Off road on 20s

[Jimlr]

Am looking at getting into a disco 4.

Realistically, how far is it reasonable to expect to get off-road on 20inch 50 series rubber? (Pirelli scorpion zeros, as per current spec). Can such tyres be deflated for sand / beach use, for example?

Not looking to do serious rock crawling or mud ruts or anything......and wouldn't expect to do a trip round oz or into the middle without changing to 18s....

Appreciate any advice.

[camel_landy]

I'd avoid airing down on 20"... There's just soooo little sidewall to begin with. 19" or even 18" would be more preferable.

20" look nice but not the most practical off-road.

M

[chuck]

The advantage of 20's is the greater choice of tyres than 19's.

This then allows you to fit a larger tyre while remaining legal & having more sidewall than the 19's.

Having said the above 18" GOE Rims are the best choice.

It is a pity these are not available thru the dealers as an option.

[discotwinturbo]

It is a pity these are not available thru the dealers as an option.

Don't think that will ever happen with Land Rovers attitude to non genuine gear.

They told me it would void my warranty by putting GOE rims on....and they put that in writing, which is extremely dangerous for them and a breach off the trade practice acts. I then replied and stated so if my power windows fail you won't fix them....and then told them of the breach by making such an ill informed statement. They apologized....and have that in writing too.

Brett....

[Dougal]

A 275/50R20 only has 1 inch less sidewall height than a 205/80R16.

Perception vs reality and all that.

[discotwinturbo]

A 275/50R20 only has 1 inch less sidewall height than a 205/80R16. Perception vs reality and all that.

But that one inch, would give so much more of a longer foot print when they are lowered....especially an 80.

Brett.....

[Owl]

A 275/50R20 only has 1 inch less sidewall height than a 205/80R16.

Perception vs reality and all that.

But....
1/ 1" is nearly 20% more tyre wall. 1" mightn't sound like much, but when you start with only 5" of sidewall.........

2/ You need to compare apples with something similar. Your 275/50R20 is a 31" tyre. a 31" tyre on a 16" rim will have 2" more sidewall than on the 20"rim.

And the difference in being able to protect the tyre / rim from damage is much more than the 40% difference in sidewall height IMHO.

[First LR]

I was wondering if anyone has actually fit more aggressive AT tyres to their 20" rims on a SDV D4?

I am currently considering the following tyre choices (which all appear to be just legal) and would love to hear personal experiences(value/price, performance, noise, rubbing, mods needed etc..) from someone that has tried any of them:

Cooper LTZ 275/55/20
Cooper AT/3 275/55/20
Nitto Terra Grappler 275/55/20
Yoko Geolander AT/S 275/55/20
MT Baja STZ 275/55/20
Falken Wildpeak A/T 275/55/20
Pirelli Scorpion ATR 275/55/20

FYI, I have the GOE rods, but if I fit these tyres, I would like to know if I will need to have them permanently at lifted height or whether the standard height will work without rubbing.

I am also considering the GOE 18" rims, but I have read lots of threads on that, so i am just interested in peoples views on 20" offroad options.

_____________________________
"Black" SDV HSE 2013, Snorkel, Rear carrier, Long range tank and now looking for some traction :)

[AnD3rew]

Did you see the Top Gear Africa episode when James May's Volvo with low profile tyres hit a pothole, not only did the tyre fail but the entire alloy rims cracked in half around the circumference.

The car is amazing enough that it will take you incredible places no matter what rubber you have on it, it will be less a question of off road ability and more a question of reliability.

[Dougal]

Did you see the Top Gear Africa episode when James May's Volvo with low profile tyres hit a pothole, not only did the tyre fail but the entire alloy rims cracked in half around the circumference.

You would however expect landrover alloy wheels to be significantly tougher than volvo car items with a lot more air/rubber cushion than low profile car wheels.
James went through a few wheels on that trip. He had at least two spares on the roof at one point.

