If it can go wrong it will...needing some advice please!

**samuelclarke** · 8th September 2008, 05:55 PM

Was driving back with my mum from Hervey Bay to the Sunshine Coast on Saturday night in my Defender, 21:45 and making good time with only twenty minutes to go I get a flat tyre on Counter Rd (for those of you who know it) - roughish dirt road shortcut linking with the Tin Can Bay Rd. No problem, just a simple tyre change and we'll be on the road again...if only! I take the spare off, and loosen the nuts on the flat, hand brake on and in gear...get the jack (original LR one) out and almost about to take the tyre off when the jack fails and slams into the back of the 110 (nice dent there now

).

OK, slight problem! No reception with the mobile...so the only thing to do is drive on the flat. Get about 3km down the road and a 4wd is coming along the road...wave them over and explain the problem - ah, no worries mate we've got a jack. They get their jack out, and I unload the spare...only to find that their jack is cactus!

They head on their way, and I try and figure out what to do (still no coverage) - only option is keep driving as I have to be at work the next day. Drive 5km more at 10km/h and the tyre is smoking, pull over and wait for it to cool - we now have reception and my mum suggested we call friends who live close by...give them a call explain to them where we are and he says he'll be out soon. Over an hour later he calls saying where are you?! He'd turned around before getting to us as I'd underestimated how far I was (should've looked at the map

)...so half an hour later he gets there, and drops us home. We take the Freelander and I finally get the tyre changed! Get home at 02:30, into bed at 02:45 - have to get up for work at 07:30!

So looking at the damage, I have one stuffed jack, tyre and wheel. My tyres are tubed and this puncture was a valve stem puncture caused by the wheel. I was wanting to replace all the wheels with tubeless and go to 255/85/R16 tyres, but now I need to get a spare and am in a quandary...don't have the spare cash to replace all the wheels/tyres atm, however need to get a spare (and want to get a new one!)...which I have a couple questions about:

Do you think I could get away with a 255/85/R16 as a spare? The current tyres are 235/85/R16.
What wheels do you recommend? I'm wanting steel wheels in black - have thought about getting some disco wheels and powder coating them, would that be the best/cheapest option?

Narrowed the tyre selection to: Maxxis Bighorn MT-762, BFG MT or ATR's - was thinking about Coopers, but it seems they're a problematic tyre from what others have found - especially in the ST's (and haven't had the best experience with Cooper ATR's on the Freelander). It would be down to the BFG's, but funds are tight and the Maxxis are substantially cheaper. Which brings me to another question, where's the cheapest place to get either Maxxis or BFG's on the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane?

Thanks heaps in advance for helping!

**Psimpson7** · 8th September 2008, 06:11 PM

I wouldn't risk a 255 spare with 235 road tyres

the rolling diamater of a new 235/85 is about 2532mm
The rolling diamater of a new 255/85 is about 2639mm

Thats quite a big difference, and thats on new tyres so if you then compare it with a worn 235 the difference would be even more.

Cant really help with the other questions, beyond saying that I like the BFG mud terrains. They also have a higher load rating than the Maxxis.

cheers
Pete

**weeds** · 8th September 2008, 06:14 PM

thanks for the read

........

all five tyres should be the same as there is a good inch differance in rolling dia.

if you were in brizzy i could help you out with a spare

**samuelclarke** · 8th September 2008, 06:32 PM

Thanks guys! I thought it'd be a long shot on the different tyre sizes...looks like 235/85/R16 it will be for now!

Ya, no problem about the read mate

- just wish it hadn't happened.

**Blknight.aus** · 8th September 2008, 06:33 PM

I have a bfgAT in the standard profile you can have a lend of as a spare if you need it and if yours is the original wanna be hi-lift jack your welcome to come and take mine, its only being used as a paperweight ATM.

**George130** · 8th September 2008, 07:24 PM

Got to love when the jack fails. Last flat I got that happened to me. I was just putting the spare un when the 130 fell. Tyre was stuck between the disk and the road and the jack was stuck under the axel. I had to sit for an hour till my Father in Law arrived with annother Jack. Also was half on and half of the freeway due to the gard rail.

**Corgie Carrier** · 9th September 2008, 11:52 AM

Why don't you cruise around the tyre dealers and see if you can pick up a s/h tyre?

It doesn't need much tread, if it is just a spare and it will save you money until you can afford your new wheels and tyres.

**samuelclarke** · 11th September 2008, 08:24 PM

Thanks for the offers of a spare on loan guys - I went into British Offroad to organise getting some Disco steel wheels and David lent me a spare until I get everything sorted...they're great guys there, every dealing I've had with them has been top.

I've bought a good quality 5 ton bottle jack - not keen on getting another LR jack. :P

So, the plan of attack is getting the wheels blasted and powder coated black in the next 2 weeks...then getting tyres fitted. Narrowed brands down to BFG M/T or Cooper S/T. Still weighing up options on size - 255/85 or 235/85...it's a hard one and there are pluses on both sides - but the biggest plus is that 235/85's are around $40 cheaper per tyre!

Speaking of price, here's the best prices I've got so far:
BFG M/T's
235/85/R16 - $295
255/85/R16 - $315
Cooper S/T's
235/85/R16 - $262
255/85/R16 - $305

Are they good prices or do any of you know of better prices around the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane area? I'm going to be looking at 5 tyres so it's a big hit!

**Bundalene** · 11th September 2008, 08:49 PM

Originally Posted by samuelclarke

Thanks for the offers of a spare on loan guys! I've bought a good quality 5 ton bottle jack - not keen on getting another LR jack. :P

I went into British Offroad to organise getting some Disco steel wheels and David lent me a spare until I get everything sorted...they're great guys there, every dealing I've had with them has been top.

So, the plan of attack is getting the wheels blasted and powder coated black in the next 2 weeks...then getting tyres fitted. Narrowed brands down to BFG M/T or Cooper S/T. Still weighing up options on size - 255/85 or 235/85...it's a hard one and there are pluses on both sides - but the biggest plus is that 235/85's are around $40 cheaper per tyre!

Speaking of price, here's the best prices I've got so far:
BFG M/T's
235/85/R16 - $295
255/85/R16 - $315
Cooper S/T's
235/85/R16 - $262
255/85/R16 - $305

Are they good prices or do any of you know of better prices around the Sunshine Coast/Brisbane area? I'm going to be looking at 5 tyres so it's a big hit!

Hi, we bought a set of 5 255/85R16 BFG Mud Terrains and paid $285 per tyre fitted and balanced - about 10 weeks back. Most places were quoting $315 at the time. I had to wait a few days as the tyres had to come down from Cairns. I know this doesn't help you much but I use a trye joint in Camden, SW Sydney. I too could offer you a usable spare. Good luck, Erich.

**samuelclarke** · 11th September 2008, 09:09 PM

Originally Posted by Bundalene

Hi, we bought a set of 5 255/85R16 BFG Mud Terrains and paid $285 per tyre fitted and balanced - about 10 weeks back. Most places were quoting $315 at the time. I had to wait a few days as the tyres had to come down from Cairns. I know this doesn't help you much but I use a trye joint in Camden, SW Sydney. I too could offer you a usable spare. Good luck, Erich.

That's a good price.

I think when I'm talking business and not just ringing up asking for their best price I should be able to twist some arms.

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