Back To Stock Tyres

[njhey]

I bought my disco from well-intentioned folk who had equipped her with 265/75*16 Cooper A/Ts without any lift of changes at all. I couldn't go over a speed hump, or turn a corner with a bump without the dreaded scrapes - and it wallowed all over the place like a land-whale. Even worse, the spare tyre (which I didn't look at while buying her) wasn't even the same kind of wheel or tyre (a 265/70 on a steel rim).

I rocked up to the wreckers at Lonsdale, found a set of 2nd hand 235/70's and did a direct swap for the 5 wheels I had. They did it on the spot and by the first corner I almost teared up - it was like a new truck. They look better too.

I was a bit concerned with the skinnier tyres sand ability after no problems on the wider tyres:

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1319.jpg

But hit Goolwa today on the stock sizes with no problems - if anything it was a more pleasant ride even after losing 30mm...

https://www.aulro.com/afvb/images/imported/2013/02/1320.jpg
Anyway, happy Disco day today...

[gazby]

Yes, I have been looking at getting new tyres for our D1, and some of the guys peddling tyres are a little bit abstract in their thinking, for example the bloke at one mob said ,"yeh mate we can fix you up with 265's, all the Disco's are getting them that size", the next guys tell us it is illegal to fit anything larger than 245's, (that is what is fitted now) to our standard rims. The tyre placard and owners manual only mentions 235's as the biggest option for a standard 7 inch rim, that is how I will go, standard steel stock rims and maybe 225-75 or 235-70 tyres as the old beast is neither lifted nor has guards cut.
From what I have observed in my travels the big tyres look good but the benefits off road are not worth the pain of lifting, cutting out guards, axle breakage, speedo correction, and of course the sometimes big extra cost, the Disco will go lots of places in standard trim.
But then I am an old fart and there was a time when the big tyres would have been an essential, no matter what.

[njhey]

Hi gazby, thanks for that. I was actually pulled up for the size of the tyres at a breathalyser on the way home from work. They said the diameter was too big and could give me a roadworthy based on the size of the tyres. Then the guy checks the spare and that's how I found out it was a different size. Luckily he was a Landy loving cop. After my scraping problems it was all I needed to go back to stock. We used to have a S2a at home when dad was in the army (nice work car!) and that thing could go anywhere on tyres the width of a coin, so I had no issue going skinnier. It literally feels like a better car. If I had found a set of 225/75's I probably would have gone with them. :-)

[ade]

Ive got 225/75 on my 95 disco, no problems grest ride etc, they also came out with 205 from the factory

[njhey]

Hi ade, were the 205's on an 85 profile?

[Scouse]

Hi ade, were the 205's on an 85 profile?The 205s were a 205R16 with no mention of a profile......but it's 80% (205/80/16). They have the same rolling diameter as the 235/70/16 tyres.

[Xtreme]

The 205s were a 205R16 with no mention of a profile......but it's 80% (205/80/16). They have the same rolling diameter as the 235/70/16 tyres.

And very close to the same RD as the 225/75/R16's

[superquag]

To be pedantic... a 205R16 is an 82% profile. Because "all" tyres back then were the same ratio, it was'nt included in the sizing numbers.

Later on, Hoons and rally drivers would use the new '70' series tyres with a slightly differant numbering system. eg. 205/70R16. This would be prominantly displayed as it was believed (and later proved) that Big Numbers emblazoned on tyres had an aphrodisiacal quality... "70" worked magically for some time, but as the affected Chicks are now Grandmothers, the attraction has waned.
However, we have observed a similar influence from such numbers as 65, 60, 55 and 50, the equilibrium disturbance inversely proportional to the value... 40 is currently regarded as a health hazard to those wealthy (read: OLD) enough to afford them.

AFAIK, 80% is a relatively new aspect ratio. We used to have a 78% on car tyres in which letters replaced the tread width., but it died a natural death. eg, AR78S13 'replaced' the 165 SR-13

'80' may be around for a while yet, no doubt the Marketers feel it looks.... Sexy. :eek: 80 may yet be the 'new' 70. :p

[njhey]

I have never thought about tyres in this way before...every time I look at an object I largely take for granted I realise there is a whole industry, history and probably academic discipline behind it...thanks for the post.

[Dougal]

Generally the 235/70R16 size is a softer passenger tyre, the 225/75R16 is available in LT (light truck) with a much heavier carcass.

I wore out an old set of 235/70R16's hankooks on my rangie last year and swapped back on 225/75 BFG AT's. The size difference surprised me, these are supposed to be within about 8mm, but the BFG's looked almost an inch taller in this size.
The moral of the story seems to be that tyre sizes are a general guideline and different makers do different thing.

