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Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

What width tyre can I squeeze under the arches of a 90?

I would like to buy a new wheel and tyre combination for my 90. I like the 'big tyre' look (irrespective of their relative performance on/off road).

Currently I am running 265/75R16 BF Goodrich AT KO tyres on the standard Boost alloys. To my eye - these tyres look 'OK', not too skinny but I feel there is room for enhancement, particularly with pushing the tyres further out to be more flush with the arches.

I understand that 265mm is the maximum width recommended for a 7" alloy. The alloys which I like are both the Zu alloys (16x7"), or the wider MaxXtrac Mach 5 Alloys (16x8").

The specifications for these two alloys are:

MaxXtrac Mach 5:
16x8"
ET -10mm
Load: 1450kg

Zu Alloy:
16x7"
ET +11mm
Load: 1400kg

which compared to my existing boost alloys (16x7", ET 33) has a position difference of:

Zu : 22mm more inner clearance, 22mm outer extension
Mach 5: 30mm more inner clearance, 56mm outer extension

So it seems to me that while I could put a wider tyre on the Mach 5s (eg. 285x75R16), I'm likely to be well outside the arch?

I don't want to put arch extenders on - I guess I was hoping that the alloys would have larger offsets really, say in the region of 20mm to allow a wider tyre to go on but still fitting under the arches. As it stands I think my best option would be a chunky mud terrain tyre (BFG KM2, Cooper STT or Mickey-Thompson MTZ) on the Zu alloys in the current 265x75R16 size - but it doesn't feel like it will be much of an upgrade in the looks department!

Do you have any advice?

28th Jan 2015 1:00pm

Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

Bother I've put this in the wrong section, sorry thought I was typing in the wheels section. Is anyone able to move it please?

28th Jan 2015 1:01pm

TDCi Guy

Member Since: 17 Aug 2014
Location: Yorkshire
Posts: 286

1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi HCPU Auto Keswick Green

I have 285/75/16 BFG KM2s on boosts. I was going to try some 30mm spacers which should get the outside tread of the tyre pretty much bang on with the line of the wheelarch. Tom
@tditomprice
100” Defender Hybrid
2010 Alaska White 90 HT

28th Jan 2015 1:08pm

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17450

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

I have run many, many miles on 285/75 KL71s and 285/75 BFG KM2s on standard Boosts with 30mm spacers on my 110 DC. The tyres are inside the flares *just* and are fully legal in this respect. There are no operational issues with running 285s on Boosts, even though some tyre fitters are reluctant to fit them.

The one issue you will find is that the sides of the vehicle will get very filthy indeed unless you take some steps to prevent it (for example fitting Mudstuff Dirt Defenders, or moving the front mudflaps outwards). You can also forget having the windows open off-road since the interior will rapidly fill with flying clods!

28th Jan 2015 1:28pm

Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

Thanks for the replies. I wasn't so concerned with the dirt up the sides, although I guess that could change if I find i'm having to clean it every weekend. I wonder if I could persuade someone to knock up a set of 285/75 on the Zu alloys then...

28th Jan 2015 10:59pm

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

Click image to enlarge

29th Jan 2015 6:30am

Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

Now that's the sort of look which I like Ken! What size tyres are those please?

29th Jan 2015 12:54pm

ken

Member Since: 18 Aug 2009
Location: Banging Birds with my bitches !!
Posts: 4328

285/75/16

29th Jan 2015 1:23pm

Hufflepuff

Member Since: 25 Oct 2014
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 727

oh I thought they looked much bigger. Awesome, thanks Ken.

29th Jan 2015 9:22pm

dnorrishill

Member Since: 15 Jul 2011
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 615

2014 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green

I had 265/75 BFG's and 30mm spacers on the old TD5 and the sides of the truck just got too mucky when off road. Not sure what benefit I got in the end other than possibly looks so intend to stick with standard 235's on new truck...

30th Jan 2015 9:42am

Cupboard

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

2011 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 HT Corris Grey

I've been driving my 110 down some wet, muddy, rutted and generally pretty mucky farm tracks recently and it's got a lot less mud on the sides of it than my Hyundai which hasn't been off road in months.
There's a lot to be said for narrow tyres

30th Jan 2015 12:09pm

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