Isuzu NPS Wheels & Tyres – What We've Learned in 65,000km

Choosing the Right Wheels & Tyres for Your Isuzu NPS

If you’re considering an Isuzu NPS for off-road touring or already own one, you’ve probably looked into wheel and tyre options. After travelling 65,000km through Australia’s toughest terrains—beach, bush, corrugations, and everything in between—here’s what we’ve learned about what works (and what doesn’t!).

Super Single Conversion – Why It’s Essential

The stock Isuzu NPS comes with dual rear wheels, which are not ideal for off-roading. Rocks can get stuck between them, causing sidewall damage. Most off-roaders switch to a super single conversion, which means using the same size wheels and tyres front and rear.

We had our conversion done by All Terrain Warriors (ATW) using their 19.5-inch rims. These maintain the full 7.5T GVM and 11T GCM. While 17-inch wheels are available, they reduce the vehicle’s GCM by around 500kg, which wasn't an option for us.

Tyre Choices – What We Run and Why

We’ve been running Founders Mud Terrains from day one. Founders are imported tyres with a high weight rating and excellent durability. ATW is the main supplier in Australia, and they now offer an all-terrain option. We stuck with mud terrains because they provide superior grip in wet, muddy conditions.

Other common options include:

• Goodride Tyres – More readily available across Australia and great for highway use, but less aggressive off-road.

• Other Brands – We’ve met other NPS owners running different tyres, but sidewall failures and weight concerns are common issues.

Tyre Availability – Planning Ahead

One major downside of Founders tyres is availability. Unlike Goodrides, which we found in Karratha on a day's notice, Founders require pre-ordering and freight. We planned ahead and had sets delivered to Darwin and Geelong to avoid running out.

Tyre Wear & Rotation – What Works for Us

We initially tried full rotations with all six tyres but found it caused excessive noise and uneven wear. Now, we run a simple system:

• Rears wear out first – We replace these as needed.

• Fronts last longer – One set of fronts lasts through three sets of rears.

• Minimal rotations – Keeping fronts and rears separate reduces road noise and improves wear.

Tyre Pressures – Our Settings for Different Terrains

Proper pressures are crucial for performance and tyre longevity. Here’s what we run:

Lowering pressures on rough terrain improves ride comfort and reduces impact on the suspension. For sand driving, we’ve gone as low as 5 PSI in the front and 15 PSI in the rear to get unstuck.

Why We Stuck with Founders Mud Terrains

During a trip in North Queensland, we debated switching to Goodrides for better availability. But in the middle of a muddy, rain-soaked track in low range, we realized our mud terrains were keeping us moving, where a highway-style tyre might have struggled. For us, reliability in remote areas is worth the extra planning and cost.

Final Thoughts

Setting up an Isuzu NPS for off-road touring requires the right wheels and tyres. Our 65,000km experience has taught us that:

• Super single conversions are a must for serious off-roading.

• 19.5-inch wheels retain full weight capacity and reduce failures.

• Founders Mud Terrains provide excellent durability and off-road capability.

• Goodrides are a solid alternative if tyre availability is a concern.

• Correct tyre pressures make all the difference on different terrains.

If you’re planning an NPS build or need help choosing the right setup, feel free to get in touch with us.

📍 17 Trinder Avenue, Maroochydore
📱 07 5479 6652
📧 hello@accelerateoffgrid.com.au
💻 accelerateoffgrid.com.au