255/85/16 Tyre Options on a Defender Puma

[Robmacca]

Guys...


I'm wanting to fit some 255/85/16 tyres on my Puma Defender. From my research the following tyres come in that size:


> Yokohama M/T G003 (https://www.tyresales.com.au/buy/tyre/yokohama/geolandar_mt_g003/255-85r16/160822?q=4&deliverypostcode=4500&deliverysuburb=Warner) https://ik.imagekit.io/ntvz9dezi1x/tyre/yokohama/geolandar_mt_g003.jpg'tr=q-90,w-400,h-400,cm-pad_resize
> BF Goodrich M/T KM3
> Toyo Open Country M/T
> Cooper S/T Maxx


and that's about it for here in Australia....


Just wondering on people's experiences running these size tyres on their Defenders and particularly if anyone has been running the Yokohama MT G003 tyres and these are the ones I'm thinking about...


thanks in advance

[Tikka7mm08]

I just put a set on my Puma with Boost alloys in that size with the Coopers. It is the second set but in the bigger 255 size for me. The first set bought in 2013 and 50000 miles with 7mm on them still.

https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240711/838edbc12bfd672c7b328049fe77d622.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240711/cf9b5868f1c74a893cbbf82c4491c669.jpg

[TonyC]

Hi Rib,
I currently have the Toyos on my 300Tdi 130, and had the older BFGs before that.
I also had the older BFGs on on my Isuzu County and on my Pinzgauer 6x6 before that.

I really like them as a size, but I'm keen to try a 285/75R16 for both availably and stability, I actually have 4 sitting in the shed, I just need to pull my finger out and find some wheels.

I started this thread a while back, which you replied to. Simon had some interesting comments re the two sizes.
Tyres 255/85 v 285/75 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/297673-tyres-255-85-v-285-75-a.html)

Tony

[Tikka7mm08]

Hi Rib,
I currently have the Toyos on my 300Tdi 130, and had the older BFGs before that.
I also had the older BFGs on on my Isuzu County and on my Pinzgauer 6x6 before that.

I really like them as a size, but I'm keen to try a 285/75R16 for both availably and stability, I actually have 4 sitting in the shed, I just need to pull my finger out and find some wheels.

I started this thread a while back, which you replied to. Simon had some interesting comments re the two sizes.
Tyres 255/85 v 285/75 (https://www.aulro.com/afvb/90-110-130-defender-county/297673-tyres-255-85-v-285-75-a.html)

Tony

The 255/85s are definitely more difficult to get and more $ - but what tipped me to them mainly was the boost alloys width is fine but too narrow to meet tyre manufacture recommended width for the wider tyre. While some people mount them without problems on a narrower rim, I didn't want to take the chance and also voiding insurance as those bastards would be straight onto that.

[Robmacca]

The 255/85s are definitely more difficult to get and more $ - but what tipped me to them mainly was the boost alloys width is fine but too narrow to meet tyre manufacture recommended width for the wider tyre. While some people mount them without problems on a narrower rim, I didn't want to take the chance and also voiding insurance as those bastards would be straight onto that.

One of the reasons I also want new Rims is with the Boost/OEM Defender Rims - I find the Tyres Rub a fair bit on the Rear Spring Top Mount when flexing through Wombat Holes. As the Std factory Rim offset being +30 & then add a 265/75/16 and it rubs, but I also find that my other tyres 235/85/16 also rub as the suspension flexi's up/down. So I will be looking for Steel Rims with as close to ZERO offset as I can get (not Wolf Rims though)...

Has anyone on here running a ZERO (or close to) Steel Rim & could tell me what brand of rim and (size - width/offset). I would like around a 7 to 7.5" width rim that I can fit a 255/85 or (if I had to) a 285/75 tyre to.

[TonyC]

One of the reasons I also want new Rims is with the Boost/OEM Defender Rims - I find the Tyres Rub a fair bit on the Rear Spring Top Mount when flexing through Wombat Holes. As the Std factory Rim offset being +30 & then add a 265/75/16 and it rubs, but I also find that my other tyres 235/85/16 also rub as the suspension flexi's up/down. So I will be looking for Steel Rims with as close to ZERO offset as I can get (not Wolf Rims though)...

