Best Road/AT Tyres ? - (New Defender 90)
Discussion
Now updated after 4 years/50,000 mls - see most recent post
I've had Defender 90s for years (300Tdi, Td5, Td5, Tdci) and am just changing my '08 90CHT for a '10 90XS.
Now ours enjoys mainly road use and I'm having the JE Engineering suspension kit fitted http://www.jeengineering.co.uk/defender/chassis-a-...
But what about the tyres?
General Grabber 235/85R16 have been standard fit on Defender alloys for quite a while, but they have very tall side walls. Are there any better road tyres with some all terrain capability? What about BF Goodrich?
(Don't want to alter the rolling diameter too much as it may affect gearing and abs/traction control calibrations.)
I've had Defender 90s for years (300Tdi, Td5, Td5, Tdci) and am just changing my '08 90CHT for a '10 90XS.
Now ours enjoys mainly road use and I'm having the JE Engineering suspension kit fitted http://www.jeengineering.co.uk/defender/chassis-a-...
But what about the tyres?
General Grabber 235/85R16 have been standard fit on Defender alloys for quite a while, but they have very tall side walls. Are there any better road tyres with some all terrain capability? What about BF Goodrich?
(Don't want to alter the rolling diameter too much as it may affect gearing and abs/traction control calibrations.)
Edited by Geneve on Sunday 17th August 09:25
Not sure if I am missing something but the tall side walls are only a function of the size of tyre you buy and not specific to General Grabber tyres. For what it's worth I have AT2s on our P38 and whilst they've only been on a short while they seem a capable tyre.
At a recent road block my wife didn't have to turn around as others did as she drove straight over some wet mud mounds, into the woods, through the trees and out the other side
At a recent road block my wife didn't have to turn around as others did as she drove straight over some wet mud mounds, into the woods, through the trees and out the other side
There is no best tyre, only opinions
I can't see how the tyre size will really affect the ABS or TCS as Land Rover sell Defenders with different size tyres and I'm pretty sure they don't do anything to recalculate the calibrations.
My advice and opinion would be this. Depending on how much you want to spend and how much on or off road use you want to do.
A/T2's have a great rep. But IMO a proper mud tyre looks 10x better on a Landy and will in many cases still be quite good on the road, or at least acceptable and evidently much better off road.
The other angle is say sod it to all terrain ability and go for a road biased tyre. It'll work much better on the road and you could still do some mild off roading if you really wanted, especially in the dry.
For me an AT of any type seems to represent the worst of both worlds rather than the best of. As in, it really doesn't work great on any surface and is always a compromise.
If on road performance is what you are after then a set of D2 18" alloys and a performance road tyre would be the way to go. It'll ride a bit harder, but turn sharper and grip better.
Not sure if you'd need some hub adapters though as the D2 is a dfferent hub/PCD to the D1.
I can't see how the tyre size will really affect the ABS or TCS as Land Rover sell Defenders with different size tyres and I'm pretty sure they don't do anything to recalculate the calibrations.
My advice and opinion would be this. Depending on how much you want to spend and how much on or off road use you want to do.
A/T2's have a great rep. But IMO a proper mud tyre looks 10x better on a Landy and will in many cases still be quite good on the road, or at least acceptable and evidently much better off road.
The other angle is say sod it to all terrain ability and go for a road biased tyre. It'll work much better on the road and you could still do some mild off roading if you really wanted, especially in the dry.
For me an AT of any type seems to represent the worst of both worlds rather than the best of. As in, it really doesn't work great on any surface and is always a compromise.
If on road performance is what you are after then a set of D2 18" alloys and a performance road tyre would be the way to go. It'll ride a bit harder, but turn sharper and grip better.
Not sure if you'd need some hub adapters though as the D2 is a dfferent hub/PCD to the D1.
Geneve said:
Out of interest what effect does the tyre/wheel diameter have on the turning circle?
I would think it has no bearing on this, the steering angle and the wheelbase is what affects this, the sharper the turn angle, the smaller the turning circle. Wheel size has no effect on this unless the tyres foul the bodywork thus limiting the maximum turn angle (lock).I recently did a serious off-road day in a new RRS and was gob-smacked how good the standard road tyres were when off-road. I would go for road tyres if you do most of your miles on road, maybe get a second set of wheels with mud/snow tyres for off-road and winter.
Kevin VRs said:
Geneve said:
Out of interest what effect does the tyre/wheel diameter have on the turning circle?
I would think it has no bearing on this, the steering angle and the wheelbase is what affects this, the sharper the turn angle, the smaller the turning circle. Wheel size has no effect on this unless the tyres foul the bodywork thus limiting the maximum turn angle (lock).Kevin VRs said:
I recently did a serious off-road day in a new RRS and was gob-smacked how good the standard road tyres were when off-road. I would go for road tyres if you do most of your miles on road, maybe get a second set of wheels with mud/snow tyres for off-road and winter.
