By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 06:52 am: Edit

I am considering 30x9.5-15 size tires to go on my stock D1, would this work? Should I go for 15x7" or 15x8" AR wheels? This will be a temporary thing, I plan to get the RTE 2" lift in a couple of months(when the money tree starts to grow again). The main reason why I was looking into this is because I can get Goodyear Wrangler MT/Rs for $113 each!

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 06:58 am: Edit

Uh.... Uh.....

WHY????

The stock tires are as good as 30x9.5x15s... Why spend money on the tires AND wheels, when you can get a BETTER tire for the same (or less!) money, without throwing money at the wheels....

Keep the stock wheels and tires, and spend the money on the RTE lift first. Then, go to a taller tire on the original wheels, and you'll be way ahead.

IMHO, YMMV, yada yada yada....

-L

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:04 am: Edit

you mean stock tire SIZE is as good as 30x9.5x15 - the tread on the MT/Rs is a different world...

15x7 wheel would work fine

you could probably go even bigger with stock suspension, just take it easy until the RTE is on board.

By Ron on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:06 am: Edit

MA,

I have to disagree with the plan here. However, if you are carefull you can run 245 75s on a stock DI if you trim the rear fender, you might even be able to pull off 235s. Carefull I mean not jumping anything.

What is your long term goal?

Ron

PS they will even work fine on 15x6in series wheels

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:20 am: Edit

Blue,

Correct. The SIZE is as good as stock.

IMHO, there are better tires out there, though. Some are better street tires, others are better mud tires, and others are better compromise tires. Maybe, if you're wanting to shift from a compromise tire towards a mud tire w/o going for the whole enchilada, then maybe it would be the right tire. Depends on, as Ron said, what's your end goal....

Best o' luck,

-L

By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:25 am: Edit

Ron, I can run 245/75-16 with my stock suspension, but I won't be able to flex or do any of that pretty stuff, right? As I said, running 30x9.5-15 is a temporary thing. When I get the lift, I will get some 31x10.5-15 on the same 15" rims. That's pretty much my plan for my Disco.

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:34 am: Edit

Okay....

Why are you aspiring to run 31x10.5-15s?

Why not, after getting the suspension, run 265/75-16s? Comparable size, and would still save you the money on the rims.

IMHO...

-L

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:37 am: Edit

Well, actually...

Taller, and a hair narrower... I'd rather have 265/75-16s than the 31x10.5-15s... Again, IMHO....


-L

By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:44 am: Edit

...but I would have to spend $400 on wheel spacers, wheels are cheaper. Plus, I am really concerned with the gas mileage I will get with bigger tires. According to you guys, I should get around 10mpg(with 245/75), which is horrible. When I get the lift and bigger tires, I will probably get 3.80 or 4.10 gearing(another $1200). C'mon money tree...grow grow!!!

By Ron on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:48 am: Edit

MA it will flex fine. I have a good freind who did that (put on 245 75s) and his never hits the top of the wheel well, all you have to do is nip the back where you trim, maybe if your spring are completely shot you will have problems.

If you are going to 31x10.50 (why?) I would suggest buying 245s for the stock wheels and then buying something else in 31x10.50 with the AR wheels.

I would definatrely lift first but to each his own if you need tires

Ron

PS I could see aspirations for 32x10.50 TSL radials maybe.

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:55 am: Edit

You don't need wheel spacers.

A taller tire will get you better mileage... more distance travelled per revolution. What happens, though, is that your speedometer, which is lying to you now, starts telling the truth.

If you're not after height, though, go w/ the 245/75s instead of either the 265/75s or the 235/85s.

Also, if you're not after taller tires, then there isn't as much need to pursue gears (didn't say any, just not AS much). If you did go with something taller, though, say the 265s, yes, you would want a different gearset.

Lots o' luck...

