Series 3 Tyres

I’m a novice series 3 88inch owner having got my 1972 model 3 weeks ago.
I’ve got 205/80 R16 tyres on front and rear near side and 205 R16 on front and rear off side.
Does it matter?
Would it be better to have matchingones on front and rear and if so which?

Hi and welcome to series ownership challenging and satisfaction guaranteed in equal measures
Being 4 wheel drive when selected it’s important the rolling diameters are the same on front axle and rear axle if you are driving 4wd on tarmac this reduces transmission problems but that said normally 4wd is used off road on loose/ soft ground and or snow so wheels can slip when they need.
The 80 spec is the aspect ratio , are you saying the other two does not have any aspect ratio

perhaps post some pics of each so we can see the tyre markings
There will be peeps on here who are tyre experts but I’m not one of them
I have 7.5 x R16 on mine quite a tall tyre that gives good ground clearance

Workshop manual here which has tyre wheel section And a general good read
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/03/series-iii-workshop-manual/

steve2286w said:

Hi and welcome to series ownership challenging and satisfaction guaranteed in equal measures
Being 4 wheel drive when selected it’s important the rolling diameters are the same on front axle and rear axle if you are driving 4wd on tarmac this reduces transmission problems but that said normally 4wd is used off road on loose/ soft ground and or snow so wheels can slip when they need.
The 80 spec is the aspect ratio , are you saying the other two does not have any aspect ratio

perhaps post some pics of each so we can see the tyre markings
There will be peeps on here who are tyre experts but I’m not one of them
I have 7.5 x R16 on mine quite a tall tyre that gives good ground clearance

Workshop manual here which has tyre wheel section And a general good read
http://www.retroanaconda.com/landrover/2010/03/series-iii-workshop-manual/

Click to expand...

Hi
Thanks for this
Think I’ll probably need to get 2 new one to match.
Pics attached
Near side rear, n side front, off side front of side rear

Blue 3 88 said:

Hi
Thanks for this
Think I’ll probably need to get 2 new one to match.
Pics attached
Near side rear, n side front, off side front of side rear

Click to expand...

ok, few things going on here.

Firstly, you'd ideally want to run matching tyres all round. Or at least per axle. This applies to type as well as size.

I can also see one of your tyres says tubeless. If you are running standard Series rims these require tubes. You can run tubes in tubeless tyres, but tubed rims always need tubes and are dangerous to run without.

The 205R16 is an older naming convention. Sort of a mid way between the even old 6.00 x 16 and 6.50 x 16 naming and modern naming. They are very similar to the 205/80R16.

As tyres are the only thing that are in contact with the road. I'd recommend not skimping on them.

205's were a standard fitment on a Series, although if you plan to off road. A 7.50 x 16 is a taller tyre that was optional back in the day. Don't be tempted by a 235/85R16, they require a wider rim than a standard Series rim.

Thanks
Is there an easy way to tell if they are tubeless or tubed rims and if they’ve got tubes in

Blue 3 88 said:

Thanks
Is there an easy way to tell if they are tubeless or tubed rims and if they’ve got tubes in

Click to expand...

Tyre - If it's a tubed you see the valve going through the rim. Usually tubeless the valve is attached to the rim. But can be hard to tell sometimes.

Rim - you might be able to search on a part number. But easiest way is with the tyre off, although you might still be able to spot from the inside.

Here is an example


Note the left hand rim has an extra bulge just in from the edge (both sides). This is for the bead of a tubeless tyre to sit against and seal. If you fit a tubeless tyre without a tube to the right hand rim, the bead could slid inwards under cornering or tyre deformation (hitting a rock/hole). And could cause a rapid decompression/loss of air. Should this happen at speed or when cornering, it could be very bad.

You can fit tubes to modern tubless tyres, even if they don't say you can. The only risk is, the inside of some modern tyres is rougher and may wear through the tube more quickly. However lots of tyres are fine and a lot safer than running without a tube.

Hi,maybe a look at your spare(s) might help in what to get,i have 4 x 205 matching fitted but my 2 spares are odd,
Atb and.good luck,
Ryn,
@ not a cloud in the sky,west cornwall

I saw an intrersting piece of advice on a US tyre site, they reccomended no more than 3/32 (about 2mm) dia differnce on tryes on a 4x4 and advised rotating the wheels at every oil change to keep the wear even.
As said above, if they are tube type rims then you must run tubes. If there are tubes then in the long run I would be looking for a set of tubeless later wheels and running all the tyres tubeless.