Tyres advice

[harry_ng]

Hi all,

I need to change the tyres for my Freelander soon. They are 195/80R15. Please give me some advice should I use retread tyres?

where can I have them done with cheap price arounnd Sydney? my local is Lidcombe 2141

Thanks everyone,
Harry NGUYEN rrhanguyenmanh@yahoo.com

[Matplat]

Are you looking to go larger? how much are you looking to go offroad? Cooper and BFGoodrich are the popular choice among users on these forums. Your answers to my questions will dictate which model and size are appropriate for you..... however the BFG all-terrain is a safe bet as is capable on and off road. You may also want to consider the larger 16" rim as it is wider than the 15" and looks better than steel rim....

[Grasshoppr]

Running Bridgestone Duelers A/T 225/75R15C. Nice chunky tyre. Good on and off road. Little noisey when stopping. More ground clearance. Speedo against a Gps tracking speed, about the same give or take 2klms.;)

[harry_ng]

Hi guys,

Sorry for my late reply due to no internet connection for few days.

My rim is 15" and I don't want to change them. Two rear tyres are still in good condition and they are Michellin. I need to change 2 front tyres soon. However, my budget is under $200 for 1 corner.

I never go off-road. I only use my Freelander for on-road. I got a quote for Pirelli Scorpion S/T 195/80/R15 96T new tyre, $162 for 1 corner. Do you think should I use this tyre? I have no experience in this make. I used Michellin, Goodyear in last fews years and they werevery good.

I look forward to hearing from you,

Regard,
Harry

[harry_ng]

Running Bridgestone Duelers A/T 225/75R15C. Nice chunky tyre. Good on and off road. Little noisey when stopping. More ground clearance. Speedo against a Gps tracking speed, about the same give or take 2klms.;)

Hi Grasshoppr,

Can 225/75R15C fit to my rims? I have no idea about this. Now, my car is running 195/80R15.

Thanks,

[Junosi]

Hi Harry, the following link site will show you all the tyres that fit Freelanders as 'standard' - all the ones that show 'diameter 15' are for 15" rims like yours
Wheel size calculator? Calculate your wheel or tire size! (http://www.wheelsizecalculator.com/en/'merkID=18) - select 'Freelander' (1997-2006) from the model drop down box

All the tyres this site shows will be a similar diameter (+/- 3%) to standard Freelander tyres so won't affect your speedometer or acceleration too much.

If you never go offroad then there's a lot of options that will all perform similarly - pirelli scorpions would be fine.

Tire Size Calculator - tire & wheel plus sizing (http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp) is another very handy tyre/wheel site - it lets your put in your own figures to compare (the diameter difference line at the bottom is the one I look at there)

[Jojo]

Michelin is always a very good choice IMHO, although a bit on the pricey side, but usually coupled to an extraordinary resistance to wear.

[PaulP38a]

Harry - please don't seriously consider retreads for any car that you or your loved ones drive on the road. I'm sure that I am not the only person here who has had a "close call" due to dodgy retreads in their youth.

If your 2 rear Michelins are in good condition, seriously consider just getting 2 new Michelins for the front. Makes me wonder why you've got such uneven wear between front and rear though.

Pirelli Scorpion S/T's are supposed to be quite good too. I've never used them but a few folks over on the Rangie forum reckon they're good road tyres.

If you are after a cheap but semi-reliable road-only tyre, consider a set of Federals from Beaurepaires (or similar place) for less than $100 fitted each corner. I've put them on a couple of my run-arounds in the past and they're ok... not great, but ok for running around town.

now a little off-topic...

hmm, Grasshoppr has got me thinking... I'm about to sell my "toy" 1991 Suzuki Sierra with 5 near new Mickey Thompson MTX 225/75R15. I know I'm not going to get what the car owes me..., and I should be picking up a 2001 Freelander TD4 tomorrow for my wife. Didn't look too closely but hopefully the FL also has 15" rims.

Maybe I can transplant the MTX's on to the FL? :cool:
Cheers, Paul.

[Grasshoppr]

Hi Grasshoppr,

Can 225/75R15C fit to my rims? I have no idea about this. Now, my car is running 195/80R15.

Thanks,

Hi Harry,
Well they fit on my 04 model ok. Have not rubbed the inner wheel arch at all.
Plenty of space between tyre and any car parts;).
Bruce

[Grasshoppr]

Hi Grasshoppr,

Can 225/75R15C fit to my rims? I have no idea about this. Now, my car is running 195/80R15.

Thanks,

Oh, by the way. You have to change all 5 tyres to the same tyre size.
You need the have the ones on the road and your spare in case you need to use it, the same outside dia.
The ones I have sit the car up about 30mm higher of the ground.
Bruce

[PaulP38a]

Hi Harry,
Well they fit on my 04 model ok. Have not rubbed the inner wheel arch at all.
Plenty of space between tyre and any car parts;).
Bruce

Hi Bruce
Are your 15" rims the 5.5" width or larger? I've been advised that 225/75R15 tyres probably won't fit on my wife's 01 FL.

I think Harry will be in the same situation if he has the 5.5" width rims.

Cheers, Paul.

[p38arover]

I wouldn't use retreads but you might want to consider second-hand tyres. A second-hand tyre retailer will be able to match your tyres and tread depth.

