All terrain tyres for 18" rims

[Cutch]

I've just had a couple of days fishing enlivened by having 3 punctures, the last was a failure of the repair one of the earlier punctures. All on dirt roads but nothing extreme. No nails, just bruising from rocks. The repair failure appears to be because of carcase damage too great for the repair plug.

So, highway tyres are not an option but I can't find any AT tyres in 245/65 18. Any suggestions or do I have to go to 17" wheels like my previous Freelander 2 that ran Pirelli Scorpion ATR's without any problem and I got 100k kms out of the rears. (Although they both punctured on the same trip into the Barrington Tops but that's ok after 100k.)

Thanks for your help.

[Cutch]

Make that 235/60 18. Should have had a look!

[TTTTTT]

That size is scarce on AT options. I ended up with 255/55 18s. There are plenty of options in that size. I settled for the General Grabbers and have been more than happy so far. BFG have that size also ( I’ve run so many sets of those without a single problem over the years - obviously not on a DS though).

[Scott_Parkes]

I have just doe a 5000+ road trip on Nitto Terra Grapplers 255/55R18. They are excellent. Great on bitumen, with no added noise, and no problems on some fairly rough terrain in the Flinders Ranges running at 25PSI. Very happy with them.
Best
Scott

[scarry]

That size is scarce on AT options. I ended up with 255/55 18s. There are plenty of options in that size. I settled for the General Grabbers and have been more than happy so far. BFG have that size also ( I’ve run so many sets of those without a single problem over the years - obviously not on a DS though).

Same here,on much heavier vehicles than a DS,and on extremely rough roads.

Never had an issue.

[guthrie]

I've just had a couple of days fishing enlivened by having 3 punctures

Which tyres Cutch? The OEM Goodyear Wranglers?

[Cutch]

Hi,

One of the punctured tyres was a replacement Wrangler, the other was a Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season , recommended by Jax to replace the OEM Wranglers after my son destroyed one on an echidna. (My wife accounted for the early demise of the other OEM's on a kerb)

I started a thread on the unsuitabililty of Wranglers about a year ago and didn't get much support. Also complained to LR who went silent when I asked for the issue to be escalated. Lost the argument but I'm still adamant that Wranglers are a highway only tyre, not even ok on good gravel. The replacement German made Wranglers have badly chipped and are a mess after around 40k kms of 95% highway and secondary sealed road use and the rest good gravel with occasional National Park 4wd trails.

The damage to the Pirelli showed as a crack in the tread and was plugged by the local tyre dealer. Next day the repair failed after about 25 kms of 4wd trail and shows signs of the carcase being damaged beyond repair. The Wrangler puncture similar but the repair is holding.

So two sets of tyres in 50k kms from new!

After the advice above on tyre sizes I've ordered Michelin Latitude Cross 255/55 18's. I've always had a good run with Michelin going back to the original M&S as fitted to the classic RR in the 80's until they stopped supplying AT tyres but it looks like they're now available again.

[guthrie]

I've ordered Michelin Latitude Cross 255/55 18's.

The Michelins look like an interesting AT tyre. Appreciate if you can post a review once they are fitted.

cheers
Guthrie

[Cutch]

Michelin review after a week and about 1200 kms, 600 of that with racing car on trailer hanging off the back:

First there are no clearance problems with a wider tyre, diameter is same as standard. My feeling is that the Michelins give a slightly stiffer ride and slightly more responsive steering. Maybe stiffer sidewalls? Bitumen grip seems as good as the Wrangler / Pirelli combination. Gravel road grip is better particularly on the clayey bits in the wet. And they look great!

But I've obviously offended the tyre gods. Unbelievably I've had puncture no. 4 needing one new Michelin to be replaced. It has a cut in the tread too big for a plug repair so I've chosen to replace rather than repair it. I don't want the risk of a weakness in the tyre. I don't know what I ran over so I can't blame the tyre. Ouch $, Jax tyres will sell it to me at their cost. Thanks Jax.

Summary is I'm very happy with the tyres. Shame I damaged one so soon. The tyre dealer also had great reports on them from a Landcruiser owner previously on Goodrichs.

[Warroo]

I have been looking casually for the same type of alternative tyres. I haven't tried them yet but I found two possibilities. General Tire Grabber AT3 and Yokohama Geolander A/T G015. Both appear to be available in Australia and have sizes to match the original 18 inch tyres.

