Which wheel & tyre combination should I go for?

I am changing the wheels on my Defender 90 300tdi (when I pick it up next Saturday) but can't decide which size wheels and tyres to order?
At the moment it is fitted with 205's on 16" steel rims(looks a bit puney).
I know I want 16" black 8 spokes with Insa Dakar Turbo's but should I go for 235/70/16 (as recomended buy by the people I'm buying the vehicle from or 265/75/16 but I don't want them to scrub & I want to avoid wheel bearing issues, The 90 is'nt lifted, What do you think, Thanks Gordon.

Gordo 90 said:

I am changing the wheels on my Defender 90 300tdi (when I pick it up next Saturday) but can't decide which size wheels and tyres to order?
At the moment it is fitted with 205's on 16" steel rims(looks a bit puney).
I know I want 16" black 8 spokes with Insa Dakar Turbo's but should I go for 235/70/16 (as recomended buy by the people I'm buying the vehicle from or 265/75/16 but I don't want them to scrub & I want to avoid wheel bearing issues, The 90 is'nt lifted, What do you think, Thanks Gordon.

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235's are a good size I had em on mine with no probs at all.

Thanks redhand,
Which rims where they on? steel or ali ? I believe the steel 8 spokes bring the edge of the wheel closer to the outside of the vehicle due to the offset?

Gordo 90 said:

I am changing the wheels on my Defender 90 300tdi (when I pick it up next Saturday) but can't decide which size wheels and tyres to order?
At the moment it is fitted with 205's on 16" steel rims(looks a bit puney).
I know I want 16" black 8 spokes with Insa Dakar Turbo's but should I go for 235/70/16 (as recomended buy by the people I'm buying the vehicle from or 265/75/16 but I don't want them to scrub & I want to avoid wheel bearing issues, The 90 is'nt lifted, What do you think, Thanks Gordon.

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Do you want it to look like, a 'tarts cart' or summat that'll do the job. Are you going to do some serious off roading or some posing.

Deffinately not a 'tarts cart'!! Plenty of green laning I hope. But I want to avoid wheel bearing trouble, Iv'e been told this may be a problem, And I dont want to have to lift the car yet.!

Gordo 90 said:

Thanks redhand,
Which rims where they on? steel or ali ? I believe the steel 8 spokes bring the edge of the wheel closer to the outside of the vehicle due to the offset?

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That all depends on the offset of the wheel. Disco steel wheels have a smaller offset, and the whole of the tyres was under the wheel arches But the steel wellers I have now, have pushed the edge of the tyre wall out about 20mm past the edge of the wheel arch.

Just so i've got this correct, you have got 235/70/16's on wellers on youre 90 and they come past the wheel arch? That being the case if I where to go for 265's on wellers they would be worse? (if I am wrong i appolagise)

Gordo 90 said:

Just so i've got this correct, you have got 235/70/16's on wellers on youre 90 and they come past the wheel arch? That being the case if I where to go for 265's on wellers they would be worse? (if I am wrong i appolagise)

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Yep if they're deep dish steelies they will. you need to measure the distance from the hub face to the wheel arch then measure the offset from back of wheel centre to outside edge of the rim and then add on the bulge in the tyre to see where they are going to end up.

Thanks, good advice, Looks like It will be 235/70/16's then, I also will be towing my boat so it's got to be safe towing, cos the boat trailer aint got any brakes so braking in the wet might be fun!!

Iv got 235 -85-16 on standard rims with no lift. I regret not spending a bit more for wolf rims and bigger tyres I think they would look better. 235-70-16 would look punny under a landrover IMO.

Gordo 90 said:

Thanks, good advice, Looks like It will be 235/70/16's then, I also will be towing my boat so it's got to be safe towing, cos the boat trailer aint got any brakes so braking in the wet might be fun!!

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235/70/16's are more for disco's. 235/85/16's are the correct size for a deepender. They'll give you extra clearance under your diffs when offroading.

Will the 235/85/16 allow full suspension travel and full lock to lock steering?
I am so confused!
I have trauled thruogh 125 pages on here and still don't know what to do, I want to order the wheels on coming Wednesday so I have them for Saturday when I pick my Defender up!
Has any body got pictures of what the various sizes would look like on an Unlifted defender 90??
Thanks.

Yes

So we are saying that 235/70/16 Insa turbo Dakars are going to look too small?
And I should fit 235/85/16 (same make and type) and these will be okay on Black 8 spokes??

Gordo 90 said:

So we are saying that 235/70/16 Insa turbo Dakars are going to look too small?
And I should fit 235/85/16 (same make and type) and these will be okay on Black 8 spokes??

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Yes

What we are saying is that the older 90's and 110's were shod with 750x16's. This size, when changed to the later metric system equates to 235/85/16's.

235/70/16's are discovery fitment.

the 235 is the width of the tyre in mm 235mm wide
the 70 or 85 is the height of the profile of the tyre as a percentage of the width. So it would be 85% of 235. 16 is the wheel size in inches. 16".

I have 265/75/16's on my 110 and the only thing that needs doing is to adjust the lock so the tyres don't rub on the radius arms. I might even get around to doing it one day.

It's getting clearer,
Following the aspect ratio then If the 16" rim measures 407mm,
A 235/85/16 should stand 807mm tall.
A 265/75/16 should stand 805mm tall.
The only difference is the width then, 30mm in fact!
Now I have my answer,-- I am going for 235/85/16's Five of them,On Insa turbo Dakar's on Black 8 spokes it is then,
Now to find the best deal!

Yep I Think you have got it