There are several such dealers in Sydney, e.g.,
Milperra Tyre Service (http://maps.google.com.au/maps?hl=en&cr=countryAU&um=1&ie=UTF-8&q=second+hand+tyres+sydney&fb=1&split=1&gl=au&view=text&latlng=10021169846432351721)

7 Bullecourt Ave
Milperra NSW 2214
(02) 9792 2999

I have used them in the past with good results.

[harry_ng]

Finally, after all your advice I have 2 brand new Pirelli fitted. They are great.

Due to many people asked me about the price of Pirelli, I list here the detail:

It is Paramatta Trivet offer:

"Hi Harry,
Thanks for your enquiry into Pirelli tyres , I have listed the tyre you require below ,

Pirelli 195/80/15 Scorpion S/T $161.70 each (fitted & balanced inc GST)

If you require these tyres or any further information on Tyres please feel free to contact our Store on (02) 9841 8889 , our opening hours are 8.00am -5.30pm Monday to Friday & 8.00am -12.noon Saturday"

Cheers,
Harry

[Jof]

Hi Harry,

I'm using the Pirelli Scorpions and I'm happy with them, good grip,
quiet, good on tarmac and sand (although I think the VCU was locked at the time).

I wonder why your front tyres are more worn than rear though, normally the IRD causes rears to wear more quickly. Or are you running in FWD mode only?

When I bought my FL1 it had good rear tyres but for the roadworthy it had to have 4 new tyres, I thought the workshop had a scam going, but I think it might have had something to do with the IRD gearing, not sure though (and I didn't pay for the tyres).

[101RRS]

Hi Harry,
I wonder why your front tyres are more worn than rear though, normally the IRD causes rears to wear more quickly. Or are you running in FWD mode only?


In a perfectly serviceable FL1 the front tyres will wear about twice as fast as the rears - hence the importance of tyre rotation in a FL1 - because it has a VCU it is important that all tyres have approximately the same rolling diameter. If there is a big difference between the fronts and rears it may cause the VCU to start locking up.

The reason front tyres wear is that the FL1 is basically front wheel drive. With a serviceable VCU and same tyre wear all around the VCU is basically unlocked and it is only the friction in the system and IRD gearing (earlier versions only) that sends about 10% of power and torque to the rear when driving on the tarmac. Hence most power goes to the front which is also steering. Like all front wheel drives the fronts wear quicker than the rears. Off road, the VCU locks when it detects wheel spin at the front and sends 50% power to the rear. This can also happen when the VCU fails and locks causing abnormal wear on all wheels and then failure of the IRD and maybe rear diff.

In my view the VCU should be checked every 5000km as a precautionary measure and if found the be failing the car taken off the road and the VCU replaced.

Garry

[Grasshoppr]

Hi Bruce
Are your 15" rims the 5.5" width or larger? I've been advised that 225/75R15 tyres probably won't fit on my wife's 01 FL.

I think Harry will be in the same situation if he has the 5.5" width rims.

Cheers, Paul.


Hi paul,
Sorry for the late reply.
Yes, the rims are stock standard alloy mags.
You've prob nutted this out already.
cheers
Bruce

[DEF130]

Her in doors has the 03 Freelander fitted with standard Perrelli 215 65R16's on 6 inch rims. Our driveway is fairly rough hence what would be the largest tyre we could fit i.e. if we can get more height with a change to profile height that would be good. Dont care too much about width would not like to go any narrower probably consider a good 50/50 AT tyre.

Anyone put larger tyres on this model fitted 16inch rims? What was the down side e.g. speedo? insurance? Also brand of tyre and price? Thanks...

[101RRS]

Her in doors has the 03 Freelander fitted with standard Perrelli 215 65R16's on 6 inch rims. Our driveway is fairly rough hence what would be the largest tyre we could fit i.e. if we can get more height with a change to profile height that would be good. Dont care too much about width would not like to go any narrower probably consider a good 50/50 AT tyre.

Anyone put larger tyres on this model fitted 16inch rims? What was the down side e.g. speedo? insurance? Also brand of tyre and price? Thanks...

I have 225/70/16" BFG ATs. Speedo is accurate oddometer under reads by 5%.

Garry

[DEF130]

I have 225/70/16" BFG ATs. Speedo is accurate oddometer under reads by 5%

Garry, are these tyres noisy on road and did you changeover 5. There is a brand new Pirrelli on the rear never been on the vehicle however profile is 65R. Probably have to buy 5 I guess. Just had a look at the BFG tread pattern I lke it. Are they o/k allround and do you have a ball park price of what you paid? Cheers

[101RRS]

Freelanders MUST have tyres that are the same rolling diameter or you will have issues with the Viscous Coupling. So if your spare is a different width and aspect ratio but the rolling diameter is the same as the mains then not such an issue - but the spare you have is likely to be too small for BFGs.

I bought 4 BFGs and managed to get a different slightly used tyre of the same rolling diameter for the spare. The BFGs were about $230 a few years ago. They wear well and give good grip in the dry and are reasonable in the wet though ABS has kicked in a few times in wet weather braking. They can be a little noisy at slow speeds but are quieter the faster you go.

I have covered 50,000km on mine and they are not yet half worn.

Garry