Overland Hadley
on a journey
Good luck with the tire search.
I am glad you guys are taking your time.
Safe travels.
I am glad you guys are taking your time.
Safe travels.
Lost World Expedition (US-Central-South America)
- Thread starter lostworldexpedition
- Start date
lostworldexpedition
Explorer
Well, finding the tire we were looking for was next to impossible. We extended the search to 3 countries! No BFG AT 33X10.5XR15 in Panama, Costa Rica or Nicaragua... Luckily everyone kept saying: "Go to the Panama Zona Libre (duty free zone), they will have it there, they have everything there." At first I kept saying why would they have it there and not at the official BFG dealer in Panama City? When our options ran out we drove to the Zona Libre, which is located at the border between Panama and Costa Rica a typicaly seedy border area. What do you know, first tire place we stop at (not even a BFG dealer) has the tire! The only downside was the $245 price tag...
Now that we have a nice reliable spare we can hit the trails again (we had a used 31" BFG as a spare while we searched). Lucky for us the area around the house we where house sitting is littered with awesome offroad trails. We also discovered that coffee plantations have great trails and caretakers are always happy to allow you through.
We love coffee and having a nice picnic in a plantation was awesome.
Now that we have a nice reliable spare we can hit the trails again (we had a used 31" BFG as a spare while we searched). Lucky for us the area around the house we where house sitting is littered with awesome offroad trails. We also discovered that coffee plantations have great trails and caretakers are always happy to allow you through.
We love coffee and having a nice picnic in a plantation was awesome.
Scott Brady
Founder
Panama is such a great place. Have you driven to Punta Mariato. It is the southernmost point in North America and pretty epic.
I had fantastic $4 plate of lobster along the way. I can send you the track if you need it.
I had fantastic $4 plate of lobster along the way. I can send you the track if you need it.
lostworldexpedition
Explorer
Punta Mariato and the Azuero Peninsula are on the list. There is so much to see here!
BTW Scott, as we searched for the 33" tire I remembered that while we visited the OJ HQ in Prescott you ever so wisely told me to keep my 31" shoes... I shoulda heard. Live and learn. Hopefully someone is taking notes...:victory:
BTW Scott, as we searched for the 33" tire I remembered that while we visited the OJ HQ in Prescott you ever so wisely told me to keep my 31" shoes... I shoulda heard. Live and learn. Hopefully someone is taking notes...:victory:
landcruising
Adventurer
My choice would be the 7.50R16 that is sold the world all over, maybe less in the US? Cheap, any pattern and possible to find in 14 PLY. Comfy ride and pretty indestructible.
Adventurous greetings,
Coen
Adventurous greetings,
Coen
I know your in Panama know but I read previously that you drove just south of Puerta Vallarta. Did you happen to spend any time in Sayulita, just north of PV? I fell in love with that town and have wanted to drive south with that being my destination. Congrats on the new gypsy lifestyle and have fun.
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
Common Tire Sizes in the south?
I'm not a 'world traveler' but from what I've read seems wise to stay with a common tire size that can be found almost anywhere. I would assume the niche tall/narrow 33" tires that have a limited following even in the USA (33/10.50R15 & 255/85R16) would be very difficult to source down there. Heck, they are difficult to find in stock at stores in the USA... just not enough of them being sold.
Can you comment on the availability of some of the most common USA sizes down there? I would think that the:
31x10.50R15, 265/75R16, 235/85R16 might all be fairly common and available in Mexico? True?
What about the larger but still very popular (in USA) 285/75R16?
Are 17" sizes becoming more common there than 15-16" sizes?
If I were going south for an extended period or distance I think I would prefer to carry two spares and use a very common size, tire failure being the most common travel problem. :smiley_drive:
I'm not a 'world traveler' but from what I've read seems wise to stay with a common tire size that can be found almost anywhere. I would assume the niche tall/narrow 33" tires that have a limited following even in the USA (33/10.50R15 & 255/85R16) would be very difficult to source down there. Heck, they are difficult to find in stock at stores in the USA... just not enough of them being sold.
Can you comment on the availability of some of the most common USA sizes down there? I would think that the:
31x10.50R15, 265/75R16, 235/85R16 might all be fairly common and available in Mexico? True?
What about the larger but still very popular (in USA) 285/75R16?
Are 17" sizes becoming more common there than 15-16" sizes?
If I were going south for an extended period or distance I think I would prefer to carry two spares and use a very common size, tire failure being the most common travel problem. :smiley_drive:
Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
Glad someone asked this question. I'm trying to figure out what size tires I should go with on my Central & South American adventure. I was thinking of 31x10.5R15 BFG or maybe even something skinnier. Still don't know if I'll go A/T or M/T. I'd love to hear what's readily available down there. :sombrero:
lostworldexpedition
Explorer
Funny story: two days ago we were washing the Landcruiser in David, Panama and when I ran the soapy sponge over the drivers side rear wheel the valve stem ripped off! Another flat! We can't decide if this was the eight or ninth flat of the year. Pretty crazy, no?
As far as your tire comments... I could not possibly make any categorical statements about tire availability, but I can say that 33x12 R15 AT are readily available (in Panama). 16" wheels are more widespread, we found 33's, lots of metric choices and even 35's are pretty common.
I would say that 31's are a safe bet if you are heading south. My problem was the load rating capacity of 31's.
My original plan was to get 16" wheels and the highest load rating AT I could fit, but budget is a constant battle....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
As far as your tire comments... I could not possibly make any categorical statements about tire availability, but I can say that 33x12 R15 AT are readily available (in Panama). 16" wheels are more widespread, we found 33's, lots of metric choices and even 35's are pretty common.
I would say that 31's are a safe bet if you are heading south. My problem was the load rating capacity of 31's.
My original plan was to get 16" wheels and the highest load rating AT I could fit, but budget is a constant battle....
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Redline
Likes to Drive and Ride
The world is flat on this trip, no? :sombrero:
Makes sense, I can see the more common 16" metric sizes being redialy avaiable.
Makes sense, I can see the more common 16" metric sizes being redialy avaiable.
Luis is becoming a star.
Click on this link for a radio interview with him about the trip. Well done.
http://khum.com/lostworldexpedition
Click on this link for a radio interview with him about the trip. Well done.
http://khum.com/lostworldexpedition
landcruising
Adventurer
7.50 R 16 is the way to go. [personal opinion of course] this relates to your 31" isn't it?
Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
I believe so, thanks for the recommendations :sombrero:
Very good to know, thanks to all. I've been contemplating a swap from my stock 15" wheels to the 16" aluminum OEM option. Are any of you running aluminum wheels or is that ill-advised for PanAm abuse?
Sorry to hijack your thread Luis, but you haven't been posting...I'm having withdrawals! What's the latest of your travels??? Give us more!
landcruising
Adventurer
Although in some places you would be able to repair an aluminum rim, I would not advice it. Steel rims are easily repaired and extremely tough. It also depends on what your aim is. Are you driving trials as well? Or would you be driving roads only [with roads I mean dirt roads as well]. Mostly where locals drive. That also will determine the type of tires you are likely buy.
So I dare say:
- on road tires + aluminum rims
- off road stuff + steel rims
Although we have steel rims with on road tires
Adventurous greetings,
Coen
p.s Luis tells me he will be on the talking trail soon!
Ruined Adventures
Brenton Cooper
Well that puts things in perspective. Steel wheels it is!