 | Home > Wheels & Tyres > 18 inch vs. 16 inch pros and cons |
 
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| Matt90 Member Since: 12 Jun 2016 Location: Leicester Posts: 142   
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Can't comment on 18's on a defender but we went from 16's to 18's on our discovery and went back to 16's not long after, there's no arguing that it looked much nicer with the 18's fitted but the ride on and off road is far better on the 16's.
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30th Jun 2016 6:20am |
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| gazman Member Since: 17 Aug 2015 Location: Liverpool Posts: 652 
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I had 18's on mine when I got it, they were a bit firm. So I changed to 16's and the landy is a lot more forgiving- less harsh would be the best description I could give.
I've now gone down to 15 inch wheels with 33" tyres and the ride is really subtle. It's amazing the difference it's made. It seems wrong after all the years of fast audio etc where I used to squeeze 20" wheels etc on them! 2014 - current ..... 2003 defender td5 90 (my car) 2009 - current .... 2005 zx10r |
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30th Jun 2016 7:06am |
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| Grenadier Member Since: 23 Jul 2014 Location: The foot of Mont Blanc... Posts: 5829  
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Had 16" Blndos shoed in Cooper ST Maxx on my previous Defender (110SW) and did every version of driving you could wish for (long distance, urban, rural, mountain, off road etc). No issues, very happy, gentle hum was the max road noise and to be expected from such a heavy duty tyre.
Have just bought a new DC and it has 18" Bowlers shoes in BFGs. Done all the same driving as above over the past six weeks and I'd genuinely say there is no notable difference. If I had to be picky, I'd say the BFGs don't feel quite as planted in the rain, but I think that might be the tyre rather than the size, however there was an eight week gap between the sale of the SW (when I would last have driven a Def in rain) and buying the new DC and during which I drove a variety of normal cars, including my wife's new TT Quattro. So the slightly less positive feel might be the huge difference between car types, rather than specifically Cooper vs BFG. Also worth remembering I primarily drive on twisty mountain roads, which isn't exactly Defender handling heaven!! All in all, I've noticed virtually no difference between 16" and 18". I am sure on more luxurious models you'll notice a harder ride or more sound etc, but frankly with the agricultural nature of the Def it's not evident. Or I have a numb bum. What I can say is they look a lot, lot better, but do make sure you get a tyre with a low sidewall. In my opinion more wheel and less tyre is a good thing, but between the two versions (16" and 18") the actual visual mass is the same as the 16" has more sidewall. I'd say if you have the cash, 18" STs would be the way to go. They'll look ace. Check out Urban Automotives website, they have many 18" set ups on their special editions.  Monsieur Le Grenadier
I've not been everywhere, but it's on my list..... 2011 Puma 110DC - Corris Grey |
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30th Jun 2016 7:12am |
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| johnszs Member Since: 16 Aug 2010 Location: Hereford Posts: 459 
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I have run both. Currently i am running 18" twisted rims with 275 70 18 cooper st maxx abd find the rude pleasent, the only thing i have noticed is the truck does slightly tramline on very poor roads and deep standing water can cause aqua planing. But in fairness all cars do these to some extent 2004 TD5 Defender 90 xs station wagon
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30th Jun 2016 7:22am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971 
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I have a distinct preference for tall and skinny with a large sidewall purely for practical reasons.
If you want 265s for the look then go for it, but you'll find they perform worse than 235s. I really don't rate BFGs either, having compared my Defender with other vehicles running 235/85R16 and 265/75R16 KO2s and one on 285/75R16 KO1s there's no doubt I had a lot more control on slippy surfaces and mine was the only vehicle without traction control. I'm not a particularly fantastic driver, all the tyres were aired down, mine went where I pointed it and the others less so. The Disco 2 with the 235s performed most like mine. I'm not saying that will hold true everywhere and the KO2s certainly look quite pretty, but I buy tyres to grip rather than to look good. |
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30th Jun 2016 9:10am |
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| Nostromo Member Since: 17 Jul 2015 Location: The Mendip Hills Posts: 73
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Does anyone know what, exactly, is the correct size 18” road tyre to go for to get the same rolling diameter as you would get from a factory fit 235x85 16” on sawtooth’s or boosts ? . . . .
I've found this, but its not the same tyre size as many of the on line suppliers offer in wheel/tyre packages - some offer 60's rather than 65's sidewall which according to this on line calculator I've found work out to give a smaller rolling diameter ?  Click image to enlarge Any thoughts much appreciated ?  |
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4th Jul 2016 7:04pm |
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| Disco_Mikey Member Since: 16 Nov 2014 Location: Dundee Posts: 531  
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I have 265/65R18's on Boost alloys. At this size, I needed spacers to clear the chassis
Looks good though
Click image to enlarge |
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4th Jul 2016 7:09pm |
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| johnszs Member Since: 16 Aug 2010 Location: Hereford Posts: 459
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You shouldnt need spacers if you get sawtooth 18" as long as the offset is et10
I have 275 70 18 on twisted rims with et0 offset
4x4tyres.co.uk do the sawtooth with bfg at ko2 in 265 65 18 £1266 for 4 2004 TD5 Defender 90 xs station wagon |
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4th Jul 2016 8:27pm |
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| JOW240725 Member Since: 04 May 2015 Location: Suffolk Posts: 7906 
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18" Ko2's cost approx. 40% more than equivalent diameter 16" tyrel and 18" alloys are much more expensive. Just to add to the debate.
18" more likely to damage off road? What about 17" as a compromise?  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 |
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4th Jul 2016 8:46pm |
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| DSC-off Member Since: 16 Oct 2014 Location: North East Posts: 1426 
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Nostro,
+ or - 1/2 an inch on the overall diameter shouldn't make a great difference to the gearing or how it drives. The size you show, 265/65/18, does seem to give an almost identical diameter to standard 235/85/16 so will be the closest match if fitting 18" wheels. For me it's interesting that Landrover never tried to sell anything other than 16" rims for a Defender, when they make lots of money offering big wheels for everything else they sell! It was probably too much hassle for the numbers they could have sold, or they felt it was a waste of time trying to improve the ride and handling by tinkering at the edges. |
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7th Jul 2016 10:16pm |
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| ECH241 Member Since: 02 Feb 2016 Location: Wiltshire Posts: 23  
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16 inch cheaper and I think they suit the defender a lot better than 18
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8th Jul 2016 5:42am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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After all even with lower profile tyres you're not going to be doing high speed cornering in most Defenders
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8th Jul 2016 7:51am |
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| Grouse Member Since: 16 Apr 2012 Location: on the hill Posts: 521 |
I prefer the look and ride of 16" on a Defender - anything else just doesn't look right IMHO
Maybe I am just odd but i don't like alloys either 
Wolfs for me |
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8th Jul 2016 10:53am |
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| Cupboard Member Since: 21 Mar 2014 Location: Suffolk Posts: 2971
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It's not just old people, unless 26 is now old
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8th Jul 2016 11:32am |
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