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hey
i have a stock (slightly worn out) L series wagon, 1993 model, it comes with factory sunraisia rims (the sort that the centre bulges towards the outside of the rim) and i'm running 175/70r13 tyres.

I have a very very worn out set of toyo 720's on there, and I need to replace them. I was thinking of pirelli p3000's. Now I haven't done any offroad since I owned the car, however I wouldn't mind taking it for the odd blat off road. Most of my driving is on bitumen in town, and living in orange, a lot is on wet or icy roads, and it did snow the other day.

Anyone got p3000's? would they go good offroad? I'm thinking i'm best off leaving the 13" wheels on and putting the same size tyres on there. As I spend most of my time on the sealed roads, I would like a tyre that is pretty quiet as well, and I'm thinking (I could be wrong) that toyo 720's are perhaps not the quietest tyres in the world?

Robert.

In that tyre size i was not aware of a P3000 and theough they only did a P300? ( i am not going to search this though and will take your word for it)

I have had both and i can tell you that the P3000's i had on my L series i found to be a great on road tyre, in any condition (I did not have them on ice though). For the price i also decided that they lasted very well.

When off road I fond them to be bad in loose gravel when in 2WD (with the 82t I found that they would ‘wander’ and slip really badly and really struggle with boost on) however once 4WD was engaged they were ok as a tyre (as far as 4WDing on road tyers can be).

Given what you want them for I think that you’ll be pleased with the performance/results from the P3000’s.

I had P4000s (not made anymore I don't think) and was very impressed with them both on and off road - slightly more open pattern over the P3000s.

720s are rubbish - weak sidewalls, noisy, expensive, prone to puntures. Are a 'snow and mud tyre - not for off roading' - that was a direct quote from Toyo's technical advisor years ago when I went postal at him over the poor quality of their product

Pirellis are a very good tyre / get what you pay for

sven

I was seriously starting to think that about the toyos, I'm sure that half the noise in my car is road noise from the tyres, and they do not grip well in the wet at all. My other cars have always had something pretty reasonable on them as far as road tyres go, and I get used to that and enjoy having nice sticky tyres. The 720's didn't look like something that would be quiet or grippy on the road.

I start a new job as a pizza delivery driver on monday in the L series, not long after I start I'm planning on lashing out $95 each for P3000's. No more wheel spin in the under powered L series

Hopefully I may pick up a bit of fuel economy as well with new tyres. Then its onto CV boots, shock absorbers, and finally fit a new stereo

Thanks for your replies, its good to hear from someone else with the same car that what you are thinking about doing is going to work well.

Last month I put a set of Bridgestone Regattas on the front of my L - very happy with them. Currently mainly doing sealed road work, but reciently have taken them offroad.

Not real good in my mind - never had 4wd specific tyres, they will come with a better job and some time.

For a road tyre they surprised me offroad, yes they clagged up with clay but still did okay for what they are. Next test will be on an upcoming 4wd trip in the cobaw forest.

Road noise - turn up the stereo, that'll solve it

Cheers

Bennie

cant agree with you about the 720s fellas, i have had them on my L since i got it and had no dramas... yes sidewalls are a bit soft but you gotta expect that with a small tyre... these are not made for full on off roading, buit i have just returned from a trip to alice with two brand newies on the front and two older well worn ones on the back and did some pretty riough rocky rds up there such as oodnadatta track with no probs,
no more noisy than any other muddies i have run on my hilux and patrol over the years...
bit exepensive but you get wat you pay for i reckon... those p3000s look like road tyres... dont expect miracles from them in the dirt...
cheers

I don't think I'm going to spend enough time off road to worry too much. Pirelli p3000's it is

rob83ke70 wrote:I don't think I'm going to spend enough time off road to worry too much. Pirelli p3000's it is

Hi, looking at new tyres as well. Where are you getting your P3000s and if you don't mind me asking, how much are they costing ?

Are they M+S rated ?

I was going to get p3000's from jax tyres in orange for about $90 each (i think, i can't remember for sure). I have since serviced a handful of small cars like barinas and excels and decided that p400's would be the go, and they are cheaper. I range up jax and asked about the p400's, but they no longer make them, despite them being very popular. I was offered either the p3000 or a bf goodrich sport. The p3000 I am told will not handle dirt or offroad very well even as far as road tyres go as it is a really soft grippy tyre, and it will tear itself to pieces. the bfg on the other hand will handle dirt and offroad (as much as a road tread will anyway). I went with the bfg's, and the car is unbeleivably quieter on the road now!! you can throw it into corners without understeer, and its much harder to spin the wheels (although i took off twice straight after getting the tyres and it had just started to rain and i spun them twice both times from a standstill). I am happy with how the tread looks, and how the tyres perform, and they were on special for around $70 or so retail, I paid a bit less

now I can hear what is and isn't noisy in the gearbox... and the shock absorbers are noisy too... give me a few weeks and I will probably fix the shockies first now