Which narrower tyres wear well?

[DiscoRob]

G'Day All,
My daughter is madly saving for her first LR (she loves mine), but in the meantime she's driving a Navara 96 model twin cab with the 2.7D engine. The rims are 16x6, of the 'Sunraysia' style.

It had Toyo 'Open Country' 205R16 tyres on it when bought and she's replaced them in pairs each time since, with the same tyre. There's no profile marked on the tyres but it's fairly high - I'd say 85 or 90%. She needs 4 newies now but I reckon the Toyo tyres aren't wearing very well and have advised her to try something different.

Any opinions on a good riding, long lasting, relatively tough, narrower type of tyre to get? Her off-road % is low, about 10% only, but she does occaisionally get away with us. Mostly bitumen running. Daughter Dearest tells me that she's enquired about BFG ATs (my first choice) but was told they don't come in her size.

Thanks in advance,

Rob. style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/biggrin.gif

[landrovermick]

G day rob, there was a survey a while ago about tyres you might find something there. You are right about the 205R16 being a high ratio - from memory it is something like 80 or 82. Once the size is over 75 they dont Generally list it.

They are very similar in rolling diameter to 225/75R16 235/70R16 etc, these sizes are called Plus 1 and plus 2 fitment.

That may give you a better choice of brand and price.

Being from the tyre industry (in a previous life) all i would advise is buy the best trye she can afford for the type of driving she does. Dont buy the first tyres you see, let your fingers do the walking.

Get the best quote you can over the phone - make sure they have the tyres in stock, and dont accept anything else once you are on the driveway.

It may sound funny but tyre companies like Bob Jane, Beaurepaires and Jax train their staff to "up sell" customers to a trye that is more profitable for them to sell. If they have matched a price that is very low you can nearly bet they will try the old, oh im sorry it hasnt come in yet , or have you seen..... Even if the tyre they are showing you is $5 dearer they may be making $20 or so more on each tyre.

Mate that being said good luck , and let us know how she goes

[DiscoRob]

Thanks for that Mick,

<span style="font-size:12pt;line-height:100%">They are very similar in rolling diameter to 225/75R16 235/70R16 etc, these sizes are called Plus 1 and plus 2 fitment.
That may give you a better choice of brand and price. </span>

Wouldn't the 225s and 235s normally be fitted to a 7 inch rim though? Do they actually fit a 6 inch rim ok?

Regards,

Rob.

[landrovermick]

Rob from the top of my head and what i can remeber from the tyre and rim association manula (which all tyre shops should have) you can go as wide as 235 on *some 6 inch wheels .

there is absolutely no problem with 225's on 6inch.

My advice to you is to contact a reputable tyre outlet for this info. - Beaurepaires live my this manual and should be able to tell you on the spot .

Though im not advising you purchase from them the info should be spot on

mick

[-Macca-]

I put some 225/75-16 BFG AT's onto my standard steel rangy rims and I think they're 16x6...

Some sizing tables:


225/75-16 Vs 205/82-16 (If an unlisted profile is 82)



Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/km Difference

205/82-16 168mm 371mm 743mm 2333mm 429 0.0%

225/75-16 169mm 372mm 744mm 2337mm 428 0.2%


225/75-16 Vs 205/80-16 (If an unlisted profile is 80)



Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/km Difference

205/80-16 164mm 367mm 734mm 2307mm 433 0.0%

225/75-16 169mm 372mm 744mm 2337mm 428 1.3%

[LRHybrid100]

hey Macca,

Did you install tubes when you put your BFG on the RR steels?

I too have BFG 225x75x16 on RR Steels - but some say you must install with tubes??

BR LRH.

[-Macca-]

I didn't get tubes in, but they really should be tubed... I didn't run them at low pressures, so I didn't have any problems with rolling off the rim.

If I needed low pressures, I had the 31x10.5x15 muddies to use instead. (They didn't need to be tubed but were!)

Apparently there's no lip on the inside where the bead sits on the rim, and that's why tubes are needed.

HTH

Macca

[LRHybrid100]

G'day DiscoRob,

I'd always go the BFG AT - yes they are expensive, but they do last.

BR LRH.