Delica Canada | Mitsubishi Van Club

Probably the 30s is your best bet from everything i've read.

A

I had 30's on my l300 no prob. Moved them to my l400 no problem. Any larger and they would rub especially with mud or ice buildup.

Not sure if you are still looking at tire brands, but I would not recommend BFG A/Ts if you plan on driving in snow regularly.
It might just be the size I have but they are actualy not snow rated. Strangely, they are snow rated on the sticker, but not on the tire itself.
I spun out badly in my first snow encounter last year and it wasnt fun at all.

They are good for daily driving, highways, and lots of other stuff. Just not snow. They are quiet and last a long time.

Next time, I am coughing up and going for Duratracs.

-Jamie.

lettereleven wrote:Not sure if you are still looking at tire brands, but I would not recommend BFG A/Ts if you plan on driving in snow regularly.
It might just be the size I have but they are actualy not snow rated. Strangely, they are snow rated on the sticker, but not on the tire itself.
I spun out badly in my first snow encounter last year and it wasnt fun at all.

They are good for daily driving, highways, and lots of other stuff. Just not snow. They are quiet and last a long time.

Next time, I am coughing up and going for Duratracs.

-Jamie.

The BFG A/T's have a little mountain with a snowflake on the sidewall indicating they are snow rated. I've been running them for over 5 years and have never had a problem with them in the snow myself. I'd recommend them.

I've heard that the new tires lost their snowflake. I found that narrow versions of this tire work very well in the snow, fatter ones not so much, but still decent for the first year. I'm not expecting any to work as well as my old Michelin x-ice, but my next tires will be Duratracs which wear faster but use a softer rubber.

Try and keep your "frictional footprint" to a minimum...this means running 235's or wider is simply more friction, but rarely more "traction". This is why most true small offroad vehicles will use a 9" or narrower tread but will still use a larger diameter for a smoother ride. Your Delica L300 uses 215mm width stock, this is because the small engines cannot move the heavy brick easily, and require less drag.
After 3 Delica's (P35 Crystal Roof / 2 P25's)and a few other off road vehicles,(VW Syncro/Trooper/Vitara) the best combination I've used is 225/75/R16's. This will equate to a 29.4" diameter wheel with a 225 width, but unfortunately this size is more prevalent with 16" wheels. (cheaper) 16x6 6 lug wheels can be picked up cheap by looking for "trailer wheels" on Craigslist. Trailer wheels are DOT approved and generally load rated at 2500lb min each. An added expense yes, but well worth it for the better tire selection and handeling the 16's offer. Unfortunately most Delica owners never use their trucks as they were designed, and simply go for looks. (you can tell by the big/widers tires, lifts without uprated shocks, and roof racks on for daily use.... if they tell you that it handles good... compared to what??) They will likely tell you that 30's are the way to go! For 30's to handle adeqautely on a Delica they should be at least 8 ply which is heaaaavy in a 30 or larger. If you prefer to keep the 15's, 225's are available but a little more rare. The Good Year Wrangler silent armors, and Yokohama Venture A/T's have been the best I have used. (both snow rated) I have never had a puncture with the Silent Armors and they are quiet on the road.

Just about to put a set of Geolandar A/T S on my rig for the summer. Looks like a good all around tire.

In my case I disagree with you bionic. My 30's are preferable. Wider footprint distributes the weight better for snow when I'm going over and through snow when fishing, bridges the gap a bit better through ruts and works good.

They ride nice too. Yes, compared to the 275's and the strange wheel size on it from Japan.

But what does it really matter. If people aren't using it for ... Multiuse?

In my case I disagree with you bionic. My 30's are preferable. Wider footprint distributes the weight better for snow when I'm going over and through snow when fishing, bridges the gap a bit better through ruts and works good.

They ride nice too. Yes, compared to the 275's and the strange wheel size on it from Japan.

But what does it really matter. If people aren't using it for ... Multiuse?

Firesong wrote:In my case I disagree with you bionic. My 30's are preferable. Wider footprint distributes the weight better for snow when I'm going over and through snow when fishing, bridges the gap a bit better through ruts and works good.

They ride nice too. Yes, compared to the 275's and the strange wheel size on it from Japan.

But what does it really matter. If people aren't using it for ... Multiuse?

Distributes weight better??..lol! (are you thinking of spreading weight over a larger area like on ice?) This is rediculous, the least thing you want is a wider tire on snow. Do some research(and some driving), there is lots of info on the net. You vehicles weight and its bias will better determine your weight distribution not you tire width! If the conversation is not about better choices and only about looks perhaps that should be in a different forum...
I am totally ok with people having their own opinion, and it being different than mine. Just be aware that the driving world might disagree with your opinion. As for "multi-purpose" use, there still is a tire that is designed to work best with a certain vehicles design purpose. Delicas are supposed to be all terrain people movers and such, the conversation should revolve around that purpose, and what tires work best with it. (thought this was the topic?) The area you live in, your budget, and your specific driving needs effect your choices, but ultimately your vehicle choice was an all terrain mini van with a specific design and purpose.
Here is just one example, there are many, many others but....

http://m.ca.autoblog.com/2010/11/12/get ... ter-tires/

Not ice but snow, hard pack top with sifty stuff under it

Firesong wrote:Not ice but snow, hard pack top with sifty stuff under it

... Doh

For my needs, I agree with Firesong. I have had the best results with wider tires. I find that an aggressive tread pattern on a mud&snow tire is best for me all-round. Maximum flotation on hard packed snow, and on ice, the widely spaced lugs have the same surface contact as a narrower less aggressive tire, and I like the softer rubber compound. It hangs onto the ice really well.
Jason

Theres other factors here, the general rule that narrow tyres cut through snow better is true. Thats on like for like tyres and usually road tryes, as soon as you add in winter tyres with a lot of siping or offroad tyres it all changes. Does a wider tyre, with more sips, have the same effect on snow as a wider normal road tyre on tarmac? I.e. the extra wide tyre with its extra siping gains more traction than less surface area? I dont know, and we only get 3 days of snow a year for me to worry about it :D

Oh yah. I run with cooper at/3 's for the most part. And some Hancook winter tires.