Would like to replace the stock tires with something better

[lionvt]

2005 LR3. I have the stock Goodyears for summer tires on them which are quiet on road and hopeless about everywhere else. We run studded Nokian Hawks during snow/mud season so I am really looking for a summer tire. We live in Vermont on a class 4 road, so some bite to the tire would be nice, but I really don't want to disrupt the summer driving high speed highway cruising with too much tire noise. I want to stay with the stock size.

I have Cooper Discoverers (or something like that) on our Range Rover and found them too noisy for summer driving. I have loved Pirelli Scorpion ATs on my Disco I -- but probably don't need that aggressive a tread for this tire. Pirelli Zero comes to mind but I don't have any experience with it.

Any ideas? Thanks in advance.

 

[jwest]

I have 3 sets of wheels with 3 types of tires so first, will you be swapping out tires on 1 set of rims or have dedicated sets of each?

Many rover types as you might know tend to have either an all-around tire such as the BFG AT Ko which is not TOO noisy and handles pretty well in all conditions and in my use, has good mileage too. Or, they have 2 sets on separate rims to make it all simpler to change as per off-road weekend or winter, or whatever.

With that said, I have heard good things and been happy with the fairly sporty Toyo Proxes ST for summer/highway miles. It is amazingly sporty for it's pretty darn good other surfaces traction as well such as light snow and dirt. Very quiet of course and many sizes available.

 

[lionvt]

I am swapping tires on my factory rims. I have dedicated steel rims for my snow tires for the Disco I and RR Classic which is my preference but couldn't justify the expense of an extra set of rims for the LR3.

 

[jwest]

I think if you dig around, you could find used 18's for much less. first search just now pulled up ebay. roversland.inc set of 4 2005-6 18's with used tires for $800. it's less than new 18's but not enough less

 

[nwoods]

A lot of people really like the Michellin Synchrones for a good street oriented tire that can go off road if necessary.

Here is a partial list of tires to consider:
http://blog.nextstepdesigns.com/?p=46

Another off road tire has recently become available. The Cooper Zeon LTZ's:
http://nwoods.smugmug.com/gallery/3487589#196422093

 

[jwest]

The Michelin synchrone is probably a better option that the toyo proxes st in more conditions.

 

[lionvt]

Thanks for the thoughts. Anyone have Michelin Synchrones on their LR3? These are summer tires only, so I do want them to be quiet. Also, according to the Michelin site, Michelin doesn't make a tire in the 255/60/R18 size, which is stock on my vehicle.

 

[jwest]

Well, aftr comparing a little more, the Toyo Proxes ST might be a good one afterall. Your size 255/60x18 has a reinforced rating "RD" and 2469 load rating. Some people her in Seattle even have these siped for better winter use seeing as it doesn't "really" snow too much here or freeze too hard.

IF you went to some used 19" alloys, the Synchrones and Diamaris fit those fine.

 

[bgsntth]

Toyo makes a new all season tire (HT) for the LR3, as well, which will probably be a might more comfortable than the ST.
http://www.toyo.com/docs/tires/tires.asp?lpid=27483&name=Open%20Country%20H/T™&category=lgt

Avon (stay British) also makes a good tire, albeit in a 265
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Avon&tireModel=Tech+ST

Nokian also offers the NRVi for the LR3, but I know diddly squat about it.

Besides that, you have the hideous OE GYs, Pirelli Scorpions, Dunlops Grandtrek 8000, and Continental's (RRS OE's), and the General AT2's (All-Terrain) in the OE LR3 size and Load Index.

 

[jwest]

Toyo makes a new all season tire (HT) for the LR3, as well, which will probably be a might more comfortable than the ST.

These St's are very comfortable and I a mone picky person. I doubt I would have ended up on them though except I was looking for tires to better fit the 9" wide rim.

It would be cool if you go to a tire shop and have temporary rim/tire sets put on your car for a test run to really feel any differences. (not you own rims but loaners for the purpose as one whole set.)

RRsport OE tires are generally one size smaller diameter than lr3 though, at least on the 20's.

 

[bgsntth]

Apologize-I was being cryptic. I meant to relay that this was the same brand and model (Continental CrossContact UHP) as the RRS OE, but that it was also offered in the LR3's 255/60-18 too.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?tireMake=Continental&tireModel=CrossContact+UHP&partnum=56VR8CCXL&vehicleSearch=true&fromCompare1=yes&place=1&speed_rating=S&speed_rating=T&speed_rating=U&speed_rating=H&speed_rating=V&speed_rating=Z&speed_rating=W&speed_rating=Y&minSpeedRating=S

The ST is Toyo's High-performance sport truck tire, and from lionvt's it seemed he wanted a quiet, comfortable tire and not outright dry/wet tarmac grip. I agree the ST is a great tire, though I think Toyo is being optimistic categorizing it as an All-Season. I personally wish they would make the Open Country AT in a size closer to OE, and if they did, it would be on my LR3.

 

[jwest]

Um, 285/60x18 ought to be just fine (31.3"x11.5". The Nitto Terra Grappler version does.

 

[paxton]

I've got Pirelli Scorpion ATRs on my D1 and Pirelli Scorpion Zeros on my LR3 and I'm very happy with both sets.

Good luck!

 

[lionvt]

I was thinking of the Pirelli Scorpion Zeros. How is the road noise on the highway?

 

[Springsroverfamily]

Dam Last week I was admiring an LR-3 that has some body rash, gouged rock sliders you can obviously tell it had been used. I did notice that he/she had BFG AT tires on it. If I see it again ill try and find out where he purchaced them from.