-L

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 07:59 am: Edit

MA -

What year is your Disco? I think Discos with 4.0's get better mileage than 3.9. With my 97 4.0 (4.10 gears) I am currently getting about 13 mpg on my 32x9.5 Super Swampers (a bit more with my 265/75 AT's) and that is NOT on the highway (not city either, more suburban driving - 40 miles each way with stop lights, but average speed around 50 - 55 mph.) It was approximately the same mileage with the stock gears. Also, I think a lot of people calcualte mileage simply based on the odometer. Once you start changing your tires and gears around, that calculation is no longer valid. I thought my mileage was a lot lower than it actually was when i first changed from stock to modified.

As far as those small tires, I don't know about that. I think you will just end up spending your money twice when you go to replace the rims. I like the 15" rim option if you plan to have those as your everyday tires. 15" rims are cheaper, the tires are cheaper, AND you can sell your existing alloys to cover the cost of the rims (and maybe some of the tires). If you have an SE with the Dished rims they typically sell for more than the regular ones that are around.

Tom

By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 09:00 am: Edit

Ron,
My springs are shot, they sag about 1" in the rear. So, I don't think that 245/75 is a possibility.

Leslie,
Thanks for the info, I really want those AR steel wheels because of that "family" car look my disco has, it's too pretty. If I can sell my castor wheels for more than the steelies, then the new ones would basically be free! Also, tires for 15" rims are a lot cheaper than the 16".

Tom,
I have a 1994, my gas mileage has marginally increased with the K&N and Borla. Actually, I am currently selling my castor alloys.


Maybe I should stop being a pansy and go for the lift and big tires.

By Ron on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 09:02 am: Edit

Maybe I should stop being a pansy and go for the lift and big tires.

Sounds like a plan to me. If you are sagging that much you might have an issue with the 30x9.50s as well.

Ron

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 09:25 am: Edit

MA - That is the best thing you said all day.

We compared my friends 1995 Disco and my 97. Believe it or not, mine had a bit more power and better mileage.

Tom

By Leslie on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 09:27 am: Edit

If you want the different wheel, that's a totally different animal. Go for it.

Personally, I'd still do the lift first, then get the wheels afterwards, w/ the tires that you want... that way you're only buying tires once. I'd especially go with the lift first if you're sagging already.

RTE springs! RTE springs!

;-)

-L

By Blue Gill (Bluegill) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 10:37 am: Edit

my suggestions:

31x10.5x15 on new rims after suspension upgrade.

Sell castors to help finance the rim/tire deal after suspension upgrade.

Anything else is cart before the horse...even 30x9.5's as temporary tire - that's a $500 temporary thing - why not dedicate those five bills to the RTE upgrade? Then get around $350 for your 4 castors and 1 steel spare, and get 5 new $55 15" steelies for $275, then 5 new MT/R's? (hope your money tree blooms in time...mine is dead , but spending your money is easy )

By Mike B. on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 02:49 pm: Edit

Here is some interesting tidbits:

1. 235/85/R16s will not fit in the front if you put on the American Raceing 16" steel wheels. You will have to trim a tiny bit of the rear of the front fenderwells. They should fit if you stay with the stock rims. For example, you will rub when you compress the left font wheel to the max and then to the right. The picture is of a set of 245s mounted on AR 16x7s.



2. You will have to do a lot more trimming on rear fenderwells with the American Racing wheels over the stock alloy wheels. The reduced back spacing puts the wheel further out and prevents it from tucking neatly inside the fender well.



3. You will kick up an enormous amount of mud with a set of 245s or wider mounted on a set of American Racking steel rims.



Thanks,
Mike B.
www.discocrazy.org

By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 03:21 pm: Edit

ok...so with a 10.5" width tread on AR steel wheels, I will have to trim a lot more than you did. I'm not sure if they'll tuck in all the way.

By Joe Casey on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 04:11 pm: Edit

I use retreads with a mud terrain pattern from high-tec retreading(www.mallmerchant.com/retreads). they ran me 250 for the whole set. shipping was cheap too. they have 235-85 and 245-75's. they hum like a duece and a half, but they are great tires.

