Gotta start somewhere

[Disco Drew]

Hi all. I'm Drew. I'm a new member, looking to learn as I go.
I have a 2009 Disco 4, 3L TD V6 HSE.
I'd like to start off with a query about wheels and tyres.
Maybe a topic that you're all sick of, but I gotta start somewhere.
Of course the D4 has 19 inch rims and I'll be due for new tyres soon.
My wife & I are looking to do a lap or 6 of Australia in 2016 towing a caravan, so I'm planning and preparing.
I'm looking at getting all terrain tyres fitted.
I'd like to hear opinions from those who have been there and done that.
My main concern is the gravel and stoney roads expected out back.
Do I stick with the 19 inch rims or am I better off spending dollars early on Compomotive PD1881 18 inch rims?
Are LT all terrains better? worse? necessary? than standard all terrains.
I've had a thousand combinations go through my head and so far I'm stuck on either 19" rims with Cooper Zeon LTZ 255/55/19 or 18"rims with Hankook Dynapro ATM RF10 265/65/18.
For those of you who can help, thanks in advance.
For those who are saying "not another one", I'm sorry.

[nat_89]

Welcome i can't help to much with the tyres but say welcome to the forum and hope you enjoy your disco as much as we do!! :p

[Epic pooh]

Welcome Drew ... oh no, not another tyres thread :o

Bridgestone D697 LT in an 18" seems a good choice for that kind of trip - good reports all round (not that I've used them, but if I were ever to switch to 18"s that's what I'd put on). Hankooks in a 19" also get a good review from some folk around here.

The first of many hard decisions, I'm sure :)

[TerryO]

Keep an eye on eBay and the Markets section here on this forum, you will often find wheels for sale at reasonable prices.

Personally I would go with function over form and get 17" steel rims which again you often see for sale new on eBay quite cheaply and some decent LT All Terrain tyres like the. Bridgestones.

[sheerluck]

......Personally I would go with function over form and get 17" steel rims which again you often see for sale new on eBay quite cheaply and some decent LT All Terrain tyres like the. Bridgestones.

The 17s don't fit on a 3.0 D4 though Terry.

[Disco Drew]

Thanks for trying though Terry.

[LandyAndy]

I just bought a new 3.0D4.
When I took delivery I was told by the Service manager the only 18" wheels that fit properly are Gordons,google Green Oval Experience.
Andrew

[LandyAndy]

Keep an eye on eBay and the Markets section here on this forum, you will often find wheels for sale at reasonable prices.

Personally I would go with function over form and get 17" steel rims which again you often see for sale new on eBay quite cheaply and some decent LT All Terrain tyres like the. Bridgestones.

The difference in size of the D4 2.7 and 3.0 brakes are huge Terry.I would say we share the same as your massifly over powered beast.Well,mine is over powered compared to my chiped D2;););););)
Andrew

[captcam68]

Bridgestones Duellers in the 18" have been brilliant, on both D3 and present D4,
Quiet, grippy and good wear with only two punctures from nails 20 m from home and after travelling length of east coast from Cape to Tas.
Not a cheap option as the wheels are quite exxy but worth every dollar by the sounds of your trip planned. You can't do any better IMHO.

[Ghost-Who-Walks]

I've had my D4 for about 2yrs, which I bought 2nd hand (same everything as yours, except it's an SE). I have had the Cooper Zeon 19" tyres on the car since I replaced the original tyres that came with it.
I've just got back from a trip to Cape York (and had it over on Fraser Island), and can't speak highly enough of them. They do everything you need them to do, didn't even look like getting a puncture (towing camper trailer) and they get really good life (~40000km and still going strong).

I appreciate the benefits of the 18" rim/tyre combo you can get, but personally I don't see any reason to change from the 19's, when the 19" Coopers are THAT good! :D

[TerryO]

The 17s don't fit on a 3.0 D4 though Terry.


Yep I know, read the post and for some reason thought I had read D3. .... :eek:

[Disco Drew]

I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same 18" wheels LandyAndy.
They're about $570.00 each (x 5).

[sheerluck]

I'm pretty sure we're talking about the same 18" wheels LandyAndy.
They're about $570.00 each (x 5).

That's the ones. Here they are: Green Oval Experience Land Rover training, Range Rover modifcation (http://www.greenovalexperience.com/#!18-inch-rims/cglk)

[Disco Drew]

I've had my D4 for about 2yrs, which I bought 2nd hand (same everything as yours, except it's an SE). I have had the Cooper Zeon 19" tyres on the car since I replaced the original tyres that came with it.
I've just got back from a trip to Cape York (and had it over on Fraser Island), and can't speak highly enough of them. They do everything you need them to do, didn't even look like getting a puncture (towing camper trailer) and they get really good life (~40000km and still going strong).

I appreciate the benefits of the 18" rim/tyre combo you can get, but personally I don't see any reason to change from the 19's, when the 19" Coopers are THAT good! :D
You've got my attention there. I'd be happy to spend the $s on 18" wheels if the difference of having them were that good, but I have been keeping an eye on the Zeons.
I guess one of my concerns is the availability of 19" tyres around Australia.
Also, could you give me a bit more info on the Zeons please. Like wet handling etc.
Of course the Zeons are a lower profile still. Did you have any concerns with tyre pressures or rim damage?

[Ghost-Who-Walks]

You've got my attention there. I'd be happy to spend the $s on 18" wheels if the difference of having them were that good, but I have been keeping an eye on the Zeons.
I guess one of my concerns is the availability of 19" tyres around Australia.
Also, could you give me a bit more info on the Zeons please. Like wet handling etc.
Of course the Zeons are a lower profile still. Did you have any concerns with tyre pressures or rim damage?

