Thread: 7.50 x 16 tyres - good types and where to buy in Brisbane

Originally Posted by Sleepy

Correction to my post above, the 7.50 refers to the widest part of the tyre not necessarily the tread. Wont fight you for the inch scrambler. Theory doesnt always translate in practice. My 38.5's measure just over 37 inches!
GPS is handy to check you speedo error.

Look, take the inch, I don't want it any more!

I agree with everything you say Paul. My comment was really around having had a Series vehicle with 31/12.5/15 tyres on it - noticably shorter, poorer ground clearance, lower gearing etc - even if only that 1 inch shorter (nominally). What the actual diameter was I couldn't tell you. And the fitted height varies depending on the rim width - thinner rims result in taller tyres. There's a case for using the narrowest rim that will take your chosen tyre.

So what's the opinion on the best kind of tyre for the opposite scenario - hardly ever used offroad and mostly used for highway driving? Tell me I'm crazy but I just love driving it as an everyday car. I like the ones on it at the moment, they have a chunky sidewall but a fairly flat tread. What I find hard to work out is the compromise between the look and the usage. My current ones are relatively quiet on the highway. I'm not really keen on bar treads though.

So what about a light truck tyre as opposed to a 4x4 tyre? I guess most 7.50 16 tyres are LT but some are very straight edges like what you get on a semi trailer, whereas the average 4x4 tyre bulges out and then back in towards the tread. I do like the landcruiser type that is generally found on the split rims

So hard to know what will fit well, drive well and look good without getting some and chucking them on. As for the speedo issue, I max my speed at 80-90km/h so I guess the accuracy issue isn't as serious, but she looks good and rides well at the height it sits at, and just gets into the garage, so certainly don't want any higher or lower.

I have a variety of tyres here, come have a look and a play with what Ive got.

IMHO LT tyres with a steer bias are best for the series for on highway use.

Originally Posted by Blknight.aus

I have a variety of tyres here, come have a look and a play with what Ive got.

IMHO LT tyres with a steer bias are best for the series for on highway use.

Hi Dave,

So forgive my lack of tyre knowledge but what do you mean by a steer bias?

pfillery,
the grooves in a steer tyre run around the circumference ( fore and aft ) whilst a drive tyre the grooves are a across the tyre ( left to right ) have a look at the link. XZA is a steer bias tyre . the XoneXDA is a drive tyre.i


Michelin Australia - Tyre Catalogue - transport.michelin.com.au.

I use XZA on the defender mostly on road for no road noise and low rolling resistance. Use something different offroad if wet but XZA is ok in the dry.


Cheers

pfillery: If you want an on-road tyre then I would suggest having a look at what the local tyre shops have in 235/85/16 in what is usually referred to (unhelpfully) as "passenger" construction.

Tyres have a lot of compromises, but if you will be driving on paved roads, that eliminates the issue of grip. Instead the issue is shedding water when wet - and the "steering" type commercial tyres are more than adequate. And they are pretty good in sand as well.

But in many cases tyres that have treads and internal construction similar to passenger car tyres will work as well or better. This style are not designed to carry heavy loads (which it sounds like you won't be doing) and are not as biased toward high mileage, which while it sounds bad actually allows the tyre to be designed better for grip on-road.

Heavier duty internal construction is indicated by "LT" in the tyre description. Asking for "Light truck" tyres will get you heavier built tyres. The additional strength can add quite a lot of money - and if you won't be needing it why pay for it? It also leads to relatively poorer suspension dynamics - but would you notice in a Series 3 anyway?

The words/ letter to look for are "road biased," "H/T" (for "highway terrain"), "passenger construction" and "van tyre."

The bulging sidewall look is characteristic of bias ply tyres. Might look nice but radial construction is 10 times better to drive on-road.

hey all,

I stopped in at my mates who is a manager of Beaurepairs at Southport. Not alot available in 750-16 that isnt Light Truck and Hwy bias. A quick search showed available to him in 750-16 are Goodyear Wrangler AT/SA and Michelin XZL....there are others but mostly road truck bias. Also in 235/85R16 are Maxxis Bighorn and Buckshot, Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac and MT/R kevlar.

He is all about deals so give him (Nathan) a call and tell him your from the Land Rover forum. He is also doing good deals on Marshall batteries atm.