series 1 tyres

[newhue]

What sort of tyres are people running on their series. Is there a tyre that reflects standard, or something a bit capable that looks like it suits a Series.

[Sleepy]

For your 107" I would put 7.50 x 16's, or even 205R16's.

7.50's look great on Series 1's.

The experts may correct me but pretty sure the 80's had 6.00x16 and the 107's had 7.50's (or perhaps 7.00?)

Have you got a workshop manual or parts manual, they are pretty easy to find on the net in pdf form?

[JDNSW]

For your 107" I would put 7.50 x 16's, or even 205R16's.

7.50's look great on Series 1's.

The experts may correct me but pretty sure the 80's had 6.00x16 and the 107's had 7.50's (or perhaps 7.00?)

Have you got a workshop manual or parts manual, they are pretty easy to find on the net in pdf form?

All short wheelbase Series Landrovers had 6.00x16 as standard, with the option of 6.50, 7.00 or 7.50 depending just when they were made. (Except NAS spec that used 15" wheels) The original speedo will in most cases be calibrated for 6.00-6.50x16.

The 107 was fitted as standard with 7.00x16, I don't think that 7.50 came in until the Series 2. Series 2/2a/3 109 had 7.50x16 as standard, 9.00x16 was standard on the One Ton, and optional on other lwb models after the One Ton was introduced.

Of these tyres the only ones reasonably easy to find today are 6.00x16 and 7.50x16. But 205R16 is close in size to 6.00x16, and is probably easier to find and cheaper than 6.00x16.

In my view radial tyres are preferred for all Series Landrovers despite not having become an option until Series 2. Tread pattern depends on your planned use.

John

[Lotz-A-Landies]

I thought the largest tyre fitted OEM were 7.00 as they didn't introduce the 5.5" rim till SII

[newhue]

Sorry I should have worded that better.

What brand, model of tyres are people running.

I was thinking something like this.

http://img31.imageshack.us/img31/4205/107do.jpg (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/31/107do.jpg/)

[Sleepy]

I'd say they are 7.50 x 16's.

THese are 205R16's

http://www.aulro.com/afvb/attachments/series-i-land-rover-enthusiasts-section/7149d1204357666-work-ol-ute-tomorrow-wheels-look-better.jpg

[series1buff]

The 1954 107 I drove home from Adelaide and then did a rough rebuild on , had 7.50's fitted . I always thought it was a tad too highly geared for the standard 2 litre motor with those tyres fitted, smaller tyres would have helped it on the hills :eek:. If your motor is in top shape , then it will probably be OK . But smaller profile tyres do suit them I feel in terms of gearing and general performance.

Mike

[series1buff]

This is my old 107 , the present owner has flashy wheels on it. Its still motoring around today with it;s original motor fitted. I sold it in 1998 . Before I got it, the previous owner was half way across the nullabor in it and he cooked the engine . It blew the head gasket and it popped a valve seat . it would have had the d tailights as its a very early 107 with 10" brakes

Mike

[newhue]

I see in some old genuine brochures I found on the net, 7.00 x 16 is what a 107 comes with standard.

The first question I was asked but the seller of Lucky was "are you going to put big wheels on it", he was referring to BIG tyres.

I don't want overly chunky, just something that looks purposeful to match the vehicle.
I know a set of HT's would be all it needs but.....for me, would be like painting it purple.
I've been looking at tyre web sites but can't find a tread pattern that suits.

Mike, do you recall what brand was on your old 107?

[JDNSW]

I thought the largest tyre fitted OEM were 7.00 as they didn't introduce the 5.5" rim till SII

I think that is right. (what I said) But it was quite common to fit 7.50 tyres to the 5" rim, even on the swb. My Series 1 88 had 7.60x16 tyres. The OEM on "Lucky" would almost certainly have been 7.00x16 - but I have not seen any of these for years.

As to tread pattern, original would, I think, have probably been something like the RoadTrak Major or RoadTrak, possibly bar tread, less likely on a 107, almost certainly one of the Australian made tyres.

John

[123rover50]

These are new 700x16 I bought last year from our local Continental dealer.
About $200.00 I recall.

[newhue]

These are new 700x16 I bought last year from our local Continental dealer.
About $200.00 I recall.

Thanks, are you sure they are Continental? They have one tyre like yours but not in that size. Can't seem to find anything that looks similar.

[B.S.F.]

Mine are 7.00x16 LT 8-ply Grand Tour distributed by GT radial (listed as X-Grip)and should be available through your local tyre dealer.I believe these are the same tyres as 123rover50 has got on his truck ,only mine are about 80% worn..I think the only other similar tyres available in this size are MRF 14 ply.If you want more information send me a pm.

http://i1231.photobucket.com/albums/ee508/bsfnut/460-Copy2.jpg

[newhue]

Thanks B.S.F Nut

after googling X Grip I finally found them, they look the part. I have found it quite hard to get any info on 7, or 7.5x16 from suppliers web sites.

That's a swell looking truck you have there. I love that lived look old Series have in good nick.

Don't have a spare fairlead lying around by chance?

[Lotz-A-Landies]

<snip>
As to tread pattern, original would, I think, have probably been something like the RoadTrak Major or RoadTrak, possibly bar tread, less likely on a 107, almost certainly one of the Australian made tyres.