[AnD3rew]

You would however expect landrover alloy wheels to be significantly tougher than volvo car items with a lot more air/rubber cushion than low profile car wheels.
James went through a few wheels on that trip. He had at least two spares on the roof at one point.

And he had more in a back up truck following them.

Yes true that you would expect them to be tougher and with more cushion, but to counter that there is also a lot more weight. If you are going to hit a rock or pothole every inch of air between it and your rim will make a difference as to whether it will survive.

[discotwinturbo]

I think they will rub....a lot.


Tire Size Comparison
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/km Difference
255/55-19 140mm 382mm 763mm 2397mm 417 0.0%
275/55-20 151mm 405mm 810mm 2546mm 393 6.2%
285/60-18 171mm 400mm 799mm 2511mm 398 4.7%

Mine (285/60-18) rub slightly at full lock and that's at 100mm lift.

Brett....

[CSBrisie]

agreed, I'd stick with 50 series - 55 series will likely rub and speedo will be more than 6% out; so that means Cooper LTZ, Nitto Terra and a couple of others I recall.
cheers

[Geedublya]

[QUOTE=First LR;2141683]I was wondering if anyone has actually fit more aggressive AT tyres to their 20" rims on a SDV D4?

I am currently considering the following tyre choices (which all appear to be just legal) and would love to hear personal experiences(value/price, performance, noise, rubbing, mods needed etc..) from someone that has tried any of them:

Cooper LTZ 275/55/20
Cooper AT/3 275/55/20
Nitto Terra Grappler 275/55/20
Yoko Geolander AT/S 275/55/20
MT Baja STZ 275/55/20
Falken Wildpeak A/T 275/55/20
Pirelli Scorpion ATR 275/55/20

FYI, I have the GOE rods, but if I fit these tyres, I would like to know if I will need to have them permanently at lifted height or whether the standard height will work without rubbing.

I am also considering the GOE 18" rims, but I have read lots of threads on that, so i am just interested in peoples views on 20" offroad options./QUOTE]

Gordon suggests that 275 55 20 is right on the limit of what will fit on the car and mods will need to be done to allow clearance especially at the back where the rear aircon pipes are.
I'm going to fit Nitto Grapplers 265 50 20 ATs as my next street/sand/light off road tyres. As I have 245 70 17 MTs as well I expect they will be ok if I'm gentle.

[Rich84]

I've taken my RRS offroad with 20" SUV tires so some experience here - have done very rough rutted tracks with large rocks, rock crawling, sand driving (though not a lot), mud, very steep ascents/descents and creek crossings.


My experience is yes the car and even my more road oriented tires will still handle 99% of the off roading you're going to do (I haven't found a situation they haven't handled, but they are a road oriented tire with close tread and large water dispersing channels in them - bad for mud!), but the ride will be harsher and my tires and rims have taken a pounding - the tires don't offer much protection for those big rims so expect gouging. The sidewalls of my first set of tires were badly damaged by rocks jutting out of ruts that I'd followed, have a 1" bubble on one of the rears from a huge pothole my girl hit. Two of my tires have badly chipped tread from a trip down the Brachina Gorge track.


The car itself handled all this with amazing ease, did not even break a sweat, but I personally would keep the 20's for on road work/light tracks, and buy the smallest rims possible for real off roading - if you had a 2.7 you could even fit the 17" sunnies available from Dynamic!

[First LR]

Did you see the Top Gear Africa episode when James May's Volvo with low profile tyres hit a pothole, not only did the tyre fail but the entire alloy rims cracked in half around the circumference.

The car is amazing enough that it will take you incredible places no matter what rubber you have on it, it will be less a question of off road ability and more a question of reliability.

Thanks, I have seen that episode, but with my limited experience, so far, I wouldnt compare LR to a volvo.

I am interested in real life expereinces of anyone that has tried any of these tyres (or others), before I purchase and provide my own feedback.

