445/65r22.5 tyres on a u1300?

[frenchian]

I'm looking to source some larger tyres to increase the speed and reduce revs for next years trip. I've been offered some 445/65r22.5 Michelins XZLs at a good price - according to the online tyre calculator (http://www.club80-90syncro.co.uk/Syncro_website/TechnicalPages/TRC%20calculator.htm) these would increase speed/decrease revs by about 10%. The supplier would provide rims (but he'll have to modify the centres to fit the 6-stud mog hubs).

Has anyone had any experience of running tyres of this size - and are there any drawbacks that I need to know about?

Thanks,

Ian

[normalbloke]

Have you looked into replacements while on your trip if needed?A fully loaded u1300 is a pretty underpowered beast as well.I suspect you'll not be holding your top speed too often!

[frenchian]

The replacement issue is something that I'm looking into - it looks as if 1300 x 20s are more easily available - but the plan is to take 5 tyres on rims and one unmounted as backup.
The spare is going to stay in it's original position - I'm wondering just what size tyre/wheel I can physically get in there!
If funding permits, I'll be looking at getting a turbo fitted - Atkinsons have a deal going that doesn't break the bank - the real issue is to get the revs down on the long stretches in Europe where road surfaces are better.

ian

[frenchian]

Interestingly enough - putting the 1300 x 20s (365/85r20) into the website shows that they'll give me +8% on speed - I may end up going down this route in that they're apparently easier to find in Africa. Anyone any experience of these in Michelin XZL?

[normalbloke]

Try the Benzworld forums for a few reviews of the Michelins,I believe they have nothing but praise for them.If you are going for an Atkinson turbo conversion, make sure you budget for ALL the parts,especially on the exhaust side of things.
I am currently collecting parts to do a turbo conversion on my U1000,which already has a 130bhp pump on that I got from Atkinson.
I am running 405/70/20 and it still needs changing down with that gearing on medium hills.I also am running the Mog as a toy, and as such it is unloaded.also I have an EGT fitted and as such am probably driving it more cautiously than many.
I am looking forward to the turbo going on,then wil be chargecooling it additionally.I have just listed a winch for the square body Mogs on fleabay if you think you'll get stuck anywhere!
Good luck.

[jamie_grieve]

Hi there, regarding the XZL tyre in Africa. Untill three months ago I was the fleet/workshop manager for a charity working in Angola which has roads the equal of anywhere else in Africa.
Different tyres seemed to work well in different sizes on different vehicles. We stopped using the XZL on heavy trucks in favour of the Continental HSO The XZL was/is still the best tyre for the lighter vehicles. We used 365/85 R20 xzl and 12.5 R20's for loads of applications.
Most of our heavier trucks running duals mostly ran 1300 R22.5 which is easily available most places and would be my recomendation for the Mog given the power to weight. The wider more exotic tyres will be harder to replace, harder to push through the sand and more likely to pull you about the place and give bearings a hard time etc.
Our most common tyre was the Goodyear G388 which in 1200 x 20 seemed to be the best all rounder for around 30 light 4x4 trucks.
If I had my way, I wanted to convert everything to 1400 x 20. We only used different tyres because we had lots of different rims. 1400 x 20's exist anywhere the host country had eastern bloc vehicles but not widely available everywhere.
The largest most aggressive tyres we used on truck based equipment was Michelin MPT in a 475/85 R20 which were fantastic things which hardly ever got punctures or problems but you'd need lots of clearance to run them.
Back to Africa in a Mog, I'd leave it standard and go slow. If you twisted my arm I'd probably go for the 1300 R 22.5 because you can get them easily.
Good luck!