Hi all, After having a Disco TD5 for the last year I have gone back to a Defender, ( huge grin is back on my face ! ) this is an ex army 2.5n/a 90 which has 750 x 16 XCL tyres, the diameter of these is 32" The problem is that it is good on the flat, it will reach 78mph ( checked using sat/nav ) but not good on the hills, a previous one I had ( civilian ) would only do 70mph but was better on the hills but I sure this was on 205 x 16 tyres. My question is are the 205 x 16 tyres a much smaller dia ( I seem to recall that they where 28" dia ) thus reducing the gearing or do the army use a different diff/ratio than the civvy models.
Thanks in advance for any replies.

Diff ratios are the same, it may be down to tyre size, they do make a noticeable difference, but all Land Rover engines seem to vary anyway.
At one time military gearboxes had a lower first gear.

naturally aspirated are all gutless in top gear. my series 3 na diesel wont go up any hill in top

Yeh, I know they run out of steam very quickly, its just that I feel this one is higher geared than normal, maybe just because of the big tyres.

7.50 16s are standard