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ben-yates



Member Since: 19 Oct 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
mud tyres in winter
Hi all i have recently picked up my new defender 130

i use the defender to move around roofing slates and often on muddy sites and also my dad is planning on using the truck for shooting, i think i have decided on getting some mud tyres as i can live with extra noise (however judging by some reviews this isnt a problem) but i have a question how they will be in winter

i plan to run 285/75/16

the choice of tyres are either

A. BFG KM2
B. Cooper STT

so my question is will these tyres be ok in that size in winter conditions? as in safe or will it be chaos (speaking as a bit of a novice when it comes to this area)

cheers Ben
Post #464816 19th Oct 2015 9:31pm
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apt100



Member Since: 05 Mar 2015
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 1547

United Kingdom 2016 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green
I found this an interesting article that compares different tyre types for winter. It doesn't specifically mention ice, but I think it is generally accepted that MT are terrible on ice. Hope the translation link works.

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/tr...vg-aj48L4g

https://translate.googleusercontent.com/tr...MLWpKXVlCQ
Post #464827 19th Oct 2015 10:21pm
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Hufflepuff



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

England 2005 Defender 90 Td5 XS CSW Tonga Green
I changed from BFG KO 265/75 R16 to BFG KM2 285/75 R16, and I too was worried about the noise and cold weather performance.

I have not run them through a winter yet, but I can report that the noise is very acceptable. There is a low rumble between 50 and 60mph, but the Defender noises drowns that out above 60 and I can't hear them at all on the motorway, so go for them you won't regret it. Just be careful that they don't rub on the arches. My offset rims meant that mine did, so I have just lifted it by 2" to hopefully resolve.
Post #464832 19th Oct 2015 10:51pm
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ken



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

United Kingdom 
Most BFG ko's are mountain snowflake rated whereas the Km2's are not you'll find the KM2's great in unpacked fresh snow however when the going is damp Icey wet packed snow you'll far better off with a winter rated tyre

Thumbs Up
Post #464842 20th Oct 2015 3:38am
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I Like Old Skool



Member Since: 23 Feb 2015
Location: Manchester
Posts: 822

United Kingdom 1994 Defender 110 300 Tdi ST Coniston Green
Re: mud tyres in winter
ben-yates wrote:
i plan to run 285/75/16


The same height but 30mm narrower, 255/85R16 could be better in snow and slush. It's only 30mm but may make all the difference. Failing that, why do you want 33" tall tyres? If you don't need the height for off-road clearance then 235/85R16 is a bit narrower still and won't look out of place on the 130. Also a far bigger choice of tread patterns in this size and it won't harm your gearing/acceleration the way a 33" does.
Post #464851 20th Oct 2015 6:29am
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L90Andy



Member Since: 29 May 2014
Location: Stratford-Upon-Avon
Posts: 722

United Kingdom 1997 Defender 90 300 Tdi ST Nato Green
Wider the tyre the less 'bite' it will have on ice or even wet roads. For winter you can't beat the std 235/85 as its nice and narrow. For a good example of this, just look at the tyres the Rally Sweden/Finland cars run on...
Post #464861 20th Oct 2015 7:09am
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ken



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

United Kingdom 
Damm I just ordered some 375/30/21's Rolling with laughter
Post #464874 20th Oct 2015 7:55am
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taazzukcb



Member Since: 30 Aug 2013
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 663

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I've ran both remould muds and BFG AT's over the past 2 winters.

Oddly enough, my remould MT's (copies of the old BFG mud pattern) were much more grippy than the all terrains. I couldn't get on with the AT's at all even in the wet! That may be down to a much softer compound, as 15,000 miles was seeing them at leats half worn where the AT's were on it many years before I even bought the truck and still 60-70% left (I think they'd gone off personally)!

They're fun in ice and one or 2 occasions when driving like a bit of a pillock, I've had the equivalent of a tank slapper in my previous 90. Overall though, it can be quite fun to get a controlled slide (I name them drifts to sound better) going. Last winter in the 110, I have a long corner near home and got quite good at sliding with opposite lock on.

So long as you drive sensibly, I dont see you'll have an issue on whatever you run (unless you're talking hard core simex type patterns).
Post #464875 20th Oct 2015 8:07am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17540

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I ran 285/75 KM2s for the last 100k miles on my 110 and to be honest they were embarrassing in snow of any kind, the tyre is way too wide to work in snow or slush. In the UK 285 is really too wide for optimum performance in mud, though when new it is pretty good.

You would be better off with a narrower section under almost all conditions. As noted above, 255/85 is a good compromise - you get the increased diameter of the 285/75 without the disadvantages.

I changed to 255/85 when the 285s wore out and have been very pleased with the result. The road manners are better, performance in mud is better (they can cut down to something grippier underneath more readily) and they don't cover the outside of the vehicle with quite so much crud. It hasn't snowed since I fitted them, so I can't comment on snow performance.

It is unlikely that you could run snow chains with 255/85 (or 285/75 for that matter) due to clearance issues in the rear arches, but this wil ultimately depend on the wheels you choose.
Post #464878 20th Oct 2015 8:13am
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blackwolf



Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17540

United Kingdom 2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey
L90Andy wrote:
Wider the tyre the less 'bite' it will have on ice or even wet roads. For winter you can't beat the std 235/85 as its nice and narrow. For a good example of this, just look at the tyres the Rally Sweden/Finland cars run on...


7.50x16 beats 235/85x16 in snow.

7.50x16 with tyre chains beats almost anything in snow! Rolling with laughter
Post #464879 20th Oct 2015 8:14am
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ben-yates



Member Since: 19 Oct 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
Hufflepuff wrote:
I changed from BFG KO 265/75 R16 to BFG KM2 285/75 R16, and I too was worried about the noise and cold weather performance.

I have not run them through a winter yet, but I can report that the noise is very acceptable. There is a low rumble between 50 and 60mph, but the Defender noises drowns that out above 60 and I can't hear them at all on the motorway, so go for them you won't regret it. Just be careful that they don't rub on the arches. My offset rims meant that mine did, so I have just lifted it by 2" to hopefully resolve.


what width and offset wheels did you run?

Right well this is displeasing, hmm well i may just keep the originals aswell as i need some wider rims to fit the 285

to be honest i just like the look of the 285s i do wish they came in a smaller profile but unfortunately i they dont

thanks for your inputs
Post #464906 20th Oct 2015 10:42am
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taazzukcb



Member Since: 30 Aug 2013
Location: Derbyshire
Posts: 663

United Kingdom 2004 Defender 110 Td5 DCPU Stornoway Grey
I wouldn't panic Wink ... They'll get you through pretty much what the British weather can throw at you. Just drive sensibly and go equipped Thumbs Up.
Post #464907 20th Oct 2015 10:47am
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ben-yates



Member Since: 19 Oct 2015
Location: Lancashire
Posts: 14

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 130 Puma 2.2 HCPU Santorini Black
yeah well i think it will be a lot better than my old navara on road tyres
Post #464909 20th Oct 2015 11:12am
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cobra_mark



Member Since: 17 Feb 2015
Location: West Yorks
Posts: 213

United Kingdom 2000 Defender 90 300 Tdi SW Barolo Black
So we are saying if you have standard Landrover wheels with standard M+S tyres leave them on for the snow and ice to come?

I was going to fit my Dakar Unsa turbo's on next month but may hold back and use them in the spring. Surprised
Post #464911 20th Oct 2015 11:27am
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dorsetsmith



Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 4554

YES that right Exclamation
Post #464915 20th Oct 2015 11:46am
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