Thread: tyres advice for offroad newbie

The tyre width is not the problem it's the rolling diameter, the 255/60/18 is the standard size for the Disco 3, also they are both road tyres essentially.

As for your next set of tyres, that will depend on how you are going to use the car, but I would replace the spare with something the same size as the other tyres on the car and maybe in something you are going with as your next set, that way you only need 4 tyres when it's time to change.

Rolling diameter in bold

255/60-18 6.0in 15.0in 30.0in 94.4in 671 0.0%
265/60-18 6.3in 15.3in 30.5in 95.9in 661 1.6%

AFAIK it's an issue driving with two different tyre makes/treads/profiles on the same axle in terms of road worthiness. In the event of an accident where you have the different spare fitted the vehicle can be deemed to be unroadworthy and as such any insurance policy you have is null and void, as you have undertaken to maintain the vehicle in a road worthy state as part of your policy.

As soon as I was able to afford it, I changed over all 5 tyres with the same make, tread and size to avoid any such issues. I kept the odd spare carcass as an emergency spare as this still has 80% tread left, and it's the same size.

Also rotate the tyres every 5000km including the spare to even out the wear, and then you'll end up with all 5 tyres worn out at the same time and not have an odd tyre left over again.

There's a wealth of tyre knowledge here on his forum, it's horses for courses and what you intend to use the car for.

With my tyre choice, I always consider who is in the car besides myself. surely it's worth every penny if the tyres are road worthy, good quality and up to the job of keeping you and the family plus other road users safely on the road.

Just my 2c for what it's worth.

Just wandering through AULRo after a day building a shed
Came across this thread and just wanna say Redback - you’re a bloody legend.
On approximately 99.85% of the Internet, the OP question would be met with disdain and ridicule....

AULRo truly is pretty unique


Anyways back to usual programming

S

There are no legality issues with using tyres of different brands on the same "axle" providing that radial and cross-ply are not mixed. The R in the size (255/60R18) stands dor radial so both your sizes are radials.

The slightly smaller size of the spare wont matter if used only for short distances as the size difference will require the diff to slightly operate (differentiate) in a straight line whereas if the same size then the diff only differentiates on bends.

Light truck all terrain are the most versatile. Everyone has favourites. Stick with a well know brand. Pay what you can afford and you should be fine. Five new tyres and rotate as Eric said.

This is Qld transports take on the issue of different tyres on same axle,NSW maybe similar.


"While a vehicle can be fitted with different tyres (eg, brand, tread pattern), the tyre construction (eg, crossply, steel radials, textile radials, etc) must not differ.

Please note: while differing tread patterns may be used the Department of Transport and Main Roads does not recommended fitting tyres with different tread patterns on the left and right side of the same axle."

Originally Posted by Graeme

There are no legality issues with using tyres of different brands on the same "axle" providing that radial and cross-ply are not mixed. The R in the size (255/60R18) stands dor radial so both your sizes are radials.

The slightly smaller size of the spare wont matter if used only for short distances as the size difference will require the diff to slightly operate (differentiate) in a straight line whereas if the same size then the diff only differentiates on bends.

Thanks Geoff, yes, agreed, radial and cross ply should not be mixed, however two different brand/tread/size tyres may also have different load/speed ratings that can compromise handling and stability. I wouldn't want to give the insurers any extra reason to void a claim.
Interestingly in the UK it's illegal to have two different tyres on the same axle, and in continental Europe it's also illegal to run on winter tyres in summer and vice versa. Maybe I'm overly cautious but I always try to ensure the best possible tyres for the dury on my vehicles, budget permitting

Its certainly my aim to have all 4 tyres the same brand, pattern and size but sometimes compromises have to be made, such as currently when one of my new tyres was destroyed so a spare from the last set is used - different brand, different pattern, LT not P although at least the same size and the only difference I note is that the old one is noisy.