Tire Size

[loki]

As far as I am aware, in every instance I have seen the Odometer and Speedometer are driven by a single rotating cable, and the division of speed vs. distance is computed directly within the gauges. I believe it is usually a front wheel for ease of maintenance/installation. (This was the case in my Hyundai Excel, and is the case in my 89' 4Runner).

they are likely driven by the same cable but that doesn't mean there isn't a different size gear here or there between the cable and the needle. Too be perfectly honest though I couldn't really give a rats ass if my odo or speedo are off a little. I tend to base my speed 90% of the time on the flow of traffic.

[Green1]

I tend to base my speed 90% of the time on the flow of traffic.

It's easy to tell if you're speeding in an L300, if it's not a playground zone, you're not speeding

[Drumster]

For me this is as more about fuel consumption than anything else. Having teh numbers line up would be convenient but it's not really that big a deal. With my current set up it's as though I'm missing top gear. A larger diameter tire will give the beast "longer legs".

[Manitoba deli]

My super exceed lwb with 265/70R15's is extreemely accurate. Slightly less than 2%. At 160km on the needle, gps says 157km. At 100km, the needle is still touching 100km. Keep in mind any amount it is out is by a percentage, the slower you go the more accurate it is, and changing tire size should correct both the odometer and the speedometer as they are both calibrated to read to read from the same signal. In a 10km odometer check, mine is bang on.This is just my experience, and my opinion. I will not post again to argue anything, as I still have not had any luck in getting Green1 to admit the l400's have a wastegate on the turbo.

Jason

[FalcoColumbarius]

The Miss Lil' Bitchi, running 235/75R15s, is out 5%.

Falco.

[jwfchase]

My speedo was always out until I gave 'er the lift and 31" tires. Now it's bang on accurate! (checked by GPS)

[Drumster]

My super exceed lwb with 265/70R15's is extremely accurate. Slightly less than 2%. At 160km on the needle, gps says 157km. At 100km, the needle is still touching 100km. ..

Jason

Thank you!
That's exactly the sort of info I can base a decision on. What brand & model are your 165's?
Cheers!
Tim

[jwfchase]

Drumster- I've no idea why, but with the L300's it seems like they were all over the map, vehicle by vehicle, with the variance of speed on needle vs speed on GPS, given the same type of tire. Probably the most accurate way for you to figure out fuel consumption would be to go on a long road trip, and rely strictly on your GPS for distance travelled, vs the litres of fuel you actually put in. You could log the readings from your speedo/odo along side the GPS readings, to give you an idea of the accuracy of yours. I'm sure the L400 is more consistent, but... that GPS is pretty accurate!

[Drumster]

Drumster- I've no idea why, but with the L300's it seems like they were all over the map, vehicle by vehicle, with the variance of speed on needle vs speed on GPS, given the same type of tire. Probably the most accurate way for you to figure out fuel consumption would be to go on a long road trip, and rely strictly on your GPS for distance travelled, vs the litres of fuel you actually put in. You could log the readings from your speedo/odo along side the GPS readings, to give you an idea of the accuracy of yours. I'm sure the L400 is more consistent, but... that GPS is pretty accurate!

It's pretty strange eh? I would hope that the L400's, being a newer model, would have less of this sort of inconsistency. l'll probably do what you & others have suggested with GPS... when I can find the time and assuming I can figure out how to get it to do its thing. It's actually a Pioneer receiver/CD-mp3 player that also happens to have GPS so it's not a dedicated unit like many of you must have.
I really just wanted a decent receiver but thought it'd be good to have GPS too. But evidently my unit's not as user friendly or fuctional as a dedicated GPS.
I do know this much; a larger diameter tire will give me a more accurate reading and improve my hwy fuel consumption. I'm almost annoyed enough with my poor mileage to just go buy new tires but as I've inferred, I don't want to throw away "good money after bad", such as by buying TOO large a tire.
It's basically down to either 265/70 R15 or 30/9.5 R15 and certainly "Manitoba deli"'s experience is positive on the former size. The main thing is that everything be sorted out and all these various projects be done by the Fall when I, my wife & our dog are going on a vacation in the van.

[jessef]

There is no 'speedo' cable on the L400.

It's electronic from the speedo/cluster all the way down to the transfercase where there is a speed sensor that converts from magnets/rotating to electronic signal.

Going from 29-29.5" tires (most of what you guys are running on L400's) will do NOTHING to your speedo/odometer. Maybe maybe 1km/hr difference.

If you are going 2-4" inches larger or smaller diameter, then you will start to see a difference.

[Manitoba deli]

My tires are the Yokohama geolander A/T 265/70R15. I find them to be excellent, but for winter I have a set of studded snow grips, the yokohamas are probably an excellent winter tire also, but I am a firm believer in studs for rural Manitoba.

Jason

[FalcoColumbarius]

235/75R15 Yokohama Geolandar A/T-S's are excellent in the snow, especially when they have chains on them!



Falco.

[Green1]

odd... my geolandars are awful on snow and ice... or maybe I was just spoiled with my old hancooks... either way, the geolandars are now my "summer" tires, have general grabber ATs for winter.

[FalcoColumbarius]

Geolandar what?

[jessef]

Geolander AT-S's are a decent all around tire which means they are not the best in severe conditions.

Geolander's and most all-terrain tires are aweful on snow/ice compared to a winter tire and on mud/rock compared to a mud tire.

Any tire is good in deep snow with quality chains (like yours Falco)