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hafman



Member Since: 28 Mar 2017
Location: W Sussex
Posts: 81

United Kingdom 
Best mud tyres (c/w wheels)?
My 1999 Td5 90 has some 5 spoke alloy "Disco" wheels (possibly called Freestyle 90 Choice?), c/w BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A LT 265/75R16 tyres.

I'd quite like to get a second set of rims & tyres, more suitable to muddy off road driving. What should I go for? Would All-Terrain T/A be the most suitable, or is there an obviously better alternative?

Ideally I'd like to get some original fit style steel wheels, but am not sure what they are called, or where I might go to get some. Not bothered about buying used rims (eBay?), but would prefer new rubber.

I think I am right that OEM would have been 140x406mm steel wheels (maybe 5.5J x 16 LR023152?) with 205/80R16 tyres?

TIA
Post #626030 22nd May 2017 1:39pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
If it's really for muddy, off-road driving then something more aggressive than an AT would be better. The BFG MT has a good reputation but there are lots of alternatives to suit all budgets.

Wheels are more tricky. Your 90 may well have come with standard 5.5 x 16 inch wheels and 205 tyres, but replicating that is really quite limiting. 205 tyres are a lot smaller than your current 265/75's, which apart from affecting the gearing and speedo reading, would loose you some very useful ground clearance. Whilst they may be OE, few would consider them as a serious choice these days. Similarly, 5.5 wheels are really only good for up to 7.50 tyres, if you want something that's a match in height for your existing ones.

If you're really preparing for muddy conditions then you want a tyre that's at least 235/85, which is the same height as your existing and available in lots of patterns, for which you'll need a minimum wheel width of 6.5 inches. If you want steel then then the LR Wolf heavy duty wheel fits the bill. Standard Land Rover alloys of any flavour are 7 inches wide and so will take bigger tyres if that's your thing.

Beyond OE LR wheels is a whole world of different sizes but you really need a better idea of what you want to narrow it down. 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
Post #626089 22nd May 2017 6:16pm
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hafman



Member Since: 28 Mar 2017
Location: W Sussex
Posts: 81

United Kingdom 
Thanks LRA - helpful thoughts.

A VIN decoder says that the original wheels were "Wheel & Tyre Configurations - Michelin XPC 205 X 16 [029DV]"

Have to say that I do get a bit confused when trying to compare the (now) standard "265/75R16" system of sizing to the older ones that include 5.5 and 7.50 etc etc. I hadn't thought that my current tyres might be changing road speed - will do a GPS check sometime soon!

One last thing ... How do I work out what are the width of my current wheels? (possibly a dumb question Embarassed )


EDITED TO ADD: The car bible website http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible.html says ...
Quote:
On Discoveries, Range Rovers, or the SWB Defenders/Series land rovers you'll find "205" tyres, denoting 205mm x 16 inches. The 205 type tyres can generally be replaced with 235/70R16 or 225/75R16. The 235 is a wider tyre and the general consensus in Land Rover circles is that it holds the road better when being pushed.

So would 235/70R16 on 205 LR steel wheels be a good starting point? There is an 8.5% variance in rolling circumference, but perhaps my speedo is out anyway Embarassed
Post #626203 23rd May 2017 6:22am
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dorsetsmith



Member Since: 30 Oct 2011
Location: South West
Posts: 4554

Post #626244 23rd May 2017 10:06am
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
235/70's became standard fit on Discoveries and Ranger Rovers but both had wider wheels, either steel or alloy. They are too big for standard Defender 5.5 inch wide rims though.

There's around a 10% gearing difference between 205/80 (or 6.00x16) tyres and 235/85 or 265/75 tyres. Land Rover allowed for these different fitments by including a replaceable coloured speedo drive cog on the output of the transfer box and it's quite common for these to be changed when people change tyre sizes. As yours is now running the larger size tyre, it's entirely possible that this modification has already been done.

Regardless though, if you really plan to go muddy off-roading, then you want to stick with the larger tyre size. If you're also keen to stick with standard steel wheels, then the size you want is 7.50 x 16 and there are a few reasonably aggressive patterns available. The Goodyear G90 is favoured by the military. 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
Post #626273 23rd May 2017 11:42am
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hafman



Member Since: 28 Mar 2017
Location: W Sussex
Posts: 81

United Kingdom 
Looks like I am limiting myself too much by wanting to go down the "classic 205" wheel route, so rather than dig the hole any deeper, does anyone know of a source of wheels that "look" like the 205s (preferably white / off white) but in a larger size, such as 265/75?

TIA
Post #626611 24th May 2017 4:48pm
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Martin
Site Admin


Member Since: 02 Apr 2007
Location: Hook Norton
Posts: 6478

United Kingdom 2015 Defender 90 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Montalcino Red
Something in 7.5x16 (like Latitude Cross)?  1988 90 Td5 NAS soft top
2015 D90 XS SW
Post #626612 24th May 2017 4:55pm
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LandRoverAnorak



Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11240

United Kingdom 2013 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 USW Orkney Grey
hafman wrote:
Looks like I am limiting myself too much by wanting to go down the "classic 205" wheel route, so rather than dig the hole any deeper, does anyone know of a source of wheels that "look" like the 205s (preferably white / off white) but in a larger size, such as 265/75?

You seem to be mixing up wheel sizes and tyre sizes but I think I know what you mean. As I said in my first reply, the closest to the standard steel wheel that will take a wider tyre is the Wolf HD rim. It' s 6.5 inches wide and will take a 235/85 tyre.

A 265/75 tyre really needs a minimum 7inch rim width and there isn't a LR steel wheel in that size. It's either alloy or aftermarket steel such as an eight spoke or modular. Both are common fitments but neither look anything like a standard steel wheel.

Another alternative would be Discovery I steel wheels, which are five spoke and 7 inches wide. I ran these on a 110 that I owned some years ago:


 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
Post #626668 24th May 2017 8:08pm
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