Series 3 What tyres?

Hi all,

I’ve a Series 3 that I’m (slowly) restoring. One of the jobs on my list is the purchase of 4 new tyres (plus spare) and I was hoping to get some advice on the type I should be looking for.

In terms of usage, I won’t be doing any off-roading and probably only about 2-3k miles a year. I’m looking for something cheapish, low-mid range. Happy to buy partly used tyres too.

The current tyre size is M.S 205 R16 (see attached) I would be very grateful for any recommendations as to where to find these types of tyres or any recommendations as to particular tyres/brands.

Thanks!

Rugby and Land Rovers said:

Hi all,

I’ve a Series 3 that I’m (slowly) restoring. One of the jobs on my list is the purchase of 4 new tyres (plus spare) and I was hoping to get some advice on the type I should be looking for.

In terms of usage, I won’t be doing any off-roading and probably only about 2-3k miles a year. I’m looking for something cheapish, low-mid range. Happy to buy partly used tyres too.

The current tyre size is M.S 205 R16 (see attached) I would be very grateful for any recommendations as to where to find these types of tyres or any recommendations as to particular tyres/brands.

Thanks!

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You are probably better off with 7.50R 16s. Think that is original spec for S3.

Brand depends on how much you want to spend, and type of use. Remoulds are fine for a Series, aggressive if you want to off road, ATs if you want to on road.
I like Fedimas for remoulds.

If you want to spend loads of dosh, get premium tyres.

What rim width do you have, what ride hight do you want and what gearing? 205's look fine on a SWB but a bit small on a LWB and odd on a mil chassis with the 2" lift. I had 205 16s and swapped to 235/85 16 which raised the gear close on 10% 29" to 32" dia. On a series that can be the differnce between 55 and 60 for the same revs so its signficant. The 235/85 is just alloweable on the std LWB or Defender rim. I looked around a saw quite a few working Defenders with 235/85 on std rims. Cooper tyres list the 5.5J as OK for the 235 and it comes out almost eaxclty the same size as a 7.50 / 16 which is of course OK to fit on the 5.5. I buy good used wheels and tyres off e-bay and keep a spare.

Thanks guys.

Rob, where do I find out what rim width I have? Apologies for the stupid question, I’m new to all this!

I’m not fussed about ride height, it’s a SWB. The roads I’m going to be driving it on are also only 30-40mph limit anyway so the additional speed isn’t a priority.

If you only plan on road use. Then a road biased tyre might suit. Although an All Terrain might arguably suit the look of the Land Rover more so.

Size wise. You have loads of choice. Stock rims are usually 5-5.5” depending on what rims they are. They usually have some markings, but might be hard to see.

7.50 x 16 is a stock size and taller. Plenty of choice although mostly remoulds these days and more off road patterns than on road.

205 is a short tyre. Likely to be more peppy but lower cruising speed. Again plenty of choice.

Most remoulds and new tyres in these sizes will be around the £90-110 each mark. But shop around and see what you can find.

New rims are pretty cheap. £40/corner for 8 spokes or modulars. Or you might find some latter Defender rims or other Land Rover rims used.

6” wise rims will allow you to run 235/85R16 which is a standard Defender size and loads of choice.

Disco 5 spoke steel rims will also fit. These are 7” wide and allow the 265/75R16. Another standard Defender size. And even more choice.

If you fancy 15” rims then a 31.10.50R15 will fit right on.

If you are buying new rims do some reading up on wheel offset.

And make sure you check if you need to run inner tubes. You will on most older Series rims. But won’t on most aftermarket or Defender age rims.

The choice really is vast.

Loads of places online to look about and see what there is. Try here for starters:
https://www.tyresdirectuk.co.uk/

Quite good selection and pictures to give you an idea.

Fantastic, thanks for all the advice, much appreciated.

Re wheel size. They are all stamped with the dia (16 inches), width (usually 5 or 5.5 inches) shape (J) and offset (mm - ie 33). But they also carry a part number and its no unknown for these not to agree so check the part numbers (google) as well as the sizes and look at them, the width of the flat band is a usefull refernce, its very obviouly different on a 5J and 5.5J and if all wheels are 5.5J it will show if the offset is the same, if it has ridge its tubeless. Same size wheels can carry different part numbers so you can have a set even when the numbers don't match. Before you do anything make sure you have a same size set. I recently had new trailer tyres fitted and picked the best two wheels from 4, last week I noticed that they cleary have different offset, annoying mistake.