JohnThe Grenville books abbreviate the tyres to: Oly Bar (Olympic bar tread)
Oly APL (Olympic All Purpose Lug)
Dun Bar (Dunlop bar tread)
Dun RTM (Dunlop Road Track Major)Other brands and patterns are listed later in SIIa but the above are the only ones listed in S1.

Unfortunately none of those brand/patterns have been available for years, but some similar patterns are available in Korean, Chinese and Indian tyres.

[outback jeff]

Jason, here is a link to the MRF agent , Australian Tyre Traders - Wholesalers, importers & manufacturers of Tyres (http://www.tyretraders.com.au/light_truck_tyres_bias_ply.php)
There is no agent in Brisbane , but they say that one is comming soon.

I saw an 86" at the RACQ motorfest this year and it had MRF 6.00-16 Bar tread on it, looked good .

Cheers Jeff

[B.S.F.]

Unfortunately a lot of companies list tyres the factory produces and not the tyres available in Australia.

Cheers
W.

[Scallops]

I got my 6.00 X 16's via Zulu Delta somewhere in Logan. They're an order item. Took all of a week. PM him for bloke to talk to. They are the go. Mine will still pull 95 km/h on 'em and they are and look correct. $150 each with tubes and fitted.

[numpty]

My 107 has 7.50's on it and I run 205/16's on the 88 (actually too wide for the rim, but have been fine for a few years now fine). I have a set of 6.50's which will be going on the 88 and these are basically the same overall dia as the 205's.

[gromit]

I managed to source a set of 7.00 x 16 RTM's just prior to the 60th celebrations. Dunlop were getting them made in Indonesia and a batch of 100 arrived just in time for me to get a set fitted then drive to Cooma.
Last time I spoke to my tyre supplier they said that Dunlop were no longer bringing them in.

The tooling must still exist within Dunlop so it's only a case of getting a batch made somehow.
Anyone with contacts within Dunlop ?



Colin

[newhue]

Thanks all for your replies, I would have thought putting tyres on a car was a relatively easy process.
But torn between keeping Lucky original, wanting something purposeful, poor variety, and availability has not been all that easy.

I understand cross bars are perhaps closest to original, but every time I see them I see Jeeps, not Land Rovers. Please, no offence to those who have them.
Many of you who run 7.5 x 16, I can appreciate the variety is far greater, and is not that far off original. I almost picked up some Goodyear High Miler Extra Grip's, but decided they were common to the Armies vehicles from what I can gather.

So right or wrong I have chosen to run with the standard 700 x 16 tyre. I feel, out of what options there are, it reflects what I think a Series is about. They are also the same as B.S.F. Nut's rig below.

They came in at $180 per tyre.

here is the link to it for your interst
Tyres 4U - 4WD/Light Commercial (http://www.tyres4u.com.au/t4utyreselector/4wd_Fitment_ID-23675_show.aspx)

[JDNSW]

I managed to source a set of 7.00 x 16 RTM's just prior to the 60th celebrations. Dunlop were getting them made in Indonesia and a batch of 100 arrived just in time for me to get a set fitted then drive to Cooma.
Last time I spoke to my tyre supplier they said that Dunlop were no longer bringing them in.

The tooling must still exist within Dunlop so it's only a case of getting a batch made somehow.
Anyone with contacts within Dunlop ?



Colin

I suspect that may depend on the relative dollar values of scrap metal and warehouse storage!

John

[newhue]

Just like to add something I have found. Seasoned series driver will already know, but for those rebuilding, or want to use it as a daily driver and run a tyre that suits the vehicle and works well.

Bias (rag or nylon belt) tyres are not very economical. A forum member was saying 30K, maybe 40K was as good as his getting from the Xgrip, but they worked well. I spoke to the supplier yesterday and they were saying Bias tyres are not made for bitumen, they are a off road tyre only.

The problem is radials don't come in 6, 6.5, 7 x 16, the standard fitment. Only bias tyres, and usually bias tyres have a tread pattern that suits the vehicle.

I guess a set of Bias tyres for around $800 or $900 hundred dollars could justify the lost 10 000 kilometres one should get extra from a set of radials. And depending on what radials one buys to look right, one can pay $1200 to $1400, so maybe the extra is not worth it anyway.

it's taken me weeks to work this out:p

[Scallops]

Once you start driving your 107, I think you'll come to appreciate that tyre life really doesn't really come into it. It will take you a lot longer than you realise to do 30k in your S1 and by the time you do the tyres might need to be replaced for other reasons rather than wear. I suggest you send a PM to Zulu Delta 534 and get the name of the tyre place at Beenleigh. You'll have a full set of new, correct, bias tyres with new tubes and fitted for around $750.00 and they'll look brilliant. I'll also bet you're happy with them. I love my tyres. (when I can actually get them to rotate under drive from the engine! :p)

[newhue]

Scollops, are you saying my tyres will crack and perish before I wear them out enjoying the absolute cutting edge driving experience only a series can deliver.

I put 30K klm's into the puma this year, I need to drive something else that doesn't record milage as accurately.

I actually dropped a line to Zulu and was told it was more a once of thing, just for you Scollops. I don't think others should PM him on a deal for tyres. I think you did well there mate.