I tried an Isuzu area search on "2004 +rodeo +tire" and got a whopping 4 hits, none related to tires.

I replaced my stock tires. I went with Pirelli Scorpions. Not only do a lot of off-roader's seem to like them, but they also score high in Consumer Reports.

Discount tire said the P265/70R-16's would fit. They did, but
- The spare tire didn't sit in the (inverted) wheel well
- The front tires scraped the inside wheel well when I turned. They said if I took my mud flaps off, they would fit. Within 20 miles, this was obviously not true.

I was scraping slightly at one wheel position during turns, and a lot of I was turning at the "sweet" rubbing spot, then went over a bump.

They tried to sell me P255's, but I wouldn't do it without trying it in the wheel well, and on the front tire wheel position with flex first; and they had no good way to test flex. I went to the tire size in the owner's manual: 245/70R-16.

Has anyone tried the P255's? Do they fit in a stock, late model (2004) Rodeo?

I'll keep you posted on how the discount tire swap went. I'm in Tucson. I had the original P265 tires shipped to Flagstaff so they could be siped, then back down to Tucson. I also had all certificates. The new tires will not be shipped or siped, and cost about $20 less per tire IIRC. We'll see if they do an even swap (my best hope) or they try to hit me up for extra cash.

Thanks

Wayne, on my late 2002 Rodeo (same body as yours) I had 265/70-16 Dunlop RVXT and they were fine. I did remove the mudflaps. You probably need to do some minor plastic cutting.

Hi Wayne-

I suggest more turning at higher speeds. If you can add in some uneven road surface, it would be best. Eventually, the spots giving you grief will wear away. :-)

Or, as suggested, take off the wheels and cut away the shiny spots. Wash, rinse and repeat as needed to gain sufficent clearance.

You could always get some springs for the back and turn up the front, just a little bit...

Take care,
Michael

With the front wheels straight, I only have 1/2 inch from the wheel to the aft/rear of the wheel well. I measure 2-5/8 inches of of vertical distance--that's also worrysome to me if I'm going slowly down a steep rocky hill.

I think I'd have to either get a lift, or make the whole wheel well bigger! I already know your response--do both.

Unfortunately this is my daily driver. I 4x4 with backpacks or the mountain bike in the back; it actually stays in the Rodeo now instead of the house, unless I'm loading up family. 4x4 is the means of getting where I want, not the reason I have a 4x4.

I have a lot of respect for the mechanical, technical, and driving skill of you guys for whom 4x4 is the hobby, it's just not what I do. When I 4x4, I'm like the 6 year old kid the first time on an easy roller coaster; I'm screaming my head off, while all the adults who got on because it was the only coaster in the park with a short line are shaking their heads.

But you did confirm a suspicion--I would bet that many tires that list the same tire size, actually have different diameters when measured. Not by a lot (rubber's not cheap) but enough that this same tire size in a different brand would fit.

On the 2004 Rodeo (and a few others) the spare tire came off the back door and went under the rear deck, behind the axle.

When you go to larger size tires, where do you put the spare? The 265's I might be able to trim the wheel wells on a little bit, but the spare doesn't fit underneath without dangling low.

Unless I want to carry it around inside the Rodeo with me, I don't see what you guys are doing with it.

In my 2002 Rodeo 265 the tire was fitting fine. I removed some rubber stuff from the tire carrier, so the tire had more room.

I have exactly the same setup on 2004 Axiom. I additionally bended the metal carrier to get the spare tire closer to the axle, and I am fitting 32" without problems.

Wayne, just play around with the carrier, you will be fine.

May be, you need a modest lift - like 2" or so.

Check this image - the full-size 32" BFG offroad tire is barely visible, the underpinnings are exactly the same as on your vehicle:

just trim your fenders, the lower inside corner is w2hat is rubbing. or get some more offset rims or spacers for your rims.

you want big tires, you get issues. if not, run stock size.

btw i have never heard of an offroad truck running a pirelli tire before this.

This go-around I got replacement 245's (stock without the upgrade package is 225's, stock with the upgrade was 245's). I might try 255's in the future. I will have to verify they fit before driving off.

As noted above, tire sizes reported for the same size/different manufacturers appear to differ some in size. When I turned with the 265's, I could make people in the parking lot stare--the tread ridges across the bolts in the front fender was loud.

The other tire-catch I have the Isuzu rear trailer hitch. I use it for when I'm hauling things; either multiple mountain bikes or a small trailer. The spare tire was blocked by that.

The Pirelli Scorpion is somewhat common out here in the southwest. I see them here and there. I don't place total faith in Consumer Reports, but it was rated in their top offroad tires. It's not an overly aggressive tread like I had on the prior Amigo tires, but from my previous posts:
- I'm not off-road a lot
- When I am, it's mostly on dirt / minor trails to get to a rock climbing, camping, white water kayaking, or mountain biking location.
- I have a lot of respect for the skills of the offroaders -- especially those like Randii, Houlster, or Curtis Johnson who both have offroad driving skills and mechanical skills to build up their own vehicles--but that's not what I do.

The drive is not the sport to me (although I enjoy it), the drive is to get get somewhere so I can do something. I do minor offroading and avoid the difficult stuff. Sometimes it's more minor than others--I drove from Tucson to Flagstaff to go snowboarding last weekend. Not motorcycle friendly on the snow-covered (on dirt) mountain roads, but somewhere you want good tires and 4wd, as the four accidents we passed attested to.

I know the hard core guys get lifts, racks on top, throw the spare tire on top, etc. I don't do that. It's a 2004 with 42k miles. It would have 20k miles because I ride my motorcycle a lot in AZ, but I've was called up to the military a few times from AZ to Texas, and did a lot of driving to and around Texas as part of the job. (Another trip possibly coming up...I'm going to try towing the motorcycle.) Other than that, the Rodeo is the grocery and gear hauler, and bad-weather driver.

I appreciate all the guidance and constructive criticism.

Below are some small pictures of what I do with it; the pictures don't show some of the steep climbs and drops in the area, but you get the idea. Next time I'll try to go bikepacking like some of my (crazier, multi-day mountain bike ride) friends do.

Location: http://wikimapia.org/11122136/Cape-Solitude


Larger version (click here)


Larger version (click here)


Larger version (click here)


Larger version (click here)

Wayne, you have a right vehicle for the kind of travels you do. Scorpions probably the right tires, too; I'd get an LT version of the tire for reliability on the dirt roads.

I do not have the trailer hitch so I do not know what to say. With my experience with Rodeo and Axiom, I'd say that this setup can accommodate up to 32" / 265 tires, but I have no idea how about the trailer hitch.

I love the Tuscon area, although I've never off-roaded over there. I like the parks and the Tombstone.