cuschieri.jonathan@gmail.

cuschieri.jonathan@gmail.

Member
Hi, thinking of getting a set of 255/85r16 for my 88" series 3 (2.23 Diesel). Considering that this is my daily driver with regular offroad use, how does the engine cope with this? Should I expect less MPGs? And how's steering? Thanks in advance!
 
The main advantage will be more ground clearance under the diffs.
Disadvantage will be poor lock along with tires contacting bodywork in some situations. Lower MPG, just the effect of driving larger/wider, heavy tires. Expect heavier steering.

One more thing with general driving, expect to be a gear lower than where you are now.
 
Last edited:
I really don't think that is a good idea at all. You will be very overgeared on those tyres. The gearbox and halfshafts will be under more strain, the diesel engine will really struggle on any sort of hill and it will take you even longer to get to a top speed of about 45-50 mph. Simply shoving bigger tyres on it will not make it any better off-road either, very much the opposite. The vehicle works perfectly well on the standard 6.00/16 tyres. 6.50/16 works well and the diesel just about has enough torque to run 7.50/16's but only just. Any bigger than that won't give you any advantage off-road and will make it much worse on the road. I run 7.50/16's which are about 32 inches and roughly the same diameter as the 235/85/16 tyres fitted to Defenders. This gives me plenty of ground clearance and articulation without sacrificing steering lock or making the steering ridiculously heavy.
 
Dorset_dumpling said:
I really don't think that is a good idea at all. You will be very overgeared on those tyres. The gearbox and halfshafts will be under more strain, the diesel engine will really struggle on any sort of hill and it will take you even longer to get to a top speed of about 45-50 mph. Simply shoving bigger tyres on it will not make it any better off-road either, very much the opposite. The vehicle works perfectly well on the standard 6.00/16 tyres. 6.50/16 works well and the diesel just about has enough torque to run 7.50/16's but only just. Any bigger than that won't give you any advantage off-road and will make it much worse on the road. I run 7.50/16's which are about 32 inches and roughly the same diameter as the 235/85/16 tyres fitted to Defenders. This gives me plenty of ground clearance and articulation without sacrificing steering lock or making the steering ridiculously heavy.
Click to expand...
I see, regarding the steering. I am now looking at 225/95/16. Yes, it's still a 33inch tyre, but steering should remain the same.
 
cuschieri.jonathan@gmail. said:
I see, regarding the steering. I am now looking at 225/95/16. Yes, it's still a 33inch tyre, but steering should remain the same.
Click to expand...
Ok, but that will still give you big problems with gearing. You are honestly much better off with 7.50/16. You will have 1/2" less ground clearance under the diff but you will lose less articulation, have more torque available, less unsprung weight and the car will be much more driveable on-road. The diesel engine really does not have enough torque to run the bigger tyre. Also, the handling on such a narrow radial tyre with an 8.5" sidewall which is what those 225/95 tyres have will be interesting to say the least. Tyres with sidewalls that big and narrow should really be crossplies as they have stiffer sidewalls
 
Last edited:
lynall said:
I reckon you will have the steering lock of an oil tanker.
Click to expand...

Along with having arms like popeye 🤣🤣

If I remember rightly my old series snapped the rear half shaft on standard tyres and changed them and diff from 12 to 24 x spline
 
I have also had a couple of halfshafts break but I look on them as a sacrificial item. A broken halfshaft cost about £40 and 30 mins to change, and I can still drive the vehicle with a broken halfshaft. A broken diff or gearbox is a much bigger pain in the arse and much more expensive. I use the broken shaft as a guide that I was doing something the vehicle wasn't designed to do and the shaft is designed to break before the gearbox or diff does.
 
