Tire Size

[onesilop]

I have searched and not found the conclusive answer I was looking for,

I have some 15x8 rims that I am going to put some mud tires on I am looking at the BFG km2's but I can't decide between three sizes

32X11.5R15
33X10.5R15
33X12.5R15

I would like to get the biggest widest ones 33X12.5R15 but I am worried that I will ruin my turning circle and I will have to trim away bits of the body.

From what I have read here the 32 are the closest to the standard defender size but the 33 will change the driveline ratio so that the engine revs slightly less at the same speed.

So over to you, what size have you used and how have you found them on road and off? Were modifications necessary to fit them?

[josh aka sean]

Hi
I'm running 255/85 r16s on mine which would be closest to the 33 x 10.5. I find that on the rear they rub mildly on the flares but they can be trimmed to be fine (this is on extreme up travel). I would imagine the 12.5 33s would have major issues.
cheers
Josh

[onesilop]

Thanks for the response AKA, how does that size go for drivability?

[josh aka sean]

I run disco rims offset outwards by about an inch (just under i think) which actually gives me slightly better turning circle. Other than that on mine it gives the correct reading from the speedo (was always slightly on the optimistic side). My wife currently drives it as her daily driver so must be fairly good to drive :D

[LowRanger]

If you are not planning any further modifications,then I would suggest selling the 15" rims and getting a set of 16x7's .This will then allow you to run 255/85/16 which is probably the tyre that best suits a Defender.16x7 also happens to be the size of series 1 Disco wheels,and you can pick these up fairly cheaply,and will give you the clearance you need.
And my 35x12.5R16's fit easily with a bit of massaging!!!!

Wayne

[newhue]

If you are not planning any further modifications,then I would suggest selling the 15" rims and getting a set of 16x7's .This will then allow you to run 255/85/16 which is probably the tyre that best suits a Defender.16x7 also happens to be the size of series 1 Disco wheels,and you can pick these up fairly cheaply,and will give you the clearance you need.
And my 35x12.5R16's fit easily with a bit of massaging!!!!

Wayne

Wayne, do 255's on disco 1 rims remain inside the flairs?


Onesilop, met a young guy running BFG km 33/12.5/15 on a leaf sprung Bundera last week. He said the tyres were great in the sand, but on the road aquaplained badly, tracked quite a bit, and very noisy.
He said if he were to do it gain he'd run two sets.

[onesilop]

If you are not planning any further modifications,then I would suggest selling the 15" rims and getting a set of 16x7's .This will then allow you to run 255/85/16 which is probably the tyre that best suits a Defender.16x7 also happens to be the size of series 1 Disco wheels,and you can pick these up fairly cheaply,and will give you the clearance you need.
And my 35x12.5R16's fit easily with a bit of massaging!!!!

Wayne

I am planning to "fix" the suspension the guy who had it before me fitted a bulbar and the front sags a little then I want to weigh it down some more with drawers and other stuff so once it is completed I will take it to get raised to normal height maybe an inch higher.

What kind of massaging was required?

[onesilop]

Wayne, do 255's on disco 1 rims remain inside the flairs?


Onesilop, met a young guy running BFG km 33/12.5/15 on a leaf sprung Bundera last week. He said the tyres were great in the sand, but on the road aquaplained badly, tracked quite a bit, and very noisy.
He said if he were to do it gain he'd run two sets.

I almost decided against the 12.5 inch width because I figured they are too far removed from the standard size.

[LowRanger]

Wayne, do 255's on disco 1 rims remain inside the flairs?


Onesilop, met a young guy running BFG km 33/12.5/15 on a leaf sprung Bundera last week. He said the tyres were great in the sand, but on the road aquaplained badly, tracked quite a bit, and very noisy.
He said if he were to do it gain he'd run two sets.

Yes 255/85/16's fitted to disco1 rims,fit nicely inside the standard flares on Defenders.If I was setting up a Defender for touring,this is what I would be using.

And 15" wheels,depending on the rims,may have clearance problems,and 33/12.5/15 tyres have too much tyre wall and decrease stability in my opinion,much better off with 16".

Wayne

[LowRanger]

I am planning to "fix" the suspension the guy who had it before me fitted a bulbar and the front sags a little then I want to weigh it down some more with drawers and other stuff so once it is completed I will take it to get raised to normal height maybe an inch higher.

What kind of massaging was required?
Standard height is OK. 1-2" lift will give a little more clearance,but you will need to look at shocks as well as springs or you can change mounts.There are many options.
Just a little 2" lift,wider flares and a bit of manipulating of the body panels around the wheel arches.And then you look at all the mechanical things that need to be done:eek:

Wayne

[aew849]

Currently have the older pattern BFG MT's in 255/85R16 on the standard Deefer 130 rims (although painted black) and they managed to correct the speedo reading to being spot on!! They have done 60,000kms with probably another 10 left in them.

The fronts do touch on the chassis when on full lock but am looking to correct that in th future with decent spacers. In the meantime, with a standard Defender circle being so crook anyway, whats a few more metres. What is a 3 point turn anyway?

Of note is an order for KM2's from the US....good exchange rate, readily available (as opposed to a 12 week wait) and even with air freight, is substantially cheaper (and under the import duty threshold)...and we are talking 10-12 cartons cheaper.

aew849

[zeus11]

G'day onesilop

I'm running 33x12.5x15 BFG KM2's on a steel rim with -25 offset.

I have a 2 inch lift and have not had any scrubbing yet. I've lost the odd mudflap but thats about all. I'm not an extreme off roader but do find plenty of mud.

I've had them about a year now and my defender is a daily driver. I havent experienced any aquaplaning and they are quieter than the MTZ's I've had before.

I'll probably go the same size and would consider the big horns as they seam to be good value.

Each to their own mate everyone has a different take on tyre size and make.

Good luck with it.

Cheers

[T1ASLAV]

G'day

I am currently running the Bighorns on a 15x8 with -25mm offset in a 33 x 12.5 and find them good, you do noticed the difference when taking off but other than that all good.