33x12.5/15 MTRs fitted to stock Defender

**Omaroo** · 4th July 2006, 02:40 PM

My existing set of Grabbers were done. They had been killed by gibber and were literally pockmarked to shreds. I needed a new set but can't afford it any time soon owing to my wife dabbling in the property market again.

I had a near-new set of 33x12.5/15 MTRs, off one of our GQ's, sitting on the shelf with nothing to do. I recently bought a set of rims with (promised by the seller) the correct offset for a Defender running wider rubber. I know that I really should go another 2" in the springs to compensate for the extra radius, but upon inspection, the original 7.5-16's were damn-near as tall (off the car) as the MTR's. I reckon that apart from the width, there was maybe 1/2" difference in the total diameter - if that. So - stock suspension (apart from OME long-travel shocks) and all, I couldn't get anyone to tell me if it had been done without drama by someone else.

So - today I took the plunge and stuck them on instead of going out and spending a small fortune on XPC's or something equally sensible.

They ride very well on the road, and dont rub anywhere under normal circumstances. Looking at them and given the axle arc, I don't think they'll rub much on the guards or wheel arch floor (if at all) under full articulation at the rear... but the fronts look as though they might a little under full bend and full lock at the same time. We'll see I guess. There's nothing to prevent me from taking a few corners a little easier until they're proven huh?

Now to the Jenolan State Forest - Caves to caves trip next weekend

Piccys:

tombraider · 4th July 2006, 05:41 PM

Very tidy

I'm heading to Adelaide this weekend and have decided to drop the FC-IIs and Claws and go 35" MTZ Mickey T's.

I'll post some pics once fitted....

Tombraider

**rick130** · 4th July 2006, 05:51 PM

Originally Posted by tombraider

Very tidy

I'm heading to Adelaide this weekend and have decided to drop the FC-IIs and Claws and go 35" MTZ Mickey T's.

I'll post some pics once fitted....

Tombraider

there was a thread on the MTZ's on OL over the last week or so and it was overwhelmingly positive.
Keep us infomed, please Mike.

tombraider · 4th July 2006, 07:37 PM

Originally Posted by rick130

there was a thread on the MTZ's on OL over the last week or so and it was overwhelmingly positive.
Keep us infomed, please Mike.

Shall do.... Got a link to the OL thread?

**Omaroo** · 4th July 2006, 08:36 PM

Originally Posted by tombraider

Very tidy

I'm heading to Adelaide this weekend and have decided to drop the FC-IIs and Claws and go 35" MTZ Mickey T's.

I'll post some pics once fitted....

Tombraider

If you don't mind me asking, what suspension mods have you done to accomodate the 35's? Were the Claws that size, or 33"?

tombraider · 4th July 2006, 08:48 PM

Mods:

Longer bump stops
Relocated rear shock mounts
Front Dual shock turrets with lengthened shocks
Custom (my spec) front and rear coils wound by King Springs. giving 4" lift
Re-angled front arms, realigned rear arms

16x10 rims with 4" Backspace

4" extended flares.

**Omaroo** · 4th July 2006, 09:32 PM

Originally Posted by tombraider

Mods:

Longer bump stops
Relocated rear shock mounts
Front Dual shock turrets with lengthened shocks
Custom (my spec) front and rear coils wound by King Springs. giving 4" lift
Re-angled front arms, realigned rear arms

16x10 rims with 4" Backspace

4" extended flares.

So... nothing much then.

I vowed to keep my Defender reasonably stock - in the interest of reliability. I've had enough money run out the door on the two GQ's I also have - with their 6 inch lifts, 2 inch body lifts and 38's, extended shocks, etc, etc, etc. Too damn expensive for my taste any more. I guess the reason I like the Defender is that it's already reasonably high in stock trim - certainly more capable than most GQ/GU's and 80/100 Series Tojo's.

**rick130** · 5th July 2006, 03:22 PM

The OL MTZ thread is here

**Omaroo** · 7th July 2006, 02:35 PM

OK - did some articulation excercises this morning. On the rear, the 33's don't rub anywhere. They just clear the guards on their way up into the wheel wells. Nice.

The fronts DO rub (only JUST, mind you) the radius arms on full lock. It's only 1/4" that I have to adjust the steering stops by in order to get total clearance. So I lose a degree or two of turning radius. A bit of a pain, but there you go.

So there - it's official. You can fit 33" muddies to a stock Defender with a tiny loss of function. Can't wait to try out the performance difference over the weekend up in the Jenolan area with LROC.

**akitda** · 7th July 2006, 05:20 PM

Hi Omaroo:

I would like to know the offset value of the rim that you are using. I think my 90 will can get the same setting as your 110.

Cheers,

Greg

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