Superlift?

[Dalaigh]

I ordered some 4" leaf springs to replace the blocks the previous owner installed in the front of the truck. I ordered rough country leafs, but the place I ordered them from couldn't get rough country so they ordered Superlift ones. I'm ok with the switch because after ordering the rough country I found out why they are called "rough" country, and that the ride was going to be stiffer then I liked.

But my question is what are the Superlift springs like? What kind of ride are they?


Also I'm looking for pics of 73-87 trucks with 4" lifts and 285/75/16's, 33's, 32's, tires in or around that size?
I have 35's now but, I'm looking for winter tires for the truck and they really don't come in 35's. I know they come in 285's some I'm just curious what the truck will look like with 4" lift and 285's or tires close to there size.

[TheWhiteElephant]

Here's my '73 with 4" Rough Country all spring lift and 235/85/16, which are roughly about 32 inches tall...

[Burt4x4]

It's not really WHO makes the spring but HOW they are made.
A spring pack with 3-4 leafs will be stiff and rough.
A spring pack with 5-8 leafs will be a softer ride.

I run 5.5" Superlift "Superride" rear packs. they have 7leafs and are soft & flexy.

So ask you dealer what "version" of Superlift yer getting and how many leafs are in the pack and that should give you an ider on the ride.

Oh and all new pack have a breakin period or setteling..so in time even a super stiff pack will "lossen" up a bit...

[Mr. 250r]

I haven't had any experience with superlift but rough country to me is a terrible ride and not to bash anyone that has them because i also have one, I've driven 3 trucks with them but my god did they ride like hell, if i were to redo mine i would go with a custom deaver or alcan setup most likely

[special-K]

The off the shelf springs made to be softer are very nice springs. The high-end custom springs are cool but certainly not necessary for a good ride. Like Burt said,see if you are getting the Super Rides. Superlift is a good company. I had their 4" springs on my '84 with 35s. What do you consider a winter tire? Skinny? Or do you mean the tread type? About every truck tire out there these days is all season or better.

[Dalaigh]

I'm looking for actual winter tires. I'm looking at either toyo Open Country G-02 plus', Firestone Winterforce LT's, Toyo open country WLT1, or Yokohama Geolander I/T G072 on a 285/75/16, but if I can find a winter tire in 255/85/16 I'd go wint that. All season and Mud tires are not winter tires. I've run winter tires on all my vehicles, except last year on the 84 and I won't be doing that again, nohing compares to winters in the winter. Infact in Quebec its a law, you have to run winter rated tires, and all seasons are not legal. In tires 34"+ they let you run M/S rated tires, but those don't compare to actual winter tires. And Ontario where I live they are contemplating that law.

[special-K]

I guess the laws vary. All season means all four seasons and they are DOT legal winter tires. All terrains and mud and snows work even better. The last time I ever knew of winter tires is when everything ran bias-ply. Once radials came around they started making all seasons to cure that headache. What exactly is considered a winter tire up there? What is so different? Do you have any pictures?

[Dalaigh]

Winter tires have tread patterns specifically designed to dig down and "bite" into snow and ice, and are made from softer rubber to retain flexibility in cold weather, allowing the tire to better conform to the surface of the road All seasons tend to get hard and brittle in cold temperatures. As a result, winter tires keep a better grip on snowy and icy surfaces than regular all-season or summer tires. I've learned over the years that good brakes, steering, and any kind of traction control or even 4x4 won't help you if your tires can't get the hold the road

I know this pic is large, but it shows the thread designs of a winter tire. You can see the thread that opens to "bite" the road.

Mud tires are better then all seasons in that they are soft compound tires, but they still have large treads (lugs) that are smooth and can act like bald tires on ice. They are good in snow but useless on ice like all seasons.

Winter tires are specifically designed for winter use. If you use them in the summer they'd be gone in one summer, they're that soft a compound.

[Dalaigh]

Oh, and in that huge pic, you can see it says M+S, but to the left theres is a little mountain with a snowflake in it, that means it is a winter tire. And most winter tires are directional.

[Hoods69BadBowTie]

I have had superlift 6" lifts on my old blazer and my chevy pickup and really like them and how they ride. My big '79 has a 3" body lift and 39.5" swampers so its a little ruff but not nearly as bad as some of the lifted rough country trucks I have rode in dear god haha!

[special-K]

Thanks for the tire explanation. I never knew all that. I see those tires also say flotation,which seems odd since that's exactly what you don't want. I have Uniroyal Laredo AWT on my work truck,which are more aggressive than any all weather I've seen,yet less aggressive than all terrains,like the ones you show. They aren't directional,though. They are also marked M&S but don't have that winter logo. They work really well in winter conditions. I had noticed that logo before and assumed it was on all all season tires.

[Dalaigh]

Your welcome, I don't see where it says flotation, it does say rotation thou.
We get alot of packed snow here which is why I go with the winter tires. In places where the snow is more dry and less likely to pack and turn to ice, they are not needed as much.

[special-K]

Ok,I see it says rotation now. That extra digit in front of the "R" must have keyed my mind to think flotation. That's a big picture but I guess my eyes still aren't the greatest.

[Dalaigh]

LOL, don't feel bad I had to get the girlfriend to tell me what it said, I couldn't make it out either the first time.