Freelander AT Tyres - Not Cooper vs BFG

[101RRS]

For the Freelander people.

What AT tyres are you running. My placard indicates 215/65R16 - max width is 225 if 17" wheels are fitted.

There are no Cooper AT tyres that will fit - only highway tyres.

Best fit BFG is 215/70R16 - a bit taller and $213 each.

Goodyear MTRs are available but are mud and the car is mainly used on road.

Yokahamas in the correct size at $225 but I don't know what they are like.

Any with Freelander running AT tyres - let me what you have.

Thanks

Gazz

[Scouse]

Hi Garry,
Just be careful if you plan on fitting larger diameter tyres. It's going to accentuate the front/rear ratio difference & possibly load up the transmission more than usual.
I know you've replaced your IRD but even the later ones have a ratio difference (not as large as the early cars though).

I have seen some Freelanders with much larger tyres fitted but I can't recall what size they were. If it comes into the workshop again, I'll take note what it runs.

[101RRS]

Thanks Scott - I appreciate your point - the difference in dia between the 65 series and 70 series is only 19mm so should not be an issue if I keep the wear on the front and rear tyres similar - with the benefit of hindsight I think my previous IRD problems were aggrevated by moving the worn front tyres to the rear and putting fresh tyres on the front so making the effective diff ratios even more different than they already were.

My tyres are getting down and I want to move from my current Bridgstone HTs to an AT tyre but there doesn't seem to be much available - there are plenty of HTs or normal road tyres but not much in the way of half decent offroad stuff.

I also don't want to go much larger in diameter than standard because the already high 1st gear will be effectively even higher - as it is now, I have enough trouble backing up my drive in the morning when the engine is cold without revving the guts out of a cold engine and slipping the clutch.

Cheers

Gazzz

[camel_landy]

Hi Garry,

I've got 2x sets of tyres for my Freebee....

Set1 - Michelin XPC 215/65 R16
Set2 - Wrangler MTR 215/65 R16

Although the MTRs were fitted for playing in the mud, I found their on-road manners to be sooooo good (on a par with the Michelins) that I didn't bother swapping them back. I have now done plenty of KMs with them fitted and have not had a problem nor is there much (if any) difference in road noise. IMO, the MTRs have to be one of the best all round tyres I've ever come across.

HTH

Mark.

[101RRS]

Although the MTRs were fitted for playing in the mud, I found their on-road manners to be sooooo good (on a par with the Michelins) that I didn't bother swapping them back. I have now done plenty of KMs with them fitted and have not had a problem nor is there much (if any) difference in road noise. IMO, the MTRs have to be one of the best all round tyres I've ever come across.
Mark.

Hi Mark,
So how is the wear with on road use of the MTRs and are they noisey - my current Bridgestone HTs are very noisy on anything but smooth surfaces and I would figure the MTRs would be a lot worse.

Cheers

Garry

[camel_landy]

Garry,

IIRC, there was hardly any noticeable extra noise from the MTRs. Mind you, after driving the Defender, I'm half deaf already.

I've now done about 15-20k with them and they've still got 8-9mm all round and a lot of that is from around town driving. Also remember that I've got the old style IRD.

HTH

Mark

[stevesub]

We have the 17" wheels and have been resticted to road tyres. The Bridgestones wear quickly, the Pirellis are the noisiest tyres I have ever had and get damaged too easily when off road.

Our Freelander is for sale and an ad will appear soon on this site. It is a V6 and has a winch (well used).

Our replacement vehicle is a Rangie.

[camel_landy]

We have the 17" wheels and have been resticted to road tyres. The Bridgestones wear quickly, the Pirellis are the noisiest tyres I have ever had and get damaged too easily when off road.

Our Freelander is for sale and an ad will appear soon on this site. It is a V6 and has a winch (well used).

Our replacement vehicle is a Rangie.

Is that the same Steve that used to live in NZ and be a regular on the Freebee Yahoo e-Group????

Mark.