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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720   
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I'm thinking of using the standard steel wheels for some light green laning / offroading. Now I'm no G4 participant, so keep that in mind
 All I'm thinking off is to take the Landy off the tarmac now and then but nothing extreme.
Am I ok with the standard Michelin Latitude Cross tyres that are on from the factory or should I be looking for something else (just don't want to be a liability if I go green laning with friends), perhaps some Good Year Wranglers or BFG Muds? And if so, is there any size at all that would safely fit the standard steels that come with base spec Defenders? Any advice appreciated as always! MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold Last edited by jk84 on 3rd Feb 2016 11:20pm. Edited 1 time in total |
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2nd Feb 2016 12:20am |
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in snow and does well in the wet as well. Highly recommend them. I fitted 265/75/16 to standard factory alloys.| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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The only tyres you can fit on the standard 5.5" steels (as opposed to the Wolf wheels) are 7.50R16, 205R16 or smaller.
The Michelins are great IMO! I have the Latitudes on my 110 and we have the XPCs (which the Latitudes replaced) on the farm 110. The farm one has issues in bottomless bogs and has recently had issues towing a trailer full of cows on wet grass. The last time we got it stuck in mud, our neighboring farmer got two tractors stuck in the same hole the next week. Trying to pull away on grass with a fully loaded trailer and pretty worn isn't really surprising! Had to give it a quick shove with one of our loaders then it was on its way. On any lanes that are in a fit state to drive you'll be fine. I really need a new set of tyres on my 110 but tbh theyre still going fine! I do have a set of BFG Muds in 255/85R16 on Wolf wheels, and in thick gloop they're a bit less slithery but they're still slithery. For most normal Defender activities you will get better traction with narrow tyres. Wide tyres are for flotation (a 265 is 10.5" so quite a bit wider than a 7.50) and high speed cornering, low profile tyres are much better for high speed cornering because they don't lift the inner edge of the the off the ground so much. Our ploughing tractor has narrower tyres than our much less powerful top work tractor for instance, but they're much taller. http://www.expeditionswest.com/research/wh..._rev1.html If you need more flotation (like in sand) then a tall tyre that you can let a bit of air out of is good. |
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2nd Feb 2016 1:01pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17478 
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If you want an off-road tyre (which is what you asked for) then my recommendation would be a Michelin XZL in 7.50 x 16. These are extensively used by the MoD, Utilities, and were an option from LR for many years.
They are excellent in almost all off-road conditions and pretty good on the road too. |
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2nd Feb 2016 1:28pm |
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| AJC Member Since: 30 Nov 2015 Location: Lancashire Posts: 1364
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2nd Feb 2016 1:42pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Excellent, thank you as always gentlemen for very comprehensive replies, much appreciated
I was leaning towards Cupboard's suggestion and saving some cash as to not replacing the Latitudes. May even keep them on for the initial venturing out and as it becomes more enthusiastic off-roading will follow blackwolf's advice and source the XZLs. Just looking at the link from AJC I can see the profile looks more aggressive. Thanks again gents, very helpful as always! MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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2nd Feb 2016 2:09pm |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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The XZLs are very good. They're also very noisy on the road!
I wouldn't want them as my everyday tyres. Go out with what you've currently got, worst case scenario you get stuck and that's no big deal. The more aggressive your tyres, the more stuck you get! Edit: just wondering. Goodyear G90? What are they like? They're off road pattern in 7.50? |
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2nd Feb 2016 4:21pm |
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| PCA42 Member Since: 15 Jun 2014 Location: Church Stretton Posts: 468  
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I also would definitely vote for trying out the Latitudes you already have on the wheels, I think you will be pleasantly surprised by them. If you don't plan on doing anything extreme (ie to minimise risk of damage etc), they will be very much adequate for what you want to do i.e. laning.
