She chose the MT Prado to enjoy driving with her partner

Ms. “Sa-chan” acquired a 1995 Toyota Land Cruiser Prado about nine years ago while looking for a car that she could enjoy with her family. At the time of purchase, the suspension had only been replaced, but she and her partner have been working on it to make it more enjoyable for everyday use and off-road driving.

What customizations were made for off-road driving?

“I wanted my children to be able to ride with me and still enjoy MT cars together as a couple. I had always wanted to drive a four-wheel drive vehicle, so we decided on a Land Cruiser Prado. Before that, I was driving a minivan with an automatic transmission, but a manual transmission is more fun to drive.”

After purchasing the vehicle, the suspension was changed so that it could be driven off-road. An oil cooler was installed to protect the engine from hard driving, XC bumpers were installed since it is driven off-road, and a carbon fiber hood was installed to reduce weight.

In addition, a SUXON muffler and Falken wheels have been installed, but basically, the style is focused on functionality for “exhilarating driving,” rather than customization focused on appearance. In addition to daily use, she enjoys off-road driving.

“I drive off-road and on forest roads with my friends. I can’t drive well at all, but I enjoy driving on roads where normal cars can’t go, such as diagonally stacked V-shaped roads, and seeing how I can get out of them.”

The tires chosen were Open Country M/Ts

Ms. “Sa-chan” enjoys serious off-road driving, so the performance of tires becomes important, and she purchased Toyo Tires’ Open Country tires based on the recommendation of a fellow driver. She selected the M/T tires, which offer the performance needed to tackle the toughest off-road terrain.

“I switched to the Open Country M/T after hearing from word of mouth and other Land Cruiser drivers around me that it was easy to drive and had good grip. The tires I was using before were quite heavy, but after switching to these tires, I feel like the steering wheel is lighter. It is easier to steer and I can drive on rocky terrain. It is smooth and easy to drive both on-road and off-road.”

In the future, she would like to hone her off-road skills more, rather than customizing her car. She would like to drive more advanced off-road courses.