Thread: what tyre size for defender?

Thank you. I imagine overall they would be ok. I do plan on a 5mm lift in the future and mroe flex but that wont be for a while. ive decided to get the 255/85/16 muddies as I would like something slightly taller. I'll post up pics when its finally on!!

Originally Posted by LoveB

Thank you. I imagine overall they would be ok. I do plan on a 5mm lift in the future and mroe flex but that wont be for a while. ive decided to get the 255/85/16 muddies as I would like something slightly taller. I'll post up pics when its finally on!!

A little more, rather than a little less, ground clearance would be a good thing on some of the tracks up the Brindabellas....

]I have 255/85 on the standard rims for my touring set. I've had the BFG KM2 and found them OK, but prone to chipping.

The rear tyres only lasted about 30,000km before they were basically unusable. We had to change the rear tyres over before crossing the Great Victoria desert - just not worth the risk. We could only get a pair of Maxis Bighorn MT's in Carnarvan and so far they have been great, done over 20,000km on pretty bad roads with them now with the the same load and no evidence of chipping or any excessive wear. These are what the KM2 looked like.



The front tyres are still OK, so basically my experience has been that the KM2 seem to be good for lightly loaded situations, but are prone to excessive chipping when heavily loaded.

The 255/85 seem like the perfect size for the Defender, pity there are only limited tyre choice options

Here's the 255/85 762 Big Horns on Matt Lee's 7" Mach V rims about a week after fitting a bit over two years ago.

toyo Open Country MT

Getting pretty keen now. I wont really do any touring with the BFGs but I do a lot of insterstate driving so fingers crossed they go ok. I dont load the deefer heavy though unless I tow cars.

wheels arrive today but tyres not till monday.

Leaving my car in sydney for a week from tonight so I cant install it till week after anyway. CRY

Originally Posted by LoveB

Getting pretty keen now. I wont really do any touring with the BFGs but I do a lot of insterstate driving so fingers crossed they go ok. I dont load the deefer heavy though unless I tow cars.

wheels arrive today but tyres not till monday.

Leaving my car in sydney for a week from tonight so I cant install it till week after anyway. CRY

I know Ian had issues, but my KM2s have been fine - 40k of heavily loaded touring (Simpson, Cape, Fraser, High Country) so far and only normal wear.

Staked a sidewall early on, but repaired fine and still in service.

Originally Posted by Iain_B

]I have 255/85 on the standard rims for my touring set. I've had the BFG KM2 and found them OK, but prone to chipping.

The rear tyres only lasted about 30,000km before they were basically unusable. We had to change the rear tyres over before crossing the Great Victoria desert - just not worth the risk. We could only get a pair of Maxis Bighorn MT's in Carnarvan and so far they have been great, done over 20,000km on pretty bad roads with them now with the the same load and no evidence of chipping or any excessive wear. These are what the KM2 looked like.



<snip>

I've had similar issues with chipping on my 235/85/r16 KM2's. And my 255/85/r16 KM2's. I'm not planning to buy KM2's again...