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Hossman



Member Since: 09 Sep 2014
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 12

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
BFG MT KM2's - 235 vs 265
Hello folks,

Been lurking for 6 months and thought I'd register to the forums to get some advice!

Have decided on a set of BFG KM2s but am slightly confused by the wet grip rating for the 235's and 265...
The 235's have a grip rating of C and the 265s of A! Thats quite come difference, how does this translate into real world driving and curiously whats the reason for the difference?

Ive been looking to change my tires as ive had some hairy moments on the standard ones in the wet... drifiting on all 4 wheels round gradual bends and generally a very unpredictable driving experience in the wet in general (roundabouts can be particularly amusing unless you crawl round them)
Having no TC probably doesnt help either Mr. Green

Anyway, thoughts and opinions welcome Smile

Cheers
Post #356738 9th Sep 2014 12:00pm
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Jim_Bean



Member Since: 10 May 2011
Location: Staffordshire / Shropshire border
Posts: 613

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Santorini Black
Might be better with the A/T versions. Do you need the M/T version?
Post #356763 9th Sep 2014 2:00pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20292

United Kingdom 
235's on mine, been very happy with them and no issues.
Obviously you don't drive it like a sports car especially in the wet...
Wider tyres use more fuel but have a lighter ground footprint, with mine it's the opposite.
235's really dig in and gain traction but don't do the ground good if it's very soft.
I just went for 235 as being OE size but many have larger with no problems at all.
Post #356764 9th Sep 2014 2:03pm
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Hossman



Member Since: 09 Sep 2014
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 12

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
MTs would certainly come in handy, fair bit of shooting to be had and the current tires aren't up to task in some of the more boggy fields, had heard really good things about the KM2s on road performance so seemed like the best of both worlds at the time just very puzzled that the 265 would have an A wet grip rating and the 235 a C, bizarre...

Yep im very tempted by the 235's they were the original choice, possibly im paying to much attention to these wet ratings? Any comments on tarmac in the wet with 235's?

Cheers guys
Post #356765 9th Sep 2014 2:09pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20292

United Kingdom 
It's because the larger size has a larger footprint on the floor hence the difference.
Not a single complaint from me with the 235's.
You just always bear it in mind in the wet that your on MT's, and I've never had any skidding or slipping ever.
BUT I did with the original road based General Grabbers!
In actual fact I'd say they were better on the road than those!
Paddocks do just about the best prices for them but watch the fitting and balancing prices.
Guess how I found that out at the local tyre fitter charged me £135. Confused


Last edited by custom90 on 9th Sep 2014 2:45pm. Edited 1 time in total
Post #356766 9th Sep 2014 2:13pm
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Hossman



Member Since: 09 Sep 2014
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 12

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Christ... through trial and error ive found a garage 40 mins down the road (I know...) but they are ace, defender enthusiasts that mud plug just about anything with an LR badge on it, tricky to find somewhere that wont rip you off these days...

Cheers for the advice lads
Post #356774 9th Sep 2014 2:29pm
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Dale



Member Since: 14 Jul 2014
Location: Bristol
Posts: 79

United Kingdom 2001 Defender 110 Td5 Tomb Raider LE Bonatti Grey
Got 235 A/Ts on mine. Absolutely great tyres, and local tyre place was £50 cheaper than best online price I could find, so can't complain!
Post #356776 9th Sep 2014 2:37pm
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landy andy



Member Since: 15 Feb 2009
Location: Ware, Herts
Posts: 5655

2006 Defender 110 Td5 USW Zermatt Silver
I find the km2s better on the road than AT's, the km1s weren't good on tarmac, but the 2s are great. I run 265s on mine, bigger foot print, more grip, less sinking so diff stays higher, also you get grip in ruts from the side walls.

Andy
Post #356826 9th Sep 2014 6:54pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20292

United Kingdom 
The sidewall lugs are great, really will pull you out of ruts easily rather than spinning and scrubbing along.
Post #356828 9th Sep 2014 6:57pm
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JWL



Member Since: 26 Oct 2011
Location: Hereford
Posts: 3443

England 2002 Defender 110 Td5 SW Coniston Green
I am so happy with my 265 KM2's on my 110. They've been on four months now and five thousand miles later there has only been once when they have sort of let me down was in a situation where all different types of tyres were struggling. On an off road site trying to get out of a wet muddy ditch where the ground itself was rock hard and the mud in the ditch was just filing up the treads and changing our tyres to mud slicks! Perhaps if I had dropped the pressures right down they might have performed differently but they have been fantastic greenlaning on the rocky/stony greenlanes of North Wales.
I have no qualms with their road ability and have pushed my Defender a lot harder at times with no issues than I've ever done with any other tyre I've had fitted.
I have noticed that they have got ever so slightly noisier on the road now they've bedded in but far quieter than any other mud tyre I've had.
Post #356832 9th Sep 2014 7:14pm
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Hossman



Member Since: 09 Sep 2014
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 12

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Thanks folks, real food for thought there, leaning to the 235's Thumbs Up
Post #356907 9th Sep 2014 9:45pm
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custom90



Member Since: 21 Jan 2010
Location: South West, England.
Posts: 20292

United Kingdom 
What ever you choose you won't regret them. Thumbs Up
Post #356911 9th Sep 2014 9:58pm
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CarlinAbz



Member Since: 15 Sep 2013
Location: Aberdeenshire
Posts: 76

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Corris Grey
[quote="Hossman"]Christ... through trial and error ive found a garage 40 mins down the road (I know...) but they are ace, defender enthusiasts that mud plug just about anything with an LR badge on it, tricky to find somewhere that wont rip you off these days...

Morning Hossman, I also experienced the vagueness around corners when I had the original 235 on my 90. I opted to fit General Grabber 265 AT2 and put on 30mm spacers, this widened the track so cornering was improved and of course the wider footprint of the tyre also added width to the track. Overall a big difference and the tyres are still within the arches (just). The lads at Mann Automotive did the job (including adjusting the steering lock for more turn), are these the chaps you have discovered? I am a lot happier with the grip and the tyres cope very well with road and off road. Hope this helps although probably just added to the confusion!
Post #356969 10th Sep 2014 7:50am
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Hossman



Member Since: 09 Sep 2014
Location: Aberdeen
Posts: 12

United Kingdom 2008 Defender 90 Puma 2.4 HT Santorini Black
Carlin yes those are the guys, cant say enough good things after the previous nightmare I had closer to Aberdeen...
I wont lie, I'm probably going to have to do a little research into wheel spacers but good to hear Mann can do the work, I've got a few headaches lined up for them anyway Wink
Post #356978 10th Sep 2014 8:52am
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TD5_dan



Member Since: 24 Feb 2012
Location: Essex
Posts: 449

2001 Defender 110 Td5 CSW Java Black
I've had various tyres but just fitted a new set of 265 BF AT's no spacers or anything and I think it's the best set up I've had on my 110. Mine rarely leaves the Tarmac so wanted the little extra grip over a mud terrain. Worst tyres I've had it on were the general grabber tr it came with they seemed skittish in the wet. I think the 265 is a nice sensible size without any noticeable knock on effects. 2001 TD5 110 County Station Wagon - sold
1970 Series 2A Station Wagon
1970 Series 2A hard top
1960 Series 2
1972 Series 3
Post #357060 10th Sep 2014 4:19pm
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