Best size tire for a P38?

[Megalodon]

I am going to be converting to coils and will be giving my truck a modest lift. What would the best size tires be to go with if I wanted something larger than the 255/55/R18s I am running now, but don't want a huge loss in performance? I don't really want to go narrower and am willing to trim. Please let me know what a good compromise would be for tire size and performance.

 

[KyleT]

275/65/18 is about as big as you can get without trimming, some rubing though.

265/65/18 might be a good size.

 

[Megalodon]

http://ssl.delti.com/cgi-bin/rshop.pl?dsco=135&Cookie=nextag&details=Ordern&typ=R-139794&ranzahl=4&nichtweiter=1

I am thinking I might go with this size. Once my truck is lifted a modest 2 inches do you think this will rub? Would this be a good size to allow for some moderate off road driving, but still decent performance on road?

 

[KyleT]

check out www.rangerovers.net

and ya that size would prob be good.

 

[NikeCheck246]

that is a very good size...ran it on mine for a bit, good tire also!

 

[DOHC Holliday]

check out www.rangerovers.net

Lol, the EAS nazis will love him there.

 

[fiftywattplexi]

That's a great forum for Range Rover stuff but the first thing you'll be accused of is what the EAS guys call "castrating" your truck and tell you that you shoulda bought a Disco if you wanted something with coils.
I think the EAS is cool when its maintained and working, but its not my idea of fun to carry/replace airsprings etc while out on a trail or have my vehicle totally immobilized because it can't be driven on the bumpstops (due to my oversized tires) if the system goes into a hard fault that can't be cleared with a kicker or the EAS unlock software.

megalodon pm me if you want any pics/specs on the coil setup I used.

 

[NikeCheck246]

They are getting alot better...they have started accepting that you can run coils and still be human, normal, and own a Range Rover. However, they may come back in full force because the biggest used parts guy there just converted from coils BACK to air...one of those "i told you so," moments.

 

[Megalodon]

What kind of performance does a 265/65/R18 leave you with? Is anyone running this size tire? Will the air suspension settle on top of this size tire if it goes out? Will this size tire rub on sharp turns/articulation?

 

[fiftywattplexi]

The 265/65/18 is basically a 31.5" diameter tire, I ran this size (well, 265/75/16 which has the same outside dimensions) for quite some time and I didnt have any trouble really with rubbing, you will do fine with a lift that is around 2" at least. Its a good all-around size for the P38 and it wasn't too bad as far as the gear ratio hit you take with upsizing with sluggish acceleration and being a bit harder to brake. Yeah there was a mileage/street performance decrease but you quickly forget about that when you?re out in the sticks and going where you want to go

I've heard some folks say that they were able to ride in low profile with minor rubbing with that size but I don't really think it will be terribly driveable if the EAS hard faults. I know over on the rangerovers.net forums there are several accounts of what tire sizes are and aren?t drivable when you are down on the bumpstops.

I'm sure someone can chime in with their P38 experience as far as driving on the bumpstops with that tire size.

 

[Knut]

265/75/16 will fit with a 2" lift. Been there done that. Make sure you have the same size spare also.

 

[gl4x4]

how much lift does the coil conversion provide? mine has the british altlatic coil conversion with bilstien shocks.

i'm trying to decide what tires to run on it. i was going to buy some 2" lift coil springs.

 

[gl4x4]

well, i finally called up Atlantic British and they told me my HD Coil conversion with bilstien shocks provides 1.5" of lift over normal ride height.

 

[Knut]

The Atlantic British HD coils are junk in my opinion if you plan to take the vehicle off road (or hit the speed bumps at the mall at more than 10 mph ). Had the same coils on my wife's 2000 P38 and the vehicle was constantly hitting the bumpstops on dirt roads.

I bought Old Man Emu springs, 761 front and 764 rear. Bought the springs from Expedition Exchange. I also replaced the Bilstein shocks with Old Man Emu shocks, N176 front and N177 rear. Bought the shocks from British Pacific. The improvement in the ride was huge. Made the wife very happy.

For more information on P38 lifts, check out www.rockrover.com

 

[gl4x4]

the HD springs do leave some to be desired thats for sure.

i checked out my suspension travel today. i have about 9.5" in the front and 10" out back. not bad, but not great.