235/85/R16 vs 265/75/R16 handling

Griffdowg · Dec 1, 2010

90 and trailer both on 255/85

18701d1285702040-griffdowgs-wales-trip-sept-2010-dsc_0025.jpg

18686d1285627695-overland-trailer-sankey-based-dsc_0024.jpg

17376d1280342987-total-offroad-photoshoot-35122_419819038305_516943305_4537920_2744511_n.jpeg

255's are narrower and taller than the 265's. the BFG's work out around 33" tall. I dont think you can run them with standard height springs.

G

hammoj28 · Dec 1, 2010

Griffdowg said:
90 and trailer both on 255/85

255's are narrower and taller than the 265's. the BFG's work out around 33" tall. I dont think you can run them with standard height springs.

G

I really like the idea of these size tyres, might be tempted when I need to change my 265's.

ghost121 · Dec 5, 2010

Thanks for the replies and pictures. Will be ordering my new wheels/tyres on Monday. Have posted the old set up in the For Sale section. Five Avon Ranger 235/70/R16s with plenty of tread left on fair to good Boost alloys. Complete with all nuts and locking wheel nuts.

Langers · Dec 5, 2010

hammoj28 said:
I really like the idea of these size tyres, might be tempted when I need to change my 265's.

Yeah same here, didn't know that size existed. Looks very good though nice and tall. It'll be a while before I have to change yet though, say, 50-60k miles at least

At my annual milage, that's 10-12 years

seansmith · May 3, 2020

ghost121 said:
Hi

I know there is a lot of technical info on tyre choice, and I have read it, but I am mainly interested in how these sizes actually feel to drive and handle in the real world. Most of my driving is on road with some rough shoot and green laning thrown in. I have a 90 that came with 235/70s on Boost alloys and want to make the switch to BFG ATs on a 16 inch modular. It's either 235/85 or 265/75 I want to go for.

My Defender is a 1996 300tdi 90 with the bigger Allisport intercooler, de-cat pipe, EGR blanked off and ITG filter. No lift.

Also, if I end up with the 265/75s would you go with a 7 or 8 inch rim width?

Hope someone out there running either of these set-ups can give me some personal insights into how they handle over road and various terrain. Thanks in advance.

Steven

Hi, I know your post is from a good few years ago but I too have a 1996 defender and looking to put 235/85r16 BF Goodrich KO2 ATs on. I have check the dimensions on tiresize.com and that size and profile have a diameter of 805mm. The tyres on the Landy now are 205/70r16 diameter 693mm. (I appreciate these are probably nominal diameters and might change slightly for different tyres)

When I measure across my arches it would seem that a tyre of 805mm might rub But I understand that 235/80r16 is standard fit in more modern defenders.

So my question: will 235/85r16 on standard steel rims work on my standard 1996 90 defender.

Thanks.

Turboman · May 3, 2020

seansmith said:
Hi, I know your post is from a good few years ago but I too have a 1996 defender and looking to put 235/85r16 BF Goodrich KO2 ATs on. I have check the dimensions on tiresize.com and that size and profile have a diameter of 805mm. The tyres on the Landy now are 205/70r16 diameter 693mm. (I appreciate these are probably nominal diameters and might change slightly for different tyres)

When I measure across my arches it would seem that a tyre of 805mm might rub But I understand that 235/80r16 is standard fit in more modern defenders.

So my question: will 235/85r16 on standard steel rims work on my standard 1996 90 defender.

Thanks.

Wow! You missed Easter by a few weeks, but that is an impressive feat of thread resurrection!

Those tyres will be fine on steels, but so would 7.50R 16s, which many people feel are a better option.

Rougharse Racing · May 3, 2020

750x16 on standard steel rims. (Similar size to 235-85-16).
I now have the same tyres fitted to Wolf rims which have a slightly wider offset and 1/2" wider rim.
As said above, if your wheels are too wide, they cover your side windows in 5hite when in mud.

seansmith · May 3, 2020

Rougharse Racing said:
750x16 on standard steel rims. (Similar size to 235-85-16).
I now have the same tyres fitted to Wolf rims which have a slightly wider offset and 1/2" wider rim.
As said above, if your wheels are too wide, they cover your side windows in 5hite when in mud.

View attachment 207886

Thank you. Cool Landy!
Do your tyres ever rub on the arches? Are you using any spacers or suspension lift? I want to make sure £600 worth of tyres fit onto my bog standard setup before ordering.
Thanks again.

seansmith · May 3, 2020

Turboman said:
Wow! You missed Easter by a few weeks, but that is an impressive feat of thread resurrection!

Those tyres will be fine on steels, but so would 7.50R 16s, which many people feel are a better option.

Thanks for your reply. Do you think the tyres diameter will cause any problems rubbing on the arches. It’s just when I put the tape across my front arch it’s just about 805mm ie very similar to the new tyre.

Rougharse Racing · May 3, 2020

seansmith said:
Thank you. Cool Landy!
Do your tyres ever rub on the arches? Are you using any spacers or suspension lift? I want to make sure £600 worth of tyres fit onto my bog standard setup before ordering.
Thanks again.

Mine is a bog standard military 110, unlike the one in my profile picture, 750 tyres are a standard fitment on Military 110's, although the remolds I have on mine are actually slightly taller and wider than the Michelin XZL tyres fitted as standard.
I think despite being virtually the same size, 235-85-16 are slightly larger than 750's and are not recommended for older standard 5.5" steel wheels.(Although there will be many who have fitted them.)
The Wolf wheels are 6" and can accommodate 235-85-16 tyres, as can the factory alloys, if you stick with factory options you won't go too far wrong.
The wider the tyre the greater the chance of of fouling on the radius arms, which means that you will need to back off the lock stops and lose a bit of the turning circle.

Turboman · May 3, 2020

seansmith said:
Thanks for your reply. Do you think the tyres diameter will cause any problems rubbing on the arches. It’s just when I put the tape across my front arch it’s just about 805mm ie very similar to the new tyre.

No. They didn't on mine. I had 7.50R 16 Fedima Maxima. Pretty large diameter for a 7.50. No contact with anything.

235/85/R16 vs 265/75/R16 handling

Griffdowg

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hammoj28

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ghost121

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Langers

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seansmith

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Turboman

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Rougharse Racing

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seansmith

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Rougharse Racing

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Turboman

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