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Ledon



Member Since: 21 Nov 2014
Location: Bolton
Posts: 1

Recommended tyre size
Hi,

I look after a range of cars for a university and have just taken delivery of a defender that currently has non road legal off road tyres on it, I need to change these for something that can be used on the road, however I have zero experience of 4x4 tyres so I'm hoping someone can point me in the right direction for the correct size tyres I need. Also what rating do they need to be?

The rims are 16" x 8.5" width.

Thanks,

Nathan
Post #373243 21st Nov 2014 11:34am
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farmer giles



Member Since: 09 Feb 2011
Location: worcestershire
Posts: 1299

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 SW Cairns Blue
235 x 85 x 16 will do you fine if it is a long or short wheel base..
an all terrain pattern should cover all general needs.

b f Goodrich are an expensive initial outlay but very long wear rate
Post #373291 21st Nov 2014 1:10pm
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rallysteve



Member Since: 10 Feb 2014
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 2229

United Kingdom 2002 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Keswick Green
235 are much too narrow for 8.5" rim mind! 02' 110 TD5 Double Cab Rebuild Thread
Post #373298 21st Nov 2014 1:46pm
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Cuthbert



Member Since: 26 Oct 2013
Location: Up North
Posts: 1535

If the Defender is just to be used running around a University campus and going on the odd field trip then the OEM spec narrow steel rims (6" or 6.5") and road biased tyres are probably more than adequate. These can be bought from a Land Rover dealer (or sometimes cheaper from other sources).

Wide tyres and off-road treads will only generate a lot more road noise and a rise in fuel consumption if running about mainly on tarmac.

If on the other hand your university colleagues are going to explore the bogs of Lancashire, then a more off-road tyre and rim choice may be desirable.
Post #373340 21st Nov 2014 5:34pm
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Cupboard



Member Since: 21 Mar 2014
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 2971

United Kingdom 2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey
you could do an awful lot worse than just buying these:
http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic32461.html

The "standard" wheels and tyres from Land Rover are:

1) "Normal" steel wheels (5.5") with Michelin Latitude Cross 7.50R16. You're pretty limited in tyre choice with these wheels but Michelin XZL mud tyres are also available. Our farm 110 hicap pickup has the previous generation of Michelin AT tyres on and they do us well.

2) HD steel wheels (6.5", also known as "Wolf" wheels, lots of copies on the market but genuine aren't horrifically expensive) with either 7.50R16 or 235/85R16 tyres. Currently the standard options in 235/85R16 are Continental CrossContact AT or Goodyear Wrangler MT/R.

3) Boost alloys (7") with the 235/85R16 tyres.

Other tyres sizes are available but unless you've got a got reason to go for a different size I personally wouldn't bother. Some people like the look of wider tyres, to put it mildly I don't. If you need more flotation or sideways grip (like if you want to corner quickly in a Defender Question ) then go wider, if you want more grip in a forwards direction go taller. If you want less vagueness go lower profile.
As I mentioned before, we're more than happy with the off road performance of our 110 on 7.50R16s and that's used off road on a regular basis including towing a heavy cattle float and our puncture trailer across all sorts of land.

Other makes of tyre are available, some that spring to mind are Cooper with their Discoverer A/T3, Discoverer ST Maxx and STT, BFGoodrich with the AT and KM2, and General Grabber with their AT2.
Post #373380 21st Nov 2014 8:32pm
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17391

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
An excellent summary, Cupboard! Thumbs Up
Post #373407 21st Nov 2014 11:37pm
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g-mack



Member Since: 07 Jan 2014
Location: northumberland
Posts: 1967

United Kingdom 
what are the illegal tyres it currently has? My 109 thread

my youtube channel
Post #373443 22nd Nov 2014 11:17am
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LRmud



Member Since: 22 Oct 2014
Location: IV12 Highland
Posts: 198

Scotland 1989 Defender 90 300 Tdi HT Baltic Blue
My thoughts exactly.... what are "non road legal off road tyres" - seriously confused by this.
I may have had a set fitted to mine up until earlier today Whistle

I thought it was just tread depth which attracted the attention of plod.

cheers
LRmud
Post #374404 26th Nov 2014 8:28pm
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