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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5818   
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Have been watching LikeOMG's thread on his LS3 upgrade with interest (still have ambitions to do the same), and he made a point I have been dwelling over the past few weeks.
In answer to a question LikeOMG said 'The car won't be doing any serious off roading, some 'moderate' green lanes at best...' and this is something I've thought about too. Over the course of a year, bar the 100m of gravel track leading to my house I almost never touch off-road trails etc. Not because I don't want to, but because time is limited as is availability with strict regulation here in the Alps. So as I pursue the dream to convert to an LS3, add sound insulation, fast-road suspension, big brake kits etc, upgraded sound system etc and accepting that I go off-road no more/less often than a standard RR, I started wondering about tyres. As per standard Bowler spec, my 18" are shod with BFG's, but bar how they look (shape and how they fill the wheel arch), there is every reason to believe they are the least practical tyre for en ever-more speed/handling biased Def which rarely off-roads and if it does, normally on track and in the dry. So surely, from a noise/grip/dry/wet weather performance, fuel economy etc, something like the Pirelli Scorpions used on RRs would be better? You can get an identical profile so the 'look' should be the same bar the chunkier tread pattern. So how many out there have 'been honnest' and swapped to a road tyre for all the advantages mentioned above and in sacrificing pure grip when on that rare day green-laning, shooting, visiting a farm or heading to the Polo? 
Interested to hear the feedback... Monsieur Le Grenadier I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey Last edited by Grenadier on 26th Jun 2017 9:46am. Edited 1 time in total |
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26th Jun 2017 8:06am |
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| jeffersj Member Since: 23 Jan 2015 Location: Near Preston Posts: 431  
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I agree with your comments but think in many cases we buy them for exactly that reason as you say "but bar how they look (shape and how they fill the wheel arch), there is every reason to believe they are the least practical tyre for en ever-more speed/handling biased Def which rarely off-roads and if it does, normally on track and in the dry".
It is nice to have the options with an AT tyre just in case! I am sure that there must be a road bias tyre out there that looks just as rugged as an AT. Jeff Ex 1968 Series 2A Ex 90 TD5 Ex D3 Ex D4 |
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26th Jun 2017 8:50am |
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| trickster5000 Member Since: 12 Dec 2015 Location: East Yorkshire Posts: 502 
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I somehow think road tyres just don't suit the defender particularly well IMO. I similarly do not do any serious off road very often but prefer the chunky look of ATs.
Just my opinion and I completely understand that road biased tyres are much more practical for everyday use. Matt. '89 90 CSW with a 3.5 V8 conversion (WIP) - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic46809.html |
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26th Jun 2017 9:12am |
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| jomara Member Since: 26 Oct 2009 Location: Lanarkshire Posts: 1790  
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I would go AT tyres too, I had a Touareg with Pirelli Scorpion road biased tyres which were great on tarmac but the tread clogged almost immediately if you drove into dirt turning them into slicks, I ended up putting on Goodyear Wranglers as I got fed up having to tow it out of site with the Bowler which it was supposed to be towing! 2014 110 2.2TDCi XS Station wagon
1971 Bowler Tomcat 88 4.2 V8 Auto 2022 110 D250 XS Edition - Gone 2024 110 D250 X-Dynamic HSE |
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26th Jun 2017 10:39am |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2640 
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I'm going with cooper zeon ltz's the 286/65/r18 looks imo as good if not better than the bfg i dislike my bfg's in the wet as it is, if you actually use the big brake kit to its potential the bfg's break traction far too easily.
 Click image to enlarge |
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26th Jun 2017 10:53am |
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| leeds Member Since: 28 Dec 2009 Location: West Yorkshire Posts: 8581
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Firstly the Defender was not built as a speed machine!
