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BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

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dangerous breed
Posts: 60

BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#1 » Fri Jun 15, 2018 10:54 am

Hey everyone. Any advice/pointers on upsizing tires on my 1980 300GD SWB. I'm looking at the BFG AT KO2's in 33/ 10.5 R15. Will I need spring spacers or wheel spacers or will these fit on the stock suspension? seems like a lot of differing information out there on this topic.

jim
1980 300GD SWB

G Nome
Posts: 7766

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#2 » Fri Jun 15, 2018 11:08 am

Should be fine. May need to trim round frame member behind from tire. Depends which wheels too.

Read this...

http://www.4x4abc.com/G/35.html

Good luck.

Kent

PS I have liked the KO2s I got mine sipes for here in snow country.
Kent
If you need help...I usually have extra zip ties and duct tape.

VolvoC303
Posts: 1512

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#3 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 10:15 am

I run them. Works fine. No need for cutting. You will want 30 or 40mm spacers or it will look kinda stupid. You might want to adjust your steering stops if they touch the arms on hard lock.

You will lose some gearing over a 31" or 235/85 so downshifting is needed a little more on grades but top speed on level ground is slightly better.

dcurbet
Posts: 6454

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#4 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 4:16 pm

If you have the engine power...

VolvoC303
Posts: 1512

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#5 » Sat Jun 16, 2018 6:46 pm

Yeah the 617A can deal with them, to some degree, but if you are NA I'd stick to a 235/85 which is a little less tall. I sometimes want to switch back to a 235 (16" wheel needed) because of the lost gearing with a 33" tire. The advantages off-road of a 33 over a 32 is actually not much at all.

The best performing 4x4 I ever saw in Moab was a very old Land Rover SWB that had 30" tires on it. He had a lot more control over his limited HP and better crawler gearing due to them. That thing out-wheeled everyone in the large club group including Defenders with 35"s and lockers. Of course the driver was the key, but showed how little the tool matters in many cases.

To take it further will require you to start messing with diff ratios etc... not really worth it most times.

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dangerous breed
Posts: 60

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#6 » Mon Jun 18, 2018 9:13 am

Yeah, my G is a 617 NA, 4 spd manual.(1980 SWB) My first G wagen, so I'm really appreciative; this is all really really helpful..... making me lean toward 30/31. I have a set of 30mm spring spacers if needed.
1980 300GD SWB

VolvoC303
Posts: 1512

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#7 » Wed Jun 20, 2018 10:20 pm

A 30" tire looks really wrong on a G. Min. size should be a 31x10.50

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vadimivanovich
Posts: 8643

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#8 » Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:06 am

I've driven a LWB W460 with 33" tires and 617 non-turbo. 55-60 MPH is about what you can achieve, eventually. I think we may have hit 65 a few times - probably downhill. There were many times it was difficult to maintain 40. These tires instigated an engine swap.
"The way you think is the way you live"

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Chris
Posts: 4549

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#9 » Thu Jun 21, 2018 7:31 am

Yes, without swapping the engine, a 300GD na will absalutely work best as a daily use vehicle with factory height 28-29” tall tires.
IG: #traildustrestoration

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cal_w460
Posts: 2205

Re: BFG AT KO2 33/10.5 R15 on a stock w460

Post#10 » Thu Jun 21, 2018 8:56 am

VolvoC303 wrote:A 30" tire looks really wrong on a G. Min. size should be a 31x10.50


31x10.5" is too wide on an older w460 without fender flares and wide axles. Stock rims aren't even made for that width.
w460.333 1982 Colorado Beige 300 GD OM617.931

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