Landrover Discovery 3 Wheel/Tyre Choice.

Thanks Merv, i registered earlier today and am still waiting for email confirm/approval.

David

Thanks Mike, will do.

Thanks Fox, just found them, they need new tyres also so i think im better off buying new set of steel rims for $500 as second set, that way don't have to worry about cracking/scratching alloys on rocks. I might put Cooper STT on second set and leave the Cooper H/T for road.

16' rims will not fit - the smallest you can go on a standard diesel D3 is 17" rims.

Garry

Well that stuffs my suggestion. I'm used to Defenders.

Thanks Garry, very helpful. I wasnt aware that the RR rims fitted.

Ok Garry, you seem to know what you are talking about, so now what do i do?

Buy the extra 18" spare for $70 and change the Cooper H/Ts currently on the car to Cooper A/T3s (only A/T tyre in a 265/60r/18) in 18 and use them as off road and general driving?

OR

Buy a set of 17" steel rims as a second set and put Cooper S/Ts on them and keep them for off road only?

Am i better off with 17" steel or !8" alloys knowing i can pick a set here and there if i damage one? And which tyre?

David

D3/D4 and their Range Rover Sport equuivalent are basically the same vehicle under the skin. Range Rover is a different vehicle again.

Garry

Tyres are a personal preference - however your 265/60 R 18s are not standard - the standard size for a D3 is 255/60 R 18.

On my Range Rover Sport I have General Grabber 255/60 R18 and my spare is an OEM D3 Wrangler 255/60 R 18 which is not a good tyre but is OK for a spare.

I also have bought a four BMW X5 17" rims ($180 for four) which I will later put some Maxxis Muddies on for hard core offroading.

So - first you need to know what you want to do - stay with 18s all the time, stay with 18s around town and have a second set of 17s for offroad or go to 17s all the time.

If you are getting new tyres I would get 5 ATs on your 18s (you do not have to stay the size you currently have). There are now quite a few brands available - look at the new Bridgestones that are rating well for D3s. For your trip ask whether you need that sixth wheel - a good carcass may suffice (one of your current tyres maybe) if you happy about changing tyres out in the bush. If you do go the sixth wheel there is no need to buy a new tyre for it as long as you have a good one to go on it.

Good ATs will serve you well 99% of the time and will perform well in the desert. The 18s will air down OK and will work fine but just be aware you don't have quite as much air under then as higher profile tyres. Common sense when driving will work wonders.

If you are new to D3s than I would get the desiccant and valve body in the air compressor changed to ensure it is up to the task for your trip. You might also want to consider fitting a LLAMS height controller kit fitted ($600) as it allows you greater control over height selection and allows you to drive faster than 50kph with the suspension up,

Cheers

Garry

Thanks Garry, great info! So BMW X5 is same pattern and offset, interesting.
I think I wii stay on the 18s and go to a set of Coopers A/T3s in same profile I have now, your right I will take a skin as a spare and if I have to, change it out there, last year we did the Simpson on BFG but by most reports the Coopers are now a step ahead.

Yes it is a pain only being able to go 50km/h with susp up but Simpson and other tracks we will be hitting this will be sufficient.

David

Once you get onto AULRO have a look at the tyre threads in the D3 area - you might then change your mind on the Cooper AT3s but as I said tyres are a personal choice.

Garry

Registered 3 days ago to get on to the AULRO site and still do not have administrator approval, Clickey Club?!

No, they are generaly good blokes on that site. Unusual that you haven't heard back. Cheers.

Must be out 4x4ing :)