Defender wheels - what are the biggest tyres I can use?
Discussion
MaverickV12 said:
...makes my Landie look like it has bicycle tyres on it 
And mine!Maverick, the front bumper has the bull bar included. I believe it's a Nene Overland item - will look at the documents and check for you. Car now actually has a different grille, see below (this pic still with the old 265 section tyres on):
Landy shooting by baconrashers, on Flickr
Right, finally have pics of new winter wheels/tyres. The wheels are offset, so no need for spacers. The Tyres are General Grabber AT2s in 285/75/R16. No issues with rubbing anywhere, and this is standard ride height, although obviously wider track due to the offset. The modular steel wheels and tyres are very heavy - around 40kg per wheel, and it has definitely affected performance - the car is slower to accelerate (this is most likely due to the sheer weight on each hub - the other Zu alloy wheels are considerably lighter than the steels). Handling is actually fine; the wider track makes it seem planted. The tyres are quieter than the KM2 Mud Terrains I had, and better in wet weather/cold greasy conditions.
If I were to choose, I would have had a narrower tyre as these with the wide track are comedically wide, and there's no real need for the width; but they were a very good value nearly new ebay buy, so 285 section is what I got!
DSC_1206.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1207.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1208.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1204.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
If I were to choose, I would have had a narrower tyre as these with the wide track are comedically wide, and there's no real need for the width; but they were a very good value nearly new ebay buy, so 285 section is what I got!
DSC_1206.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1207.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1208.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
DSC_1204.jpg by baconrashers, on Flickr
Looking good Harry F,
I just got hold of some winters in the same size, also on steel modulars, mine are grey coloured. I have alloy wheels at the moment and I can see that the wheel nuts are different, I am assuming that I need a fresh set of wheel nuts, do they do a locking one as well?
Also is there a centre wheel cover to stop the hub from showing.....
Will these fit? or are there others?
http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/...
I just got hold of some winters in the same size, also on steel modulars, mine are grey coloured. I have alloy wheels at the moment and I can see that the wheel nuts are different, I am assuming that I need a fresh set of wheel nuts, do they do a locking one as well?
Also is there a centre wheel cover to stop the hub from showing.....
Will these fit? or are there others?
http://www.johncraddockltd.co.uk/wheels-and-tyres/...
MaverickV12 said:
Texpis said:
my 90 with 34x10.5x15
Do you have any issues with articulation/rubbing/turning circle? They do fill the arches well.... makes you wonder why LR don't spec bigger tyres in the first place....?The axles hail from the Rover P4 car and LR have done almost nothing to significantly improve them over the years. You can easily break halfshafts and CW&P's with 235/85's.
In fact LR decided instead of improving the axles, it was cheaper for them just to make the vehicles full time 4wd, hence the V8 Range Rover in 1970 is AWD with a centre diff. As driving both axles placed about half the strain on them.
My 90 running Cooper STT mud tyres 265/75/16 on 7" steel wheels with 0 offset. No rubbing here on full and i do mean FULL articulation lol. The other side of the back axle has the springs dislocated from the top mount point 
Was actually stuck here, so decided to get out and have a looksie. wasnt carrying enough momentum.
Was actually stuck here, so decided to get out and have a looksie. wasnt carrying enough momentum.
300bhp/ton said:
MaverickV12 said:
Texpis said:
my 90 with 34x10.5x15
Do you have any issues with articulation/rubbing/turning circle? They do fill the arches well.... makes you wonder why LR don't spec bigger tyres in the first place....?The axles hail from the Rover P4 car and LR have done almost nothing to significantly improve them over the years. You can easily break halfshafts and CW&P's with 235/85's.
In fact LR decided instead of improving the axles, it was cheaper for them just to make the vehicles full time 4wd, hence the V8 Range Rover in 1970 is AWD with a centre diff. As driving both axles placed about half the strain on them.
Mick
Edited by Texpis on Friday 20th December 18:04
Digga said:
MaverickV12 said:
...makes my Landie look like it has bicycle tyres on it
Looks fantastic.Baffled by the tyre sizing posted by 300bhpton - what width are they?
300bhp/ton said:
Digga said:
MaverickV12 said:
...makes my Landie look like it has bicycle tyres on it
Looks fantastic.Baffled by the tyre sizing posted by 300bhpton - what width are they?
I'm hopefully off to the Alps shortly and got hold of some nice 285 Winters so that if there is any snow (and there should be) I should be fine. I also bought some chains and a booster ......
But not wanting to be caught out I wanted to try the wheels and tyres before I needed them. So I did, and found that there is not so much a problem but with different wheels there are different offsets. I was not expecting that......
This is what I am currently running, it is the stock alloy with 285/75/16 and with a 30mm spacer on them....
Then I changed the wheel for some plain steel wheels with 285/75/16 (so exactly the same size tyre)
If you look at this picture, the rear wheel is the stock alloy with 30mm spacer and the front is the steel wheel with 30mm spacer....
I decided to measure the inset ....
Then measuered the stock alloy inset.....
I realy did think that the 2 wheels would be the same, but they are clearly not, the inset looks about a full 30mm different, which is a bit of luck really as all I need to do is take the spacers off before I put the steel wheels and tyres on. This will bring the wheel back within the arch and also give us the same clearance when turning.....
But not wanting to be caught out I wanted to try the wheels and tyres before I needed them. So I did, and found that there is not so much a problem but with different wheels there are different offsets. I was not expecting that......
