Some questions to VX owners

[VX KAT]

Hey Stangri,

I used a sawzall with a "fine" blade (for metal.) It cut through the cladding like a light saber through gravy - just effortlessly! Riff Raff mentioned that most tire shops have something available to trim the cladding, but that's not a guarantee. The worthless POS jack-wagons where I had my tires mounted were dead set on making sure my tires would not fit. I don't know if they were monumentally stupid or trying to prove me wrong when I said they would fit or were just hoping I would pay to have the old tires put back on and then pay a third time to re-mount my new tires after I had trimmed the cladding and brought my VX back. So, be prepared - bring your own cutting tool and be prepared to use it yourself. There is a high probability that I'm the only person to ever encounter this situation, but that's how my life works.

One other thing to keep in mind - taller tires mean your speedometer & odometer no longer register correctly. I don't know if that will bother you or not, but it could mean your speed is off by as much as 10%.

The little removable piece for the back-up camera in the half-moon is 2-1/2" wide. The height is 1-1/8" on the sides and tapers up to 1-1/4" tall in the center.

I didn't actually read what you posted regarding programming a new key-fob remote, but there is a set of instructions posted here.

Best of luck,
--Rick

One thing I like about dealing with privately owned shops, they can do what they want...my tire shop cut the cladding for me no problem, no hesitation. I can imagine the chain stores might decline to do it.

Here's a real nice "tire calculator" with great visualization of the difference between 2 tires sizes, it also provides all the calculations (width, tall, circumference etc)....plus it gives the speedometer differential so you'll know exactly what your real speed it. Mine came out to be 10%...nice and easy to calculate.
http://www.rimsntires.com/rt_specs.jsp


And yes, Rick's link to the key fob programming instructions are correct, same as the one I listed above.

[RickOKC]

One thing I like about dealing with privately owned shops, they can do what they want...my tire shop cut the cladding for me no problem, no hesitation. I can imagine the chain stores might decline to do it.

Here's a real nice "tire calculator" with great visualization of the difference between 2 tires sizes, it also provides all the calculations (width, tall, circumference etc)....plus it gives the speedometer differential so you'll know exactly what your real speed it. Mine came out to be 10%...nice and easy to calculate.

Ha ha... you nailed it - it was a chain store that wanted to create problems where none existed!

How funny - my speed is also exactly 10% off. I gotta agree - it makes the math real easy (although I have been cheating by keeping the ScanGauge II attached.)

[stangri]

Wow, thank you all guys.

hyperkid -- for $500 I don't see many of VX owners getting those mirrors unless they play DVD, have built-in Bluetooth and Navigation and get you out of tickets. Even then, it'd be more suitable on an Escalade.

Riff -- thanks again for your valuable feedback on tires, I'm really hoping to get 2k miles out of the tires currently installed on the car so that I could get the new tires on closer to home. I'll see which ones will be easier/cheaper to get between Nitto NT404 and Geolandar as I've heard a lot of good comments on both these models previously when I had a little truck. However if trimming is that easy I might as well go for 285 tires as they would provide more grip especially in rain/snow.

KAT -- Finally!!! I've seen the similar button in a similar location on one of the VXes here in WA (which I passed on because it was too rusty) and both me (understandably) and the dealer (surprisingly) were clueless as to what did it do! Well, now I know. And thanks for the programming instructions. I also wanted to share the tire calculator I've used: http://www.kouki.co.uk/utilities/vis...ize-calculator not because it's better or anything, but you know, some sites go down from time to time, it's nice to have options.

Rick -- thanks for the feedback on trimming, programming and the backup cam sizes.

I realize it might not be the smartest move to plan putting that many gadgets (immobilizer, backup cam, tpms) in at the same time, but if I end up removing dash -- then why not.

I'm concerned about the immobilizer tho. I believe to be counted for an insurance discount it has to be passive (auto-arming) and it has to cut both the ignition and the fuel-pump power supply and I'm having problem finding a suitable system even within $200-$300 range. I've checked the usual suspects (clifford, viper, pyton) but there's surprisingly very little information about the immobilizer feature (or maybe it's not worded in layman's terms I'd understand). Anyone has any feedback?

[VX KAT]

Wow, thank you all guys.

hyperkid -- for $500 I don't see many of VX owners getting those mirrors unless they play DVD, have built-in Bluetooth and Navigation and get you out of tickets. Even then, it'd be more suitable on an Escalade........ AutoWeek Magazine calls them a 'SCLADE

KAT -- Finally!!! I've seen the similar button in a similar location on one of the VXes here in WA (which I passed on because it was too rusty) and both me (understandably) and the dealer (surprisingly) NOT SURPISING AT ALL!! MOST HAVE NEVER SEEN ONE AND HAVE VERY LITTLE KNOWLEDGE ABOUT THEM......YOU'LL ALWAYS KNOW MORE THAN THE SALES PERSON! were clueless as to what did it do!

[Riff Raff]

If trimming is that easy I might as well go for 285 tires as they would provide more grip especially in rain/snow.

STANGRI--- Glad to be of help. Yes, the 285/60R18 is the absolute perfect size to mount on the OEM 18x7 Stock Rims and may require just the tiny inner triangle of the cladding to be trimmed as in the pictures from VX-KAT. However; do not trim until after the tires are test-fitted first, you may discover that no trimming may even be required at all.

I was curious about your winter weather in the City of Burnaby, BC so I checked out the statistics on Wikipedia.com. It said..........The elevation of Burnaby ranges from sea level to a maximum of 370 metres (1,200 ft) atop Burnaby Mountain. Due to its elevation, the City of Burnaby experiences quite a bit more of snowfall during the winter months compared to nearby Vancouver or Richmond. Overall, the physical landscape of Burnaby is one of hills, ridges, valleys and an alluvial plain.

In addition, the weather chart shows Burnaby gets about 12" of snow per month during the dead of winter and about 40" total snow for the entire winter season annually.

Having said that, my original recommendation of the lightweight Pro-Comp, All-Terrain in 285/60R18 might be your very best bet to combat Burnaby's rain and snow. Here's why:

Pro-Comp, All-Terrain in 285/60R18 (31.3" O.D./43 lbs)

o All-Terrain (A/T) tread pattern.
o Snowflake/Mountain rated (a rarity in itself).
o Extremely lightweight at only 43 lbs each for low unsprung weight.
o Super-deep tread depth of 18/32nds (normally only found on M/T tires).
o 50,000 mile tread warranty.
o $202.20 each at www.Tires-Easy.com. They also normally come on sale at www.4WheelParts.com with a Buy-3, get the 4th free deal.

I challenge you to beat these combined specifications of ANY other 285/60R18 tire made in the world. You'll quickly discover no other A/T tire can even come close in comparison in that specific size.

For awesome close-up pictures of this tire mounted on a 100% stock non-lifted VX using the OEM 18x7 Stock Rims, please visit the photo gallery of fellow VX member "BoarderCross2000" from Sacramento, CA (click-on "Members" on left-side of homepage). You might even send him a PM or E-Mail and ask his opinion of the tire.