| Author | Message | ||
     R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 290 Registered: 07-2002 |
Looking to buy the right tires for our Series IIa. I have 15" wheels and would like the tallest tire I can get onto this truck without scraping anything. Also, if any of you have tires that you like let me know the size - all the stores seem to want to sell me ultra wide swamper type tires. I want thin and tall. Thanks http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net | ||
| Paul Grant (Paulgrant) Member Username: Paulgrant Post Number: 150 Registered: 10-2002 |
I have 16" rims on my Series and currently have a set of 235/85/16 BF Goodrich Trac-Edge tires on them. They are a great dual purpose tire with outer treads similar to a mud terrrain while the center treads ae more like an AT. Sadly, they are no longer available and the BFG replacement doesn't look anywhere near as capable. When those tires go I am going to get a set of Dunlop Radial R/T's. I have these on my RRC and can't say enough good things about them. Now, as far as staying with 15" rims, I think the popular set up used to be BF Goodrich MT 33/9.5/15's, however, I'm not certain BFG still offers that size. I'm not sure if Dunlop has that size either. Your best bet is to go to www.tirerack.com and check to see what they offer as 33/9.5 is just about the biggest size you can safely run on a Series with 15" rims. Keep in mind that with bigger tires the speedometer and odometer will be off by around 10% so when the needle says 50mph you're really doing 55mph. You wouldn't want to get a speeding ticket would you?  | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 86 Registered: 11-2002 |
From what I have gathered, Paul is pretty much on the ball with BFG MTs in 33/9.50/15. But I think you might be able to fit 33/10.50/15 in the wheel well. Also, Mr. Bailey, do you do mostly mud or rock? I would suggest a good MT for mud (BFG, Dunlop, Super Swamper, Futura/Cooper), but for rocks, supposidly the Goodyear Wrangler MT/R is pretty good. But the MT/R is terrible in mud (I have seen many MT/R equiped rigs have trouble in heavy mud). BTW, I am currently running Goodyear Xtra Grips (the old tread pattern). These are a sweet mud tire, but it is a soft compound. They do have large chunks of the tire missing from rocks. From what I gather, a newer style of the tire has come out (my spare is the newer style). I ran my spare for a little while and it never got chunks of rubber torn out of it by rocks. It also worked very well in mud. On the road, the tires do hum very loud, but the performance off road outweighs the noise. Besides, I'm already wearing earplugs so its all good. Max T. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 291 Registered: 07-2002 |
OK, next question I am lazy and don't want to go look it up, 33/9.50/15 33 = ? 9.5 = hieght of wall??? 15 = wheel size Max - I live in Oregon... Thanks | ||
| Max Thomason (Lrmax) Member Username: Lrmax Post Number: 88 Registered: 11-2002 |
LOL, the 33/9.50/15 is very simple. You will like it 33=overall diameter of tire 9.50=width of the tread 15=diameter of rim it should be put on Now, remember, some tire manufacturers do fudge the numbers some. Ex. I remember talking to a D-90 guy who was running 35 MT/Rs, but he said they were more like 34" diameter. BTW, I've never been to Oregon, what do y'all have up there? Mud? Rocks? Sheep? I'm sorry, but I've never been even close to the west coast so I don't know.... Max T. I need to travel more.... | ||
| Jaime (Blueboy) Senior Member Username: Blueboy Post Number: 538 Registered: 02-2002 |
our IIa 109 also has BFG Trac-Edges in 235/85-16. while a good tire, the RR has InterCo TrXus MTs in the same size and this tire performs much better than the BFGs. wide range of sizes so feel sure a 15" is available. Jaime | ||
| Jude (Jdonato) New Member Username: Jdonato Post Number: 29 Registered: 02-2002 |
Did some research on the same tyre a year ago and dug up my notes. BFG no longer offers the Mud Terrain T/A KM in a 33x9.5R15. Only the BFG All Terrain. Some off brand tyre manufactureres make the 33x9.5 www.laramietire.com www.bigotiresocal.com www.lesschwab.com www.louisville4x4.com - buckshot radial = 275/85R15,245/85R15, p78/15 buckshot mudder www.kelly-springfield.com 33x9.50 Safari MSR and Safari AWR Now the fitment: For my 73' SIII, 88" SWB, stock original springs, stock 15" rims: with a 33x9.5R15 tyre, I found at full articulation in the rear the tyres can scrub the underside of the wheel wells. There was no problem with steering and no problem with the tire touching the front leafsprings lock to lock. Its a big arse tyre and fills up the wheel wells. The rear scrubbing problem was fixed by adding a 1" spacer underneath the stock bump stop. This in effect decreases your artflexulation by 1". A Series rig with stock springs doesn't have very much flex anyway. Parabolics, I am told have more flex. I went with the Kelly Springfield Safari MSR. They have performed well with my particular setup. I'll put them on again in 10 years when they dry rot. Other's results may vary. How do they look? Before and after photos are here: http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/revordnal73siii/lst?.dir=/Land+Rover+Stuff&.view=t Lots of pros and cons with a tall tyre. Increase slug like acceleration, increased wear in brakes trying to stop all that meat. You can achieve slighly higher cruising speed, increased ground clearance, and they plain look good. Good luck with any choice you make. Jude. | ||