Dorset_dumpling said:
I really don't think that is a good idea at all. You will be very overgeared on those tyres. The gearbox and halfshafts will be under more strain, the diesel engine will really struggle on any sort of hill and it will take you even longer to get to a top speed of about 45-50 mph. Simply shoving bigger tyres on it will not make it any better off-road either, very much the opposite. The vehicle works perfectly well on the standard 6.00/16 tyres. 6.50/16 works well and the diesel just about has enough torque to run 7.50/16's but only just. Any bigger than that won't give you any advantage off-road and will make it much worse on the road. I run 7.50/16's which are about 32 inches and roughly the same diameter as the 235/85/16 tyres fitted to Defenders. This gives me plenty of ground clearance and articulation without sacrificing steering lock or making the steering ridiculously heavy.
Click to expand...
No just no. So much wrong with this post….
 
Dorset_dumpling said:
Ok, but that will still give you big problems with gearing. You are honestly much better off with 7.50/16. You will have 1/2" less ground clearance under the diff but you will lose less articulation, have more torque available, less unsprung weight and the car will be much more driveable on-road. The diesel engine really does not have enough torque to run the bigger tyre. Also, the handling on such a narrow radial tyre with an 8.5" sidewall which is what those 225/95 tyres have will be interesting to say the least. Tyres with sidewalls that big and narrow should really be crossplies as they have stiffer sidewalls
Click to expand...
Clearly you have never heard of 9.00 x 16 tyres which were used on Land Rovers and have a bigger sidewall.
 
cuschieri.jonathan@gmail. said:
I see, regarding the steering. I am now looking at 225/95/16. Yes, it's still a 33inch tyre, but steering should remain the same.
Click to expand...
Where are you seeing 225/95/16’s???? Never seen or heard of that. Surely there can’t be any decent tread patterns if they exist. Or are you looking at tractor tyres or something???
 
Dorset_dumpling said:
the diesel just about has enough torque to run 7.50/16's but only just.
Click to expand...
I have to say for daily use I agree with the above, I just 7.50's on my series 3 but it was a noticeable change from the 205's which were on it. although It manages with them it is slower to accelerate, and i am changing out of the overdrive more often for hills.
although as @300bhp/ton states you could get 9.00 these were fitted tot he military land rovers which had a differetn suspension setup with longer shackles and lowered spring mounts. I have never driven one but I expect the gearing to also be fairly tall but the military at the time were less bothered with acceleration and top speed than they are all terrain capability.
 
300bhp/ton said:
Clearly you have never heard of 9.00 x 16 tyres which were used on Land Rovers and have a bigger sidewall.
Click to expand...
Yes I have heard of 9.00/16 tyres, but they are cross-ply tyres with much stiffer sidewalls so the tyre flexes less under lateral load. Radial tyres have much more flexible side walls which will cause the vehicle to lean more while cornering.
 
Last edited:
300bhp/ton said:
Where are you seeing 225/95/16’s???? Never seen or heard of that. Surely there can’t be any decent tread patterns if they exist. Or are you looking at tractor tyres or something???
Click to expand...
Dunlop sp rgf, tbh I'm not a huge fan of the thread pattern, wanted something more M/T oriented. But they're narrow and tall... And affordable 😅
 

Attachments

  • Screenshot_2024-08-11-10-58-25-198_com.android.chrome.jpg
    Screenshot_2024-08-11-10-58-25-198_com.android.chrome.jpg
    537 KB · Views: 51
You must log in or register to reply here.

Similar threads

Brenda__the__Defender
Advice on Tyre choice please!
Replies
14
Views
1K
Brenda__the__Defender
Brenda__the__Defender
Bezdonian
Potential new Series 2a owner with questions on powerplant and drivetrain
5 6 7
Replies
127
Views
15K
Rangieman123
Rangieman123
Hammer'n'tongs
Tyres wearing unevenly:- Axle ends out of alignment
Replies
9
Views
1K
Hammer'n'tongs
Hammer'n'tongs
D
Steve's Land Raft
4 5 6
Replies
104
Views
8K
Dauphproto
D
herby1
1979 s3 109 for sale near Spalding NOW SOLD
Replies
11
Views
4K
herby1
herby1