D4 standard 19" rims/tyres

[tezel]

After long-term love-hate relationships with Td4 and Td5 Discos towing a small tuff-van all-over, recent purchase of MY15 Discovery has raised eyebrows with 'friends'; main comment when looking at the area of shine in the wheel arches has been 'why the black-topper?' Interested to learn what the experience has been for late D4 owners when on 'light' off-road stuff eg high-country or Flinders Ranges National Park tracks and on long-haul hardpan outback road runs eg. Birdsville and Strezlecki tracks etc with the standard 19" rims/tyres and if the expense of 18" 'compomotives' is advised/warranted?

[BMKal]

There are some who say that the OEM 19" rims are OK for this type of work. The majority of people on here who regularly take their D4's off the bitumen have opted for smaller rims and tyres to suit.

One of the reasons I went with the "base" model 2.7 litre D4 was because it came with 18" rims. (The other reason was cost ).Personally, for the type of terrain that you are talking about, I wouldn't be comfortable with anything larger than 18" rims and appropriate tyres.

So yes - I believe that the GOE Rims are a justifiable expense in your case. If I was to replace my D4 with a newer version, the first thing I would change on it would be to fit a set of Gordon's rims.

[Tombie]

Well said BM....

[rar110]

After long-term love-hate relationships with Td4 and Td5 Discos towing a small tuff-van all-over, recent purchase of MY15 Discovery has raised eyebrows with 'friends'; main comment when looking at the area of shine in the wheel arches has been 'why the black-topper?' Interested to learn what the experience has been for late D4 owners when on 'light' off-road stuff eg high-country or Flinders Ranges National Park tracks and on long-haul hardpan outback road runs eg. Birdsville and Strezlecki tracks etc with the standard 19" rims/tyres and if the expense of 18" 'compomotives' is advised/warranted?

I'm in the same quandary. I look forward to seeing opinions.

I could spend $2600 and buy a new set of GOE rims, which I would if I was flush. However, knowing my luck some other huge repair expense would come up and I'd be in trouble. Alternatively I could spend and additional $600 and carry two extra new 19" tyres for such trips.

[wbowner]

I'm in the same quandary. I look forward to seeing opinions.

I could spend $2600 and buy a new set of GOE rims, which I would if I was flush. However, knowing my luck some other huge repair expense would come up and I'd be in trouble. Alternatively I could spend and additional $600 and carry two extra new 19" tyres for such trips.

GOE rims plus 5 or 6 tyres and may be a 6th rim.

I reckon you are getting close to around $3400 for 6 rims.

This assumes you are up for new tyres already.

LOT of money.
Would I do it, you bet if I had the money.

I will replace my tyres this year, I have the original ones and they are not looking good after 36,000. If I have the money after doing other mods I will consider it, ie if any money left.

So am interested in thread comments as well.

Richard

[lrdef110]

Hi Tezel. I have a SDV6 D4 which came with 19" rims. In my experience, the OEM tyres are really not suitable for the sort of use you are intending so in the very least you will require better tyres. I have done all of the iconic tracks in the Vic high country, Gibb River Rd inc Kalumbaru (towing a van) and Canning Stock Route on the 19" rims with General Grabber tyres. Although I only suffered 2 flats in all of these travels the CSR corrugations stuffed the rims up big time. As soon as I returned from WA I got a set of the GOE 18" rims & Bridgestone D697's and honestly IMO the extra expense of the rims when you will need better tyres anyway easily offsets the worry and hassle of changing flats or carrying extra spares. I only wish I had sold my 19" rims to blokes that want to carry extra spares and got the 18" GOE rims before the 19" rims stuffed up and were worth nothing. From my experience the 18"GOE rims and D697's are a great combination that are hard to go past for the sort of travel you are intending.

Cheers

[rar110]

I am in need of new tyres anyway.

Gordon's rims are $570 delivered (from his website).

I think I know what I would be thinking if I was in woop woop with a cracked rim or two.

[wbowner]

Do people actually buy the 19" rims. If so any idea how much they go for.

That should be, perhaps, factored into the cost equation.

Richard

[RHS58]

Do people actually buy the 19" rims. If so any idea how much they go for.

That should be, perhaps, factored into the cost equation.

Richard

The 19's often appear on eBay.
Between $1000 and $1200 for set of 4 rims. Occasionally the sellers will sell them singly.
Not bad when LR Dealers want $1100 per rim.

Better option, if you have the dollars, might be to buy a set of GOE rims and tyres, put the original wheels in the shed, and when time comes to sell the car, put the original rims back on, and sell your GOE rims second hand.
Bet the depreciation on the GOE's will be a lot less.

[jon3950]

There are some who say that the OEM 19" rims are OK for this type of work. The majority of people on here who regularly take their D4's off the bitumen have opted for smaller rims and tyres to suit.

Well they are ok, but they're not great. Certainly the oem tyres are not good enough.

I've done all the stuff you've mentioned on 19"s with Zeons without any tyre problems, so it can be done. However, running on 19"s isn't fun - you always have to be careful.

Justifying the cost is always the difficult part. If you were talking about a once off trip, I'd just run the 19"s and be careful. If you intend visiting these areas regularly and can afford the 18"s, just get them.

The aren't many rims you can buy that are better than Compomotives - if you damage one you will probably have bigger problems to deal with, and by all accounts the D697s are proving to be a very good tyre. Despite my good run with the 19"s these will be going on mine before my next outback trip.

You'll need to buy tyres at some point anyway, so the extra cost is only the rims.

Cheers,
Jon