Hi all,

More brain picking - I've searched the forums and read some interesting discussions on tyres / wheels / pressure etc, but havent really answered my own questions yet. Hope you can enlighten me.

My 01 Disco 2 has currently got 255/55R18 (109H) tyres on the factory alloys I bought it with. What are your thoughts as an option for replacements. I do 80% surfaced roads and am hoping to do some more serious offroad, so I want to have tyres that aren't going to cripple me offroad.

Tyre shop up the road were showing me some Goodyears at $450 a pop. I've read on here that some people rate the Cooper ST pretty highly although dont think it comes in an 18..

I've got the big wheels, so that limits my options a lot. Should I look at 16" rims?

What are the considerations regarding safety and legality if I change my alloys to something smaller? (Speedo, load, handling etc)

Should I pick up a second hand set of steel rims for some offroad tyres perhaps? It would till have to be street legal and safe tho..

I don't have much $$ to blow on this so want to spend wisely and safely

Cheers

Wil

The main legal consideration is rolling diameter.

So, if you put 16" rims on, the sidewall of the tyre will be bigger to give you the same overall rolling diameter as the original.

Now that said, there is a small amount of leeway allowed within the specs, and any good tyre retailer will be able to help you with that.

For what it is worth, I had the 18" rims, sold them & bought 16" due to the fact that the tyre choice is much much greater.

If you can afford it, buy some second hand 16" rims for when you go bush, and keep the dress rims for looking good.

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2004 D2a TD5 "Classic"
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Land Rover - Making mechanics out of drivers since 1948

and for my 2c, don't get coopers
sidewalls are ..............

Cool. Thanks for the input.

I actually dug out my D2 manual .. .. and looked up the recommended tires..

It states :

• 7J x 16 - use with 235/70 R16 Goodyear Wrangler HP 105 H
  or with 235/70 R16 Michelin XPC 105H
• 8J x 16 - use with 255/65 R16 Goodyear Wrangler HP 109 H
• or with 255/65 R16 Michelin XPC 109H

I have deduced that the 7J is narrower that the 8J (which I have now I guess) - and pros / cons to the skinny wheels?

Did i read somewhere here that the XPCs are no longer available?

Changing rims will open up a whole world of tyre options by the looks of it, so I reckon I'll go that path.. will probably be cheaper in the long run too.

Cheers

Wil

7J is 7" wide. 8J is 8" wide
why they run imperial diameter with metric width and profiles i still don't understand.
in my opinion the 7" rim is a better looking rim than the 8" in 16" for the D2. unless you want to go stupid width, i.e 285/85 , then the 7J will be fine.

yes, the XPC are gooooorn.

You can't go wrong with two sets. You will get a lot more out of your play tyres that way, and it leaves you the option of going with an agressive tread like a BFG KM2, MTZ etc as you dont drive everyday with that tyre. Do you have a lift on yours? You can run up to a 285/75, but most people run the 265/65 which is readily available and isn't that big so the cops should care too much. Yes they are an illegal size, but running them only on trips reduces the risk. It still isn't perfect, but in QLD there is just no other way.

Bigger tyres will throw your speedo out, by about 10% if you run 265's. The car will also lag a bit more as the engine has to work harder due to the larger tyres overgearing the vehicle.

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I currently run BFG AT 255/70 R16 which gives a bit more height (within the law) under the diff over the 235/70. They are a good tyre for the on/off road combination (not extreme muddy stuff) and saves you running 2 sets of tyres.

For the 18 inchers my father runs General Grabber AT2 on his 03 RR and has taken it through the Vic high country and Tassie without any dramas. Just another option to get a bit more agressive over the Goodyears without changing rims. The downside is the lower profile of course.

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Yo Will....I get to respond to one of your posts . I would flick the idea of 2 sets of wheels....unless you are looking at running massive muddies off road. Also for better tyre options...would get rid of the 18's and get 16's. As you know I run Maxxis Bighorns....which in a recent 4WD Action tyre comparo of HT's, ATR's and MT's it was determined that the Bighorns and KM2's were the winners in terms of being an all round tyre.

With 18's there is always going to be a profile issue at some point when airing down and going over rocks....even rocks that arent that "extreme". I went through this whole scenario 12 odd mths back...same thing...run road tyres and a 2nd set for off road. Bloody hell....that was from people with out a horde of kids.....or much younger...who could be stuffed. Then there was the old day to day tyre issue. Now as you know I would do well over 500kms a week ++ so would say 80% of my time is on road.....20% off. With the Bighorns I have found them a very reasonable on road tyre and off road they are as tough as hell in all terrains. In 12 mths I have done over 12 off road trips and clocked up over 30,000kms....no issues with them at all.

With the way MT's are these days...especially the Bighorns, KM2's. Mickey Thompsons etc...I reckon if you are serious about doing even a bit of medium to hard off roading...an ATR shouldnt even get a look in....not when there are better MT's which are just as good on road. I can bring the copy of the mag over when I pick up kids on Friday,

Regards

Stevo

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Smokey: 2003 D2 TD5.2 inch lift, Big Horn 265/75/16, Dobinson Shocks & Springs, Dranged Engineering Sliders, Rhino Roof Rack, Safari Snorkel, ARB Deluxe Bar, TJM 9500lb Ox winch and Navara Spotties
Ex 2005 D3 V8 HSE

At the risk of becoming unpopular (legal statements are generally not received well here – but you asked). To remain legal - “The rim diameter may be varied from the standard size but the overall diameter of the tyre must not vary by more than +15mm or -26mm.” (end quote). QLD Transport rules

The last time I used (one of the many) a tyre calculator the largest 16’’ tyre that is legal on a D2 is a 245/70. I also know the insurance companies are now checking these in the event of a good accident.

There is also legislation around speedo accuracy. Basically the speedo must be within 10% but CANNOT read slower than the actual vehicle speed

I reckon Stevo has nailed it. 18's are just not that suitable for off road work anyway- they will ride rougher, be more fragile (tyres & rims) and if you ever venture anywhere remote and need new tyres you'll be waiting for a while.

I went through this a few months back when I first got my D2, I ended up with a set of BFG Km 2 mud terrains, and they've been great. They are very quiet (The recent mag article stevo talked about has them as the second quietest tyre as tested against other a/t's, muddies AND highway terrains) and so far off road have been fantastic. I went with stock 235/70/16, basically because with new laws they were biggest legal tyre available without the engineering hoo hah- as my daily driver it has to be legal. You might now be able to get 245/70/16 which would also be legal.

last thing- these tyres are great on economy (for a muddie), my around town figures went from 10.7 litres/100km on H/ts to 11.2/100 km. Not bad at all. You could cover the cost of buying 16 rims by selling the 18s.