[gghaggis]

The 275/55R20 is a hair's breadth taller than the 265/70R17 (0.25cm). So height isn't really overly problematic - the usual mods to the rear wheel well liner and the front lip, and you shouldn't need rods full-time (but if you have rear A/C, you'll need to relocate the lines). The main rubbing will be from the width (275mm) on a std LR rim, with its +53mm offset. On full lock it will rub on the front chassis protrusion. How badly will really be dependent on the particular tyre, as each brand's "275" varies a little.

Cheers,

Gordon

[First LR]

The 275/55R20 is a hair's breadth taller than the 265/70R17 (0.25cm). So height isn't really overly problematic - the usual mods to the rear wheel well liner and the front lip, and you shouldn't need rods full-time (but if you have rear A/C, you'll need to relocate the lines). The main rubbing will be from the width (275mm) on a std LR rim, with its +53mm offset. On full lock it will rub on the front chassis protrusion. How badly will really be dependent on the particular tyre, as each brand's "275" varies a little.

Cheers,

Gordon

I'm not really keen to perform any of the mods you describe for 275/65/18 or 285/60/18(on your site) and given I do have rear AC, I will probably need to look at smaller diameter.

Do you know if the lower profile 285/50/20, still rub or need any mods in rear ?

[gghaggis]

On standard LR rims, 265 is really the widest you can go, although 275 is ok with lower profiles (50 or less). 285/50R20 is very, very close to the upper control arms, although I have customers that have fitted them and (so far!) there haven't been any incidents.

Cheers,

Gordon

[First LR]

On standard LR rims, 265 is really the widest you can go, although 275 is ok with lower profiles (50 or less). 285/50R20 is very, very close to the upper control arms, although I have customers that have fitted them and (so far!) there haven't been any incidents.

Cheers,

Gordon
There certainly doesnt look like there are too many choices in the 20" :(, so I might be getting those 18"s sooner rather than later. :D

[Lew White]

I had the same dilemma as the dealer here in Adelaide stated that any deviation from factory size (275/40/20) fitted to my car(2013 SD 3.0 litre) would void my warranty. After some considerable research I imported a set (5) of General Grabber AT's in that size from the UK. As yet untested off road so I cannot comment on their performance but in terms of general driving I have to say that they are proving to be quite satisfactory

[TerryO]

Its easy to waste money on buying parts that never really to the job properly and are always a poor compromise. Personally if I thought I needed bigger more aggressive off road tyres then I wouldn't waste the money on buying tyres for 20's.

Gordon's 18's are, once you add up everything, real good value and the smart option, plus you have two sets of wheels and tyres, one or every day smooth quite driving and one for getting dirty and bashing over rocks etc.

Plus once its time to sell the D4 you have a set of 20" rims that aren't wrecked from off road use and you also have a set 18's that you can sell separately.

[discotwinturbo]

What TerryO said.

I did the same....I feel a better outcome.

Only takes 30 mins to change all five with a trolley jack.

Brett.....

[Fred Nerk]

I was a little slow off the mark to change to 18inch rims.

I now have a set of 6 @ 19inch OEM wheels with scratches and gouges. And a brand new set of pristine 6 @ GOE 18inch which look much better. (Bridgestone 697 LT.) In fact I have had 2 compliments on the wheels. No one has complimented my car before.

I reckon I'll use the 18s for everything. The tyres are cheaper after all. I'll put the 19s when I sell.

[CaverD3]

I had the same dilemma as the dealer here in Adelaide stated that any deviation from factory size (275/40/20) fitted to my car(2013 SD 3.0 litre) would void my warranty.

And you believed them? :mad::angel:


Been discussed on the other thread. No modification can void your warranty.

[Rich84]

I was a little slow off the mark to change to 18inch rims.

I now have a set of 6 @ 19inch OEM wheels with scratches and gouges. And a brand new set of pristine 6 @ GOE 18inch which look much better. (Bridgestone 697 LT.) In fact I have had 2 compliments on the wheels. No one has complimented my car before.

I reckon I'll use the 18s for everything. The tyres are cheaper after all. I'll put the 19s when I sell.



Any photos Fred? We have the same car (except for mine being a TDV6), I would love to see what it looks like!