New tyres for Defender???

[popotla]

From new, my Landrover Defender (2005) CSW 110 has had fitted General Grabber TR tyres, 235/85R 16C tubeless.

I have run them on-road at 48 psi back and 28psi front, the pressures reccd in the LR handbook. For various off-road terrains I’ve run them at what I believed to be suitable pressures: maybe 10 lbs less at the back and 3 -4 lbs less at the front for dirt track, roughish track, for example, and sometimes less in other conditions.

At the edges, particularly at the back, bits of tread are damaged and missing through rough usage, and the tread is at “replace point” (especially in the centre at the back, which suggests overinflation).

This is at about 34,000 km, perhaps one-third of that on non-paved roads, some very or extremely rough and rocky.

Some time ago I damaged a front tyre and was obliged to replace it. I bought a Michelin LTX A/T 235/85 R16 Tubeless, largely because I planned to use Michelin in future, but also that that was easiest to buy at the time.

I am wondering what four tyres to buy as replacements. I’m assuming that if they’re not Michelin LTX A/T nothing is going to hurt for a short time by having that tyre on an axle with another radial specification/make.

I expect to continue the same usage pattern as before, maybe one third on non-paved roads, or perhaps a bit more. Where I drive is almost always dry (no rain), though if my next set of tyres last substantially longer than the General Grabber have, “all-weather” usage could apply. Noise IS an issue. Hell this Defender is so noisy as it is.

Which tyres would you recommend and why?

[Psimpson7]

Hi Popotla,

I assume you are wanting to stay with the standard 235 85 r16 size, which means that there is a large choice of options.

I would probably be looking at something like the BF Goodrich All Terrain. They seem to last for ever (70-120000km) are suprisingly good off road, and relativley quiet.

I am sure there are similar options available, from a number of other manufacturers, but I would at that size, for that use go for the BFG All Terrain.

Rgds
Peter

[vnx205]

Maxxis 751 Bravo tyres are considerably cheaper than BFG.

I have only had mine for 6 or 7 months and have no complaints.

Other owners I have spoken to seem to like them.

[popotla]

Hi, thanks for replies and advice so far.

I notice that so far there’s no mention of MICHELIN. Though money is not the key issue, the fact that I have one unused Michelin LTX A/T 23/85 (cost of app.USD 130 equiv) sitting on my spare wheel carrier means that if I used it I’d need to shell out for only three new tyres rather than four.

Does nobody like Michelin?

[spudboy]

Yup - I do. A lot.

If you can stand the 'whine' a set of Michelin XZL would suit for mainly dry heavy off road use. They are standard fitment to the 130s. I've got them on my 110 and they raise the noise levels a bit around 70-80Km/Hr but surprisingly are quieter at 100/110. Maybe everything else gets noisier at 110 so they tyre noise pales.....

If you want something a bit more road oriented, try the XZY. They go forever and are the choice of overland expeditions through Africa etc. as they are renowned for not puncturing easily.

Neither are cheap though.

Do a search here on XZY and XZL and you will turn up a few threads. Do a search on "XZL Africa expedition" in Google and you will turn up numerous articles.

HTH
David

[Psimpson7]

My dad had XZY's on his S3 swb station wagon, and they only had to be replaced at 135000miles due to perisihing.

However, in the wet on the road they were dangerous. They were hopeless off road if it was wet too.

[Graeme]

I've been told of significant on-road steering improvements on Jap 4wd utes after changing to Mich LTX tyres. Others have reported them to be excellent touring tyres on and off the bitumen and lasting a very long time. I almost got some for my D2 but decided on GY Silent Armours at the last minute because they had wider and flatter tread.

[spudboy]

My dad had XZY's on his S3 swb station wagon, and they only had to be replaced at 135000miles due to perisihing.

However, in the wet on the road they were dangerous. They were hopeless off road if it was wet too.

The rubber might have gone "off" if they got to the perishing state! Mine have been fine in the wet - given that they are a mud pattern, and I'd expect the tamer XZYs to be better because they are not so aggressive.

[mox]

I will be up to a new set of tyres on my Defender 130 in the not too distant future. Other than the odd nearly worn out tyre on extra 6.5 inch wolf rims I have bought, all it has had is 7.50 Michelin XZL's. Only complaint about the latter is that on the back have had two near worn out ones blow out through the tread and I noticed and removed another one that was close to doing the same.

Don't know whether this reflects on them badly though. Possibly they were damaged by something and may be more resistant to it than many other tyres.

Anyway, I want something better in the wet than road tyres. May still go for Michelins again if relative price is only slightly more exhorbitant than other apparently good brands and not outrageous.
Haven't yet seen the tread on the 235/85 LTX/AT, but it could be better on 6.5 inch rims than 7.50's. Any comments? Apparently 255/100 X16 XZL's fit okay but I gather these are very expensive. Also, they are apparently 36 inch diameter when new. Has anyone had or seen them on a Defender with standard suspension? Would be interested to know if any clearance problems.

Mick

[Captain_Rightfoot]

I've got the same Michy as you I think as my spare.

