The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Other Topics 4x4, ATV, SUV - Hunting, Fishing, Moon Buggys, Mars Rovers Best tires in deep dry sand at slow speed?Go | New | Find | Notify | Tools | Reply | |
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I frequently drive the National Seashore near Corpus Christi,Texas. I encountered horrible driving conditions this weekend. I have one HUGE factor against me....my truck is a heavy diesel(CUMMINS POWERED)! Then there is the speed limit that has been reduced to 15 MPH due to it being the season for Kemps Ridley sea turtles to come ashore and nest. I was able to idle out of the deep stuff in 4Lo 1st gear but that makes for a long miserable trip. Airing down to 30psi didn't seem to help much. I could have run in 4th or 5th 4Lo but that really eats the fuel! I am considering running larger tires, but don't want to get ridiculously huge. I lean towards 35s because I can run them and have no rubbing at full steering lock and with no modification to the stock suspension. I have read many reports about mud tire pros and cons in soft sand, but they were always on lightweight gasoline powered trucks. I don't tow or pull heavy loads so I am considering a load range D tire. I wouldn't have this problem if I were to run like I do out of turtle season...about 40-50 mph. So what do you guys think? I am like the Cooper ATR tread(what I have now-stock size) and maybe the Toyo all terrain or mud terrain/Cooper SST. Thoughts? Andy B We Band of Bubbas N.R.A Life Member TDR Cummins Power All The Way Certified member of the Whompers Club | ||
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GSP7... Read my vehicle description! The tires you reference are cute. I drive a full size Dodge 3/4 ton CUMMINS powered 4x4. the tires referenced appear to be for ATVs and are not street legal. Anyone else????? Please!! Andy B We Band of Bubbas N.R.A Life Member TDR Cummins Power All The Way Certified member of the Whompers Club | |||
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 Seriously,,, I have a dodge CTD 4x4 also.. a less ply tire on wide rims, and air down with softer side walls is the best bet to float on top of the sand Id consider a less expensive, low load range(C or B) soft rubbered tires. They will wear out on the highway faster, and not for heavy loads, but work in the sand better I had some of the Old B range 4 ply Armstrong TrueTracs Tires on a old Jeep truck and a CJ that worked great. With 15 lbs of air they were like soft ATV tires I have some D range BFGs 35/12.5/16.5s on 10" rims on a 3/4 ton chevy that I air down that work ok in sand but still arent the best Armstrong True Tracs, These were the Good old Tires to get for sand 30 years ago. Came in C(4ply) or B(6ply) range http://www.jpmagazine.com/tech...school/photo_08.html  Also you might look here, Glamis is a Huge sand dune area http://www.glamisdunes.com/inv...x.php?showtopic=5459 | |||
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I have a dodge/cummins also, try to air down lower than 30 psi, it's tuff with 10 ply tires, but you got to get the sidewalls to flex and cup the tread or you will bounce up and down more than going forward. "Earth First, we'll mine the other planets later" "Strip mining prevents forest fires" | |||
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I had an old Dodge Powerwagon years ago that had really wide tires on it when I bought it and I went into the dry river bed of dry deep sand and it was practically like driving on pavement. The tires were old and didn't have much tread left on them but they were the ticket for sand running. I don't even remember the size of them but if I had to guess I'd say around 12.5x31x15, and I bought different wheels and tires shortly after I got the truck. Dennis Life member NRA | |||
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If you are going to use this truck mostly on sand, then what you need is regular street tires blown out wide on over width wheels, and run low pressure. The norrower the tire, and the more agressive the tread, the more STUCK you will stay! You need to make a very wide foot print, with a tire the flexes to stay on top of dry sand! Think DUNE BUGGY! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith  | |||
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I live within about half an hour of the beach near Surfside Texas. For years I have driven the beach, and although I do not have as heavy a truck as you do, Cooper STTs have worked very well for me. I ran a 1/2 ton short box for years on the beach, and the 33 x 12.50 STTs were perfect. I could literally idle through the powder, and typically didn't even have to lock in the front drive axle. Hope this helps. | |||
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Possi's or lockers help a lot, as stated in this discussion get tires that will flex that you can air down to 25-30lbs and 12.5 to 14.00 inches wide. "An individual with experience is never at the mercies of an individual with an argument" | |||
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In sand the bigger the foot print the better. Also weight is a BIG factor. A BIG diesel PU is just not a sand vehicle. A Jeep with BIG, BIG tires, towed behind your PU, till you get to the sand is one option. Many years ago I had my Chev Blazer in beach sand. If I lived near the "Texas Ocean", I would have a Jeep "rigged for sand". DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY | |||
