Tallest tyres D5 in Limp Home Mode?

[Chieftain]

Hi all,

I think I have read every enlightening thread on tyres but apologies if I missed a specific discussion that would have answered my quest to find the tallest sidewall option that won't rub if the vehicle is every reduced to limp home mode. My plan is to keep the 19" wheels and factory tyres or similar for around town/resale and buy a set of 18" Tuffants for heavier duty off-road and taller side wall with most likely Nitto Ridge Grapplers or BFG KO2s.

This is the summary of what I think I know:
1. Std D5 tyres 255/60R19 = 787mm/31" diameter, 153mm/6.02 sidewall
2. Std New Defender tyres 19" 255/65R19 = 815mm/32.1", 165mm/6.5" sidewall
3. Std New Defender tyres 18" 255/70R18 = 815mm/32.1", 178mm/7.0" sidewall
4. Tuffants 18" alloy fits D5 & New defender. Of interest as Defender 130 could be next vehicle in a couple of years.
5. Have read at least 2 accounts (incl https://www.aulro.com/afvb/l462-discovery-5-a/261015-tyres-disco-5-a-2.html, thanks andhad) that 285/65R18 (= 828mm/32.6" diameter & 185mm/7.3" sidewall) will fit under D5 without rubbing at Access Height.

What I don't know:
What will fit and is height or width the bigger limitation?
I prefer narrower & tall for sand. The narrowest Nitto Ridge Grappler in 18s is 265/65R18 = 803mm/31.6" diameter and 173mm/6.81" sidewall according to Tiresize.com but on the Nitto site, perhaps for the chunkiness, is listed as 807mm/31.8" diameter. Sidewall not mentioned.
Otherwise if the std defender 18" above would fit at 255 wide 7", I might go with the BFG or Goodyear.

But if they don't if they don't fit in limp home mode, they're no good outback. If anyone has experienced the limit to avoid rubbing in limp home mode, or has an educated guess, i would be pleased to hear.

[Graeme]

It might not suit your intended use but do you know that the GG AT3 is now available in 255/60R19 (LI 113)?

[Chieftain]

It might not suit your intended use but do you know that the GG AT3 is now available in 255/60R19 (LI 113)?

Thanks Graeme. Without thinking about it too much, I was going to stick to the OE Eagle F1s on the 19s given I would also have the 18s for off-road. But they can be hard to get so I might have to consider the Scorpion Verdes or GG AT3s. No doubt the GGs will last much longer.

How have you found the AT3s with noise & general performance?

I also recall that you prefer the 31" over bigger tyres - what's your thinking there?

And while I have you, any thoughts on the limits of upsizing while staying clear of limp home height?

Cheers,

[Graeme]

I haven't fitted the GGs yet, waiting on getting them home from having been on my son's D4 for a couple of months. My 275/55R20s are low in tread and have no grip whatsoever on my driveway's slippery clay every time there's a shower.

There are lots of reports of using 275/55R20 on D5s. Being only 1" oversize there won't be any rubbing issues and they are available in several brands, patterns and load ratings. The 255/60R20 factory fitted to the Defender are usually LI 113 so not really HD but IMO likely to be adequate for outback travel.

[Chieftain]

Do you think that the 1 inch oversize would also not rub in limp home mode? Am I worrying about nothing?

[Graeme]

The D5 won't have any problems with 32" tyres which even fit in the spare wheel well. Owners have been fitting 275/55R20 since the vehicle first became available as there weren't any 31" in decent AT pattern. The same applies to the L494 RRS and L405 RR which has the same size as the D5.