07 Tundra and Sand

[Blydog]

Hi Folks,

This is my first post. I've owned my 07 Tundra for a week now (bought a new close out) but haven't had time to use the 4 wheel drive. Can anyone give me an idea how the vehicle will perform with stock (275 x 65) tires in beach sand. I am wild about surf fishing and do most of my fishing on the coast of North Carolina. Any advise would be welcome.

Thanks,

Blydog

[Savage-Tundra]

hi i oun a 2007 tundra in the midle east nd the car perform very will in the sand

try it and you will feel the power of the 5.7

[wildbill23c]

I live in Idaho, and the stock street tires are worthless in the snow and ice, so I don't expect they would do any good in sand.

[tundratom]

make sure you air down in the sand. and then have a way to pump them up before driving on the road again

[Islander]

Did you drive on the beach with a previous vehicle?

I am assuming you are airing your tires down when you get to the sand (if not then I would agree you are going to need something bigger than stock and you can skip reading the rest of this post). I've driven on the beaches here on Long Island with a 2-door Blazer with 31x10.5 tires, and a Crew cab Dakota with stock tires. I did not notice a significant advantage with the larger tire size. But I cannot say with certainty that the stock tire on the Tundra is fine, because I have not tried the beach with a Tundra.

However, it may rest your nerves a little to know one of the last times I was out, this family next to me took their Sequoia (I think it was an 05) and that had stock 18 inch rims/tires. And that did fine.

I only go about 4 or 5 times a season, but I've only seen 2 people get into trouble since I've been going. A f-150 got stuck because he got too close to the surf, and the other was a subura baja which the problem was more the lack of clearance than the lack of traction. And by me, most people are driving stock vehicles. I am guessing because the audience the beach draws is throwing their disposable money into the water as opposed to into their vehicle

So if it were me, I'd save the cash on new tires and gamble a little....I'd hit the beach on a busy day. Try to give it a test without going too far in. Worst case, you get stuck and you need to ask a fellow fisherman to help get you out.

[Ortegac7]

Originally Posted by wildbill23c

I live in Idaho, and the stock street tires are worthless in the snow and ice, so I don't expect they would do any good in sand.

Can't agree with you. I pulled a Lexus and a Volvo up a steep incline, packed into solid ice with the stock tires. Read my post, Turbo Disel got ran over by a Tundra, funny story. Still, I don't have any experience with real beach sand, but I'm confident the tranny will perform reguardless of the tires. Can't wait to see what some A/T tires will do! Maybe Blydog can give it a try and give us the answer!

[alreadydead]

Beach sand + tide ......fun vs risk?

[Blydog]

Thanks everyone,

I drove Jeep Wagoneers in the 70's with all season tires and they did fine. I never had any trouble with a stock 4x4 with stock tires until GM decided to switch to the 245 (bologna skins) tires. My Z-71 got stuck as soon as I hit the beach. I never had any trouble with 265's. Then I got a Duramax and it would get stuck every 50 feet. The trouble was 245 tires. GM told me that they would void the warranty if I put anything other than 245's on the Duramax. So I traded for a Tundra. The 275X65's look like a tank track along side the 245's. I don't care how much air you let out of the tires on that duramax it got stuck. I've been off roading for 40 years and never got stuck until the 245 tires. I'll let you know how the Tundra does just as soon as I can get to Ocracoke Island, North Carolina.

Thanks again.

Blydog

[johnnyquad17]

I've been to Pismo Beach with both my stock tires and with the BFG AT305/65/18 tires and did notice a big difference. However, as long as you air down and know how to drive in the sand you will be ok with the stock tires. Just don't expect to climb any large dunes.

[jt_bassman]

Drove my 07 DC all over the point at hatteras for two weeks and never had a problem...aired down to 25 in the back and 30 in the front. You'll love it

[Dav1550]

Originally Posted by Blydog

Hi Folks,

This is my first post. I've owned my 07 Tundra for a week now (bought a new close out) but haven't had time to use the 4 wheel drive. Can anyone give me an idea how the vehicle will perform with stock (275 x 65) tires in beach sand. I am wild about surf fishing and do most of my fishing on the coast of North Carolina. Any advise would be welcome.

Thanks,

Blydog

I've gone and done near the same..... as in picked-up a 08 4x4 last week for use as a DD and rig out for surf fishing..... Bought a slide-in camper off a bud of mine that was dropped off yesterday and in the search for a front hitch as to mount up the cooler/rod rack....
Have made countless trips out driving on the beach in various trucks through the years and yes have been in party of some..."seriouse calamity's with sand, surf and tide, verse truck".... even had a bud that lost a near new Silveradow in crossing what appeared to be a safe shallow wash, while out on the core banks.

Though in speaking of the dangers,,, it's not that perilous and mostly it's a matter of airing down the tires and using common sense and it will take you about anywhere you want to go on the beach. Larger tires will help, but are not a necessity until you start really loading the truck down with such as camper, coolers and gear....

Now the Trundras not going to flit about on the beach like a small Tacoma, which I've had in years past...Geezzz them little things will run circles around and about anything on the beach....In jest, might suggest buying an early 80's delux for excursions for bait and such and leave the Tundra on the beach at base camp fishing hole or staked out on the point !

Best of luck and as they say tight lines!

Dave

Pic is of one of the times should have moved the truck

[wildbill23c]

Originally Posted by Ortegac7

Can't agree with you. I pulled a Lexus and a Volvo up a steep incline, packed into solid ice with the stock tires. Read my post, Turbo Disel got ran over by a Tundra, funny story. Still, I don't have any experience with real beach sand, but I'm confident the tranny will perform reguardless of the tires. Can't wait to see what some A/T tires will do! Maybe Blydog can give it a try and give us the answer!

Tranny has nothing to do with traction. I guess I'm just used to having the perfect traction with my jeep no matter what terrain I was on. Shouldn't expect anything remarkeable with a Toyota I guess. The Stability control and traction control really help on this truck in the ice and snow. I've been up a steep ice covered incline with my Tundra a couple times now and in 2WD I had no problems. I just think that a more agressive tire would be a lot more benefitial for snow than the stock street tires, especially with the drifting snow that we've been getting lately.

[MarcDW]

I had my 07 Tundra with the 275/65 rugged trail only a few times in a sand pit to get some sand.
There were only little pump hills and I had it of cause in 4 wheel and it drove more or less right like on the road!

[jpnca]

In addition to airing down driver know how is key. A heavy truck like the tundra won't float like a sandrail. Oh and sometimes ye just get stuck.

[Black & Chrome]

Originally Posted by jpnca

In addition to airing down driver know how is key. A heavy truck like the tundra won't float like a sandrail. Oh and sometimes ye just get stuck.

Famous last words "BRING A STRAP"