Defender tyres v Disco tyres

[vnx205]

Some time ago I followed, more with a sense of amusement than any real interest or even curiosity, a thread about the apparently important decision that some people have to make about whether the white lettering on the tyres should be on the inside or the outside.

A couple of years ago I fitted 4 Maxxis ATs to the Defender and noticed that neither side had white lettering.

Since then I have noticed quite a few Discos and other brands of 4WDs with the same brand of tyres and other brands with white lettering, but have yet to see a Defender with white lettering.

Does that mean that:
Tyre manufacturers know that Defender drivers realise that white lettering on a 4WD tyre is a bit of waste of time, so they don't make Defender size tyres with white lettering.

Drivers of Discos and other lesser 4WDs go out of their way to find tyres with white lettering.

Drivers of Discos and other lesser 4WDs think white lettering is so important that they put the white paint on their tyres themselves.


Or is there some other explanation? :)

[LOVEMYRANGIE]

I'd be quite happy if all the tyres I bought previously came without white lettering as I turn them inside anyway.
Funny actually as I was sitting in traffic noticing all the Prados with shiny alloy bars, racks, antennas and other accessories with their BF Goodrich tyres with white writing hanging out an not a spot of dirt or sign to say it's ever been further off road than the street verge.
Besides, writing on the outside only spoils the aerodynamics of the vehicle...... :p

Cheers

Andrew

[BigJon]

Personally I always put the white writing out if it is possible, provided that I have four matched tyres. I like the way it looks, although I can see it is not to everyones taste.

I have done this to my RRC, but I also had white writing on the tyres fitted to my two Kingswood utes, my Brumby and my P76...

[land864]

Writing facing in;)

I had some tyres fitted the other year and the fitter looked at me and said.

" You don't look like a letters out kinda guy to me "

[PhilipA]

Ditto
This is THE MOST Earthshattering Thread.

You can tell on the tyre makers websites which are RWL (Raised white letters) or not. Sometimes there are two versions but most likely in "recreation" sizes than "commercial" eg 265.70.16 vs 235.85x16.

Regards Philip A

[bcj]

what's the point? Does it improve (a)traction? Something else I'd have to clean (or not)

Brett
110 300tdi

[rick130]

Writing facing in;)

I had some tyres fitted the other year and the fitter looked at me and said.

" You don't look like a letters out kinda guy to me "

:lol2:

I used to get my tyres swapped side to side but going the same direction (changed on the rims) so I had RWL in and out, depending on the life point of the tyre. :D

The current ones don't have RWL so it doesn't matter anyway.

[abaddonxi]

what's the point? Does it improve (a)traction? Something else I'd have to clean (or not)

Brett
110 300tdi

Quite the opposite.

White attracts dirt - just try wearing a white T-shirt while doing an oil change.

The extra whiteness on tyres attracts mud, the sipes clog faster and traction is reduced.

Inside, outside, doesn't matter.

[V8Ian]

Quite the opposite.

White attracts dirt - just try wearing a white T-shirt while doing an oil change.

The extra whiteness on tyres attracts mud, the sipes clog faster and traction is reduced.

Inside, outside, doesn't matter.
Do you mind if I forward this to Mythbusters, Simon? :p

[big guy]

On directional tyres I can understand.\Personally, I never put the writing on the outside.
Looks too much like "Look at me".
Personnel thing I guess.

[VladTepes]

Frankly I have more important things to worry about.

[GlenM]

So long as the round side points at the ground I'm happy.

[waynep]

I'd be happy to put white lettering out if they gave me a 20% discount for using my car as a travelling billboard.

[jerryd]

Has to be on the inside for me, ............sorted :D

[ramblingboy42]

hmm heres one for ya (hi jack warning!) people spray/paint/wipe tyre shine/black/protectant on their tyres to protect them....right?.....why do they only do the outside of the tyre? the inside of the tyre is left totally "unprotected".....imagine how much longer the tyres might last if they did both sides.....

[vnx205]

If it is the UV light that makes the tyre deteriorate, the inside needs less protection, as long as you keep the vehicle right side up. :p

Don't worry about the hijack. It seems that almost everyone is ignoring the point of my original post anyway. I don't care where people put their white lettering. Like Vladtepes, I think there are more important things to worry about.

The point of my post, which I apparently didn't make clear, is that it seems to me that tyre manufacturers seem to know that Defender drivers are not impressed by white lettering while drivers of lesser 4WDs are. So they don't even bother to put white lettering on tyres that fit proper Land Rovers with the original 16" steel rims. :)

[trobbo]

see I think you have it the wrong way around, the manufacturers know that the driver of the disco and your so called lesser vehicles are going to get further than the defender, look better than the defender and is generally going to be photographed more than the defender. Hence they sell tyres with RWL for their free advertising.

They are simply too embarassed to publicly advertise their tyres on a defender. :p:D

[Tank]

If it is the UV light that makes the tyre deteriorate, the inside needs less protection, as long as you keep the vehicle right side up. :p

Don't worry about the hijack. It seems that almost everyone is ignoring the point of my original post anyway. I don't care where people put their white lettering. Like Vladtepes, I think there are more important things to worry about.

The point of my post, which I apparently didn't make clear, is that it seems to me that tyre manufacturers seem to know that Defender drivers are not impressed by white lettering while drivers of lesser 4WDs are. So they don't even bother to put white lettering on tyres that fit proper Land Rovers with the original 16" steel rims. :)
Allan, you didn't get any "bites" on the "Discos and other lesser 4WD's" which I thought was the "theme" of your post, it's similar to the threads on Land Rover waves. My theory on Defender and Series I, II and III drivers waving to one another is: They know the pain the other driver is experiencing and feel sorry for one another. LOL.
The main advantage of Defender ownership is you can pull up the floor everytime the gearbox craps itself, you can hose them out and because of their flat sides you can roll them over to do work on hard to get at bits, lucky buggers. The bad side is, you normally can't get under trees that a Disco can, you need a 60 acre paddock to do a U-turn, leak dust and water but the worst point is you can't get into most shopping mall carparks, bugger. I will now wait for my just desserts, LOL, Regards Frank.
Edit, except for Trobbo, just beat me to it.

[vnx205]

Frank, you seem to have been more aware than most that I was in a mischievous mood when I wrote the original post. Although,as you have seen, trobbo wasn't going to let me get away with some of my assertions.

Maybe you had the advantage of knowing me better than most after the time we have spent sitting around a campfire at Bendethra. :D

[trobbo]

Did you know there are two kinds of psychiatric institutions in this country.

One has soft padded round rooms for drivers of RR's and disco's. The others have square uncomfortable steel rooms for Defender drivers.

As if a topic like this, or a defender driver, will ever be taken seriously :rolleyes:

[Tank]

Couldn't let so subtle a jibe at Discos go unanswered, something to discuss next time down at Bendethra, I have been searching high and low for those Staun Deflators I said you could have, found the packet they came in though, will have to search for something else, bound to turn up then. Will let you know when I find them, Regards Frank.

[isuzurover]

Frankly I have more important things to worry about.


Yes - we can certainly see that you do...
http://www.aulro.com/afvb/general-chat/110968-re-chipping-tdi-defender.html