I've had the same issues as you with the grabbers. Dirt roads absolutely hammer them and the tread gets torn around.

I used the michy for a while after damaging a grabber and it didn't have any issues with tread. They seem to be an excellent tyre. Apparently they are very strong in the sidewalls too.

The only things that concern me about them is apparently they can be difficult to get off the rim. Should you need to change them by hand this could be an issue.

Also, they are a tad pricey...I don't mind paying for a good tyre but the problem is if you use your LR as intended there is a good chance it will be damaged by use before wearing out.

[browndogrider1]

Guys,

While we are talking about tyres

I'm thinking about new tyres for my defender puma, which has 235 x 85r x 16 Continental AT'S, from when I bought it new.

I went on a trip into the Simpson a couple of months ago, and found them a bit narrow in the sand. I also had some trouble with side wall damage, as the walls seem to bulge a fair bit wider than the tread with this particular tyre. They are Great on the highway, so I dont want to get silly with a huge tyre. I would just want to compromise a little and get something wider.

I dont mind if the tyre is slightly larger in diameter either. I understand the downsides of speedo readings and fuel economy.

What are others using in the world of AT's, if they have decided to size up.

[PAT303]

I like Michelin and Continentals,I've been seriously considering replacing the new wranglers on my puma with Michelins. Pat

[VladTepes]

Wider will be worse in sand not better, due to incrased rolling resistance.
It is the length of the contact patch that increses when pressures are lowered that matters.

If you put 255/85r16s on you'll find that your speedo reads exaclty right (same as GPS), and they look good too and teh width difference is marginal,with a SLIGHT increase in clearnce under diff....

[browndogrider1]

Vlad,
Thanks for that info regarding width and performance.

You are saying a 255/85r16s is the go.

What about a 265/75r16s. Apparantly this gives you the same rolling length as a standard 235/85r16s. Is this size too wide??

[VladTepes]

No that should be fine as well.

[Xtreme]

If you do the maths, a 265 x 75 x16 tyre is about 30mm smaller in diameter than a 255 x 85 x 16 and 2mm smaller in diameter than a 235 x 85 x 16.

So the 255 x 85 x 16, being the larger diameter would be better in sand.

The 255 x 85 x 16 is 840mm in diameter.

[Beckford]

I have put Coopers ST Maxx on my 2010 Defender (same size as original), as I wanted a tyre that performed better in clay / mud, without going to a full mud tyre.

Got sick of getting bogged in the house paddock with the General Grabbers.

[PAT303]

We have two speed traps in town and my Tdi is wearing 255x85x16 and the TDCi wears 235x85x16 and both read within a K or two of being spot on so the puma will read wrong with the bigger tyres. Pat

[browndogrider1]

Dear Xtreme and others,

Hey I'm not great at maths, so I hope you can help me out here, cause I would like to do my own calcs on the tyre diameter as you have done.

To calc the dia (which is the height off the ground) of the tyre, you need to know either the radias, or the circumference (rolling length) of the tyre. That bit is easy.

We know the dia of the wheel is 16", but we don’t know the wall height of the tyre, or do we?

On the wall of the tyre we get profile info like 85 or 75. I am assuming that these figures are a percentage of road going width. Is that right? Sorry this is probably common knowledge to most people, but I’m not sure.

eg. a 255 x 85 x 16 tyre would have – 255mm of rubber on the road, and a side wall height of 216.75mm. Is this correct?

Therefore the rolling length is (406.4mm wheel + (216.75 x 2 tyre wall heights)) =839.9 dia x (22/7) = 2638.96mm

[browndogrider1]

Currently the puma reads 104-105 kph to gps reading of 100kph

[spudboy]

BrownDogRider - is this tyre calculator any good for your calculations?

Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing (http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp)

You just put in the profile and rim size etc and it gives you stats like this:

Stock Tire - 235/85R16 >Search Tires (http://www.1010tires.com/tiresearch.asp'treadwidth=235&profile=85&diameter=16)
Section Width:9.25 in/235 mm
Rim Diameter:16 in/406.4 mm
Rim Width Range:6 - 7 in
Overall Diameter:31.72 in/805.68 mm
Sidewall Height:7.86 in/199.64 mm
Radius:15.86 in/402.84 mm
Circumference:99.65 in/2531.1 mm
Revs per Mile:655.7

[browndogrider1]

Spudboy,

Geez, this is perfect - thanks mate.

[browndogrider1]

After all my calcing and than checking out Spudboy's Tyre sizing calculator, I think I'll take Vlads original advice and go for the 255/85r16s. Vlad, you are dead right about the speedo reading being right after fitting this tyre.

I now understand how he can post without a internet connection, etc etc, reel off tyre sizes at random regardless of make and model etc etc etc etc etc etc etc - he mascarades as "The Vlad" but really he is "The Magical Vlad", who possess wisdom and instantainous magical knowledge of all things Land Rover.

And I shall refer to you from this point on, and encourage all to refer to him as "Lord Magical Vlad".

Well - until he stuffs up anyway.