Garage is recommending 235/70 's ?

Hi, I'm new here and also recently bought my first defender so got a dumb tyre question. It's a late TD5 standard spec. The main use is going to be some light forestry work to get firewood for the house on some land we have access to.

I'm going to buy some new tyres and opting for goodrich all terrains as they would seem to suit my needs and well regarded. However, the garage is recommending 235/70's but my internet searching suggests that 235/85 's would be more appropriate.

Should I tell the garage they should order the 85's or am I wrong? The garage is a LR specialist and I'm totally new to the world but it seems against the general gist of what I've read on the net so I'm a bit puzzled.

It's a lot of cash so keen to buy right the first time. Advice appreciated. Thanks.

doesn't worry me, but the locals prefer you to pop in and say hello first!!!

op2:op2:

either would be fine, its down to preference, 85s will make it sit higher, just enough to be a pain in car parks on an older 300tdi

ie alot of car parks are 1.9M (plus a bit for generosity, 235 85 make mine sit at 2.05M

235/70's are LR standard sizes (1 of Many) 235/85 will fit and will give you a tiny bit of extra ground clearance. Approx 20mm

Now **** orf over to the introduce ya self section and do things properly..

can you fit bigger tyres to a discovery?

As they have both said, 85's give a bit more clearance, for your use I would got with the 70's, a bit less sidewall will give better road holding qualities and if your not off roading in it (except the off bit here and there) then you wont need that extra bit of diff clearance

Crikey, you guys are speedy on the replies. Thanks. I'd hoped my opening bit would have been enough of an intro without going OTT on details. Had no idea it would be so formal.

Oaks said:

Crikey, you guys are speedy on the replies. Thanks. I'd hoped my opening bit would have been enough of an intro without going OTT on details. Had no idea it would be so formal.

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It aint! You'll need a thick skin to take part in this madhouse but its worth persevering as there is a lot of knowledge kicking about on LZ.
Part of the fun is baiting the noobs

Oaks said:

Crikey, you guys are speedy on the replies. Thanks. I'd hoped my opening bit would have been enough of an intro without going OTT on details. Had no idea it would be so formal.

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Shifty1962 said:

It aint! You'll need a thick skin to take part in this madhouse but its worth persevering as there is a lot of knowledge kicking about on LZ.
Part of the fun is baiting the noobs

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And the worst question to ask about is tyres, and you made your first post asking about tyres :brick:

Soloby Rob said:

And the worst question to ask about is tyres, and you made your first post asking about tyres :brick:

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your allways the first to pick on peeps with spare tyres aint yer fatty...

Yeah I thought it would be a bit of a clanger but I'm planing on ordering so thought I might as well jump in with a tyre thread. Might as well get the leg pulling over and done with on the first go.

I'm more used to the two wheels of mountain bikes. Funnily enough tyre threads get a similar amount of scorn and 'that depends' answers on bike forums too!

Probably a similar amount of mud and good times with a landy I expect.

here uses these boys and take their advice,buy wheels and tyres..

4x4 Tyres, Off Road, Order Online today from TyresdirectUK, One of the UKs leading wheel and tyres specialists

Speaking as a guy who has to drive up into woods I think it depends very much on several things.

1. Are you going on muddy surfaces. My tracks are clay and my ats struggle for grip at times.

2. If you are leaving the track and going into bush. I go over trees and the extra clearance is handy at times.

3. Are you nimble? If not the higher you go the more of a clamber it is to get in.

235/70's will serve you well
85's will help if need the lil extra height for rutted tracks etc

You want 235 85 , the lower the aspect ratio the less of a 4x4 tyre you are getting .
You have a 4x4 for going in a forest etc , so maximise the ability . I would go MT , if you want a 4wd for rushing about on the road get a subaru JMHO

Clay tracks - check
Leaving tracks - check
Nimble - checkish

To be fair it's also pretty level has a lot of stone tracks too and isn't too wet so I guess the smaller ones will be fine.

There isn't much understory or clambering required either.

I have a Subaru conincidentally but its the family car and doesn't stray from the harder track stuff. The defender is to go where that can't to transport logs from cut point to log store. It's small volume personal stuff not commercial but is already making my life a bit easier.

Get some middle range MUDs like insa Saharas or dakars and you'll not be stuck. Also for in woods a winch is handy. Park on track, sling a chain round a cut down tree and drag out with the winch

Found this out today in Durham,

[/quote]85s will make it sit higher, just enough to be a pain in car parks on an older 300tdi

ie alot of car parks are 1.9M (plus a bit for generosity, 235 85 make mine sit at 2.05M[/quote]

Ended up doing two circuits before finding somewhere to park!

Like chunkymunky said a winch would also help in case you get stuck and to pull trees

foozoo said:

Found this out today in Durham,

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85s will make it sit higher, just enough to be a pain in car parks on an older 300tdi

ie alot of car parks are 1.9M (plus a bit for generosity, 235 85 make mine sit at 2.05M[/quote]

Ended up doing two circuits before finding somewhere to park![/quote]

yup, found it out on my first trip anywhere in the fender! now I check first, google maps street view is excellent for this. (as long as you can read the height barrier)

I have 235/85/16 on mine and I would stick with them. That little extra hight when off roading comes in very handy. Another guy tried following me through the forest in his 90 Defender and came a cropper when he bottomed out. He was running 235/70/. Made a right mess of his diff. But then I don't need to worry about Car parks.