AT tyres on 2WD cross-over car. Is it worth it?
Discussion
I currently own a Citroen Cactus. I love it. I have no intentions of changing it, it suits my needs (almost) perfectly.
That said, recently, due to wanting to access some off-the-beaten-path areas for drone photography shoots, I'm wanting to do some basic soft-roading. For the most part, I'm sure the Cactus will handle it well, but thinking longer term, I'd hate to get stuck. Again, I don't really want to change cars.
So, would a small lift (to accommodate the bigger tyres), some nice steel wheels and some AT tyres really make a sufficient difference to a 2WD car? I'm not talking hardcore green-laning and the like, just muddy roads and fields.
Conceptually speaking, I'm thinking this:
Lift, steels, AT tyres and a roofbox for kit - I can't see the need for the bullbars or the silly flag!
That said, recently, due to wanting to access some off-the-beaten-path areas for drone photography shoots, I'm wanting to do some basic soft-roading. For the most part, I'm sure the Cactus will handle it well, but thinking longer term, I'd hate to get stuck. Again, I don't really want to change cars.
So, would a small lift (to accommodate the bigger tyres), some nice steel wheels and some AT tyres really make a sufficient difference to a 2WD car? I'm not talking hardcore green-laning and the like, just muddy roads and fields.
Conceptually speaking, I'm thinking this:
Lift, steels, AT tyres and a roofbox for kit - I can't see the need for the bullbars or the silly flag!
I would think chunky tyres would be overkill given the downsides of running them on the road, if you can even find them in your size.
I'm in a similar position, often driving a Chevrolet Lacetti off road. We fitted mud and snow tyres, and went up from 55 profile to 65 to increase ground clearance. I've not got it stuck yet, and it copes very well, and still drives normally on the road. M&S tyres aren't perfect in the summer but they are still better than chunky off road tyres.
Suspension is standard and they don't rub - before we bought them I checked all available wheel and tyres sizes for the vehicle, and found that the increased profile tyres were the same size as an option wheel and tyre package. Use http://www.willtheyfit.com/ . Changing the relative gearing isn't a problem for us - the sheddy has quite a low first gear anyway - and as a bonus the speedo is now pretty much bang on accurate to GPS.
It is worth getting under the vehicle and checking out any danger points - low sumps, lines etc - anything snaggable or bashable. The lacetti sump is very high and it doesn't have any other catch points bar the exhaust. We have scraped it plenty of times without breaking anything. Maybe think about making up bash plates if you'll need them.
I wouldn't do anything more than tyres, and maybe bash plates to a 2wd car. Anything more than that and you might as well buy a 4x4.
I'm in a similar position, often driving a Chevrolet Lacetti off road. We fitted mud and snow tyres, and went up from 55 profile to 65 to increase ground clearance. I've not got it stuck yet, and it copes very well, and still drives normally on the road. M&S tyres aren't perfect in the summer but they are still better than chunky off road tyres.
Suspension is standard and they don't rub - before we bought them I checked all available wheel and tyres sizes for the vehicle, and found that the increased profile tyres were the same size as an option wheel and tyre package. Use http://www.willtheyfit.com/ . Changing the relative gearing isn't a problem for us - the sheddy has quite a low first gear anyway - and as a bonus the speedo is now pretty much bang on accurate to GPS.
It is worth getting under the vehicle and checking out any danger points - low sumps, lines etc - anything snaggable or bashable. The lacetti sump is very high and it doesn't have any other catch points bar the exhaust. We have scraped it plenty of times without breaking anything. Maybe think about making up bash plates if you'll need them.
I wouldn't do anything more than tyres, and maybe bash plates to a 2wd car. Anything more than that and you might as well buy a 4x4.
No reason why it wouldn't give you some additional help. The Cactus isn't that heavy, so in theory bigger tyres with a larger footprint would give you lower ground pressure. Would probably leave less of a mess/deep trenches than a regular heavy 4x4 with aggressive treads. Plenty of rally cars used to bomb around with only one powered axle - so 2WD vs 4WD isn't as much of an issue for light-off-roading / dirt tracks as you might think.
Just be aware that big fact knobbly tyres also dramatically increase the amount of rolling resistance (esp. on sticky clay) - so what you gain in flotation/lower ground pressure you stand to lose in the fact that the car has to work harder to drive those wheels round. Not so much an issue with a big diesel/v8 4x4 with low range - more of an issue on a 2wd hatchback with a smaller revvy engine. Don't fall into the trap that most of the Suzuki Jimny brigade seem to land themselves in - decking out their small petrol-engined trucks with huge tyres for the looks - only to discover that they bog down far more easily than a stock example on normal(ish) rubber.
I quite like the Cactus (they're interesting in a quirky kind of way) - so would be interested to know how you get on when using it beyond the tarmac.
Just be aware that big fact knobbly tyres also dramatically increase the amount of rolling resistance (esp. on sticky clay) - so what you gain in flotation/lower ground pressure you stand to lose in the fact that the car has to work harder to drive those wheels round. Not so much an issue with a big diesel/v8 4x4 with low range - more of an issue on a 2wd hatchback with a smaller revvy engine. Don't fall into the trap that most of the Suzuki Jimny brigade seem to land themselves in - decking out their small petrol-engined trucks with huge tyres for the looks - only to discover that they bog down far more easily than a stock example on normal(ish) rubber.
I quite like the Cactus (they're interesting in a quirky kind of way) - so would be interested to know how you get on when using it beyond the tarmac.
Search for Yokohama Geolandars AT G015
They are extremely good for what you need them for. I had them on the Forester and now bought them for a Yeti, that's how impressed I am with the great balance between their on road behaviour and how they get through soft road stuff.
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5D__2660 by Woof Snap, on Flickr[/pic]
They are extremely good for what you need them for. I had them on the Forester and now bought them for a Yeti, that's how impressed I am with the great balance between their on road behaviour and how they get through soft road stuff.
[pic]
5D__2660 by Woof Snap, on Flickr[/pic]Gassing Station | Off Road | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff