Pappasmurf

Well-Known Member
I’m doing a bit of speculating for a future project.
I have a vision of a Disco 1 V8, completely standard on the outside, including standard bumpers, but with wheel arch extensions if needed.
So what size alloys and AT tires could I fit, not going any higher than a 2 inch lift. I like the idea of fitting alloys bigger than 16inch.
 
If your power train is completely stock, I wouldn't go bigger than 245/75/16. you may go for 31" but the rims are 15" in that case.
That is my Disco 1 with 245/75/16 (BF):
disco1b-1.jpg
 
If your power train is completely stock, I wouldn't go bigger than 245/75/16. you may go for 31" but the rims are 15" in that case.
That is my Disco 1 with 245/75/16 (BF):
disco1b-1.jpg
Nice, looks good with the boosts. I wonder if spacers would also work.
 
Thanks. Why won't spacers work?
I guess you mean wheel spacers, I don't really like them as I don't want to overload the axles and they are not really legal here.
If you meant spacers as lift, it will work as well although it is better to replace springs/shocks.
 
Thanks. Why won't spacers work?
I guess you mean wheel spacers, I don't really like them as I don't want to overload the axles and they are not really legal here.
If you meant spacers as lift, it will work as well although it is better to replace springs/shocks.
Yeah I meant wheel spacers, fill the arches out more. You get a good set and their fine.
 
Yes, wheel spacers will defently improve the look.
BTW, the rear arches are wider than the original ("camel cut")...
 
I’m doing a bit of speculating for a future project.
I have a vision of a Disco 1 V8, completely standard on the outside, including standard bumpers, but with wheel arch extensions if needed.
So what size alloys and AT tires could I fit, not going any higher than a 2 inch lift. I like the idea of fitting alloys bigger than 16inch.
Depends what you want to do really.

If you want to retain stock bodywork and not go off road, then you might squeeze a 7.00 or 7.50 x 16 or a 235/85R16 on. But most likely these will impact the rear of the rear arch under suspension compression, so unless you bend the bodywork or perform the 'Camel cut', it won't be able to go off road. Which will likely limit you to something nearer to a 245/75R16.

As for lifting to fit bigger tyres. A suspension lift doesn't really work IMO. Sure when the vehicle is just sat on the drive or on level ground you'll have more room for bigger tyres. But under suspension compression, all your suspension lift will be lost. And the tyres will still impact the bodywork. Unless you are running silly HD springs which don't compress and ruin the ride that is, but I wouldn't advise this. You could also fit extended bump stops, but this generally just reduces wheel up travel and reduces off road capability.

A body lift in theory would give more room for tyres, but not usually off the shelf kits for a Disco, also a bugger to fit, generally make the vehicle look horrendously ugly (like it has been in an accident and badly fixed). And you'll end up needing to look at extending things like the gear linkages, steering column, rad hoses and loads of other things. So can be pricey overall.

If you are happy to cut/trim the arches you'll be able to fit much bigger tyres and not even need to lift the vehicle. Remember you are already running the same ride height/spring length as a stock Defender. Which means compared to many other 4x4's you are already about 2" better off anyway.

Also as tyres get bigger you'll find they tend to get wider too. This means under compression they won't sit inside the body work, but directly impact the edge/lip of the wheel arch. So trimming the arch and fitting flares will allow taller and wider tyres to be fitted.

As for alloys, not really my thing. Also not sure what is available to fit the stock Land Rover PCD/hub. Suspect you might find an 18" rim, but tyre choice is often less than with 15 or 16" rims. As a rule the bigger alloys will reduce ride quality as you have less sidewall on the tyre, unless you are going very big.

To retain any sort of steering lock you'll want to look at deeper offset rims and/or wheel spacers more than likely.

As for overall dimensions. I used to run Simex 33.11.50R15's on my 3 door 200Tdi Disco. These where on 15x10 steel rims and spacers to increase the offset (with the spacers the offset was equivalent of ET-17.3). The Simex tyres measured almost 34" tall and I was on stock suspension. Just trimmed arches. I suspect a 5 door might be a bit harder as you can't trim the rear arch as much. But there are people running 35" tyres out there on Disco's. But more hacking and a mild lift might be needed.

GQQckZ9.jpg

rzxX2Wn.jpg
 
300bhp/ton,
If you replaced springs in order to lift the car, you should lower the bump stops.
That way, you gain height but won't harm the body.
 
300bhp/ton,
If you replaced springs in order to lift the car, you should lower the bump stops.
That way, you gain height but won't harm the body.
Yes but you limit up travel/compression, so loose out on the amount of flex you can gain. Also lifting can increase your centre of gravity and make the vehicle less stable overall.
 
