mundungus

mundungus

Active Member
OK, I realise I’m probably gonna be berated for starting this week’s ‘which tyre’ thread, but I have searched the interweb and read lots of old threads on here and still don’t know what to do.​

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My Landy is currently fitted with 205R16 M/T something or other, all four of which are quite perished and were given an advisory in my recent MOT.​

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The vast majority of my driving is on road. I mainly bought the Landy to cope with wading and very slight off road use. Basically we moved into a house up a little dirt track from the road. The road itself is prone to severe flooding at times (about 2 and half foot), and the slightest bit of snow makes the dirt track impassable for normal cars. We quite literally found ourselves stranded for days on end before I got the Landy.​

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As I need a whole new set of tyres imminently, I was considering getting just a set of road tyres for now, and maybe later in the year (when money permits, and I’m more educated on the subject) buying a set of all terrains or mud terrains on rims and swapping over as and when needed. However, having read through many posts on the subject, I’m thinking maybe I should just get a good set of all terrains now. The interweb seems to suggest that they are very good on road anyway.​
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Either way though, I need to decide on tyre sizes. As stated, my current tyres are 205R16. However I have no idea what the tyre profile is. It is not stated on the tyre (internet suggests they are probably an 80 profile, but I don’t know how to confirm that).​
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From what I can make out, most people go for a 235 tyre width for all terrains. But I’m thinking that would have quite a negative impact on my turning circle (which is actually quite good with the 205s), and also a negative impact on my already terrible fuel consumption. I am thinking I’ll go a little wider than 205, maybe to a 215, as I’m sure the extra bit of road surface would improve grip and braking.​
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So does anyone have any recommendations or any advice at all of what to get? or what to avoid?
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Also, what size should I get? I’m pretty sure I can get away with a slightly larger tyre than I have now, as the speedo seems to read high anyway.



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Commend your bravery!!!

My usage very similar to yours - running Goodyear Wrangler 205 16 - fine on road and coped effortlessly with some horrendous snow here if Fife this year, and never failed to get me along some very rough, narrow and about 2 mile long tracks to the stables
 
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750R16's or 235 85's R16's on LWB rims not SWB ones Slightly more offset but still not going to cause any harm. will get full turning circle and benefit of a slightly higher ride when it floods. BFG's are great many many miles but Expensive! I had Copies of BFG Track Edge and they were superb all rounder good road manners and offroad was better than I had ever expected. I think Insa do them now instead of Bronco which used to delaminate Insa have a far better rep
 
Get ATs now. I wholly recommend the new General Grabber AT - cheaper than BFG (although they have a great reputation). They do well on road, and you won't need a second set come winter.
 
Oh should probably mention then that mine is a defender 90. So I assume I have SWB rims. (I didn't actually realise there was a difference between SWB and LWB rims).

So these General grabber AT or AT2, what size do you guys have?
 
I have BFG ATs 31 10.50 15s on mine. Cannot fault them, and 'never' had a puncture (includes trip to Morocco).

Remember that the BFs have a thicker sidewall (3 ply)

And it says BFGs on the side of them :D
 
Might as well add fuel to the fire

Defender 90 Owners Manual comments:

Normal Tyres 205 R16

Multi-Terrain 265/75 R16
 
Don't bother with a road going set, just get some decent A/Ts (BFG and General Grabbers spring to mind) in either 235/85 R16 or 265/75 R16.

Saying that, I recently bought a set of brand new 265/75 Runway Enduros on black steel modulars for my 110, and I couldn't be happier. Having done around 4,000 miles now on and off the road they haven't failed me yet and have gotten me everywhere I wanted to go. At just over half the price of a BFG A/T, I reckon they are great value.

1-1.jpg

100_0211.jpg
 
What is the turning circle like with 235/85R16?

I was thinking 225/75R16 tops.

I really dont want to have to put spacers on, as that's gotta be at least another 150quid, possibly more if I have to put on wider arches.

And can I put those width tyres on my standard rims, or would I need to get rims?


Also, thats quite a difference in diameter, nearly 10% according to the etyres calculator.
 
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