Thread: LT230 best ratio for 32 inch tyres

Originally Posted by avion

Hi, my D2 ('02) has 1.2 ratio. I understand Defenders come with 1.4 and run 32's from factory. I think i read somewhere that some Defender guys are swapping D2 transfer (1.2) to lower the RPM's. Is this true?
Would i be pushing by fitting 32's to my D2 for general play? (some light towing 6x4 with quad bike). Would i need to swap to 1.4 gears to make it usable...but if above is true...?
I was told by a friend that getting away from stop would be awful...(e.g. city driving) and that i should get 1.4 gears...

The car will be getting mild performance upgrades like egr delete, straight trough exhaust and at later stage ecu map upgrade... (and 2 inch lift to accommodate bigger tyres )

Confused...please help !

I have a 1999 auto with a chipped MSB ECU and I don’t tow but I run 235/85/16Rs (31.7inch) with standard D2 Transfer Case ratios. Getting away from a stop is no struggle at all.

Originally Posted by onebob

I have a 1999 auto with a chipped MSB ECU and I don’t tow but I run 235/85/16Rs (31.7inch) with standard D2 Transfer Case ratios. Getting away from a stop is no struggle at all.

Agreed. My D1 300TDi has 265/75 R16s (31.65). While it won't win any drag races it is quite driveable. I reckon a decent TD5 would handle 32s with ease.
My D2, TD5, also MSB chipped, decat, EGR delete runs 245/75 R16 (30.5) and is begging for bigger tyres. Maybe I'll swap.

Edit. The D1 is driveable now. Before I replaced the turbo cartridge I had to put it in low range to get up my driveway

Forgot to add, mine is manual....i guess auto would have a bit more torque from stand still take off....

I guess i will wait until i do all the mods and then decide on tyres.

Thank you for your replies.

Originally Posted by avion

Forgot to add, mine is manual....i guess auto would have a bit more torque from stand still take off....

I guess i will wait until i do all the mods and then decide on tyres.

Thank you for your replies.

Maybe. But my D1 is manual. I reckon doing the mods first is a good idea.

I was putting 32 inch into my stock D2a 03 manual and QUICKLY felt unhappy due to some reasons.

1. Noticeably slower when start stop.
2. You definitely feel lost of power.
3. You definitely needs to remove mudguards.
4. You will need to ASAP upgrade and mod to accommodate the big tyres.
5. Wrong speed which immediately give me a risk running in the city where sleed cameras are built in a bigger network than Telstra telephone
6. Reduce towing capacity which I want from a stock form.

So, unless you don't tow and want to go off-road then that's the way to go.
Better do all mods first then pickup the tyres and rims (you will want a special set of rims after spending money on all the mods )

Originally Posted by maxperformance

I was putting 32 inch into my stock D2a 03 manual and QUICKLY felt unhappy due to some reasons.

1. Noticeably slower when start stop.
2. You definitely feel lost of power.
3. You definitely needs to remove mudguards.
4. You will need to ASAP upgrade and mod to accommodate the big tyres.
5. Wrong speed which immediately give me a risk running in the city where sleed cameras are built in a bigger network than Telstra telephone
6. Reduce towing capacity which I want from a stock form.

So, unless you don't tow and want to go off-road then that's the way to go.
Better do all mods first then pickup the tyres and rims (you will want a special set of rims after spending money on all the mods )

Not wanting to step on toes here.... BUT going to 32 inch tyres on a D2 is not that problematic. I disagree on many of your points.., yes the wheel speed will change by 10% and a speedo correction unit will put that right, however, you definitely DO NOT need to remove mudguards or need “Special” rims, LR Defender steel rims is what I and others have used, and actually every Series II Discovery had one on rear door from factory. Pretty much all of what you discussed in your post DOES apply if you went taller than 32, or changed the wheel offset to accomodate wider tyres, and that’s a whole other new debate.

Originally Posted by onebob

Not wanting to step on toes here.... BUT going to 32 inch tyres on a D2 is not that problematic. I disagree on many of your points.., yes the wheel speed will change by 10% and a speedo correction unit will put that right, however, you definitely DO NOT need to remove mudguards or need “Special” rims, LR Defender steel rims is what I and others have used, and actually every Series II Discovery had one on rear door from factory. Pretty much all of what you discussed in your post DOES apply if you went taller than 32, or changed the wheel offset to accomodate wider tyres, and that’s a whole other new debate.

I tend to agree, I think the vast majority fit 32's (265/75-16 mostly or 235/85-16) on standard factory rims with nothing more than a 2" lift. Add speedo correction. From everything, I've seen, read, heard they're all generally pretty happy and saw it as a positive change. I think one of the factors here however is that the majority are also auto's rather than manuals, and the manuals respond to a regearing where the autos will just take it up. My thoughts, if you always run big tyres then regear the diffs. If you only run big tyres offroad then regear low range in the transfer case, if you've got an auto then just see what you think.

Originally Posted by onebob

Not wanting to step on toes here.... BUT going to 32 inch tyres on a D2 is not that problematic. I disagree on many of your points.., yes the wheel speed will change by 10% and a speedo correction unit will put that right, however, you definitely DO NOT need to remove mudguards or need “Special” rims, LR Defender steel rims is what I and others have used, and actually every Series II Discovery had one on rear door from factory. Pretty much all of what you discussed in your post DOES apply if you went taller than 32, or changed the wheel offset to accomodate wider tyres, and that’s a whole other new debate.

Lol. My bad explanation. I thought I was referring to that little mudguards but it seem many others will call it mud flaps, correct? It made my car very noisy when turn full wheel at that short time I tried it on my D2a. About the RIM, I just wanted to mention a show pony rim rather than a technical talk of the Rims, as I found that many people love their cars would buy a special look set of Rims at some stage (for me I love a set of the original Diamond D2 18 inch rims). Anyway, I'm standing from a stock standard and towing capacity point of D2, also just from my own D2 without offroad use atm, so forgive me if some info is not applicable .