Technical 185/65R15 on a 4x4 Climbing

[Zantus]

I want use my Panda 4x4 Climbing for quite a bit of gravel road use, but unfortunately the stock road tyres don't like it and I shredded a tyre on my first gravel journey.

After lots of searching, there just aren't any tough "All Terrain" type tyres readily available in South Africa for 14", so at the moment my best option is to go up 15" rims and then I can get hold of 185/65R15 Pirelli Scorpion ATR's.

The question is, will they fit on my standard 4x4 Climbing model and if they will rub, where will they rub?

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

Might be worth checking some of the online 'tyre size calculators'. The 186/65s on a 14in rim are quite tight already at the front, especially on full lock. (see here for an example http://www.etyres.co.uk/tyre-size-calculator)

By going up an inch in diameter with the wheel, you will likely need a lower profile on the tyre itself. Staying with 185/65, the tyres on 15" wheels end up an inch bigger in diameter too -- great for adding half an inch of ground clearance (and making your speedo read wrong but maybe too big to fit?

 

[Caravadossi]

What can Goodyear Uitenhage offer?
They have Ford & VW quality awards.
The Vector 4S (if available) is OE fit on the 500L Trekking

261752Z

 

[lanciaman]

Not that it really answers the question but I have run our Climbing with 195/65/14s and that leaves very little room spare. In saying that, the Panda Cross runs 15 wheels so what do they have on them?

 

[Wilqaeda]

Look for gravel rally tyres, you can get them in quite small diameters

http://www.demon-tweeks.co.uk/motorsport/competition-tyres/maxsport-rb3-tyre

Have reinforced sidewalls too stopping a lot of cuts.

 

[Zantus]

Thanks for the replies so far.

I've been searching and so far a 185/60R15 Dunlop rally tyre looks like the best option.A lot tougher that the standard tyres and just more that 1% bigger, so they will at least fit without any rubbing. If i can get hold of them, I will put them onto 15" Palio steel rims and use those wheels for weekends away.

I have a friend who's an applications engineer at Good Year Uitenhage and does the same kind of gravel roads than me, and he just said there is nothing they can offer in such a small size that can take the beating the tyres have to take on our local gravel roads.

 

[Zantus]

I eventually found a supplier in South africa that sells 185/65R14 Dunlop rally tyres, but since they will wear quickly on tar, I will be getting a second set of steel rims for gravel trips.

With the rally tyres a lot tougher than the standard tyres, they should be the solution to my problem.

 

[chopsuk]

If it helps anyone, an 195/65 R15 GoodYear Vector was accidentally fitted to the front offside (UK) of my 2015 Panda Cross, in place of the 185/65 R15. It fouls the wheel arch, when on hard right lock.

 

[Goudrons]

Have a look at Maxsport tyres.
The do E marked (so road legal) rally and grass track tyres.

I think their RB1 & RB1F have reinforced side walls and come in the Panda 4x4's original 165/70/14 size.