I've just ordered a set of 215/85R16's. That'll get some funny looks. I need chain clearance around my tyres.

[njhey]

I'd love to see a pic when you get the 215's - the 235's are an interim measure until I work out what I'm doing with the Landy in the long term.

[Tdi Nico]

I have a 300tdi manual, i bought it stock as a non runner. I hated the after market rims that were on it. So i found some alloys. Range rover 3 spokes. They look a bit better. I had some 265/75R16 Cooper ST's off my pajero that the disco was replacing so i fitted them. And a suspension lift

MISTAKE!!! Shes a slug down low. I know 300s are slow but jeez. Slipping the clutch alot to reverse trailers up driveways.I did cut the rear guards but the scrapping at full lock is annoying.

Next set 245/70 or 245/65 only about 30,000km to go though.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Forum Runner

[waltsd]

I have 235's BFG AT which are LT construction and reckon their great on-off road. Last set I got 120,000kms out of them including towing a caravan around Australia. Not one puncture yet and now onto 50,000k's on next set. Its a good size tyre which doesn't compromise low down torgue when needed, I suppose thats why they were on the placards with the 205's as standard fitment.

[Dougal]

I have 235's BFG AT which are LT construction and reckon their great on-off road. Last set I got 120,000kms out of them including towing a caravan around Australia. Not one puncture yet and now onto 50,000k's on next set. Its a good size tyre which doesn't compromise low down torgue when needed, I suppose thats why they were on the placards with the 205's as standard fitment.

235/70 or 235/85?

I got 85,000km from my last set of BFG A/T's (225/75). Bent front axle chewed the corners off them.
One set of tyres I really rate are the michelin XPC's which came on the P38's and some D2's. I have one pair on the back and they refuse to wear out. They came second hand on a set of rims, the Hankooks on the front wore to slicks and the XPC's still look like they did when I got them four years back.

[waltsd]

235/70 or 235/85?

I got 85,000km from my last set of BFG A/T's (225/75). Bent front axle chewed the corners off them.
One set of tyres I really rate are the michelin XPC's which came on the P38's and some D2's. I have one pair on the back and they refuse to wear out. They came second hand on a set of rims, the Hankooks on the front wore to slicks and the XPC's still look like they did when I got them four years back.

235 70 R16 on standard steel rims. I reckon they are a great touring size which give yout excellent off road capabilities, if being careful of the diffs which would not be problem with the bigger tyres. Each to their own, but at 50,0000kms these tyres still look new! I am religous in rotating them every 10,000kms after being burnt in my younger days of not doing and not getting the life out tyres which is possible. Like all parts, maintenance hopefully gets you longevity?

[ozscott]

After quite a few different varieties I have opted for skinnies (relatively!) for my D1 and D2 - 245/75/16 in LT. The D1 has Maxxis Bravo 751 and the D2 Generals AT2. No rubbing on either vehicle - both stock height. Great compromise size - extra height and the extra profile size allows airing down with nice LONG footprint.

Cheers

[loanrangie]

I have a 300tdi manual, i bought it stock as a non runner. I hated the after market rims that were on it. So i found some alloys. Range rover 3 spokes. They look a bit better. I had some 265/75R16 Cooper ST's off my pajero that the disco was replacing so i fitted them. And a suspension lift

MISTAKE!!! Shes a slug down low. I know 300s are slow but jeez. Slipping the clutch alot to reverse trailers up driveways.I did cut the rear guards but the scrapping at full lock is annoying.

Next set 245/70 or 245/65 only about 30,000km to go though.

Sent from my GT-I9100 using Forum Runner

Being a manual is the problem, i run 265/70's in muds and the pickup is better than the 245/70 AT's i run daily but mine is auto.

I think the wreckers saw njhey coming to do a direct swap, i'm sure a few members here would have been quite happy to do a wheel/tyre swap.

[njhey]

Hi loanrangie, I considered posting here for a swap offering on Friday night and then turned into my driveway and crunch-grind I just said bugger it, and headed straight the wreckers on saturday morning to get it done on the spot. I thought I did pretty well as I had a mix of Cooper A/T and some unknown brand I'd never heard of, and no spare that I was comfortable to run (as it was a different size and wheel to the other 4). Also, the tyres were all pretty worn down and the "new" ones have a lot of life left. I thought they were pretty good about the swap and I expected to pay a fair bit for it, but they were great. I get so impatient when I want something done though, my wife is constantly telling me to think first and act later :-)