Member Since: 08 Apr 2012
Location: Isle of Tiree, Scotland
Posts: 26
Best tyres for dry / wet sand
I want to change my road tyres for something that I can also use on the road but that will be better for off road use. Mainly I need to tow a small boat over a beach which consists of quite a steep bit of loose dry sand then fairly compacted wet sand. I was looking around but can't find very much that fits (255/55/R19). Can anyone recommend a tyre or if there are any I should avoid.
Thanks.
10th Apr 2012 10:22 am
grzesiul
Member Since: 11 May 2008
Location: UK
Posts: 6402
GG new AT or Cooper LTZ in 18 size but those might rub a bit in extreme conditions
or Pirelli ATR but I am reluctant to use them again not so much tread for offroading
cheers
10th Apr 2012 10:28 am
Tireetim
Member Since: 08 Apr 2012
Location: Isle of Tiree, Scotland
Posts: 26
Thanks grzesiul, I don't think I can put 18" Rims on, read somewhere that they have to be 19 or 20. Anyway, I would rather stick with the 19's if I can find reasonable tyres for them.
10th Apr 2012 11:11 am
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73082
19"ers & upwards on 3.0 D4s. One of the problems with driving on sand is the tendency to dig in, especially dry sand. In those circumstances bog standard road tyres might be best. ATRs might be a good compromise, LTZs & ATs could be a bit agressive & dig in. Re wet sand, no idea as it didn't rain where I was doing the sand driving.
Last edited by DSL on 10th Apr 2012 11:34 am. Edited 1 time in total
10th Apr 2012 11:27 am
Hairy Dan
Member Since: 19 Jan 2011
Location: Co. Durham
Posts: 12319
Have you tried your standard tyres in these conditions? If you are sure you need an AT tyre I would go for GG AT's which are available in 255/55/R19Cheers Ian
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10th Apr 2012 11:31 am
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
Agree you can go tooooooooooooo aggressive on sand, but it depends on your driving style and of course the type of sand.
Sand driving is almost all down to tyre pressures.
10th Apr 2012 12:45 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
spend the money on a good air compressor and then just let the tyres down Duncan
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10th Apr 2012 12:50 pm
AJS4X4
Member Since: 30 Mar 2008
Location: Surrey
Posts: 3224
DSL wrote:
19"ers & upwards on 3.0 D4s. One of the problems with driving on sand is the tendency to dig in, especially dry sand. In those circumstances bog standard road tyres might be best. ATRs might be a good compromise, LTZs & ATs could be a bit agressive & dig in. Re wet sand, no idea as it didn't rain where I was doing the sand driving.
Tiny little dunes, D3's are a tad heavy for sand so Sonic tells me.
Just back from Morocco and had no problem with our very aggressive tread pattern tyres, mind you we had very little weight at about 580kgs on the Can-Am's.
10th Apr 2012 12:51 pm
Tireetim
Member Since: 08 Apr 2012
Location: Isle of Tiree, Scotland
Posts: 26
Thanks everyone. I'm new to 4x4's and haven't got a clue (as you can probably tell). Perhaps I'll be ok with the tyres I've got then. I did drive over there without the boat and had no problems but just assumed I'd be better off with all terrain tyres. What sort of pressure should I drop the tyres to for sand?
Also, was thinking about a compressor anyway - any suggestions for a good one? (Got a cheap one at the moment and it's absolute rubbish so I'd rather send more and get a quality one).
10th Apr 2012 2:25 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
got mine about 5 years ago - no idea how much they are now ?Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
10th Apr 2012 2:26 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73082
5 months ago I'd have recommended Viair but not any more. Basically the inline fuse on mine decided to start burning and could have been a nice little fire going had I not seen it. Needless to say Viair's interest was nil and their answer was to throw the whole thing in the bin. The compressor is fine but inline sealed fuse replaced with something safer. And I'm not the only one here that this has happened to. So nope, can't recommend Viair, more because their customer service is rubbish compared with the price you pay.
10th Apr 2012 2:32 pm
DiscoDunc
Member Since: 08 May 2006
Location: Bristol
Posts: 16390
DrDoom
everything you touch breaks Duncan
-----------------------------------------------------
If I'd known I was going to be so thirsty this morning I'd have drunk more beer last night.
FFRR Autobiography 4.4 SDV8 MY17
D4 HSE MY13 SOLD
FFRR 3.6 Vogue TDV8 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D4 SE TECH MY15 SOLD
D4 XS MY12 SOLD
D4 HSE MY10 SOLD
D3 HSE MY06 - Re-Cycled Worldwide
10th Apr 2012 2:35 pm
DSL Keeper of the wheelie bin
Member Since: 11 May 2006
Location: Off again! :-)
Posts: 73082
That didn't break so much as start burning!! TFC sez not uncommon with sealed fuse holders where a bit of moisture has gotten in on manufacture.
Click image to enlarge
10th Apr 2012 2:41 pm
Reginald Molehusband
Member Since: 17 Nov 2009
Location: West Calder
Posts: 632
Choose a tyre with sidewalls which can withstand being used at low pressures and remember to blow them back up again before getting back on the road (or take it really slowly).
And don't go below the high water line without a backup vehicle, you don't want this:
Have fun![/img]2016 D4 Landmark SDV6 (Euro6), Zanzibar (late run D4)
2009 D4 HSE TDV6, Bali blue (first run D4)
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One of the problems with driving on sand is the tendency to dig in, especially dry sand. In those circumstances bog standard road tyres might be best. ATRs might be a good compromise, LTZs & ATs could be a bit agressive & dig in. Re wet sand, no idea as it didn't rain where I was doing the sand driving. 
TFC sez not uncommon with sealed fuse holders where a bit of moisture has gotten in on manufacture. 