Cheers,

Peter J.

[Mamil]

I went for 17" rims so as to maximise the sidewall height (smallest rims the DS will take), and BFG A/T KO2 245/65 R17 tryres.

I've also fitted a Rival bash plate to give a bit of extra underbody protection.

Following the reports of spring lifts with interest as that may be the next step as the clearance is still woefully small.

132338

132337

[rar110]

That size would have given you about 1” lift. You would have about the same clearance as stock Prado I think.

[Mamil]

That size would have given you about 1” lift. You would have about the same clearance as stock Prado I think.

Nah, only 5.5mm. And the trouble with comparing clearance is that vehicles like the Prado have one point that is the lowest - usually the rear diff, but significantly higher clearance everywhere else. The DS has everything at about the same height so many more points to hit [bigsad]

[BobD]

Standard tyres are 235/65 R17, so not much difference going to 245/65 R17.

[Mamil]

Standard tyres are 235/65 R17, so not much difference going to 245/65 R17.

Well, it depends what your starting point is and what your objectives are.

My 'standard' tyres were 235/60R18, and my main objective was to get the largest sidewall height possible on a DS so I could run safely at low pressures off road. I wanted to do this without increasing the overall diameter which compromises speedo/odo readings and can result in clearance problems, or increasing tread width which introduces more drag and scrubbing issues.

So, by going to 245/65R17 I gained 13% greater sidewall height, but at a cost of only 1.5% increase in diameter which is well within normal tolerances anyway. For those starting with 19" or 20" wheels the increase in sidewall height will be even greater. I also increased the overall width slightly from 235 to 245 to compensate for the fact that A/T tyres have a bulging sidewall so actual tread width is less than a similarly sized road tyre which has a squarer profile, so I end up with the same size contact patch as before.

[BobD]

Mamil, sorry, mate. I wasn't commenting on you getting that size. I was just clarifying to rar110 why there was only a small difference in ground clearance as you posted. As I said, the standard size for 17 inch wheels which came with my DS for the same reasons as you mentioned is 235/65 R17.

I agree with your choice of size and will probably do the same when my tyres wear out, even though I don't take it off road in any serious way. I didn't intend to question that choice.

In my case, I have two other cars that go off road before the DS as you can see in my signature. I took the DS on one little drive over a pile of gravel that the D4, Patrol, D1 and various cruisers go over without any problem and the DS bellied out at the top, so any increase in ground clearance is good and necessary if you use it off road.

[Mamil]

Mamil, sorry, mate. I wasn't commenting on you getting that size. I was just clarifying to rar110 why there was only a small difference in ground clearance as you posted. As I said, the standard size for 17 inch wheels which came with my DS for the same reasons as you mentioned is 235/65 R17.

I agree with your choice of size and will probably do the same when my tyres wear out, even though I don't take it off road in any serious way. I didn't intend to question that choice.

In my case, I have two other cars that go off road before the DS as you can see in my signature. I took the DS on one little drive over a pile of gravel that the D4, Patrol, D1 and various cruisers go over without any problem and the DS bellied out at the top, so any increase in ground clearance is good and necessary if you use it off road.

Ah ok, no problem. You made a good choice going for 17" rims from the start. I got the car with 18" rims and subsequently added some 17" for off road adventures. I still run on the 18" with road tyres most of the time, and swap over to the 17" with A/T tyres only when needed. If I was starting over again I'd probably want a wider difference in sizes, so either 19" or 20" for that 'sports' feeling on road, and 17" for off road.

Yes I've scraped my belly a few times, but am hesitating going for a spring lift as you're stuck with the compromises in road handling that gives you. If only LR offered adjustable height air suspension on the DS...

[Brisso57]

I'm in Brisbane.
Can anyone suggest some wreckers near to Brisbane who might have a set of 17" rims from either a DS or an Evoque?

Thanks

Doug

[TTTTTT]

I'm in Brisbane.
Can anyone suggest some wreckers near to Brisbane who might have a set of 17" rims from either a DS or an Evoque?

Thanks

Doug

Jump on to gumtree Doug - usually something there.

[Kemo]

Has anyone fitted 225/75R17 to the DS? I’m looking for maximum sidewall and tyre diameter.

