How to Choose the Right Tyres for an Off-Road Epic
Do you love some adventure? Have you recently purchased an all wheel drive vehicle and are determined to try and see some of the "real" Australia? If you want to get off the beaten track and truly inject some excitement into your life, then you need to do some planning. Principally, you need to ensure that you have the right tyres on your vehicle for the action ahead. What do you need to consider as you make your selection?
What's the Challenge?
Many people want to take their adventure a step further and consider that sticking to main roads, even if they are unpaved, can hardly be classified as letting their hair down. They realise, however, that if they do go truly off-road, they are going to have to deal with a variety of different obstacles along the way.
How to Decide
It can be tricky to decide which type and size of tyre you actually need, but fundamentally you'll need a cover that will be able to encounter a variety of different challenges without failing. Conventional tyres are meant to grip a specific road surface at certain speeds. Off-road tyres have a lot of "play" in the construction, which means that the wall of the tyre can move around and there is a certain amount of give. This will certainly help you if you encounter large rocks in the road surface as you are climbing out of a dry stream bed, for example. You will want your tyre to flex a certain amount, as you slowly drive over these obstacles.
Doing Your Research
In order to decide on the correct tyre, you'll want to know what your vehicle is capable of accepting. The best way to ensure that you make the right choice is to firstly consult with the manufacturer recommendations. Secondly, have a look in various off-roading magazines or Internet forums, to see what other people with your vehicle are selecting.
Adapting Your Vehicle
While your vehicle may not be initially set up to take the type of tyre that you select, most vehicles can be adapted by altering ride heights, fitting suspension kits and even selecting different wheel sizes. Once you are sure that your chosen tyre can work on your vehicle, just remember that tyres that are "taller" than standard will alter the performance characteristics of the vehicle. You may find that the more extreme examples can affect the amount of usable power at lower speeds, which could in turn affect how well the vehicle performs in truly off-road conditions.
Adjusting Your Speed
Don't forget also, that different size wheels and tyres can definitely affect the accuracy of your vehicle's speedometer. This is because it's calibrated for a standard set up and your new wheels and tyres will be covering the ground at a different rate of speed due to their larger size. You'll need to figure out the difference, either by talking to tyre experts, or by recalibrating your speed.
Getting Ready
Have a word with your local tyre dealer to help you decide, so that you are truly prepared for your epic adventure ahead.