I agree about the center of gravity.
The travel is the same as before since the initial height is higher.
BTW, nice disco you have there.
 
I agree about the center of gravity.
The travel is the same as before since the initial height is higher.
BTW, nice disco you have there.
Travel will be less unless you run an extended shock and/or lower upper shock mounts. Personally for an off roader I'd be looking at getting more travel, not just retaining the stock amount.

e.g. as an example but using made up numbers.

If you assume the stock suspension setup gives you 10" of travel. 5" droop and 5" compression.

Now if you add +2" springs (these are usually HD springs) or +2" lift packers/spacers. You are using up 2" worth of your down travel. So with no other changes you now have only 3" droop and 7" of compression. But the reality is, a HD spring won't compress as well and a 2" spacer may result in coil bind before full compression. So you will probably loose travel overall, maybe an inch or so. The result of this is, you'll lift wheels off the ground far more often and more easily, making a less stable vehicle and one that will become cross axled far more easily.

Now if you add in extended bump stops too, you'll reduce your up travel even further.

Sure bigger tyres will give more ground clearance, but overall the vehicles capability has probably been lowered.

What many people do is fit a plus +2 shock to try can counter this. As this will in theory allow +2" extra droop (depends on your other suspension components). However at best this will only restore you to the stock level of total travel, rather than actually increase the flex you have. In this instance extended bump stops are there to stop the shock bottoming out under compression. Although with HD springs you are unlikely to get enough compression to achieve this. An alternative to a longer shock is a shock mount dropper. Which achieves something similar by allowing 2" more down travel, but as the shock is shorter, you will loose this on the compression.

I'm a big believer in keeping the vehicle as low as possible in terms of lift. And gain the clearance from bigger tyres. But also maximising total wheel travel and ensuring up travel compression is retained. I'd much rather let the tyre continue to go up/compress the suspension, than restrict the up travel and start to lift the vehicle in the air. I want the suspension to "mould" itself to the terrain, much like a low pressure tyre does around a rock. i.e. keep as many wheels on the ground as much as possible.

This was the philosophy I followed when building my leaf sprung 88 (now sold). It was super stable off road and flexed wonderfully. Yet hardly stood any taller than a stock Series.
q01LMlk.jpg

S120Gx2.jpg
 
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I run extended shocks as well (thought it was clear )
Basically, I agree with your philosophy, stay low with bigger tires.
Very nice flexing in the pictures. (Reminds me my old Cherokee xj (the disco is also fine, of course :) ).
 
I run extended shocks as well (thought it was clear )
Basically, I agree with your philosophy, stay low with bigger tires.
Very nice flexing in the pictures. (Reminds me my old Cherokee xj (the disco is also fine, of course :) ).
I would prefer standard height suspension with taller tires.
 
I would prefer standard height suspension with taller tires.
235/85R16 or 7.50 is certainly doable with a bit of trimming. The narrower the better really as it will allow you to keep them inside the bodywork. Narrower rims may help too.

If memory serves the Camel Trophy Discos ran 7.00 x 16’s on 6j rims. My 88 above is on 7.00 x 16’s in the photo on One Ton rims. Although I never personally ran that combo on a Disco.

If you go up to 17 or 18” rims. Anything comparable height will be a fair bit wider.

If you want to consider other sizes. 8.25 x 16 is a lovely size for a Land Rover. They are a size up from a 7.50. A bit wider and just over 33”. We’ve just run out a set of XZL’s in this size. Sadly super rare and super expensive size these days.

255/85R16 is also just over 33” tall. Wider than an 8.25 or a 235. But about as narrow as you can get these days for this height. You’ll definitely need to trim the arches and fit flares as this size though. But stock suspension should still work.
 
300bhp/ton,
Won't you need to change gear's ratio for these tires?
Should be fine. Low 1st won’t be quite as slow. But still slow enough for most things.

On road performance will be knocked back. But a healthy tweaked Tdi or V8 should cope fine. I used to run my Simex’s with the stock 1.2:1 transfer box and 3.54:1 diff gears.

I would have liked to have swapped to 4.10:1 diff gears, but never got round to it. But it certainly wasn’t needed. It would still sit at 75-80mph. And didn’t feel sluggish.

Swapping in a 1.4:1 transfer box from a Defender would be a fairly cheap option to change the high range.

Biggest thing will be brakes. It will still stop, but bigger heavier, taller tyres will not stop as quickly. And it will be quite noticeable.
 
I guess you are driving a 5 gear's manual transmission.
Mine is automatic, 4 (the common combination around here is 300tdi auto.)
In order to brake better, you can replace the front calipers to defender ones, if I'm not wrong, they are bigger.
 

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