[Johni]

My brand new DS HSE has come fitted with ContiCrossContact LX Sport 235/60 18" and I am interested to see how they perform. Claimed by Conti to be onroad and mild terrain. I suspect not good on serious unsurfaced roads.

[Mamil]

My brand new DS HSE has come fitted with ContiCrossContact LX Sport 235/60 18" and I am interested to see how they perform. Claimed by Conti to be onroad and mild terrain. I suspect not good on serious unsurfaced roads.

I'd be interested to hear what you think of them, as my dealer suggested them as replacements for my original Wranglers which are two years old now and getting a bit worn.

[Johni]

I'd be interested to hear what you think of them, as my dealer suggested them as replacements for my original Wranglers which are two years old now and getting a bit worn.
I visited Jax yesterday and they confirmed strictly onroad. They suggested General Grabber AT3 for use on unsurfaced roads. But, of course, no credit for the new Contis so I guess I will try them offroad in the next few weeks and see.

[mrborizuka]

I visited Jax yesterday and they confirmed strictly onroad. They suggested General Grabber AT3 for use on unsurfaced roads. But, of course, no credit for the new Contis so I guess I will try them offroad in the next few weeks and see.

I have been on the General Grabber AT3 for around 25k now. I am very happy with the setup.
I also do a lot of highway driving aswell, and they are fine.

I came off 20" conti's. I originally held on to my 20" rims and Conti's as I though that the GT3s will be too noisy and more off road. But in the end there weren't huge differences. If you are pushing the car around tarmac corners yes they aren't as grippy, but I am ok with that as I like the extra off road toughness, and I have long given up fast cornering in my life.. save that for a Porshe I will one day buy... =P

[Johni]

I am delighted that the AT3 work so well. What size tyres did you get?

[EastFreo]

A few months ago we put some Toyo Open Country ATs on my wife’s Prado. Really happy with them and seem fine in the muddy, hilly paddocks we have. Reasonably quiet on highway too.

However couple of days ago I put some BFG ATs on my Defender. Yesterday I went all over some extremely muddy, mountain goat country and they were amazing. BFG do 18 inch as well.

[Johni]

On the DS the OEM tyres are 235/60 18" but I have seen discussion about 255/55 18" AT3.
Any comments?

[Graeme]

So, highway tyres are not an option but I can't find any AT tyres in 245/65 18. Any suggestions or do I have to go to 17" wheels like my previous Freelander 2 that ran Pirelli Scorpion ATR's without any problem and I got 100k kms out of the rears.Pirelli's new All Terrain Plus, the replacement for the ATR, is available in 255/60R18 112H XL.

[guthrie]

Pirelli's new All Terrain Plus, the replacement for the ATR, is available in 255/60R18 112H XL.

Looks pretty aggressive. Wonder how noisy it is.

[Graeme]

A few independent testers think they're unexpectedly quiet. I'm very interested in them for my L322 to replace BFG KO2s that are driving me to distraction with noise. I suspect the AT+'s double-length longitudinal blocks help to keep the noise down.

[gneissdiscosport]

I just put some 255/55 GG AT3’s from Jax on my standard DS 19’s. They gave me a good trade in price for my cross conti’s (235/55s) with 4K on the clock, and I love the new rubber. They’re a few mil over Street legal in QLD but no rubbing at full lock or max compression, and they don’t protrude beyond the arches.
They look great, will definitely be far better in the sand, make no extra noise on the highway, plus the bit of extra sidewalk bulge should protect the rims from the my missus’s finest parallel parking efforts 😂

[Johni]

I approached Jax in Thornleigh, Sydney, and they were not interested in any refund. So for the moment I am stuck with the Contis.
Impressed to hear that the 255/55 work so well. Probably the way to go when I figure out how to get rid of the OEM tyres.
Thanks for the post.

[gneissdiscosport]

I approached Jax in Thornleigh, Sydney, and they were not interested in any refund. So for the moment I am stuck with the Contis.
Impressed to hear that the 255/55 work so well. Probably the way to go when I figure out how to get rid of the OEM tyres.
Thanks for the post.

Try a different Jax, and maybe just drive in there. I got back $165 each for my 5 tyres and they already couldn’t be beaten for AT3 prices. Plus I asked them to swap my slightly damaged rim for my perfect spare and the guy offered to fix the rim damage for free too so I can’t speak highly enough of the Bowen Hills Jax.