Same question, different person? Wheels and tyre size.

Hello there.
After reading through the forum I have tryed to take in some info.
Would I be right in thinking to fit 265 75 16 tyres to my disco I will need to
trim the arches (and fit rubber ones)
Fit 2" springs and shocks
Extend brake lines
I'm basically after a beginners 4x4 for some green lanes in Salisbury and some pay and play days
Would the money be beter spent else where?
I love the look of some chunky tyres
Cheers
Ben

For a start just look at Redhand's sticky above your thread.

just get the biggest tyres you can fit on as standard, then use it instead of trying the 'keeping up with the joneses bit'

Can you link to a post that says you need to do a 2" suspension lift (by the way, suspension lift doesn't increase clearance anyway....) to fit 265/75R16? Also, the links which say you need arch extensions (265s fit within the arches). I suspect, the forum posts you've been reading are the wrong ones. It would be worthwhile to update these so at least the newbies who do a search, get the right info and are not misinformed.

Thanks for your replys.
I have read the sticky and it was very helpful.
Am I right in thinking a 2" suspension lift will give 2" of additional clearance to the standard wheels, then by adding wheels with a 4" larger diameter will give the same arch clearance I have now on standard wheels with standard springs?
( I know I will need to trim plenty of the bumpers and arches front to back)
I ask this as I would like to get the diffs further from the ground and a better attack on steep inclines?
Hope this doesn't come across stupid.
Cheers

Yes and no. If the suspension lift is done simply by spacing the springs (and bumpstops), or by using longer springs in combination with bigger bump stops, then it will prevent up-travel to allow bigger tyres. But, normally suspension lift kits also provide more articulation, which means up-travel is similar or the same, so there is little/no better clearance.

The tyres will contact the radius arms at the front, and catch at the rear of the arch (The Camel (Trophy) Cut is required here), and the front bumper will catch too if that's still there (but you can buy or adapt a smaller bumper, which also increases approach angle).

Basically, you're on the right lines, bigger tyres will make a noticeable improvement; but a suspension lift is not the requirement, trimming bodywork is.

paul_c said:

The tyres will contact the radius arms at the front.

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Depends what rims he is fitting the tyres too

paul_c said:

Basically, you're on the right lines, bigger tyres will make a noticeable improvement; but a suspension lift is not the requirement, trimming bodywork is.

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So he fits bigger tyres (265/75/16 - just shy of 32 inch) by trimming the body work, and not lifting the suspension (or body)...... so what would happen on articulation? Wouldnt the new bigger wheels/tyres jam in the roofs of the arches? Isn't this why a lift (be it suspension + bump stops, or body) is necessary? (obvioulsy you could just extend the bump stops and not lift the vehicle but this would make articulation worse than standard so this IMO is not an option)

Cheeksgt said:

Thanks for your replys.
I have read the sticky and it was very helpful.
Am I right in thinking a 2" suspension lift will give 2" of additional clearance to the standard wheels, then by adding wheels with a 4" larger diameter will give the same arch clearance I have now on standard wheels with standard springs?
( I know I will need to trim plenty of the bumpers and arches front to back)
I ask this as I would like to get the diffs further from the ground and a better attack on steep inclines?
Hope this doesn't come across stupid.
Cheers

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Hypothetically - If you get an exact clone of your disco and park them side by side, you put a 2" suspension lift on one, that one will sit 2 inches higher than the one next to it, then if you were to put tyres on said disco, which have a +4" larger diameter (with trimming etc), then this would also lift the disco another 2", so the disco would sit in theory +4 inches higher than the original one - i think this is what you were asking.

The only way to get more clearance on your diffs is with tyres.

Articualtion is a bit more complicated but with a basic set up, +2" lift with extended bump stops, the articulation will be pretty much the same as it is now but the vehicle will be 2" higher (this set up would basically allow for the extra 2" of tyre mentioned before to 'go into the arch' so-to-speak, without jamming up on the roof of the arch)

I wouldnt worry too much about your diffs on an incline as if the ground is level-ish (horizontally) on the incline if your wheels are going up it obviously your diffs are clear, if you have a towbar fitted this will hinder your approach angle.

In summary if you were to fit the suspesion you mentioned in your first post with extended bump stops, and the tyres you mentioned (+4 diameter, so +2" off the floor, with trimming, extended arches not necessary but cosmetically look better) the suspension would behave no better or worse than it does now, your diffs would be +2" higher than they are now and the overall vehicle would be +4" higher than it is now.

Its late, i'm rambling..... goin bed

Taxed said:

Depends what rims he is fitting the tyres too



So he fits bigger tyres (265/75/16 - just shy of 32 inch) by trimming the body work, and not lifting the suspension (or body)...... so what would happen on articulation? Wouldnt the new bigger wheels/tyres jam in the roofs of the arches? Isn't this why a lift (be it suspension + bump stops, or body) is necessary? (obvioulsy you could just extend the bump stops and not lift the vehicle but this would make articulation worse than standard so this IMO is not an option)

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The arches can accommodate 265/75R16 tyres on pretty much full articulation without jamming in the roof of the arches. At least, mine don't. Obviously not all 265/75R16 tyres are exactly the same size, so I can't say for each make/model of tyre.

paul_c said:

The arches can accommodate 265/75R16 tyres on pretty much full articulation without jamming in the roof of the arches. At least, mine don't. Obviously not all 265/75R16 tyres are exactly the same size, so I can't say for each make/model of tyre.

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well my 235/70 hit the roof of the arch on full articulation and ive got a 2 inch lift, so i doubt much bigger tyres would fit unless your not into pushing the car offroad

V8_Disco said:

well my 235/70 hit the roof of the arch on full articulation and ive got a 2 inch lift, so i doubt much bigger tyres would fit unless your not into pushing the car offroad

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That's fine, no worries, I'm not saying your tyres won't hit the arches. I'm saying my tyres don't hit the arches. And I've driven it quite enthusiastically off road too, with no worries. Obviously I can't really comment on your setup, because I've not seen your car, suspension or your style of off road driving. I did a bunch of research too, before fitting my tyres, and came to the conclusion that some people did need to lower their bump stops, while others were fine with just the arch mods (cut rear of rear, and remove bumper side pieces at the front).

I've got a disco here with about 3 inches lift, and 2657516 special tracks.

It is battered so has obviously been punished off road.

The wings are hugely trimmed back, bit there is no evidence of rubbing on the inner arch tubs.

It has stock suspension and bump stops btw, and 30mm Spacers.

I never saw this setup in use, but I assume it worked for someone!

HTH,

Sam

I'm running 265 75 BFG muds on freestyle wheels on my disco. They don't rub on the arches at all even when crossaxled and rocking on just 2 wheels. Got OME 2inch kit but standard bumpstops, 30mm spacers and Devon 4x4 extended arches and a little but of camel cutting.
Harry

paul_c said:

That's fine, no worries, I'm not saying your tyres won't hit the arches. I'm saying my tyres don't hit the arches. And I've driven it quite enthusiastically off road too, with no worries. Obviously I can't really comment on your setup, because I've not seen your car, suspension or your style of off road driving. I did a bunch of research too, before fitting my tyres, and came to the conclusion that some people did need to lower their bump stops, while others were fine with just the arch mods (cut rear of rear, and remove bumper side pieces at the front).

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i think its because ive got the 'light' springs from Terrafirma, need some bigger tyres really :doh: