Yet another tyre thread

[waldershelf]

No, not a "what's the biggest tyre I can fit" thread but an "I've just fitted new tyres thread".
Ive just fitted a full set of 235/85/R16 Runway Enduro AT's to my 300tdi 90 to replace the 205/80/R16 Pirelli scorpions.
What a transformation The new tyres have upped the gearing by 10% so my speedo now reads bang on the correct speed with less engine noise for the same road speed and less frantic gear changing to reach cruising speed.
But, the biggest change is in road manners, better handling, better ride, less crashing through the potholes, less road noise, better in the dry and wet on tarmac, altogether a major improvement.
It remains to be seen how long they last, how they cope off road, not that I do much off road, and how well they perform in the snow and slush that we will no doubt get in the next few months.
Forum reports suggest they perform pretty well as an all rounder AT tyre. So far very happy :clap2:

 

[GrahamW]

Interesting (to me) news.

Did the shift from 80-85's really make that much of a difference?

A puncture forced me into replacing the two rears on my 90 with 65's. Having just bought the thing and scheduling a re-chassis, I didn't shell out to replace all four with 70-80's as I'd planned to do longer term.

As a result, the speedo under-read, the ride you describe and the running out of puff are all familiar!

Before the weather gets worse, I was planning to swap the two very road-specific fronts to match the new General Grabber AT's 65s that are on now adorning the rear.

Based on your experience, would you expect that biting the bullet and swapping for 75's all round will transform (in Land Rover terms) the on-road experience?

 

[Airways]

I read the tyre discussions with interest. I run the military 7.50x16 on mine. Fine on the road and it always seems to be me doing the towing when the boys with the fancy tyres get stuck off road......

 

[waldershelf]

Interesting (to me) news.

Did the shift from 80-85's really make that much of a difference?

A puncture forced me into replacing the two rears on my 90 with 65's. Having just bought the thing and scheduling a re-chassis, I didn't shell out to replace all four with 70-80's as I'd planned to do longer term.

As a result, the speedo under-read, the ride you describe and the running out of puff are all familiar!

Before the weather gets worse, I was planning to swap the two very road-specific fronts to match the new General Grabber AT's 65s that are on now adorning the rear.

Based on your experience, would you expect that biting the bullet and swapping for 75's all round will transform (in Land Rover terms) the on-road experience?

I can only give you my impressions of going from 205/80 to 235/85, the difference is truly remarkable.

It must be the extra depth (70mm ish extra O/D) of rubber that's making up for the deficiencies in the landrovers suspension that's improving the ride.

Upping the gearing is simply maths, I used this calculator - Visual Tyre Size Calculator | Kouki Tech to work out the new tyres would give me about 10% rise in overall gearing. Driving it I would say this is about ideal, any more would make 5th gear pretty useless on anything but flat/downhill roads.

I did consider fitting 265/75 which are about the same O/D but the potential turning circle and MPG issues put me off, even if they would have looked better.

 

[Shifty1962]

Out of interest what did you pay for them and where from? My 235/75 16s DURANGO XTs are looking a tad tired (excuse the pun) these days and I'll be looking to change them before long.

 

[waldershelf]

Out of interest what did you pay for them and where from? My 235/75 16s DURANGO XTs are looking a tad tired (excuse the pun) these days and I'll be looking to change them before long.

235/85/R16 Enduro Runway AT. £100 a corner, fitted with new valve, balanced and old tyres disposed of including VAT. Penistone Tyres near Barnsley South Yorks.
I could probably have got them cheaper if I could have been bothered to drive down to Matlock and visit Paddock's and then got someone to fit them etc. but I'd rather support my local independent guy if it doesn't cost me too much.

 

[Shifty1962]

Nice one! May get some of them myself.

 

[Fur Trapper]

Out of interest what did you pay for them and where from? My 235/75 16s DURANGO XTs are looking a tad tired (excuse the pun) these days and I'll be looking to change them before long.

Try the cooper line been using them now for 12-15 yrs and are just great get 50k easy with tyre rotation about every 6-8k miles the st are nice