Tire Size

[Jaz]

...as I still have not had any luck in getting Green1 to admit the l400's have a wastegate on the turbo.

What, you mean like the gold thing hanging off this TF035 OEM L400 replacement turbo?

http://jrone.en.alibaba.com/product/222 ... 035_4.html

Well, the gold thing's not the wastegate itself (its the pressure diaphram that controls the amount the 'gate opens, and hence how much boost its bleeding off), but the hinge the bar leads to at the bottom certainly is above the 'gate itself.

Its an interesting thing actually, but the TF035 is the standard turbo you'll find on first generation Subaru Foresters, and a common upgrade for them is to a Mitsu TD04 or 05. Could be a worthy upgrade for earlier 400's, as it looks like they got the TD04 later in their life too. Never knew they shared that turbo - sorry for the off topic!

[Green1]

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.

Mine are Geolandar A/T-S (if it makes any difference, they are the ones that came with the delica from Japan, they are "DOT" stamped, so I sorta thought they were the same thing that is sold over here under the same name), comparing them to the Hankook all-season (not winter) radials (not AT tires, simply street tires) that I had on my L300 the Geolandar's are significantly worse on ice. I have been disappointed by their winter performance.

They are staying on for the summer, but next winter I'm using the General Grabber AT/2 tires that I have on my other rims, they have the little snowflake in the mountain symbol on them so I hope that means they'll be a better winter tire than the Geolandars are. (And sometime this summer I'm sure I'll get to test if the Geolandars are half decent off-road (again compared to my old street tires on the L300)

[FalcoColumbarius]

The last letters make a big difference to what they are designed for. I have the A/T-S and I have found them to be really dependable in just about every application I have put them to. In snow they are generally good to six or maybe eight inches. On the clean dry highway they are quiet due to their "five pitch block variation" and "multi-step" treads, I find this very convenient on long hauls. They are soft-er so I have found that they tend to stick to ice better ~ bearing in mind that we are talking about ice where nothing is guaranteed and one should "drive accordingly". Regarding deep snow... I wouldn't go into it with just tyres ~ just like I wouldn't go swimming with snowshoes. That's what the chains are for, they have been good at two feet ploughing a steep grade @20degrees.

One thing to bear in mind is whenever I venture off on any loose surface I tend to drop her into 4H as a matter of protocol. So if I am on snow & ice..... 4H.

On wet highway I find that I am generally attached to the tarmac, again drive accordingly, especially if it has be dry for the last while because of the oil on the road. Still, they have this cool "zig-zag" tread pattern for channelling the water and each lug splits and sucks to the road.... I see this on the tread and that is what they claim, but who knows. I have however stopped very fast in wet conditions and have yet to hydroplane. If it is really wet out I don't go fast so that may be a factor in tyre performance.

Off road? I love them. They stick to rocks and generally grab. Mind you if it gets really muddy & thick they tend to fill up. Once I am out of the mud they seem to lose the mud so I guess that's okay. I have only ever aired down once and I really don't think it made any difference as that terrain I tackled was not unique in my experience, I would be more inclined to air down when it comes to sand dunes but for BC.... nah besides they have these low profile side treads that work on the side.

Off road in six inch snow... they tend to slip on angles, so... they're not perfect. But you know? They are due for replacement this Summer and I'm gonna get Yokohamas again because I really dig them!

I guess it is a matter of personal taste.

Falco.

[Green1]

Well, all I can compare them to is what I had before, and on ice, they are definitely inferior to the Hankooks. That's the only place I've had any concern with them so-far, however I have yet to do much off-roading with them, so only time will tell on that part.