Thread: 285/70 R16s on a puma 90?

Originally Posted by Leroy_Riding

main think is, even with pressures dropped down (25PSI) i find that I am sinking in the mud where friends in larger heavier 4wd's are not who have wider tires AKA 265's and 285's (a few also ahve 315's)
maybe its just all in my head,

Leroy.

Skinny types perform better in the mud. They cut through the mud to the firmer base below. If you are in mud that is endless, wide, skinner, tall, fat tyres makes no difference, you are just as likely to get stuck as your mate on 35" rubber.

There is a reason so many advocate 255/85 for the defender, it's a near perfect tyre for the defender. It fits on a 7" rim, max height for min compromise and max height for min cost of additional upgrades ( 285/75 need 8" rim and flares, 315/75 needs C&P in addition to that of the 285/75.)

MLD

Seems the answer too my question is more or less 'no, 285's will not fit on a defender without modification'

Thats fine, I would still like a little more width, so Ill look into the 255/85's and untill then ill drop pressures even more than I have been.

In regards to who ever said jsut get lockers, I am not getting stuck, I am getting all the same places they are, it jsut seems they glide over the mud where I sink into and have to trudge through it due to the skinnier tires, most of them have lockers as it is. I have no want for lockers right away, had them in my alst 4wd, rarely used them, biggest waste of money I ever made tbh (other than not buying the land rover to begin with! :P )

Thanks
Leroy

In Qld last time I saw the laws I think it was legal to have 255's as long as the total vehicle lift was under 75mm?
The cheaper(less legal ) option is the 255's with UK ( UK/EU govt approved, just not here!)spacers of 30 mm so you can keep the original alloys and not have to buy new wheels. I've run a set for 2 years , no issues or problems and you can buy them from most big aftermarket places in the u.k. I think there is a set on here for sale but not sure of their origin. The other advantage is boost alloys with spacers and 255's still just fit under factory flares so you don't need new wider ones.
In my 110 I run 18-20 psi on bighorn 255's. Your in a 90 which is 4-500kg lighter so could look at lower pressures

All your issues so far are pressure related.
Even when you get bigger Tyres it's all about pressures.

I have 285/75 on a 90. Fits within flares, no need for extended. I have no issues with a 2" lift and steering stops adjusted to reduce turning circle.

This is on 7" zu rims 25 offset. I imported the rover with this set up and it passed engineer, Vic roads and roadworthy inspections.

I have had pressures down to 8psi without issue. Although 285 are not supposed to be on 7" rims they fit very well on the zu's.

Saying that though, the 285s came with the car when i bought it. I would not have picked them myself. The next set soon to go on will be 255. Hoping for slightly better turning and fuel consumption. It will also be interesting to see how they fare offroad. I've become very confident with the 285s - I might actually end up missing them.

Sent from my PadFone 2 using AULRO mobile app

I have MTZ's 285/75x16 on 8" neutral off set rims.
No rubbing, no change in turning circle.
They did stick outside of the factory flares and spray mud and crap all up the sides.
Now, with the FlatDog flares all sorted.

Originally Posted by Leroy_Riding

strugling for traction a little though I put that down two the factory AT's

main think is, even with pressures dropped down (25PSI) i find that I am sinking in the mud where friends in larger heavier 4wd's are not who have wider tires AKA 265's and 285's (a few also ahve 315's)
maybe its just all in my head, the 235's seem fine up the beach at 20-25PSI though a bit iffy in the softer stuff though.

did a little reading around, seems it could also be the traction control that is causing my issues not the skinny tires?

Workman... Tools???

So far we've blamed the tyres & TC... Have you considered it could simply be your driving??

Personally, I'm a fan of the skinny tyres. I run Michelin XZL 7.50R16 and never had a problem in the soft stuff. Airing down & plenty of momentum.

M

Originally Posted by camel_landy

Workman... Tools???

So far we've blamed the tyres & TC... Have you considered it could simply be your driving??

Personally, I'm a fan of the skinny tyres. I run Michelin XZL 7.50R16 and never had a problem in the soft stuff. Airing down & plenty of momentum.

M

Like I said, Im not getting stuck, and I am not spinning wheels all over the place either. it jsut seems that the wider tires drive over the mud rather than through it like the skinny ones do.

I mentioned the TC as I read that it causes issues in the soft sand elsewhere on this forum.
turns out people have mentioned I am not airing down enough, I thoguht 20-25PSI was low, others seemt o go lower, so I will try that. again though I am not getting stuck, nor am I struggling anywhere I go it was an observation that the wider tires in *MUD* seem to drive over what I have to drive through, my defender has been stuck twice, once becuase the track rod was so bent up my front tires were pointing oposite directions, the other because I got my back wheel stuck between two rocks and we nearly burnt a winch out pulling it free.

While I understand my driving can (and always can) improove I was simply asking a question about will 285's fit, I am not blamming tires or TC for anything.

Leroy