DEFENDER2.NET - View topic - Tyre (road) question for advice.

↓ Advertise on Defender2 ↓

Home · FAQ · New Posts · My Posts · PMs · Search · Members · Map · Calendar · Profile · Donate · Register · Log In

Home > Wheels & Tyres > Tyre (road) question for advice.

Page 1 of 1

Print this entire topic ·

proloForêt

Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 XS CSW Java Black

Tyre (road) question for advice.

Hello,
I know there are many conversations on this subject but I instead create a new one. Why? Because English is a great language but it is not my first and reading is quite more difficult and very long! I get lost.
I hope you understand and join this conversation.

I have now BFGoodrich and very happy with them. My target is to make them last quite some years as in France these are very expensive. I begin to use my Defender each day now and taking to the autoroute. It is a pity to use the life of these tyres on these journeys which over summer will be the majority.

I have good facility at work to store and swap wheels quickly before off road into the forest and winter time. Just when I need to change I can do all in 20 minutes because can demount all wheels in same moment on ramp and hydo-jack.

I propose to fit some road designed tyres for the summer and autoroutes to my new second set of Boost wheels. I propose to purchase these when I next visist the UK because the price is very more interesting.

Do you have any recommendations for this type of summer/road only tyre? 265/70/16 ?

I am interstedd to know your opinions.

Léo

19th May 2017 10:09am

Martin
Site Admin

Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6604

2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red

265/75R16 is the "correct" size for a Defender if you want 265 wide tyres

1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top

2015 D90 XS SW

19th May 2017 10:14am

proloForêt

Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

Thank you.

This is very interesting information as the BFG we have on now are 265/70 so I would have asked for just the same value!
So, I am happy to accept opinions on 265/70 and also 265/75. I have to admit to not understanding the meanings of the numbers but prefer teh standard correct choice. However, I will continue my BFG as in the forest they have been excellent.

19th May 2017 10:18am

Martin
Site Admin

Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6604

I've used BFG All Terrains (old pattern) in 265/75 for nearly 17 years, mostly on the road, and been very happy with them. I would highly recommend them

1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top

2015 D90 XS SW

19th May 2017 10:19am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17339

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

It would take a lot to get me to give up my BFGs!

I run 255/85x16 BFG KM2 muds on the Defender and expect to get over 60k miles out of them before replacing them (at this mileage they should still have enough ttead to have resale value - I have managed to get 100,000 miles out of a set with 6mm left at the end).

If I was looking for a more road-biased tyre, I would go for the BFG KO2 All-Terrain, which sadly is not available it 255/85 so I would probably go for 265/75. I can't speak for the KO2's longevity but would expect it to be similar top the KM2.

The numbers, by the way, have the following meaings. If you take a 255/85x16 tyre, the 255 is the notional width of the tyre in mml the 85 is the height of the tyre section given as a percentage of the width, so in this case 55% of 85mm which is 216.75mm (this is in effect the distance from the lowest part of the rim to the road); the 16 is the wheel diameter in inches.

A 265/75 x 16 tyre is 265mm wide, has a section height of 198.75mm, and fits a 16 inch rim.

19th May 2017 10:42am

proloForêt

Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

I am impressed you are able to make them last for such a long period. 17years is a long time, do you not doing so much km in this years?
I have mine now just this year and see some wearing happening with the increase of autoroute use.

19th May 2017 10:46am

proloForêt

Member Since: 16 Mar 2017
Location: Montereau
Posts: 248

I am thinking that with one person using the tyre for 17years and the other with already high expectation for the total km that my BFG are not at the correct pressure. I must check this as I have lost 2mm in 4 months with 7000km.

19th May 2017 10:48am

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7904

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

You might want to look at Cooper Discoverer AT3, seem to be highly recommended but no personal experience. James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers

19th May 2017 11:10am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17339

I doubt Martin means that he's been using the same set of BFGs for 17 years!

It takes me around four years to do 100,000 miles, i.e., about 25k each year.

19th May 2017 11:26am

custom90

Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20294

BFG has my vote too.

âï¸âï¸God Bless the USA ðŸ‡¬ðŸ‡§ðŸ‡ºðŸ‡¸ âï¸âï¸

19th May 2017 3:13pm

DSC-off

Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1398

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green

Hi Leo,
I can understand that you do not want to use the BFG's quickly and there are cheaper tyres to use everyday.
The cost of another set of wheels and tyres would also be expensive, more than a full set of BFG. These other tyres would also wear, needing replacement. Overall it would take a very long time to recover the money that you will spend on a second set of wheels and tyres, before you actually start to save money. I think it will take many years, maybe never.

During that time you would not have the benefits or convenience of running BFG all year round. Is it worth it, considering the small saving?
These days I look at tyres in the same way as engine oil and filters. I want to use the best everyday, but they are consumable items that will need replacing.

One other thing to consider is how long a set of tyres lasts in storage. The rubber and polymers in the tyre will age even if it is not being used. I would not want to use old tyres, even if the tread was new. Using tyres everyday and replacing them often is the best way to ensure they are in good condition.

I hope that helps with your decision.

19th May 2017 3:50pm

CarMan

Member Since: 29 Nov 2010
Location: Cotswolds
Posts: 1856

I only have experience driving with them for 1,000 miles so no idea of longevity but I really like my 235/85/16 Cooper AT3's on the road - they are nice and quiet and look pretty good

Rob

1993 200tdi 90 hard-top
1998 300tdi 90 soft-top
2016 2.2 XS 90 hard-top (sold)

19th May 2017 4:36pm

madmac

Member Since: 22 Jan 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 6

1996 Defender 110 300 Tdi HT Alaska White

I am on a similar quest.

As my round trip to work each day is 70miles and includes a large amount of dual carriageway.

My aim is not just wear but also reduced road noise and improved MPG.

I had been wondering about Cooper AT3's

19th May 2017 8:58pm

madmac

Member Since: 22 Jan 2017
Location: Midlands
Posts: 6

I was also looking at the Michelin Latitude Cross as it is supposed to be good for fuel and wet weather.

19th May 2017 9:31pm

Page 1 of 1

All times are GMT

Jump to

< Previous Topic | Next Topic >

Posting Rules

You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum
You cannot vote in polls in this forum