| Jude (Jdonato) New Member Username: Jdonato Post Number: 30 Registered: 02-2002 |
Pic link didn't work. For gratuitous sexy 33's try this link http://photos.yahoo.com/bc/revordnal73siii/lst?.dir=/Land+Rover+Stuff&.src=ph&.o rder=&.view=t&.done=http%3a//photos.yahoo.com/ or scroll through http://photos.yahoo.com/revordnal73siii | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 293 Registered: 07-2002 |
Jude - so the red SIII in the photos is the one with the 33/9.5/15's ?? Looks like what I want if it is. Thanks. http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net | ||
| Jude (Jdonato) New Member Username: Jdonato Post Number: 31 Registered: 02-2002 |
Yep, the red SIII with the yellow Cibie fog lights and Norfolk and Western Railway bumper sticker. Under the folder that says "Land Rover Stuff" http://photos.yahoo.com/revordnal73siii there are before and after pics. Before were H-78/15 (older tyer designation) Hercules Trail Digger bias ply tyers. They were aggressive and loud, and had flat spots when cold. Seems like you have 101 Les Schwab tire centers to choose from in Oregon. His website says buy now and get some free BEEF! How could you turn that down? Big O Tire should be all over the west coast also. Seriesously, check out several brands and types before you buy. P.S nice nice website. Jude | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 295 Registered: 07-2002 |
Ya the free beef thing is almost a cultural icon here in Oregon. They want to sell me 33's at $133 a piece - not sure about how good they are off road, but they look a lot like the BFG M/T's with more factory siping. I can get better tires for cheaper, but not that size, no one seems to have them for the old Rover. | ||
| R. B. Bailey (Rover50987) Senior Member Username: Rover50987 Post Number: 323 Registered: 07-2002 |
OK, here is another question about tires. I get the size formats now: i.e. 235/70r16 or 33x9.50r15 Why do people refer to their tires as just 7.5r15 or 6.0r16? Anyway, I went to Les Schwab today. I have 6 wheels and tires. 2 of the tires were obviously beyond help. 4 of them were good, but had about half life on them. My wheels are old and crusty, but in relatively good shape. So, for $707 bucks they gave me 5 BFG A/T's 33x9.5/15's and my wheels are going to be sand blasted and powder coated black. No free beef though, missed it by THAT MUCH! Not the best deal in town, but pretty good for the service and life time warrantee at Les Schwab. http://landrover.mrbaileyshistory.net I will have before and after photos up by next weekend. | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1829 Registered: 02-2002 |
R.B., 7x16, 7.5x16, 9x16, that's an older style of tire-sizing, prevelant when Series Rovers were new. The 16 is the wheel size; I'm not sure how they calculate the first number, but, the bigger the number, the bigger the tire. ie, a 9x16 is a BIG tire (see Greg Davis' monster tires), whereas a 7.5x16 is VERY close in size to a 235/85R16. Also, 7.5x16 isn't used much anymore, as far as size-designation goes... there aren't quite as many tires available in that size anymore. Mostly just off-road tires, which, is fine for a Series... FWIW... -L | ||
| David Gage (Davidg) Member Username: Davidg Post Number: 114 Registered: 02-2002 |
7.5x16 type designation is still used for bias ply tires and 235/85/16 for radials or so I have found.. David | ||
| Leslie N. Bright (Leslie) Senior Member Username: Leslie Post Number: 1832 Registered: 02-2002 |
True! The only radial 7.5x16 that I know of is Dunlop's Radial Rover R/T.... Since bias-ply are more balloon-like than radials, I wonder if the first number, the 6, 7.5, or 9, is some sort of a hypothetical diameter of a section.... Hmmm.......... -L | ||
| David Gage (Davidg) Member Username: Davidg Post Number: 115 Registered: 02-2002 |
Tread width X wheel fitment diameter, actaully the XZLs I had were radial 7.5s also.. David | ||
| Ricardo Palomino (Palomino) New Member Username: Palomino Post Number: 7 Registered: 11-2002 |
Excellent choice going to Les Schwab. They aren't the cheapest but the service makes up for it. I wish they were in Florida. |
