Wide tyres on a SIII

**LRT** · 20th October 2011, 08:40 PM

Does someone know what are the widest flotation tyres on 16” and 15” rims that can be used on a SIII FFR with a 2” lift and without cutting or modifying the wheel arches?

Whilst the standard 7.50 R16 tyre is ideally suited to a Land Rover, they are too narrow a tyre for low speed (under 10 km’h) stop-start work in very soft conditions. A wider tyre would provide much better flotation.

LRT

**marko66** · 20th October 2011, 09:48 PM

Hi All

From memory its 35 inches high and as wide as you can flair

this is gleaned from these pages and not personal experience

Regards Mark

**isuzurover** · 20th October 2011, 09:57 PM

I have 285/75-16 tyres on 7" disco rims (with increased offset). The fronts rub on full lock, the rears rub on the lower front edge of the guards, and the top inner edge of the guards on articulation.

**Lakey** · 21st October 2011, 05:57 PM

My 88 with standard springs had 15 x 8 rims (Sunraysia) and the tyres were Armstrong Tru-tracs 11 15 LT. Rough measurement now makes them about 29" diameter and 11" wide. From memory they used to rub inside the top of the wheel wells slightly and the fronts just rubbed on the steering enough to polish the rubber boot on the ball joints each side.

Cheers
Lakey

Ummagumma · 29th October 2011, 02:32 PM

What are the largest tires I can legally fit to my Series 3?

**isuzurover** · 31st October 2011, 02:49 PM

Originally Posted by Ummagumma

What are the largest tires I can legally fit to my Series 3?

1.5* the original width, and 15 mm larger in diameter - which in most cases is 7.5"*1.5 = 11.25" And 32"+15 mm = 32.6"

**4x4_bugsy** · 2nd November 2011, 10:24 PM

I have found that if tyres taller than 32 inch are used they will rub on the bumper at full lock.
I have 285/75R16s (33s) on 16x7 wheels whic definitely rub.
They sit about level with the guards but seem ok when the suspension is fully crossed up.
I probably wouldnt put such big tyres on again as the poor engine has to work to turn them. Either 265/75r16 or 235/85r16 is my next choice.

I would have thought 7.50r16s would be ok if the pressures are down to 18-20 psi.

**LRT** · 13th January 2012, 08:22 AM

Hi everyone,

I'm sorry I haven't responded to your posts.

Thanks for the suggestions about the tire sizes.

Regards,
LRT

**Blknight.aus** · 13th January 2012, 08:58 AM

7.50R16 @ 10PSI.... no problems.

if youve got problems at 10psi goto 4 and take it easy on the noisey pedal.

**vnx205** · 13th January 2012, 01:24 PM

Originally Posted by LRT

A wider tyre would provide much better flotation.

LRT

I believe there is a school of thought that says that this is not necessarily true.

There seems to be some evidence that a longer footprint is more important than a wider footprint.

That notion would seem to be supported by the fact that when you reduce the pressure, the increase in the length of the footprint is usually greater than the increase in width.

I have seen people argue that in certain soft conditions, a wide tyre performs worse than narrower tyre at the right pressure.

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