Thread: Max Width Tyres for a Series 3?

I have 285/85-16s on (modified) disco steel rims on my ex-military 109. Slightly wider than should be fitted, but they work really well and I am very happy with them.

Are they 285/75-16's or 285/85-16s?

Originally Posted by isuzurover

I have 285/85-16s on (modified) disco steel rims on my ex-military 109. Slightly wider than should be fitted, but they work really well and I am very happy with them.

Ben, when you say modified - does that mean offset?

And therefore have you had to put flares on?

Thanks

Sam

A ex mil has cut guards so you might need to go to a smaller tyre size or get the grinder out.

Originally Posted by Slunnie

Are they 285/75-16's or 285/85-16s?

285/75-16 (33" diameter).

Sam:
I have them on disco rims which have 30mm extra offset (30mm less backspacing). I do not have flares, the tread is inside the profile of the guards, the sidewalls bulge slightly further out.

Dobbo - ex-mil landies only have cut front guards, rear are std. Ex-mil landies do have a 1.5" suspension lift over stock though. The tyres lightly rub the forward edge of the rear guards (the weld where the bottom of the arch meets the sill) on full upwards articulation (but I get a lot of articulation).

Thanks Ben

The car curently has Sime Frontiers on and the diameter is actually larger, than the BFG AT's I have - its more the width I was concerned about and whether or not the inside wall of the tyre would scrub on the chassis or not when turning.

I guess I'll just have to put them on and try.

Thanks again.

If they scrub you can always adjust the steering stops. But if you have a LWB you need all the turning circle you can get!!!

Originally Posted by Sam Ball

Thanks Ben

The car curently has Sime Frontiers on and the diameter is actually larger, than the BFG AT's I have - its more the width I was concerned about and whether or not the inside wall of the tyre would scrub on the chassis or not when turning.

I guess I'll just have to put them on and try.

Thanks again.

Sam, what do you want width for? It stuffs the steering, increases your rolling resistance and isn't all it's cracked up to be in sand - because for your surface area you get a larger bow wave. Have a look at 4wds that get driven for commercial purposes - they have thin tyres. If the tyres you have are just as tall, I'd stick with them. Just take a reliable guage and lower your pressures appropriately (i.e. lower than the next bloke).

The limits with fat tyres are rubbing on suspension elements on lock and rubbing on the guards under articulation.

The Americans, who love their fat tyres, say 31/10.5 is fine. 32/12.5 needs suspension modes and 33/12.5 needs body and suspension mods.

I have 31/10.5's on my Stage 1 and I'd take thinnner and taller any day.

Steve