Tyre question (not the usual)!

OK, I have 2 good Goodyear Wrangler M+S tyres of the front on my RRC (one brand new, one in very good condition) and two slightly less good M+S tyres on the rear (a knackered Toyo and a half-decent Michelin). The spare has perished.

I won 3x A/T tyres on eBay last night – two Hankook Dynapro AT-A’s (8mm tread) and 1x Pirelli Scorpion ATR (6mm tread). Plan is to keep the two Goodyear Wranglers on one axle 9currently on the front) and fit the 2x Hankook A/T’s on the other axle, putting the Pirelli Scorpion (or Michelin M+S?) on the spare.

Question is, will it be OK to mix and match M+S and A/T tyres front and rear (all are 205/80/16)? And if so, which way round? I’m thinking keep the M+S Wranglers on the front for better steering/feel and put the A/T’s on the rear for more grip and drive in snowy/muddy conditions. Thoughts?

There are laws about mixing tyres are there not? Different rolling radiuses will stress the centre diff and also the VCU if the RRC has one.

So long as all are the same size, especially circumference, what you propose should be fine. Never mix tyres on the same axle, but matching pair on the front and different but matched pair rear is fine!

As I said, all 205/80/16's so should all have same rolling radius, give or take a bit of tread depth!

Also going to be the same tyres on the same axle - it's just one axle will have M+S tyres, the other will have A/T's. Anyone agree with me putting the M+S on the front and A/T's on the rear?

the law is about mixing cross ply and radials...... and diretional tyres

I think M'lud

M/S tyres with M/S and A/T with A/T and summer with summer .

but and ( yes there is a but ) some A/T tyres have a M/S mark on an then it is legal to mix M/S and A/T ..

so simple is that

You're going the right way about it.
If you investigate using chains or snow socks the advice is always, if you've only got two on a four wheel drive, put them on the front.

sarstad said:

M/S tyres with M/S and A/T with A/T and summer with summer .

but and ( yes there is a but ) some A/T tyres have a M/S mark on an then it is legal to mix M/S and A/T ..

so simple is that

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Err...clear as mud!! So are you saying some A/T tyres are summer only, and should not be mixed with M+S tyres (by law or otherwsie)??

dogsbody said:

You're going the right way about it.
If you investigate using chains or snow socks the advice is always, if you've only got two on a four wheel drive, put them on the front.

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Good to know! Weirdly, the DSA advice putting the best tyres on the rear, suggesting you have more control of the front wheels (through the steering wheel) so it would be better to have the best tyres on the back to reduce the chance of it braking away.

I can't help but think that is a VERY flawed argument...in fact, I disagree with them completely!! To me, the tyres with the most grip should be on the front - they have the most work to do and, more importantly, do 70%+ of you braking!!

Just a thought - I think I am right in saying tyre pressures should be 28PSi front and 36PSi rear - is that correct? (Don't have the manual to hand).

If so, why is the front so soft? Surely most of the weight of that V8 is over the front axle, so it seems strange to have so little air in the tyres! Anyone know Land Rover's reasoning behind this? My inclination would be to rund about 32/34 F/R, but what do I know?!

Do the chalk test.

The chalk test?

MikeV8SE said:

The chalk test?

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Wait for a wet day. Drive the RRC through a section of sodden chalk on a byway and then if you get stuck your tyre set-up is wrong.

Just make sure you go with someone who can tow you out!

Hmm, not what I expected!! How does that tell you if your tyre setup is wrong anyway? Surely if you're gonna get stuck in sodden chalk you will do regardless of tyre pressures!!

I think this chalk test you describe is fictitious, no?