13" tire question...

[mr_ed]

Ok I know it's a little car-sized tire, but does anybody know of a manufacturer who makes a more aggressive tire for a 13" rim? Something along the lines of a hardcore snow tire...maybe even into the mud terrain-style realm?

Reason I ask: I have a 93 Subaru Loyale 4WD 5-speed. I'm putting a dual range tranny in, as well as a lift-3-4 inches.

The wheels on these subies are a 4 lug pattern used only by subaru and peugeot. So to get 14 and 15 inch rims on the subie my options are to buy Peugeot rims (+$400...expensive), buy custom made 14" steel rims (also +$400...expensive), or do the trick of pulling two of the lugs, putting an older 6 lug Nissan pickup rim on the hub, and drilling out the four other holes and putting lugs in them...now it a six lugger in a common pattern (I'm leaning towards this option right now).

But I figured I'd see if there's anything out there for a 13" rim before I go to drilling. I've been looking around online with little success, just thought I'd ask here before I give up...

Thanks for any help guys!

Ed

PS if I go with a 14 or 15" rim I'll probably be putting BF Goodrich ATs or a small MT on it...27-28 inch tire.

 

[jagular7]

What is the spacing on the 4 bolts? Would a 1-ton 8lug wheel, which is 8on6.5, fit on the 4-lugs? Or would the newer metric spacing 8-lug wheel work? With newer, you'll get 17" standard wheels all day.

 

[sandalscout]

I don't know if they ever actually made them to the states, but a few years ago, a VERY affordable rally tire called "Black Rockets" were supposed to get over here. Might look at some of those.

 

[BiG BoB]

BFG AT's only go down to 14" but I guess they'll fit the Pug rims if you find some cheap.

Sean

 

[mr_ed]

What is the spacing on the 4 bolts? Would a 1-ton 8lug wheel, which is 8on6.5, fit on the 4-lugs? Or would the newer metric spacing 8-lug wheel work? With newer, you'll get 17" standard wheels all day.

4 on 140mm = 4X5.5" so its gotta be something with five and a half inch spacing. Good idea though I hadn't thought of that if I happen across some eight luggers in that spacing I'll have to give it a shot.

I checked on the Black Rockets...they look cool but the 13 inch tires only come in the same size as the tires I have now, which is way too small for comfort IMO for Schofield Pass...yep I'm gonna take this baby over Mosquito and Schofield :victory: I figure why not on local trails it easily waddles through stuff my lifted Discover would struggle over Anyway I think I'm going to just grab the next set of cheap stock 6X5.5" rims I find and go ahead and do some drilling. the only thing I feel I might have trouble with is finding dead center of each lug hole before I drill it. I have access to a real nice metal shop so the actual drilling will happen on a press that's bigger then the car. Anybody got ideas on the best way to determine exact dead center of the four new lug holes once I have the new rim bolted on (with the remaining two original lugs)?

Ed

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Ed, took some pics of the new muddies I just fitted to my L Series (pretty sure it’s the same as your Loyale in the US). I didn’t even look for 13”s but with the 14’s it is geared as high as you could get away with. They are Hankook RT01 Dynamic MT (27 x 8.50R14LT). In the first pic is one of the old Nankang Wild Country - Super Tripper (27 x 8.50R14LT) up along side. These were the most common 14” offroad tyres run on Subarus up until recently when they were taken off the market. The new model Nankang is more “road” orientated.

The guys who supply us with truck tyres at work did me a good deal on the Hankooks but I couldn’t find anyone around who had actually tried them on a Subaru before. I used to hang out on www.ausubaru.com.au. Really good forum for getting tech support. There are a lot of modified subies here and that sight is one of the best.

Anyway I took the gamble and just had my first offroad trip with them >>>>100 k’s up the beach then inland sand tracks and deep gravel forestry roads on the way home yesterday. Awesome . I only ran them at about 20 Psi but if I had of looked like getting into trouble I’m sure I could have dropped them down to maybe 14. They give a very long footprint which we found out with the beach trucks we build is more important than a wide footprint. The rims I use are made here buy a company that mainly builds Landcruiser / Nissan Patrol rims, however I believe they are offset out to wide and I had to do some serious panel beating to stop them from rubbing on full lock. I think the Peugeot rims are better. Also I ran 2WD Subaru sedan rear shocks (which are a couple of inches higher) with King Springs (locally made heavy duty coils for Subies)

Most guys here do a body lift as well but for sand I prefer to keep it as low as possible ( or should I say only as high as I have too to avoid tyre rubbing issues). 2” & 3” lifts are quite common but anything over this isn’t legal in Oz. I don’t think I’ll ever do a lift but I am considering welding the rear diff next as I do more offroad miles in it than on. (Maybe even free wheeling hubs fitted to the rear axle, don’t know if it’s been done before but would work well if I weld the rear diff) Would still be cheaper than a 2nd hand LSD from an RS Turbo.

BTW Yesterday I went straight around a new Jeep who was seriously bogged on the beach. ( He had plenty of help though) Very rare to get really stuck in the Sub.

Ed, Always good to talk to another L series owner, especially here on ExPo.

Regards John

 

[Superu]

Something along the lines of a hardcore snow tire...maybe even into the mud terrain-style realm?

Nokian and Hankook both make 13" winter tires that would work on your Subie. Not quite as aggressive as an A/T but better than a standard road tire.

