L322 Ability Off Road

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Originally Posted by spudboy

BTW - the MTR's I'm running are on 19"s because I think that is the only way to buy them (or it was 2 years ago - I don't think I could find 18's, so I had to get new rims).

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As far as tyres go, I thought I’d be a smart arse and kept the 18” rims from my 03 RR so I could put a set of decent off road tyres on them and just use them on the 07, when needed.

As is now known, the 20” are the smallest rim you can fit.

Now I don’t know what the rest of you think but in my opinion, Land Rover are now employing retards to design the vehicles.

Who in their right mind would put low profile tyres on a 3 ton truck, let alone a 3 ton 4x4.

I have a crack rim ( at least one ) and for the life of me I can’t remember hitting a pot hole or gutter to cause the crack but whats even worse, it’s not the passenger side front wheel, the most likely to be damaged.

It’s the drive side rear wheel, the least likely to be damaged.

At the moment, I can’t risk driving this puss box to far until I get all the rims checked and I wonder how many other late model L322s are in the same state but the owners don’t know.

BTW the Discovery 4 is going the same way. It won’t be long before they become a 4x4 that can’t be used as a 4x4.

What the hell is behind Land Rover’s thinking?

What you're saying Tim is exactly why I went for a pre MY06, so obviously I totally agree with you.

But unfortunately that’s what the world market wants, North America and Europe are more interested in perceived on road performance, braking that rips your face off without over heating, and pimping – and that’s where the biggest markets are. We are only a plip on the global figures and even within AUS how many of these high end vehicles ever leave the black – or even tow.

My 2004 L322 looked completely brand new when I purchased it, the under body had never been treated and didn’t even have as much as a stone chip let alone a scratch, previous owner swore that it had never left the pavement and I truly believe it. The insurance premiums are even lower than for my D2 – why, because you won’t find a L322 fitted with 33s and a 45 inch lift kit charging around at Sandy Cape let alone Land Cruiser park, well at least until I arrive :D but I won’t have the tyres or the lift….

Unfortunately they are just providing what the Global market wants – look at how many Jap 4*4s are getting around now on 20 or 22” rims, people are actually paying huge $ to convert from 16s and 17s to pimp machines. I bet the Rodeos and Hiluxs handle like rubbish when done, and the Cruisers and Prados just look stupid…

And I agree the D4 will be on 20s soon too. Shame that they took Discovery away from its roots, a simple, affordable but comfortable and capable wagon. It was the Disco 1 that saved Land Rover from the grave, and I would have continued ownership in the discovery range if they hadn’t pimped the crap out of it – so when it was time to move on I went L322, because if you’re going to have a complicated super lux 4*4, might as well just go to the top, just not the latest….

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Originally Posted by drivesafe

As is now known, the 20” are the smallest rim you can fit.

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I am surprised given that the D4 and RRS can come with 19" wheel options that fit the larger calipers that the L322 does not... For the RRS, IIRC, the 19" is even called off road in the brochure!?!?

I've just popped over the the LR website, and according to the eBrochure there is a 19" option ("Style 8") for the current MY11 L322.. 19" is not ideal I know, but surely slightly better than 20's..?

Maybe you could then fit the Goodyear MTR like the G4 vehicles use?

Happy to be corrected if this 19" isn't actually available.

Hi 2nd Rower and harlie, the 19' would be better but they are still low profile tyres ( as you say IF they fit ) what I can’t understand is, while the new RR is nothing more than an over priced, over rated, under featured, under performing CAR, but the Discovery 4 is still potentially a great 4x4, so why the hell won’t Land Rover offer a high profile tyre option with the 3lt versions.

When I bought the 2.7lt D4 for my wife, the 3lt options I looked at that turned me off the dearer visions was not the wheels, at that time I was not aware of the wheel size limitations again.

The main turn off was that the extra price only got me a bigger motor, not a major consideration for a planned town car, and the addition of the same crap sound/sat nav, and I sure as hell wasn’t going to pay extra for crap like that.

Again, why can’t LR offer a high profile option?

I'll probably cop a flaming for this but I haven't read a report that states that somebody couldn't get somewhere due to their tyre size, specifically 19"s. One guy did tell a tale about his mates D3 that performed really well off road...in fact awesome was the word he chose but it kept getting punctures. He was actually talking about 18"ers. Sounds to me more like a quality tyre choice problem rather than a size issue.

Incidently, yesterday I had my D4 SE sitting in a car park next to a D3 SE......sort of embarrassing as mine is filthy....head to foot in dust and mud and the other was all shiny.....:mellow:. I'm looking at my 19s and the D3 18s. Both of us still running the infamous Goodyear Wranglers that are standard. There really isn't a hell of a lot in it, size wise.

I could be wrong but there seems to be plenty of folks driving off-road on 19"s without issue....until they get spiked I suppose.

I have no idea but is it physically impossible to get a 19" tyre with tough side walls or can that only be achieved with a bigger side wall. Is it a manufacturing limitation?

Cheers,

Kev.

Hi Guy's

Not sure if this helps but both Cooper & Mickey Thompson offer 18", 20" & 22" tyres semi offroad tyres in various sizes. Check them out. Might find something that suits

Gary

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Originally Posted by 33chinacars

Hi Guy's

Not sure if this helps but both Cooper & Mickey Thompson offer 18", 20" & 22" tyres semi offroad tyres in various sizes. Check them out. Might find something that suits

Gary

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What happened to 19"? :confused:

Cheers,

Kev.

Im with Tim 100% on this.If people want 20'' rims let them have them,BUT give the rest of us the option to be able to fit smaller rims for offroad use.The trouble today is every manufacturer has made the mum and dad 4WD too exxy to buy,even crap like mid spec Prado's are 70K for christ sake.If LR put a modernised D1 T/Diesel on the market for 50K they would fly out the door. Pat

I hear what you say Pat & Kev. AND Agree. Have a look on their web sites for 19". May be something suitable ??

Gary

Have seen a TDV8 RR with winch, front underbody protection plate, roof rack and MTR tyres (a pic here: http://www.fullfatrr.com/forum/post10857.html#10857). The non-supercharged petrol V8 can take 18" wheels too. Since they come standard with rear e-diff and have more wheel travel and better angles than the D3/4, they're actually better off-road. More comfortable too.

Quite a few in the US done up for 4x4ing, some in the UK, and here too. Accessories are available, just got to look in the right places. ;)

Wish I could afford one, lol.