If you feel as if you don't have enough traction e.g. on very slippery, muddy up hill section, try lowering the tyre pressures... one thing many "experienced" off road drivers forget about, and immediately start telling you super aggressive tyres are needed! The only downside to this is you will need a pump to put them back up to road pressures. Pete 2010 Discovery 4 GS TDV6 1972 Series III 88" 2.25P |
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2nd Feb 2016 9:54pm |
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826 
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Jaro, suggest we find a few lanes and see how the standard tyres go.
The Defenders at Eastnor were on standard tyres, albeit the 235/85s on the alloys - same as your 110. They coped just fine..? Cheers Simon |
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2nd Feb 2016 10:27pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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I think I agree with your point Cupboard, the current ones will probably ensure I'm appropriately cautious, which is a good thing 
Thanks Pete! Certainly haven't got the skills for anything extreme at the moment, so good to hear it should be sufficient to stick with current setup. Did think of extra benefits of playing with the pressure, so good to hear that works too - will read about it a bit more! Ultimately, if Couplands needs to rescue me too often then I better invest in some XZLs 
Sounds like a plan Simon! The 110 we were driving had the Good Year Wranglers (I've got the Cross Conti on my 110) and the instructor mentioned that they are a fairly good tyre for offroading. That's what made me thinking about the Latitudes on steels on the new 90 and looking around, trying to get some input and ideas. But seems I'll keep the current set up, which is actually preferable for obvious reasons - I can instead use the cash to get some HD side sills and a stearing guard in the meantime. And then eventually invest some cash into XZLs at later stage to spec her up properly Till then I'll rely on your winch  MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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2nd Feb 2016 11:20pm |
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826
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^^^^ sounds Good.
The first thing you need are some strong recovery points. Easiest way (I think) is probably to add some "Jate" rings front and rear. They fix to the chassis using existing mounting points so should just be a bolt on job. Cheers Simon |
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2nd Feb 2016 11:49pm |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Definitely
Will get some jate rings for both front and rear and perhaps a swivel point for the rear cross member. The front bumper is not an HD one so no point attaching anything to that anyway. MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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3rd Feb 2016 10:08am |
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| couplands Member Since: 31 Aug 2011 Location: Peak District & Cornwall Posts: 1826
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Thinking more about it, for the front, I used to have these "D" rings. They fit to the same bolts that hold the bumper to the chassis. Very strong and simple and you don't need to change the bumper.
http://www.flatdoguk.com/d-ring-recovery-eye~320 For the rear, I have a swivel point spare that you can have. I got it off a forum member (who hadn't used it) and I've never used it either. Will bring it next time we meet, it's yours. It's just taking up space in my shed. Like this one:- https://www.famousfour.co.uk/new_parts/ff_part?part=14202 cheers simon |
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3rd Feb 2016 11:29am |
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| jk84 Member Since: 17 Feb 2015 Location: Wherever my Defender takes me... Posts: 720
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Interestingly, was looking at those D rings too. Have just had a look at the car and I can see exactly where they would fit, both the D rings and the jait rings - looks a very simple thing to do. May opt for the jait rings in the end as they are little less exposed.
Thanks for the swivel point Will repay with a nice pint of ale MY15 Aintree 110 SW - for sale - https://www.defender2.net/forum/topic82781.html
MY16 Santorini 90 HT - sold |
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3rd Feb 2016 3:33pm |
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| blackwolf Member Since: 03 Nov 2009 Location: South West England Posts: 17478
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Apropos the D rings, be aware that the pattern illustrated was the standard for very many years on Series vehicles, and very good they are too (and that is a good price too). That style of D ring was developed in the days before the flat fronted grille, however.
There is a modified version which has a longer baseplate which effectively moves the D ring further forward, which was intended for use with the flat-fronted vehicles from V8 through Defender. Whilst I think that the earlier style illustrated will fit a Defender, I have a feeling it won't fit if you have aircon and the forward-mounted grille. In this situation I think you must use the later elongated style. |
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3rd Feb 2016 3:44pm |
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