Thread: What is the best size rim for my td5 D II Disco Please

Originally Posted by Nungarra

I understand that on some vehicles with wider tyres there is greater drag and this lowers the fuel consumption.

I think you mean increases the fuel consumption. More drag = more fuel burnt.


The factory 16" wheels are 7" wide (16 x 7").
However, you can fit the P38? wheels which are 16 x 8".
Or there is the factory 18" wheels which are 8" wide.

Tyre and width choice depends on what your planning to do with the vehicle. Also different tyre brands and models vary in size a bit despite being the stated size - e.g. with 255 wide tyres, some are a bit wider and some are a bit narrower etc.
I currently run 16 x 7's with Bridgestone Duelers AT D694 in 235/65R16. Next though I'm going to put the 18" wheels back on with some metric equivalent of 32" tyres (I've found the ones I want on TireRack in the USA).

Originally Posted by Nungarra

I have a late 1999 td5 D II Disco with BFG A/T 235 - 70R/16 tyres.

As I am doing a bit of travelling with camper in tow I have re-chipped it, but was wondering if I can put larger rims and tyres on to give better clearance and fuel consumption.

I understand that on some vehicles with wider tyres there is greater drag and this lowers the fuel consumption.

What would people recommend as the best combination of rims and tyres please.

Keep the standard rims, which are 16x7 and put some 245/70, 245/75 or 255/70/16 ATs on those rims, these sizes will keep your fuel economy to normal and you won't notice any lose of power from drag.

Baz.

Please note that there were also 16 x 8" rims as standard and you don't need to go to P38's to get an 8" rim.

I've put 265/75R16 on the 16x7" rim and have noticed over 100k no decrease in economy on my man td5. However acceleration is blunted as the down side but the upside of course if not hitting things on standard tracks...

Bryan.

As you are going to be "doing a bit of travelling with camper in tow" I'd recommend sticking to a fairly standard size which would be readily available should the need arise for a replacement tyre during your travels.

The vehicle manufacturer has already fitted the most appropriate tyre/wheel size combo so be guided by what is available as standard.

So, for your indicated usage, my suggestion would be: 16" rims and either 235 or 245 in a 70 or 75 profile tyre with an AT tread pattern.

If you're towing, I'd also stick to the factory sized tyres. One thing that I would however look for is the tyre load rating, as the load on the Disco2 is pretty much where the factory tyres load limit is. Personally I think this is the limiting factor rather than any part of the car itself.

What I found, is that for an unladen vehicle when I changed from the standard 29" road tyres to 33" tyres is that the consumption around town when up by about 1l/100km on average but this also fluctuated a fair bit. On the open road the consumption figures improved, but I would bet that while towing that the consumption with bigger tyres will be worse as the load comes onto the vehicle, but the engine is forced to labour more.

Thanks for all the feed-back. Will chase up some steel rims and some second hand tyres to trial before settling on anything.

Cheers

I fitted a set of L/T 265/70 Bridgstone 694's on a set of standard 7" rims and they are great, improved ground clrearance, much more capable off road and allow me to tow a 2.5 ton caravan with no side wall flex problems at all.

They aren't expensive ($275 each) and they are wearing well. Some have said previously that this size rubs when turning but I have not found any evidence of that. Around town they are a bit slower away from the lights but on the open road this size cruises nicely and fuel economy actually improves.

I have been considering putting the standard 18's back on though, as soon the D3 will finally be set up for towing the van off road so that Disco will become the one we use for going bush camping in.

cheers,
Terry

I would agree with past posts that you stick with the original combinations having said that my 2000 td5 came standard with 18" and 255/55s. We have now completed 5000kms of our trip towing a 1 tonne campervan and car fully loaded with 4 kids. The worst economy was through the flinders ranges at 15.83 l/100kms the best filling up at tennant creek at 12.06 l/100km and the average overall at 13.01 l/100kms all towing sitting on 100kph cruise control in sport mode for the auto everything stock standard on the car.