Secondly, many years ago LRO did a proper tyre comparison test. One result which sticks in my mind is that M/T had about 10% greater stopping distance in the wet then A/T. So drive within the limitations of the vehicle, the actual road conditions and your driving skill. In the wet I ease off top speed and leave a greater 'safety zone' between my vehicle and the one in front. BFG A/T have both good road manners ad are a decent offroad tyre as well. Now BFG tyres are capable of serious mileage. They have plenty of tread and the legal minimum tread depth is 1.6mm. Tyres age with time and once tyres get to 7/8 years old they may have more then legal minimum tread depth but be subject to serious ageing in stress cracking between tread blocks, circumferous cracking around rim, chain sission of rubber molecules. This can result in loss of tyre pressure, more punctures and possible tyre blow outs. Just remember those 4 round rubber things keeps you in contact with the ground. Brendan |
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26th Jun 2017 5:00pm |
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| grafty99 Member Since: 15 Aug 2012 Location: North Devon Posts: 4785 
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I am running road tyres and don't regret it one bit. They're really grippy in the wet or dry. They're quiet. They are surprisingly good off road (I would say nearly as good as an all terrain) and very capable in the snow.
They are hankook ventus 285/60/r18 Having had 2 sets of BFG ATs prior to these I would have hankooks again over the BFGs.  2002 90 Td5 Station Wagon
1990 Vogue SE Triumph Tiger Explorer 1200 Td5 90 Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic50767.html Tdi 110 Thread https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic69562.html RRC Thread http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic54492.html Instagram http://www.instagram.com/george_grafton |
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26th Jun 2017 6:45pm |
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| TACK Member Since: 26 Apr 2009 Location: Essex Posts: 1045 
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Cooper AT3 on 265 being run in my 110.
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26th Jun 2017 7:23pm |
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| X4SKP Member Since: 29 Nov 2013 Location: Berkshire Posts: 2295 
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Hello All
BFG A/T I ran on these for 15 years and concur with the comments so far...very good overall Tyre serious millage 1 Set <65K 2nd Set 50K when sold...Tread was still at 4-5mm when side wall cracking prompted a swap, not sufficient to even get an advisory at MOT Time but Tyres were showing signs that all was not well. Copper Zeon LTZ Now on a set of Coppers and at 30K I'd say less road noise, slightly better grip (feels a slightly more softer Tyre...maybe) and so far no undue wear rates noticed. My suspicion is the BFG's would be better off road, but maybe only marginally. I recently picked up a nail and went in for a repair, and the Tyre Guy said he had just replaced VWT5 with new Copper Zeon LTZs, its owner had clocked up 90K in 4 years on a European Road Trip with 2 Replacement Wheels and Tyres still wrapped up on the roof, these went on + four New and he set off home (Sweden). Click image to enlarge SKIP https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic83242.html |
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26th Jun 2017 8:13pm |
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| Retroanaconda Member Since: 04 Jan 2012 Location: Scotland Posts: 2647
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I've never noticed any appreciable difference in noise, handling or MPG between 'road tyres' and the BFG AT so I just run the latter.
Current set has been on for around 20 months or so and have done 63k. Will probably do another 5-10k and then change them later in the summer as they're down to around 4-5mm. Will be interesting to see how the 'new' BFG AT does in terms of longevity. |
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27th Jun 2017 3:46pm |
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| Likeomg Member Since: 29 Jun 2012 Location: Lake District / Newcastle Posts: 2640
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Don't forget.. the whole reasoning behind this is a 430hp v8 install..
Simex aren't gonna work. |
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28th Jun 2017 6:54am |
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| roel Member Since: 08 Aug 2009 Location: Lelystad Posts: 2039  
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You might be able to do some 4 wheel drifts with the Simexes.
Roel
1984 90 2.5 na Diesel - RR V8 (1994-2001) 1997 Camel Trophy Discovery 300TDI (2001-2009) 2005 G4 Discovery III 4.4 V8 (2008-2018) It's gone but it still hurts. 2003 90 Td5 (2009-now) |
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28th Jun 2017 7:11am |
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| Lightningtweeds Member Since: 16 May 2017 Location: Fintry Posts: 461 
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I spoke to LR's Experience manager for Scotland about 10 years ago and he said LR spent £2 million testing all sizes and treads and the overall winner was 235-85X16" and that is why they fit that size as standard on the Defender.
Anything else is simply massaging your inner child? |
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28th Jun 2017 7:15am |
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| LandRoverAnorak Member Since: 17 Jul 2011 Location: Surrey Posts: 11324
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I've no doubt that's true for standard vehicles but can't see how that applies to something with three times the power and optimised for road use, or an out and out off road toy like Roels?
 Darren
110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak "You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia |
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28th Jun 2017 7:24am |
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