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"low pressure" is under 10 .. and heavy haul tires don't swell out at the sidewalls, which is what low presure does whats your empty weight? its on the drivers door opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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I ran Armstrong Norsemans and Tru-Tracs on my open box K30 and F350 Hi-boy in sand at Pismo & Glamis. They were the best sand tires I've used on a big 4x4. My last F350 w/ 3000 lb camper wore 33x12.5x16.5 BFG ATs. I suggest a formula of 33-35" x 12-14" B or C load rated tires on 16.5" wheels (so you have more choices). If you want a highway tire that you use off road on a heavy truck I suggest you try the ATs. Also remember the rule of thumb for best deflation is to deflate to 3/4 the tire height at normal highway pressure. That isn't always perfect, but it's usually a pretty good guess. "No game is dangerous unless a man is close up" Teddy Roosevelt 1885. | |||
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Andy, I did a little, though probably flawed, checking .. the diesel dodge of the same chassis appears to weigh less than 600# more than the gas ... but a gas with an automatic, tow pack, and 2 adults in it weighs the same (more or less a cooler full of beer) as a single rider stick diesel opinions vary band of bubbas and STC hunting Club Information on Ammoguide about the416AR, 458AR, 470AR, 500AR What is an AR round? Case Drawings 416-458-470AR and 500AR. 476AR, http://www.weaponsmith.com | |||
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Jeff, My truck supposedly weighs 7200 empty. Add the tools that never leave, the gooseneck hitch, full tank of fuel, and my 300lbs and now we are pushing 8k. Don't forget when going down the beach I'll be carrying icechests(full), fishing gear, recovery gear...etc, 8500 is probably close. Andy We Band of Bubbas N.R.A Life Member TDR Cummins Power All The Way Certified member of the Whompers Club | |||
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You didn't lower the pressure in your tires enough in sand most go down to 10# or less out here in the deserts of calif,on board air or a tank of co2 to refill the tires is needed.The best all purpose off road tires I've ever used were aramid belted Armstrong Norseman Tredlocks went thru mud,snow,rock,sand,etc.in the mountains and deserts of Arizona, Colorado & California.When Armstrong was purchased by Perelli they discontinued all of the Armstrong line. | |||
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Here on the east coast guys run heavy rigs with tires well below 30lbs, some down to 10-15lbs. For heavy beach and special surf fishing rigs with campers on them, most guys seem to run either BFG "old style" AT's, the ones with the modestly aggressive tread not the Mud Terrains, or all season type tread in about 33"x12" or so. Beach speed limits run from 25mph downward. I run an '06 Jeep Wrangler Unlimted which I flat tow behind my Suburban. My Jeep has 33" BFG AT's but the Mud Terrain tread pattern. With the Jeep, I don't bother airing down and never need low range. Each year I pull quite a few guys in PU's and Suburbans free who don't air down enough. Once they're aired down and free they've always managed on their way unassisted. BTW, most beach entrances/exits here have air available now. In the old days, it was a slow haul to a service station. My Jeep has the Warn winch with air pump included, and while I don't often need to air down for what I use the jeep for - hunting and fishing - it is very nice to have and a great piece of gear. The winch sees a lot of "good Samaritan" use pulling others free. JPK  Free 500grains | |||
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Andy you want as wide tires as you can use on your vehicle, with the least agressive tread you can buy, and you will simply fload over the sand! The paddle tires shown you above are made for sand drags, and are not suited to you application! ....Mac >>>===(x)===> MacD37, ...and DUGABOY1 DRSS Charter member "If I die today, I've had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"~ME 1982 Hands of Old Elmer Keith | |||
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+1 I run a lot in sandy Brooks County and less than 10 lbs is where you need to go to do any good at all. "Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson. | |||
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What works in the sand doesn't work on the highway and vice versa. You're running two extreme ends of tire performance. Tires are made to perform in a narrower range. So how about seriously considering a second set of wheels? (Not talking about a second vehicle, but rather the round things with the rubber mounted on them.) | |||
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The Accurate Reloading Forums THE ACCURATE RELOADING.COM FORUMS Other Topics 4x4, ATV, SUV - Hunting, Fishing, Moon Buggys, Mars Rovers Best tires in deep dry sand at slow speed?
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