Thread: D4 v LC200

Originally Posted by rmp

A few points:

- the disadvantage of low profiles is rim damage, not a decrease in contact patch area.

Originally Posted by ozscott

RMP said "the disadvantage of low profiles is rim damage, not a decrease in contact patch area. However, because LPs have stiffer sidewalls because they have less of a sidewall often in practice the contact patch is a little less than the equivalent high profile."

I agree with that mate but the converse is also true - high profile, even in light truck 8 ply sidewalls, when aired down sufficiently allow a very significantly increased contract patch, particularly lengthways (which is sand in particular is what you want - sideways not so much cause it sends up like trying to roll a log with a large face area like a wedge) whereas even at 5 pounds a very low profile does not lengthen out anywhere near as much.

Originally Posted by Graeme

Also tyre sidewall destruction due to it being pinched between the rim and rocks.

And not to mention the availability of suitable replacement 19" tyres if you happen to need one outside of a capital city.

This is probably the main reason why I wouldn't consider buying anything with 19" rims, regardless of how much serious off-roading I might or might not subject them to.

I ordered a 3.0 D4 with the expectation that 18" would fit to allow fitment of BFG AT in LT265/65 size. When it was demonstrated to me 2 weeks before my vehicle arrived that they don't fit, I seriously thought about cancelling the order but decided I would fit the 2.7 brakes if necessary.

TRS today offered to clean swap my big callipers for 2.7 callipers, but I would want to keep the originals to refit when selling.

Mate - I like your dedication to the tyre cause...but giving up the bigger brakes is crazy! You will not have the same capacity for towing in particular in real terms - the bigger brakes the better, and there is the slight chance that your insurance might be a problem if you have a crash that braking contributed to - ie slight chance they will find out but big chance it will be a drama if they do.

Cheers

My D2's brakes with original rotors and front pads all in good condition after 215k kms were more than adequate for anything I've towed and I would be checking with my insurer before deciding to take such a step. At this stage I'm checking-out all aspects.

Mate - yep sure the D2 brakes are good things, but the D3/4 is substantially heavier and if it were me I wouldnt be doing it. But thats just my opinion.

Cheers

Yeh pretty crazy to swap the brakes. I must admit i love the big brakes they pull up the beast so hard i feel like im going to fly outside the window!

Dorko

I ordered a 3.0 D4 with the expectation that 18" would fit to allow fitment of BFG AT in LT265/65 size. When it was demonstrated to me 2 weeks before my vehicle arrived that they don't fit, I seriously thought about cancelling the order but decided I would fit the 2.7 brakes if necessary.

TRS today offered to clean swap my big callipers for 2.7 callipers, but I would want to keep the originals to refit when selling.

IMHO the big brakes may be necessary on an Autobahn or Autostrada at 200Kmh plus, which LR would have to provide for, but these conditions just do not occur in Australia. Even our mountains are pimples compared to Europe.

I wonder how much of 18-19 Inch is "advances in tyre technology" and how much is fashion. 40, 50, 55,60 profile tyres have been available for at least 20 years as my 1995 M3 with 40s attested.

It's just more recently that they have spread from fast road cars to 4WDs as people seem to demand a "jack of all trades" rather than a vehicle optimised for fast road or off road and not really enhancing either.

Regards Philip A

Originally Posted by PhilipA

IMHO the big brakes may be necessary on an Autobahn or Autostrada at 200Kmh plus, which LR would have to provide for, but these conditions just do not occur in Australia. Even our mountains are pimples compared to Europe.

I wonder how much of 18-19 Inch is "advances in tyre technology" and how much is fashion. 40, 50, 55,60 profile tyres have been available for at least 20 years as my 1995 M3 with 40s attested.

It's just more recently that they have spread from fast road cars to 4WDs as people seem to demand a "jack of all trades" rather than a vehicle optimised for fast road or off road and not really enhancing either.

Regards Philip A

Put a 3 tonne caravan on the back and try a steep hill descent. Sorry I cannot understand why you would want to deliberately reduce the braking capacity.

The Disco was never designed specifically for Oz, and we are such a small part of the world market, I doubt there is much we could influence.
We modify the vehicles we buy to tailor them more towards our intended purpose for them. However, if this is so fundamentally different from the manufacturers design, surely you have to question whether the right vehicle has been chosen for the purpose.