. If you ask me for my opinion I
think low air pressure is easier on tires over rock bumps and such but if you hit that real pointy rock that is sticking out I think you are
toast no matter what you do.
After my experience with a Nissan 4x4 hardbody truck with a 4 wheel camper on it I noticed a much higher failure rate on the rear tires due
to rocks putting big holes in the tires. Other
people seem to have problems when loaded with
rear tires. Most of us run BFG AT 10.50/31/15
C rated. Heavy load on rear tires (some more than others) seems to increase failure rate. None
of us has ever had a failure on the front axle.
When I bought my new Nissan S/C Frontier it came
with stupid 17" rims. I was able to trade some
Xterra 16' rims and tried to decide what to do for new tires. I went to my local tire shop and
compared costs, weight, and capabilities. It seems in the BFG AT KO line that the 265/70/16
was the right size for my rig but my dealer showed me some 245/75/16 E rated units. I compared
the weight and thickness of rubber and the E
rated tire was cheaper and much more rugged than
the 265 C/D rated tire. The E rated units do ride
rougher than the C units but it is a truck and I
do not care but some might. Well I have made a couple of trips and no problems so far. I also
put Bilsteins on my rig and that helped alot on
the washboard after the shocks loosened up a little. (Bilsteins are extremely stiff when new
but last forever). Yep between the tires and shocks it does ride a little rougher over the
expansion joints in the road but to me it is an
acceptable trade off for more rugged tires and
better performance on washboards. While the E rated tires are about 3/4" narrower I have not
missed the width at all.
Comments??
Zardoz