Handling in all conditions has been great. I haven't noticed any deficiency with these tyres on the car (had the Goodyear Wranglers prior to the Zeon's). Others have mentioned increased road noise, but I didn't find that. Super happy with them.

When I let the tyre pressures down, I don't go as low as 'non-low-profile' tyres. On sand at Fraser (with a camper trailer), I was running around 22-24psi. There was enough of a 'bulge' at the bottom of the tyre to give the desired 'float', but still enough sidewall height to protect the rims. Obviously, you want to drive a bit more carefully than if you had 16" rims/tyres, but I didn't get any damage to the tyre sidewall or rims. Same in the mud/crossings at the Cape.

With regard to availability of 19" tyres - that will always be an issue (and I don't really think it'd be much better with 18" tyres). Pretty much every tyre I've ever had for my cars (D1 and now D4), I've had to get ordered in.

I always carry 2xspares on any long/offroad trip. Have yet to even need one of them since running Coopers though!!! :)

Rob

[jon3950]

I agree with Rob about the Zeons. I have had a very good run with them on all types of roads from Outback to the High Country - there's enough posts on here from me about them already. They also perform very well on the bitumen and I would have no hesitation in recommending them, but you do have to be careful - there's not a lot of sidewall.

However, as impressed as I have been with the Zeons, a set of 18"s is the next purchase on my list - they are a higher priority for me than a bullbar.

This is for two reasons. Firstly it means being able to fit LT tyres. Secondly, the rims are much stronger - you don't break Compomotives.

If you are careful, the 19" Zeons will probably get you everywhere you want to go, but the 18"s will have a much higher safety margin for those unexpected moments.

Cheers,
Jon

[TDV6]

Hi Disco Drew,

My main issue would be heat buildup in the tyres while towing a van in northern oz. I de-laminated several in the NT and WA towing a three ton van but this was in 2007 and now there are LT's available, I have the Bridgestones LT's in the older 694 pattern and they have done well, I will be off to Tassie next year using them.

I would get the 18" rims and the 697LT's

Enjoy the experience, it's a great country, oh, when in north Qld if you see a "CALL POINT" sign use the CB radio to announce caravan northbound etc at whatever the call point name is as there may be a road-train heading for you at the next corner, you will hear them announce as they get to each call point.

HTH,

Ryall

[Disco Drew]

Hi Ryall. Thanks for your input. Appreciate the feedback from someone else towing a large van.
I see that the 697LT's are 265/60 R18, as are a lot of 18" tyres.
Do the 265/60 R18's correct the speedo enough on the D4 ?
I see that BFGoodrich have the AT KO 265/65 R18. Even though they're listed on GOE, would they too big ?
I've been going around in circles for days reading through previous threads.
I think i'm leaning toward LT's. Just the size I need to sort out.
Will tyre places not fit them if they're outside the door plate limits ?
Too many question. Too Little brain.

[Graeme]

Secondly, the rims are much stronger - you don't break Compomotives.The incidence of bent 19" is increasing.

[winaje]

I just bought a new 3.0D4.
When I took delivery I was told by the Service manager the only 18" wheels that fit properly are Gordons,google Green Oval Experience.
Andrew
Didn't happen to get that in writing on a LR letterhead or similar did you?

[winaje]

...I de-laminated several in the NT and WA towing a three ton van but this was in 2007...

What brand of tyre was that? Curious to know...

[johonda55]

Hi Ryall. Thanks for your input. Appreciate the feedback from someone else towing a large van.
I see that the 697LT's are 265/60 R18, as are a lot of 18" tyres.
Do the 265/60 R18's correct the speedo enough on the D4 ?
I see that BFGoodrich have the AT KO 265/65 R18. Even though they're listed on GOE, would they too big ?
I've been going around in circles for days reading through previous threads.
I think i'm leaning toward LT's. Just the size I need to sort out.
Will tyre places not fit them if they're outside the door plate limits ?
Too many question. Too Little brain.

Compared to the stock wheel size of 255/55/19 where the speedo reading and actual speed are 100 kmh the Bridgestone 697 LT265/60/18 will have a speedo reading of 101.5 kmh and the BFG AT LT265/65/18 will have a speedo reading of 105 kmh. Fitting will not be an issue. See
http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-Size-Calculator/255-55R19/265-60R18/265-65R18

[discotwinturbo]

Didn't happen to get that in writing on a LR letterhead or similar did you?

Goe brochures are on display at southerns.
At the end of the day, I feel, it comes down to your service manager.
I have no concern whatsoever with my 18's and southerns.
Brett....

[Disco Drew]

With my current 255/55 R19's I need to do about 106 on the dial to do a true 100klm/hr.

[LandyAndy]

Goe brochures are on display at southerns.
At the end of the day, I feel, it comes down to your service manager.
I have no concern whatsoever with my 18's and southerns.
Brett....

Their service manager suggested I got GOE rims and more suitable tyres if I intended doing serious off-roading whilst delivering my D4.
They also stated they do not affect warranty when asked.
Andrew

[ADMIRAL]

Didn't happen to get that in writing on a LR letterhead or similar did you?

After watching the debates on warranty with non LR components, I would suggest that pushing the issue is a quick way to stuff it for everyone. Just accept the situation and live with it. Trying to get an 'official' sanction, will get you the reverse. Chill guys.