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drive4change

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Somerset
Posts: 193

1993 Defender 130 200 Tdi HCPU Alpine White

Best Tyre Size for Overland Defender

Hi Guys,

Looking at what tyres to fit to our Defender 130 overland expedition vehicle and wondered if anyone had any suggestions. We are leaning towards BF Goodrich All Terrains, probably on wolf wheels. Does anyone have ideas on the best size tyres for the job? Or any other tyre options for that matter? Perhaps there is something we have not considered.

Many thanks

Steve

1st Oct 2012 11:37am

Go Beyond

Member Since: 30 Jan 2012
Location: Headcorn, Kent
Posts: 6678

Probably most sensible to use a tyre size that is common in the countries you are travelling through .... 750/16 ?

Perhaps tubed tyres would also be a good idea so that punctures can be fixed 'in the field'

Wolf wheels are nice and strong and being steel can be hammered back into shape

1st Oct 2012 11:54am

drive4change

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Somerset
Posts: 193

Good points as always

BFG don't do tubed tyres do they? Does anyone have any recommendations on a brand?

1st Oct 2012 12:07pm

Go Beyond

Member Since: 30 Jan 2012
Location: Headcorn, Kent
Posts: 6678

Sam Watson of LRO fame spends a lot of his time overlanding and is now based in Egypt, might be worth contacting him for his advice / experiences ?

I've PM'd his email address to you

1st Oct 2012 12:13pm

Glynparry25

Member Since: 16 Feb 2009
Location: Miserable Midlands
Posts: 3015

2009 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 XS DCPU Tonga Green

Where are you planning to overland?

Most countries now have a relativly good selection of tires and sizes- about 5-10 years ago as mentioned by Matt the 750/16 would have been the safest bet- but in UK now if you ask a place for a 235/85/16 or a 750/16 they will more than likely have the 235 over the 750s.

Tubeless tires are just as repairable as tubed tires- just get a quick repair kit like this:

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Silverline-Tyre-Re...B001QUN9UQ

and then find a place that does the mushrooms, or even get a mushroom kit for when you have a maint day.

If overlanding in proper wilderness I would also suggest 2 spares rather than one.

With tire choice, I would be tempted to go for the mud terrains- they tend to have a slightly stronger sidewalls.

Glyn

1st Oct 2012 12:44pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

You will never get agreement about what is BEST! Be it tyres, suspension set, lights etc.

Also people mean vastly different things by using the expression overland, anything from a motorised holiday in Europe, a convoy trip to N. Africa or a solo round the world trip getting as far away from towns as possible.

130 tends to be a heavy vehicle so strong wheels and tyres are needed.

We use BFG M/T 255/85/16 on our overland 110 and our black 110.

Reasons for this choice is that the BFG M/T is a good all round tyre, hard wearing and has reasonably strong side walls

255 is good as it gives a wider footprint then 7.50 and 235. With an aspect ratio of 85 it gives good under diff clearance.

One thing which is often forgotten when setting out on trips is the age of tyre. A new BFG will have maximum tread depth, side walls etc will be in good condition and no rubber degradation will have taken effect. An old tyre is more prone to punctures then new tyres!

When setting off on a long trip we will put a brand new set of tyres on.

Spares yes two is ideal for long remote trips. If weight is an issue just take a spare tyre carcass.

Also take a good tyre deflator AND a good compressor. If it takes long time to air down and air back up again the tendenacy is not to air down when going gets a bit soft hence more likely to get stuck.

Also carry a good tyre repair kit, bead breaker, tyre levers and repair kit

Yes you can use an inner tube inside a tubeless tyre. OK not the ideal situation but if you can not easily repair a puncture it is an alternative

Brendan

1st Oct 2012 7:22pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4655

Michelin 7.50 x 16 radial
http://www.ajstyres.co.uk/tyres/michelin/michelin_offroad.htm
General SAG radial 7.50 x 16 radial
http://www.ajstyres.co.uk/tyres/general/su...radial.htm
Both tubed.
Have had the SAG radials on a 110 200 tdi for years.
The Michelin XZL 7.50 x 16 radial is highly regarded for overland use by Tom Sheppard.
Land Rover still offer the Michelin XZL 7.50 x 16 as an option. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

2nd Oct 2012 10:23pm

drive4change

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Somerset
Posts: 193

Have seen the XZL before. Isnt that the tyre used by British Army?

