Tyre options for D3 s

[wardh]

Hello to all.

I joined the forum nearly a year ago but how time fly's and I forgot about AULRO untill I received a birthday greeting. Anyhow here's my first post (shame) I have just said goodbye to my old series 1 Disco and replaced it with a D3 s auto TD6 (coil springs) It is fitted with 235/70r 17 cooper ATR at the moment, but some where in the near future they will need replacing.

What I am seeking are views on the Cooper ATRs or recommendations for alternative's. The new vehicle will be used mainly on the road and in the future pulling a 18ft to 19ft van. But in the meantime we still like our camping (tents) and this usually entails beach and soft sand driving.

Has anyone fitted larger or wider tyres on the 17inch rims and what size have you fitted. The tyre placard only lists the 235/70 17 but the Vehicle Standards Bulletin 14 national code of practice indicates that you can go larger, providing the guidelines in the code are followed. What I would be looking at is something around the 255 or 265 width and maybe 10mm to 15mm taller.

This forum in the past has been a fantastic place to glean information and has assisted me many times resolving problems with the old Disco, I look forward to hearing from the members and participating more myself.

Thanks

Howard

[Graeme]

255/65, 245/70, 265/65, 265/70 (too big for spare wheel well?)

[CaverD3]

If you have alokk at DISCO3.CO.UK - Dedicated to Discovery 3 and LR3 Owners and Enthusiasts (http://www.disco3.co.uk) they have a lis of tyres in the Wiki section.

[Warrigal57]

Hi Wardh

I ran Cooper ATR 265/65x17 for the first 45,000km on my D3 S model, including trips to Cape Yorke and Fraser. They had already done 40K on my previous vehicle (2004 Prado). No problems or punctures, handled OK though some road noise as they approached minimum tread.

regards

[wardh]

Thanks for the info guys, I think I will look at the Cooper ATRs in 255/65 17s when the time come's to fit new rubber. That will give me a little more width without changing the diameter, therefore the speedo will not alter and that size will still fall within the standard 7 inch wheel width. I was thinking 265/70 17 which will go on the 7 inch wide rim but as you Graeme pointed out because of the increased diameter would be to big for the spare wheel well. The speedo would also be quite a bit out.

Thanks

Howard

[Graeme]

..but as you Graeme pointed out because of the increased diameter would be to big for the spare wheel well.

Only hearsay from me - no personal experience.

[Warrigal57]

265/70 x 17 will fit if the tyre is part deflated eg 15psi - and will still be a squeeze with the heatshield across the front of the spare wheel well.

I've used 265/70x17 Cooper ST and the speedo is spot on ie exactly correct when checked against GPS. The increased diameter results in a theoretical 4% under-read speedo error but this must be taken up with a tolerance in the speedo.

[Bushwanderer]

I run 265/70R17 BFG A/Ts. Calculated speedo change ~5% (as Warrigal says).

I also store my spare partly deflated. This is not a problem with an on-board compressor. I will be looking to move the spare to the rear bar, however, as it is too exposed for off-road conditions.

[wardh]

Thanks Warrigal57 and Bushwanderer for your comments. I'm still a little concerned regarding the extra diameter of the 265/70R17 and seeing my primary use of the vehicle will be for towing the standard diameter may be the better choice, but by going wider with 255/65R17 could be the compromise when heading for the sand with tyre pressure's around the 18 to 20 psi.

I used to run Bridgestone 694s in 245 16 on the old disco 1 tdi with no problems at all in sand, never let the pressure down and the vehicle used to be fully loaded with heavy gear. I think the diameter for that size was 751 so the the 255/65R17s at 762 and wider should do the trick. Its a pity Bridgestone don't make the size tyre I want in the 17inch as I would use them again I found them to be a very good allrounder tyre.