Thread: 285/75/16 or 255/85/16 on a Defender

255/85/16's are quite a common size tyre used on County's and Defenders, but it's best if you use off-set rims to avoid hitting the radius arms on full lock. Steel Disco rims with a 25mm off-set work well. The extra width of a 285 might present more of a problem.

The Big Horn is a wide 255, about 10mm wider than the BFG in the same size.
It also measures near enough to a true 33.3" tall when new. (I ran a tape around them before fitting)
Pretty sure isuzurover had 285's on his 110 and I recall him saying they touched under full articulation. Ben runs the Maxxis in 255 on it now.

As Rick said. I have run 285/75-16 MTRs on +30mm disco rims. They rubbed on the rear offroad (where the flares attach to the body - and removed a few of the plastic plugs which hold the flares on) - but this was more the rims than the tyres.

I now have 255/85-16 Bighorns on +20mm disco rims. They don't rub.

265/75s on stock disco rims will rub on the (rear) coil towers.

285s are OK - you just need to get the rim offset/backspacing right. 255s though, will work on anything from +10 to +30mm disco rims. (can't comment on other rims)