Has anyone on here running a ZERO (or close to) Steel Rim & could tell me what brand of rim and (size - width/offset). I would like around a 7 to 7.5" width rim that I can fit a 255/85 or (if I had to) a 285/75 tyre to.

Hi Rob,

1) Why not "Wolf" rims? KLR sell a zero offset tubeless "Wolf" rim? At 6.5 inch wide it's the narrowest approved rim for a 255/85.

2) On my old Isuzu County I had 255/85 on 16x7 steel Disco I rims which from memory are +33.
With the standard County suspension, which is very soft springs and a load leveller, the tyres never touched the spring mounts, but rolled in over the top of them, they did hit the rear seat belt mounts though, the County was a 9 seater, so had a seat belt mount directly above the tyre.

After I fitted different springs, it didn't flex as well and the tyres did rub on top spring mounts, just enough to keep them clean.

On the 130 I have the standard 130 rims, 16x6.5 +20.6, I have no rubbing on the back, the front rub on the radius arms, this can be adjusted out with the steering stops.

Tony

[Discofender]

I'm running Yoko's on my Td5, I have them on original wolf rims. Spare is the Toyo version shown in photo, almost identical to the Geolander.

I'm very happy with the change from standard boost alloys and 235s. I think the gearing is better, although I have VGT and tune. The speedo reads perfectly.

I only get a small amount of rub on the spring seat, passenger side only, for some reason no rub on drivers side. But I do have super flexy springs.......

Cheers Discofenderhttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240712/da62879da3ad75a4cb835a780993af79.jpghttps://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20240712/cfaf4bbc44c36ab0559da8624d526c4d.jpg

[Robmacca]

Replies in RED


Hi Rob,

1) Why not "Wolf" rims? KLR sell a zero offset tubeless "Wolf" rim? At 6.5 inch wide it's the narrowest approved rim for a 255/85. The Main reason is that if I had to get another tyre in a remote location, a 285/75/26 would be easier to get and it would fit to a 7 or 7.5" rim. It would not a 6.5" rim I would assume...

2) On my old Isuzu County I had 255/85 on 16x7 steel Disco I rims which from memory are +33.
With the standard County suspension, which is very soft springs and a load leveller, the tyres never touched the spring mounts, but rolled in over the top of them, they did hit the rear seat belt mounts though, the County was a 9 seater, so had a seat belt mount directly above the tyre.

After I fitted different springs, it didn't flex as well and the tyres did rub on top spring mounts, just enough to keep them clean. I've got reasonably good wheel travel but on both of my Defenders (Tdci & Tdi300) they both rub for some reason. The Puma runs a 265/75 tyre whereas the Tdi300 runs a 235/85 tyre. The only solution I can think of is a different rim offset...

On the 130 I have the standard 130 rims, 16x6.5 +20.6, I have no rubbing on the back, the front rub on the radius arms, this can be adjusted out with the steering stops.

Tony

[TonyC]

Replies in RED

Fair enough,
Toyo's recommended rim for a 255/85 is 6.5-8.0 and 285/75 is 7.5-9.0

Tony

[00quattro00]

I run the bfg km3 on modified disco steel wheels

190784

[TonyC]

I run the bfg km3 on modified disco steel wheels


Do you know the offset of the flipped Disco rims?
I assume the rims are flipped on the centres.

Tony

[00quattro00]

Do you know the offset of the flipped Disco rims?
I assume the rims are flipped on the centres.

Tony

I cut the centers out and moved them in 25mm, looks better than flipping them. Giving a final offset of +8mm

190786

[Tombie]

Have been my go to for decades and you'll never damage one without killing the vehicle!

Wheel Repairs Melbourne (https://www.easternwheelworks.com.au/range-rover-wheels.htm)

ANy offset thats doable, can customise the spokes a bit... Had them on a few of my earlier vehicles...