Tyres - P38a 18" - Please advise so can order...

Hi All,

Looking for a vote/general guidance on what tyres to fit to my 2002 Vogue SE P38a.

Currently has 255/55/18v Scorpion Zero's fitted. Was advised that the Scorpion ST was the original fitment.

Have been reading many posts and spoken to a few dealers who have made the following recomendation as mainly Road use and wanting to limit 'tram lining' whilst keeping comfort.


- SCORPION ZERO 255/60/18v
Michelin Latitude Tour HP - 255/60/18v
- CROSS CONTACT UHP 255/60/18v

GENERAL GRABBER AT - 255/60/18

Advise please, or am i best to keep the 255/55/18 size... as all come in that size.

Please advise.

Hi I have just got a p38 fitted with 255 60 18 tyres, I find it does tram line quite badly and varies alot depending on pressures. Seems best with 34 psi all round. Another point is that with the 60 series profile it makes the speedo under read, 60 series over 55 increases size by an inch. Google tyre size calculator and have a play. I rate the Scorpions.

Yesterday i had General Grabber AT2's 255/60/18 fitted on my p38 4.6 - went out for a long drive today, towing a heavy horsebox (with a horse) , and i think they are bloody great! I had Wranglers on before, but i much prefer the Generals - you could do a lot worse!

I would stick with 55 series to avoid the speedo calibration problems from fitting 60's.

I did post last week asking if it was possible to recalibrate electronically via Testbook/Rovacom but from the lack of responses I guess no one knows.

In terms of tyre pattern and brand, yes Pirelli Scorpion ST's were original fitment, but are getting rarer than hen's teeth. I managed to pick up a couple new old stock on ebay a few months back but haven't seen any since. The STR's that were supposed to be a direct replacement seem to be rubbish on P38's from all the posts around here, so it needs to be something else.... you pays your money and takes your choice but there's plenty of people on here running a wide variety and their opinions worth reading cause the outcomes seem to be quite consistant.

The Scorpion STs were always great on my P38 but since they've been replaced with STRs, I've taken to using Scorpion Zeros which cost a mint but are pretty much as good as the STs were on my Rangie.

Had Goodyear Wrangler on my DSE when i brought it, should have driven it on the rims, i am sure the vehicle would not have shaken itself to bits

Cossie David said:

Had Goodyear Wrangler on my DSE when i brought it, should have driven it on the rims, i am sure the vehicle would not have shaken itself to bits

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I have Goodyear Wranglers on 18" rims (hurricans?) I have not experienced any problems with them. Runs well on the road, tramlines less than a Porsche 944S on 50 profiles (not mine!) Good enough to pull the caravan out of the mud and wet grass, so maybe I'm just lucky.

I would have towed that horsebox wiv me Range Rover, superkingtango. you would get there much quicker :hysterically_laughi

I have Goodyear Wranglers 60 series on Mk3 rims on a P38. Tramlining can be a problem but the Pirellis I had before were pretty knackered so I can't give a fair comparison. When you see the state of the ruts on lane 1 of the motorways though (best seen at sunset), it's not surprising that you get tramlining problems. Ditto the state of some of the roads in Scotland that are heavily used by logging trucks. Quite frightening at times......

Cheers all,

Have looked at the results and sought advice from my local specialist 'Peter Scott LandRover'.

I've gone with the Grabber AT2 on 55 height. Being fitted on friday along with a treat of genuine SideRunners.

Should be nice enough.

Was very suprised by the cost difference, between the different options on a per wheel basis..

Hello all,
Replaced my Goodyear Wranglers with Avon Ranger Sports last year. Totally transformed the handling-previously it tramlined everywhere.

Bought mine from www.tyre-shopper.co.uk

tufty said:

I would have towed that horsebox wiv me Range Rover, superkingtango. you would get there much quicker :hysterically_laughi

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No wonder the horse is so ****ed off..:doh:.... Much cheaper to run though.....

Datatek said:

I have Goodyear Wranglers on 18" rims (hurricans?) I have not experienced any problems with them. Runs well on the road, tramlines less than a Porsche 944S on 50 profiles (not mine!) Good enough to pull the caravan out of the mud and wet grass, so maybe I'm just lucky.

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I think you must be lucky and please you are, i read on another Land Rover web site Land Rover in the USA tried to take Goodyear to court becuse Land Rover were putting new tyres on under warrenty becuse of vibration caused by the cupping of the Wranglers, but i have said all along thease P38's have a mind of their own, not one behaves the same as the other

Just had two new Pirelli Zeros on the front yesterday to replace the STs that are no longer made - I had already replaced the rears with Zeros- now have Pirelli Zeros all round, and the handling is superb. But at quite a price, of course...... Mind you, you do get what you pay for!

I fitted GG AT2's to my P38 moving from a mismatch of Pirelli's and budget tyres and I think they're great on road. The only off road it's experienced was a wet field since fitting them but as the front prop is missing I don't want to get too adventurous.

Do I need to fit spigots & new nuts to my 2000 / P38a in order to fit 255/60/18 wheels & tyres or just spiggots?
Cheers.

shabbs said:

Do I need to fit spigots & new nuts to my 2000 / P38a in order to fit 255/60/18 wheels & tyres or just spiggots?
Cheers.

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Where are you getting the wheels from???


If they are from L322 RR then you need spigot rings, if you are upgrading from P38 16" wheels to 18" P38 wheels then you dont need any extras

Dorset VogueSE said:

Where are you getting the wheels from???


If they are from L322 RR then you need spigot rings, if you are upgrading from P38 16" wheels to 18" P38 wheels then you dont need any extras

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The wheels are being sold locally, I'm waiting to hear back the year of vehicle they came off, I'm assuming it's an L322 which is worth an extra £20 for spigot rings, so the existing wheel nuts will do, my originals are 255/55/18, whereas the ones for sale are 255/60/18. If read properly, the 60 tyre makes the P38a speedo under report, is there any way around this and is it by much?

shabbs said:

The wheels are being sold locally, I'm waiting to hear back the year of vehicle they came off, I'm assuming it's an L322 which is worth an extra £20 for spigot rings, so the existing wheel nuts will do, my originals are 255/55/18, whereas the ones for sale are 255/60/18. If read properly, the 60 tyre makes the P38a speedo under report, is there any way around this and is it by much?

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If they are from an L322 you will need new wheel nuts aswell. Also worth remembering if you keep the spare as a 55, you will only be good for a short journey and have to carry a spare set of nuts and wheel wrench, if you carry a 60 profile as a spare it won't fit in the spare wheel well, even deflated. Thats assuming its on a L322 wheel.

I've been running General Grabber UHP's in 255x55x18 for over 3k miles now. Can't fault them, very quiet and the smoothest tyre I've had on the Rangie.