 

[BrandX]

look at interco they make superswamper tires and such but they make them from 52 inch monsters down to atv tires.good luck

 

[ntsqd]

Easiest way to find center are Transfer Punches. These will find the center of a hole and transfer it, but are not center punches. Make a mark and then center punch on the mark.
HF makes a cheap set: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3577

 

[mr_ed]

Hi Ed, took some pics of the new muddies I just fitted to my L Series (pretty sure it’s the same as your Loyale in the US). I didn’t even look for 13”s but with the 14’s it is geared as high as you could get away with. They are Hankook RT01 Dynamic MT (27 x 8.50R14LT). In the first pic is one of the old Nankang Wild Country - Super Tripper (27 x 8.50R14LT) up along side. These were the most common 14” offroad tyres run on Subarus up until recently when they were taken off the market. The new model Nankang is more “road” orientated.

The guys who supply us with truck tyres at work did me a good deal on the Hankooks but I couldn’t find anyone around who had actually tried them on a Subaru before. I used to hang out on www.ausubaru.com.au. Really good forum for getting tech support. There are a lot of modified subies here and that sight is one of the best.

Anyway I took the gamble and just had my first offroad trip with them >>>>100 k’s up the beach then inland sand tracks and deep gravel forestry roads on the way home yesterday. Awesome . I only ran them at about 20 Psi but if I had of looked like getting into trouble I’m sure I could have dropped them down to maybe 14. They give a very long footprint which we found out with the beach trucks we build is more important than a wide footprint. The rims I use are made here buy a company that mainly builds Landcruiser / Nissan Patrol rims, however I believe they are offset out to wide and I had to do some serious panel beating to stop them from rubbing on full lock. I think the Peugeot rims are better. Also I ran 2WD Subaru sedan rear shocks (which are a couple of inches higher) with King Springs (locally made heavy duty coils for Subies)

Most guys here do a body lift as well but for sand I prefer to keep it as low as possible ( or should I say only as high as I have too to avoid tyre rubbing issues). 2” & 3” lifts are quite common but anything over this isn’t legal in Oz. I don’t think I’ll ever do a lift but I am considering welding the rear diff next as I do more offroad miles in it than on. (Maybe even free wheeling hubs fitted to the rear axle, don’t know if it’s been done before but would work well if I weld the rear diff) Would still be cheaper than a 2nd hand LSD from an RS Turbo.

BTW Yesterday I went straight around a new Jeep who was seriously bogged on the beach. ( He had plenty of help though) Very rare to get really stuck in the Sub.

Ed, Always good to talk to another L series owner, especially here on ExPo.

Regards John

Hey man thanks for the info! x2 on talking to a fellow L series owner!

The gearing issue is one thing I'm worried about. I found an outfit here stateside making 4.11 gearsets but they're for Outbacks not L series and even so they cost 3 times what I paid for the car. Do you think an L series with a dual range tranny in lo range would be geared low enough to allow the car to be able to ease up some steep rocky roads (not hardcore rockcrawling mind you) with 27 inch tires?

Love the rims man!

Ed

 

[mr_ed]

Easiest way to find center are Transfer Punches. These will find the center of a hole and transfer it, but are not center punches. Make a mark and then center punch on the mark.
HF makes a cheap set: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/ctaf/displayitem.taf?Itemnumber=3577

BRILLIANT!! :victory:

 

[whatcharterboat]

Hi Ed, Like I said I wouldn't go any higher. I spend alot of time in 1st Low and often wish there was more so if you wanted to run the 14's up hills you might only just get away with it. There was different ratios in different models available but what a hassle swapping would be. Easier to drop an EJ engine in. They have alot more torque down low and would be more suitable for what you want to do. Check on that website for all the swap tips.

Love the rims man!

Hey, the yellow paint was free and the black was going to cost me bigtime. I'm not normally that loud.

I found an outfit here stateside making 4.11 gearsets but they're for Outbacks not L series and even so they cost 3 times what I paid for the car.

I think there is a company here that does extra low "crawler" low range sets for Outbacks but like you say "Overcapitalizing". My wagon cost a weeks wages and it's always rusting away up the beach. What I am trying to say is that we get out and use it all the time. When I had a late Pajero which was far more capable offroad, I was too worried about damage and maintenance to put it in harms way.

I'm just about to retire the wagon but I am looking for another one that I can just swap all of the good bits over too. The rust is getting into the gaurds and a few other spots . If I get time next year I will make a front fibreglass clip (hood and gaurds) and a removable alloy bar so that I can wash down the front after a beach trip. Also a lot easier to do maintenance on and less to rust.

BTW there was a company here that used to do shooting/hunting/beach buggies based on Subies. Rhinobuggies. They used to run 12" ATV rims (made to fit Subi stud pattern) and tyres. Maybe a set of those would be OK to slip on for weekend trips in the trails.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Originally Posted by ntsqd
Easiest way to find center are Transfer Punches. These will find the center of a hole and transfer it, but are not center punches. Make a mark and then center punch on the mark.
HF makes a cheap set: http://www.harborfreight.com/cpi/cta...temnumber=3577

I've said this before, Thom. You're definitely worth more money. John.

 

[whatcharterboat]

Ed I just realised we had already spoken about engine swaps and the Ausubaru site in the "Another Subaru " thread awhile back. Doh. Sorry. Don't mind me.

 

[mr_ed]

Ed I just realised we had already spoken about engine swaps and the Ausubaru site in the "Another Subaru " thread awhile back. Doh. Sorry. Don't mind me.

No worries! I'm glad to talk to ya about your experience with the 27" tires! It's making me rethink my plans, maybe stick with something a little smaller, just more aggressive since I'm going to be throwing some 12,000-13,000 foot high mountain passes into this mix.

Either that or just take the mighty Cummins ROFSheriffHL:

Ed