limon32

I'm buying a 1990 5 speed pickup with the 3.0L and i would like to put tires on it optimized for sand beaches.

I have searched and read on this and other Toyota sites for a week straight now and I can't seem to find any good advice on tire width and height optimized for running on sand.

The truck has 1.5" lift in the back and nothing in the front. I'm not adverse to lifting the truck further if I have to but i'd rather spend the money on lockers/winch/etc.

I was thinking something in an A/T tread in something like 31X12.50-15 if I can find them (not so much luck so far) or 32X11.50-15 (which I have found a few).

Does anyone have any experience running 31X10.50-15 on beaches with success?

Thanks in advance.

TOYOTA 1

wide tires are best, i liked the way my 33x12.50's worked.

the type of tread pattern or how tall you choose the tire to be wont matter much in the sand, unless its a paddle

Ive had 10.50's on the sand before they worked OK but a wider tire is much better.

limon32

Thanks for the reply, I was thinking something like a bogger might be closer to a paddle tire but i've read a lot of posts indicating "mud" type tires will "dig" in the sand rather than "float". Any thoughts on that?

TOYOTA 1

no problem!

boggers work good in the sand. i mean there like a paddle

if they were really skinny boggers they would dig to fast..

if you plan on driving allot on the pavement don't get boggers lol
(wear fast and are noisy)

904_runner

Check out the interco trxus sts? i thought i heard they were good for sand.. but ive never had any experience with them..

limon32

I really apreciate the continued input. I have looked at the Interco tires in the 33X13.50-15s and I thought those would make a great sand tire thought I thought I read a few posts stating tires that wide might not handle all that well with stock steering, any thoughts?

Also curious what kind of back spacing would be required for a tire that wide? Not a super common sized tire and I haven't seen any info on backspacing for that wide of a tire.

Thanks again for the help!

red87

BFG ATs seem to do well in sand, some of the desert racing guys use them. You don't want an aggressive tread pattern because they will just dig in and get you stuck. I've never been stuck in the desert on my 31x10.5 BFG ATs. I know beach sand is probably a little different but my experiences can't be that different. A 33x13.5 will not fit your truck at stock height without cutting. The biggest is a 33x10.50.

limon32

Thanks for the input on tire size. I'm glad to hear your 31-10.50s do well in the desert, I may just stick with that size. Did those fit on the stock 7" rims or did you get new rims?

I added about 2 inches to the front with new SwayAWay torsion bars. Plan to add about 3 inches to the rear (they sent the wrong parts 1st time around). I want to try and clear 33-12.50s with that amount of lift and a little trimming, sound reasonable? I was thinking about a 1" or 2" body lift on top of the suspension if I have to to clear the 33-12.50s.

Thanks for the help!

tj884Rdlx

my best experience with sand was with bald tires. really. because there's no tread to dig, i'd float on top so much better.

i've found that on sand, its not the type of tire that matters as much as how much you air down. air down to about 12 lbs and you'll move through sand easily.

my recommendation to you is buy whatever tire you like the look of, and then go get a decent little portable air compressor. so you can air way down without worrying how you'll get back on pavement later.

Crinale

I run my 91 4Runner on the pismo Dunes (google oceano dunes)... Never even have to air down my 31x10.5 Remington Wide Brutes... Our trucks are light, and dont need tires that wide for sand

limon32

Awsome, sure appreciate all the continued input. I think i'm going to settle for 31x10.50-15s. Our beaches will still be frozen for a few more weeks but when I get the tires on and the beach thaws out i'll post some pics and feedback on whatever tires I end up with.

needlepimp

I've even aired down to zero to get out of some spots.

Crinale

Just as a note tho, even tho the 31/10.5s are good, i think i will be upsizing to 32/11.5 next time i get tires...

limon32

I have been looking at 32/11.50-15 Wildcats, there only like $15 each more than 31/10.50-15s. Are you going to put the 32/11.50s on stock 7" wide rims? I was thinking about trying to fit them on the stock rims but I don't want them to wear fast or handle bad. Any thoughts?

Crinale

no, they'll be goin on 8" wide Cragar Soft 8's... 7" might be too narrow to run anything bigger than the 31s... you might want to invest in some new rims...

limon32

I think I'll stick with 31/10.50-15s for now, i'll work on some 8" wide rims and 33/12.50s in a couple years. Thanks for the advice!

Crinale

just an update, as we are heading into summer... (here in Cali anyway):

i no longer can drive out on the sand dunes without airing down... even in 4wd. But aired down sufficiently i can still mob around in 2wd with the 31x10.5's

limon32

Well I ended up finding some 31x10.50 Goodyear A/Ts at the local second hand shop. Since I have acces to tire mounting equipment at work I picked up the well used ATs (probably 33% tread left). The look like someones stock takeoffs but I figured for sand they should work out.

Turns out you guys were absolutely right, the truck does GREAT with 10.50 wide tires.

A co-worker of mine has an 86 with 12.50s and he glides over the sand with NO effort. I think when I'm rich i'm still going to look at some 31x12.50 TSLs on 15x8s.

Crinale

sweet deal, how much u pick them up for?

grant526

I've run both A/T and M/Ts in both 31x10.50 and 33x12.50 at Pismo and have had no issues or complaints. Definitely air down and you'll have no issues. My buddy runs 33x12.59 BFG A/Ts and loves them! They appear to me to be one of the better tires for sand. I would have thought Muds would work better, but the A/Ts do GREAT!!! Hard or soft 2wd or 4wd!

Post some pics of your truck and the beaches when everything thaws out, please. We're all curious.

Enjoy your new tires!