This is what I am currently running, it is the stock alloy with 285/75/16 and with a 30mm spacer on them....
Then I changed the wheel for some plain steel wheels with 285/75/16 (so exactly the same size tyre)
If you look at this picture, the rear wheel is the stock alloy with 30mm spacer and the front is the steel wheel with 30mm spacer....
I decided to measure the inset ....
Then measuered the stock alloy inset.....
I realy did think that the 2 wheels would be the same, but they are clearly not, the inset looks about a full 30mm different, which is a bit of luck really as all I need to do is take the spacers off before I put the steel wheels and tyres on. This will bring the wheel back within the arch and also give us the same clearance when turning.....
Harry Flashman said:
Topic resurrection - I run 265 75 16 BFG Mud Terrain KM2s on my Defender, and they have been pretty good on-road. Awful in snow though - so I have found a cheap set of 5 General Grabber AT2s on steel wheels, which I will run in the Alps over the winter. Not perfect snow tyres, but they are M+S rated and have the North American triple peak mountain/snowflake stamp, so are at least somewhat suited to cold conditions; and enough that the gendarmerie will not make me fit chains when driving about (intend to get some anyway as easier than putting studs into the AT2s when things get really icy).
Question to 300 and the other LR chaps though - am I going to have offset/spacing/wheel nut problems? My MTs are on ZU alloys (pic below), and the new tyres are 286 75 16 on steel wheels. Am I going to need spacers to prevent the car from rubbing when on full lock? No idea what the comparative offsets of the steels vs my alloys are, as I pick them up next week. Would have liked a narrower tyre as better at cutting through hardpack, but given I got 5 wheels with 11mm of tread on 5 black Weller style wheels for 400, I am going to live with the compromise.
PS - OP and others. Yes, thin tyres are better on road, probably better for all sorts of things (look at armed forces defenders - they are on skinnies). But fat tyres look better. See below for my 90 on 265 16 75 BFG MTs
Muddy Land Rover by baconrashers, on Flickr
Hi Harry, just bought a D90, and looking to find the A Bar that you have fitted to your car...awesome look...can you confirm the make and the make of the lamps as well? CheersQuestion to 300 and the other LR chaps though - am I going to have offset/spacing/wheel nut problems? My MTs are on ZU alloys (pic below), and the new tyres are 286 75 16 on steel wheels. Am I going to need spacers to prevent the car from rubbing when on full lock? No idea what the comparative offsets of the steels vs my alloys are, as I pick them up next week. Would have liked a narrower tyre as better at cutting through hardpack, but given I got 5 wheels with 11mm of tread on 5 black Weller style wheels for 400, I am going to live with the compromise.
PS - OP and others. Yes, thin tyres are better on road, probably better for all sorts of things (look at armed forces defenders - they are on skinnies). But fat tyres look better. See below for my 90 on 265 16 75 BFG MTs
Muddy Land Rover by baconrashers, on Flickr
Edited by Harry Flashman on Friday 1st November 11:24
that looks like an extreme4x4 tubular bumper to me.
http://www.extreme4x4.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_EXTRE...
http://www.extreme4x4.co.uk/acatalog/copy_of_EXTRE...
Harry Flashman said:
Topic resurrection - I run 265 75 16 BFG Mud Terrain KM2s on my Defender, and they have been pretty good on-road. Awful in snow though - so I have found a cheap set of 5 General Grabber AT2s on steel wheels, which I will run in the Alps over the winter. Not perfect snow tyres, but they are M+S rated and have the North American triple peak mountain/snowflake stamp, so are at least somewhat suited to cold conditions; and enough that the gendarmerie will not make me fit chains when driving about (intend to get some anyway as easier than putting studs into the AT2s when things get really icy).
Question to 300 and the other LR chaps though - am I going to have offset/spacing/wheel nut problems? My MTs are on ZU alloys (pic below), and the new tyres are 286 75 16 on steel wheels. Am I going to need spacers to prevent the car from rubbing when on full lock? No idea what the comparative offsets of the steels vs my alloys are, as I pick them up next week. Would have liked a narrower tyre as better at cutting through hardpack, but given I got 5 wheels with 11mm of tread on 5 black Weller style wheels for 400, I am going to live with the compromise.
PS - OP and others. Yes, thin tyres are better on road, probably better for all sorts of things (look at armed forces defenders - they are on skinnies). But fat tyres look better. See below for my 90 on 265 16 75 BFG MTs
Muddy Land Rover by baconrashers, on Flickr
Hi Harry, just bought a D90, and looking to find the A Bar that you have fitted to your car...awesome look...can you confirm the make and the make of the lamps as well? CheersQuestion to 300 and the other LR chaps though - am I going to have offset/spacing/wheel nut problems? My MTs are on ZU alloys (pic below), and the new tyres are 286 75 16 on steel wheels. Am I going to need spacers to prevent the car from rubbing when on full lock? No idea what the comparative offsets of the steels vs my alloys are, as I pick them up next week. Would have liked a narrower tyre as better at cutting through hardpack, but given I got 5 wheels with 11mm of tread on 5 black Weller style wheels for 400, I am going to live with the compromise.
PS - OP and others. Yes, thin tyres are better on road, probably better for all sorts of things (look at armed forces defenders - they are on skinnies). But fat tyres look better. See below for my 90 on 265 16 75 BFG MTs
Muddy Land Rover by baconrashers, on Flickr
Edited by Harry Flashman on Friday 1st November 11:24
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