Beach Tires for Carova

I just recently bought my first Tundra. Its replacing the family wrangler. I have never had issues on the beach with tire selection. Jeeps light and any all terrain tire worked fine. Never had to air down. Now I am looking for a good beach tire for a stock Tundra CM. Since the tundra is heavier, and tires narrower, I am not sure what size to buy. I have 20 inch wheels and would like to get tires a bit taller and wider without lifting the truck. I have been looking at a Mickey Thompson 285/55/20 atz. seems like a good tire.
If anyone has a good suggestion for a tire I would appreciate it. Not looking for a ultra expensive tire. Would prefer one that doesn't need to be aired down.

 

With the weight of the Tundra and the 20 inch wheel I think you will be hard pressed to find a beach tire that doesn't need to be aired down. I have drove on without airing down but unless it was super packed sand the truck did not like it. That being said I have had good luck with my Nitto EXO grapplers on the beach.

 

The stock Michelin ATs have worked fine for me on Oregon inlet. Tundra is a lot heavier than the Jeep make sure you air down OP.

 

Air down! If you don't it f's up the tracks for everyone else. Plus it's harder on the engine.. don't be lazy.. get the right gear or don't go on the beach.. the best sand tires have very little tread.. mud tires dig u in

 

@Spitfire Thank you for posting this. That is the single most important thing to driving on the beaches in NC. My Michelin street tires have always done great on the beach. And yes I have had the big AT/MT tires on trucks. Read the the rules and regulations. They recommend 17/18 lbs of pressure. You don't need to worry about airing back up when you hit the highway to get back to your cottage. I have spent weeks down there and the whole time have not aired back up until I was ready to head home. If you are worried about it air hoses are not hard to find. Most tackle shops have them. Or best have an on board air supply.

 

I always say, "just because you can doesn't mean you should". I have driven on several beaches in TX and the Outer banks where I would have been fine not airing down. However, I always air down for all the reason already mentioned. Why people don't take the extra time to do this simple task is beyond me, it is better for your vehicle and the others driving on the same beach.

 

I've been out in the beaches of obx many times with my tacoma. It had 17" wheels, I had the stock tires once and different AT tires other times. They all did fine, but you definetly want to air down. If anything you'd want to get smaller wheels and taller tires to allow more squat and flotation when airing down. I pulled out a BMW X5 and a Mercedes SUV with 20 inch wheels and low profile tires that weren't aired down. On the beach the more sidewall + airing down is the ideal.
You will be fine without airing down for the most part but it's way better for your truck to do so.

 

Your money may be better spent on some auto deflater valve stem covers (I think stant makes some that you set at a certain PSI and drive away) and a good air compressor, if what your looking is just a beach upgrade.
If you want new tires anyway, you'll be hard pressed to find one that's as good on the beach as airing down your stock tires.

 

Staun air deflatotors are great.. Have had them for 15 years. Still in great shape

 

Grab yourself an ARB EZ-Deflator. I've been using one for the last couple years and it does fine. If you don't air down, some jabronie in an F150 is gonna have to pull you out, and no one wants to see that. Spring for a good compressor so you can air up when ready to go home. The public inflators are not the greatest, and there will be a line to use them if you're leaving on a Friday or Saturday. I picked up a Vi-Air model on the cheap and it inflates all four of my tires in under 15 minutes. Buy once, cry once as the adage goes. Make sure you are carrying the proper kit, folding shovel, extinguisher, aid kit, decent recovery rope/strap. Better to over-prepare and not need anything, than get into a tight spot when the tide comes in and have nothing.

 

I have a line on 4 rock warrior 2012 wheels 17 inch. I figured I could air those down a lot more that the 20 inch.

 

A cheap high performing compressor is the tsunami.. can't remember the brand right now.. but it has the clamps to hook onto battery and airs up pretty well.. almost bought a vaiir but they are super expensive.. I rarely have a problem with the public lines bc most of them don't have a hose and I have my own that I hook up to the compressor.. the lines for the compressors with hoses are always ridiculous

Edit: masterflow makes the tsunami

 

appreciate the ideas. I actually have the tsunami compressor. Use to keep it in my jeep. Its a great compressor for the money. Picked it up at pep boys years ago. still works perfect

 

Thats great you have the compressor already. If I made frequent beach trips I'd invest in some kind of deflators too, save a ton of time.
Make sure those rock warrior wheels will clear your calipers. What year is your truck?
Idk if they fit 3rd gens. But someone here will chime in on that I'm sure.

 

its a 2 gen
2013. I was thinking that same idea about the rotors. Not sure myself. New to the tundra line of trucks. So far its bad ass.

 

You should be good with the 2013. Those rock warrior wheels are bad ass too.
As far as tires I highly recommend Michelin Defender's. They aren't all terrains but they are the best tire I've ever owned.

 

Air down, it's not a choice in Carova anymore.
https://pilotonline.com/news/local/...cle_ff407857-a1ca-53a7-accc-c530511e1513.html

X2 on the Defender tires, best beach tires I've ever owned. And the ARB deflator is a real timesaver.

$54 ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Down Offroad Kit With Recovery Gear Pouch (PSI)

https://www.amazon.com/ARB-ARB505-E...pID=51HJAgWZIZL&preST=_SX300_QL70_&dpSrc=srch

 

The price of Carova is going up. I don't really blame them, when the permits started on the NPS beaches, the traffic up there went apeshit crazy.
https://outerbanksvoice.com/2018/02/19/revised-currituck-beach-parking-rule-will-need-another-vote/

 

I have been watching that develop. They are also working on a deal to put a gravel road all the way to the first neighborhood by trading a piece of the state wildlife refuge to the feds for a piece of theirs... Suppose to reduce beach traffic. Not sure if I like the idea. I own a piece of land on Carova, and its my long term retirement plan (Saving for land clearing and well/septic now). Supposedly they will give us a pass for each truck, but we shall see.

On the other side, I should be picking up a set of 2012 17 inch RW wheels with the A/T tires on them today. I like the idea of airing down the 17 inch wheels instead of 20 inch. The tires are worn down a lot, so I think I will run them down there this summer and replace next year.

 

The rock warriors will have no problem fitting. I run them on my '16 pro with no issues

 

Awesome retirement plan. Sounds like land owners won't have a problem, at least I hope they look out for you.
Good choice on the 17s, can't have too much sidewall to get that good bulge.
I had a friend in the 90's with a house about a mile south of VA, great place to stay. Also for telling stories about the various aggressive wild animals that only come out at night to first timers, the night is dark and full of terrors.

 

Picked up my 17 inch RW wheels tonight. They are in great shape. The 285 70 17 BDG's are almost bald, but may last a few thousand miles. They I will replace with something semi aggressive. Does anyone know how much torque to tighten them to? I am thinking 85 lbs?
I am looking forward to building there in the future, but that's a long way off. For not we just enjoy periodic trips when we can afford to stay there. We are looking to meet some of the locals there this summer, and maybe rent a spare room from someone so we can make more frequent trips there.