JC

By MA on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 05:00 pm: Edit

Will I need taller bump stops in the rear if I go with the Rovertym 2" lift with springs/rancho rs9000 shocks, upper shock mounts and cones?

By Mike J. (Mudd) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 05:03 pm: Edit

Hey Mike B.
What is the wire forom rack to brush guard? I've seen that a few times, What is it for?

By MTB on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 05:08 pm: Edit

Mike
They are Limbriser you can see how to make them in the tech section

Michael B

By RVR OVR (Tom) on Thursday, July 12, 2001 - 05:54 pm: Edit

Mike B-

Are you saying that 235/85-16 will never fit, regardless of lift, with the AR rims? My tires are bigger than that on AR 15x7's and they fit the front with endcap trimming.

Tom

By MA on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 06:18 am: Edit

What will get me through more stuff?
1) RTE 2" lift package(may spend more money for new front Drive Shaft, convert to standard U-joint in the back), big aggressive MT tires

or

2) rear Detroit locker(HD alloys), front TT, aggressive MT tires.

My off-road criteria consists of steep hill climbs, mild rock crawling, lots and lots of mudding.

By Ron on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 06:25 am: Edit

MA.

Don't you have a TT? You need to get the lift first. Aaron auto only want 150 for the conversion kit used for the rear shaft. 1. is the answer.

ron

PS TT is not interchangeable front to rear.

By MA on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 06:34 am: Edit

About the TT...sold it for more money than I bought it for, now I regret selling it, it really did make a difference(especially in the mud). It seems like the lift is the way to go.

By Mike B. on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 03:23 pm: Edit

Concerning:
"Are you saying that 235/85-16 will never fit, regardless of lift, with the AR rims? My tires are bigger than that on AR 15x7's and they fit the front with endcap trimming. "

No, I am not saying that. How wide are your tires and how tall?

Lift is NOT really the key determining factor in how big of tires you can fit under a coil sprung vehicle. Uptravel is the key factor. If you lift your vehicle 10" and do nothing about limiting the uptravel, the spring will compress all the way until you are sitting on your bumpstops just as it would before the lift. Raising your Disco gives you the appearance that you can fit larger tires without trimming, but that is not really the case. Believe me, I'm living this one first hand and I keep trimming a little bit more each time I ramp the vehicle.

I cannot comment on how much of the bumper end caps you would have to trim since I have the dreaded SG front bumper. I have tons of clearance in the front. Where I noticed the problem is on the rear of the front fenderwell. If you compress the left front tire all the way to the bumpstops and then turn the steering wheel to the right, you will probably rub the rear of the front fenderwell. I would imagine that under real driving conditions, the bushings would compress a little bit more increasing the severity of the rubbing. Of course, I am basing this experience on my 98 Discovery 1, so it might vary a little on your vehicle. I would be eager for others to wiegh in on this issue.

Thanks,
Mike B.

By Mike B. on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 03:32 pm: Edit

Concerning:
"Will I need taller bump stops in the rear if I go with the Rovertym 2" lift with springs/rancho rs9000 shocks, upper shock mounts and cones? "

The short answer is 'No', but again that depends. What model RS9000s are you running? If you are running 9234's (like me) and RoverTym 2", then no. The upper shock mount moves the shock up just enough so that the stock bumpstops engage right before the 9234 shock bottoms out (at least according to my calculations).

I put larger bumpstops on to limit my uptravel a bit. I was hoping that it would help lessen the amount of trimming on the rear fenderwells that I would have to do. I'm still trimming, so the jury is out on this one.

Thanks,
Mike B.

By Mike B. on Friday, July 13, 2001 - 03:36 pm: Edit

Concerning:
"Hey Mike B.
What is the wire forom rack to brush guard? I've seen that a few times, What is it for? "

MTB was correct when he said Limb Risers. Here in Florida the trails can get pretty narrow. The Limb Risers helps small limbs to slide up and over the top of the Disco rather than dragging along the side. They really do work great. I followed the guidelines in the TECH section pretty closely. I think that I spent about $32.00.

Thanks,
Mike B.