RRS is only really that capable due to the clever traction control.But it is amazing where you might get on road tyres.
BFGoodrich are great tyres, very expensive nowadays, the new KM2 mud tyres are very good, and is my choice for my new 110 utility 110 when it arrives.
General AT2 are fantastic, the most popular tyres we sell, I have 265/75x16 on my 110, 255/65x16 on my Disco and 265/65x17 on the wifes Landcruiser, best value for money on the market today and they make loads of sizes to fit most 4x4's.
We have lots of new Defenders turn up to change the standard 235/85x16 General TR to either the same size AT2 or 265/75x16, they look a bit better IMHO.
Mud tyres may look better on Defenders to some, but looks are not everything, if you don't need them don't have them, most times the best all round tyre is an All Terrain, our sales are split 80/20 in favor of the AT tyres.
At the end of the day it's your vehicle and your choice of which tyre suits your requirements, we are always happy to help if we can.
Andy.
General AT2 are fantastic, the most popular tyres we sell, I have 265/75x16 on my 110, 255/65x16 on my Disco and 265/65x17 on the wifes Landcruiser, best value for money on the market today and they make loads of sizes to fit most 4x4's.
We have lots of new Defenders turn up to change the standard 235/85x16 General TR to either the same size AT2 or 265/75x16, they look a bit better IMHO.
Mud tyres may look better on Defenders to some, but looks are not everything, if you don't need them don't have them, most times the best all round tyre is an All Terrain, our sales are split 80/20 in favor of the AT tyres.
At the end of the day it's your vehicle and your choice of which tyre suits your requirements, we are always happy to help if we can.
Andy.
Throw this one into the pot Cooper ST !!
Has a 10 ply rating so quite tough.
Has an all terrain tread pattern but quite open so good in mud and quite good on tarmac
http://www.expeditionoz.com/blog/wp-content/upload...
If you go to a 'road tyre' .... it just doesnt look right on a defender
Has a 10 ply rating so quite tough.
Has an all terrain tread pattern but quite open so good in mud and quite good on tarmac
http://www.expeditionoz.com/blog/wp-content/upload...
If you go to a 'road tyre' .... it just doesnt look right on a defender
Edited by budrover on Saturday 27th March 10:22
BF goodrich are one of the most costly tyres to buy but in my opinion they still offer the best overall value. I always run BFG's and usually AT/s which are very good off road, very very good on road and most importantly quiet.
Mud terrains look chunky on any landy but if you are only doing a 50/50 mix off off road or even more road bias than that then the road noise from muds will drive you insane.
Whilst the BFG is more expensive my experience is that the tread wear is much longer lasting, especially when compared to insa's or something cheaper in a branded name. I've ran BFG's on landy's, troopers and L200's and the levels of on road grip and performance have been more than adequate.
It doesn't matter too much on a Landy but if you are fitting Mud's you should also take note of the speed rating and speed induced vibration which often happens on road when you forget which boots you have on?? this never happens with BFG A/T's
N
Neil.
Mud terrains look chunky on any landy but if you are only doing a 50/50 mix off off road or even more road bias than that then the road noise from muds will drive you insane.
Whilst the BFG is more expensive my experience is that the tread wear is much longer lasting, especially when compared to insa's or something cheaper in a branded name. I've ran BFG's on landy's, troopers and L200's and the levels of on road grip and performance have been more than adequate.
It doesn't matter too much on a Landy but if you are fitting Mud's you should also take note of the speed rating and speed induced vibration which often happens on road when you forget which boots you have on?? this never happens with BFG A/T's
N
Neil.
OK, appreciate there's another tyre thread running, but I'm mainly interested in all year round road use.
To update, I've now done 50,000 mls on the original 'OE' General Grabbers, and they've done the job.
Now looking to replace these in the coming weeks - what's the latest thinking for primarily 'road going' Defenders ?
thanks
To update, I've now done 50,000 mls on the original 'OE' General Grabbers, and they've done the job.
Now looking to replace these in the coming weeks - what's the latest thinking for primarily 'road going' Defenders ?
thanks
Edited by Geneve on Saturday 16th August 16:58
I've had Scorpions on my L322 for 35k now and have just ordered a new set. They're great on that car. Not sure whether they're "chunky" enough for a Defender?
I need to change the tyres on my V8 D90, I have Recip Trials on there currently and the road noise is comedic. BFG have come well-recommended but I'll be looking at some of the other recommendations above.
I need to change the tyres on my V8 D90, I have Recip Trials on there currently and the road noise is comedic. BFG have come well-recommended but I'll be looking at some of the other recommendations above.
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