My S3 sports Micheline Latitude Cross on new tubeless OE wheels. Great for spring-to-autumn use up here, and on-road, if you don't want to climb mountains. My (highly personal) view is that wheels and tyres are not supposed to be some cheap cr*p anyway, it is a matter of safety.

I was looking for Latitude's on second hand defender rims. There are plenty of sets online but all a bit expensive. For pottering about year round they look like a good tread though.

I ended up with these which offer similar at less than half the cost of the Michelin's as linked to above.

They look nice, are those tubed rims? I think those are the same wheels I'm running.

Yeah, there are 4 old style, riveted LWB rims and 1 welded type which doesn't need a tube. The tyres however require tubes, so all 5 have tubes fitted.

Rubins4 said:

Yeah, there are 4 old style, riveted LWB rims and 1 welded type which doesn't need a tube. The tyres however require tubes, so all 5 have tubes fitted.

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Hi - Rubins4 - Can you advise which tyres you bought make/size/price- I can't read the side wall on the pic. Where did you get them from? Thanks

RiccyChi said:

Hi - Rubins4 - Can you advise which tyres you bought make/size/price- I can't read the side wall on the pic. Where did you get them from? Thanks

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They are avon rangemasters! Standard land rover tyre, easily recognisable by the tread pattern. You know you have had land rovers too long when there is a whole list of standard tyres you can name based on the tread

From the pic the that size would be 7.50 or equivalent, far too much rubber to be a 205.

Avon rangemasters for me.

Has anyone ever worn out a rangemaster in their lifetime. There must be someone.

I would ask the same about BFG All-terrains, they look the same year after year, I suspect they perish before they wear out. It raises a point about how long to run tyres; my elderly mother drove a Merc 190 for donkeys years doing under 1000 miles a year. One day it got a flat, when I looked a sidewall had come off and let the air out. We took the wheels to a tyre place, the guy said the tyre design had been discontinued over 25 years ago! Still had plenty of tread and had passed its MOT.

rob1miles said:

I would ask the same about BFG All-terrains, they look the same year after year, I suspect they perish before they wear out. It raises a point about how long to run tyres; my elderly mother drove a Merc 190 for donkeys years doing under 1000 miles a year. One day it got a flat, when I looked a sidewall had come off and let the air out. We took the wheels to a tyre place, the guy said the tyre design had been discontinued over 25 years ago! Still had plenty of tread and had passed its MOT.

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I got 120k out of my last set of bfg AT's and sold them with between 4-5mm of tread still remaining. My current set has just past 65k and is coming up to half worn. From memory the rule of thumb for tyre life span is 10 years. but it depends what condition they are in and what they look like when inspected. I do about 25k a year so age is not a problem for me in the land rover. At the opposite end of the spectrum I have just removed what I suspect to be the original 1961 rear tyre from the fordson tractor I have just bought, still tread left but a very badly split and perished sidewall!

190 you say?

My 'other' wheels

Rubins4 said:

190 you say?

My 'other' wheels

View attachment 181717

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The tyres on that are far too small! best thing you could do with that would be this:

Rubins4 said:

190 you say?

My 'other' wheels

View attachment 181717

Click to expand...

the tyres on that are far to small! best thing you could do with it would be to drop it onto a disco chassis and tunr it into this

Rugby and Land Rovers said:

Hi all,

I’ve a Series 3 that I’m (slowly) restoring. One of the jobs on my list is the purchase of 4 new tyres (plus spare) and I was hoping to get some advice on the type I should be looking for.

In terms of usage, I won’t be doing any off-roading and probably only about 2-3k miles a year. I’m looking for something cheapish, low-mid range. Happy to buy partly used tyres too.

The current tyre size is M.S 205 R16 (see attached) I would be very grateful for any recommendations as to where to find these types of tyres or any recommendations as to particular tyres/brands.

Thanks!

Click to expand...

What I’d like to know, is the 7.50/16 the biggest tyre which can be fitted to an S3 SWB 1981 with 5” rims?