2nd Oct 2012 11:35pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4655

Yes they have used it.
Can photocopy the relevant pages on tyres, from Tom Shepperd's Vehicle Dependent Expedition Guide and PM them to you if you want but Sheppard comes down heavily in favour of the Michelin XZL.
Probably a bigger selection of tyres suitable for the job out there since the book was written in 1999.Great read, full of info. 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

3rd Oct 2012 10:29am

drive4change

Member Since: 15 Aug 2012
Location: Somerset
Posts: 193

May have to find a copy. If you could message me that page would be great! Thanks

3rd Oct 2012 8:31pm

bm52

Member Since: 04 Apr 2010
Location: Kent
Posts: 2189

2014 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Havana

does this help:

[img]https://www.defender2.net/gallery/albums/userpics/11014/Vehicle%20Dependent%20Expeditions.pdf[/img]

not sure why but cant load the pdf. please look in my gallery BM52

3rd Oct 2012 8:58pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Have just looked at our two editions of Tom Sheppards VDEG

I can not see anywhere that Tom recommends a 7.50 tyre

To paraphrase

Tyres - what to choose

Mixed Going BFG A/T

Mainly mud Michelin O/R XZL or BFG M/T

Mainly sand Michelin XS

Back to tyre size

7.50/16 has tread width of 190mm and overall diameter 31"

255/85/16 has tread width of 255mm and overall diameter 33"

The 255/85 will give an extra 1" clearance under the diff.

The 255 is about 1/3 wider then the 7.5 plus a longer foot print will give about a 50% bigger footprint then the 7.5. This translates to a lower pressure on the ground. If the ground is softer then the bigger the footprint the less likely for the tyres to sink into the ground.

We use 255/85/16 BFG M/T on our 110's and have done trips of up to 25,000 miles as a solo vehicle.

Our reasons being good hard wearing tyre which can cope with most terrains. The 255/85 gives us good ground clearance, good on rutted tracks and a decent footprint, reasonably good on sand apart from dry fine sand. OK has a greater stopping distance on wet tarmac then a A/T. So in wet weather just ease up on the accelerator!

Brendan

3rd Oct 2012 9:15pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4655

"Forget fancy sidewall lettering. If bewildered by multiplicity of makes (or even if you aren't) go for Michelin. If still bewildered, go for the XZL (XS if mainly desert)"
"Mixed going. Tarmac, tracks, mud, desert, churned sand -Michelin XZL. Almost putting the lie to the saying -there is no such thing as a good compromise-,the XZL confronts typical mixed-going expedition conditions with extraordinary efficacy. Capable of an exceptionally low 0.6 bar emergency soft inflation (12 mph max) it has circumferential sidewall ribs to protect against sidewall damage at these vulnerable pressures."
Page 4.2-25 1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

3rd Oct 2012 10:15pm

leeds

Member Since: 28 Dec 2009
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 8581

Quote:

Tyres - what to choose. Taking the bull by the horns and naming name- if only as a starting point and to compare with other brands - the following will yield very good results infeed on typical 16-inch wheel, light 4x4s of the Defender/Discovery kind:

Mixed going Tarmac, tracks,mud, desert,churned sand-BFGoodrich All Terrain Almost putting the lie to the saying 'there is no such thing as a good compromise', the AT confronts typical mixed - going expedition conditions with extraordinary efficiency. Capable of a low 1.0 bar emergency soft inflation (12mph max) it has sipes in the tread blocks to ensure wet tarmac grip - usually sacrificed by off road tyres.

Mainly mud Camel Trophy type conditions or Zaire mud-bath on or beyond the limits of vehicle movement at all- Michelin O/R XZL or BFG Mud Terrain .......

From edition 2.1 2nd and edition 2.2

Tyres have changed an awlful lot and peoples opinion!

So Tom Sheppard NOW (well 2011) recommends BFG tyres except for soft sand.

My PERSONAL choice based on my personal experience is BFG M/T 255/85/16.

Road noise from them? No problem I am driving a Defender and there is plenty of wind/engine noise etc not for me to be concerned by tyre noise.

Stopping distance in the wet? Test have shown that the BFG M/T has a 10% greater stopping distance in the wet compared to A/T. (This test was carried out by LROi many years ago, how the new KM2 compares to current A/T I do not know) One solution to that is to ease off the accelerator in the wet.

Brendan

3rd Oct 2012 10:59pm

spudfan

Member Since: 10 Sep 2007
Location: Co Donegal
Posts: 4655

Always willing to learn. Like I said there are no doubt more tyres to choose from today. Hard to beat first hand experience.

1982 88" 2.25 diesel
1992 110 200tdi csw -Zikali
2008 110 2.4 tdci csw-Zulu
2011 110 2.4 tdci csw-Masai

3rd Oct 2012 11:03pm

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