Paddle tires....

[Yummi]

[sandycrack]

I like the sand blaster pro's as they have 2 different size paddles so you choose the size you want for your set up.  They are not as flat as some so sliding is not as good, but they are good tires.  I bought 17X33 and I know those are too tall for your set up.  Good luck!

[fabr]

How much air you run in those yummi?

[Yummi]

15 psi.

[fabr]

How heavy is the bug? Reason I ask is because I'm considering going to a taller tire and running the 091 in 3rd. It just seems like @1800+ pounds the tire is not quite enough.

[Yummi]

I have not weighed it.  Local parts house "Fodrills" the guy that owns it has a very nice Baja. He said his came in at about 2800#.  My guess until I weigh it is 3,000.  Lot of body work etc and it really feels heavy.  Works great in the whoops though. 

[fabr]

WOW!!!!

[Carlriddle]

Didn't think a VW could weight 3k.  Paddles are short, is the 100 plus the taller paddle one?  wheel spin is not always bad

[fabr]

Didn't think a VW could weight 3k.  Paddles are short, is the 100 plus the taller paddle one?  wheel spin is not always bad

If there's enough HP to really spin them.

[Nutz4sand]

I would suggest trying lower pressure before anything else.

I see guys at Silver Lake all the time with old school VW rails (light weight) with paddles and they cannot even climb the big hill there. They spin the paddles right down and dig holes. You can see no sidewall flex while they are moving realllly slow.

I tell them to lower the air pressure and they just look at me and say. "But I've got paddles!"

I just laugh usually or look away. It is often about the air pressure.

I also know that our fullsize trucks we take out into the dunes until we are below 15 psi they are worthless. Of course those tires are common truck street tires and totally different construction but going from 20psi which is down from 44 psi (street driving pressure) make zero differance. To 15 you get a little feel but at 11 or 12 psi you reallllly start to feel the differance and 10 or maybe 9psi is FAR better yet for hill climbing.

Some of the guys with large $$$$ tires run 6psi and less. Great ride and traction just don't attempt donuts or you peel the tire off the bead. Same goes for anything less than 12 psi for the donuts.

[Yummi]

Nutz,

Don't really want to go down much lower.  Thought about that.  Used to run the JP car at about 12.  Trouble here is the weight and the center of gravity.  Feels like the car wants to roll over onto the tire at much lower pressure.  With trucks, etc you are not really pushing it too much at 10 / 15 mph.  Hard corner at 30 / 40 mph and it is a different game.

This car is all about the trade offs.  Nothing is perfect and I knew that going in.  Will never be a total dune killer.  In fact my guess is it will shine the most in the desert.  Most dual sports tend to do much better in the desert than the dunes. 

As yes Fabr, upgrade to 3.5 is in the plan.  Should get some more power, but we had to address tranny issues before we put out more power.  No turbos, etc as I want as bullet proof as possible.  Again, trade offs. 

[MC]

Would have to agree its not that you don't have enough tire its that you have way to much air. Your just digging. Try 10. Your already a plus width and #2 paddles are a BIG STEP.

[fabr]

Nutz,

Don't really want to go down much lower.  Thought about that.  Used to run the JP car at about 12.  Trouble here is the weight and the center of gravity.  Feels like the car wants to roll over onto the tire at much lower pressure.  With trucks, etc you are not really pushing it too much at 10 / 15 mph.  Hard corner at 30 / 40 mph and it is a different game.

This car is all about the trade offs.  Nothing is perfect and I knew that going in.  Will never be a total dune killer.  In fact my guess is it will shine the most in the desert. Most dual sports tend to do much better in the desert than the dunes. 

As yes Fabr, upgrade to 3.5 is in the plan.  Should get some more power, but we had to address tranny issues before we put out more power.  No turbos, etc as I want as bullet proof as possible.  Again, trade offs.

Same here.Much better for me. I'm ready.When/where we going?    i agree ,reliable is a plus.

[fabr]

I'd try the 10 in the sand first.If that doesn't get what you want,taller is better IF your gear ratios would allow it.

[Dunebound69]

I had the same tire. They dont hold the power. Worked great on my old 1600cc vw car. But slipped all the time on my new one with a 3.8 gm. Now have 14.50 extremes. Heavy bastards, but they grip.