New tyres for 1999 300TD LWB
I'm thinking of fitting BFG 265/75 R16s on my 300TD (no lift kit - yet). But I'm wondering if 285/75s will fit, or is the diameter just too big?
Thanks
Richard
I have BFG 235/85R16s fitted to my G300D, which are slightly taller than the BFG 265/75 R16s you suggest (32"). No rubbing problems at all but I am not sure that the other will not rub without bodylift.
Did an event this weekend with the wheels off my 460/280ge (these are 15" alloys OE) put straight onto my 463 300GDL with no bother at all. Tyre size is 33/10.50x15 BFG MUD T/A.
Surprisingly they look the business under it. Pity they have to go back on the 460 for the next event.
Regards,
Mike
Thanks Mike,
The 285/75 R16s are 32.8" diameter, so they should be ok. But they are a little wider at 11.2" so they might rub a bit at full lock.
I'm off to a big 4x4 tyre dealer tomorrow to have a closer look.
let us know , how you did guys .thanks
I ended up buying BFG AT 265/75 R16s. The tyre dealer showed me some 285/75 R16s. They were considerably bigger (in width and diameter). He was pretty sure that they would rub on the front on full lock and may rub the wheel arches on severe off-road conditions. He was willing to test fit them but I didn't bother.
One great thing about these tyres that never gets mentioned is the noticeable improvement in stability and ride due to effectively making the car 10cm wider. The BFG ATs also have a very square shoulder which puts more rubber on the road at the outside edge of the tyre.
The dealer said I would have a noticeably increase in fuel consumption due to the higher gearing of the larger tyres. This is true until you take into account the fact that you are travelling more miles than the speedo is showing. The 265/75 R16 increases the gearing by 8.9% compared to the standard tyre. That means 8.9% faster and 8.9% more miles than the speedo says. When you take this into account the fuel consumption is about the same as it was with the old tyres.
Before I bought them I did a quick comparison with some other tyre sizes:
16" wheels (406.4 mm)
255/65 R16
Diameter: 737.9 mm / 29.05" (assuming this is the standard tyre)
205/75 R16
Diameter: 713.9 mm / 28.11" (- 24.0 mm / - 0.94% compared to the standard tyre)
265/70 R16
Diameter: 777.4 mm / 30.61" (+ 39.5 mm / + 5.35% compared to the standard tyre)
265/75 R16
Diameter: 803.9 mm / 31.65" (+ 66.0 mm / + 8.9% compared to the standard tyre)
235/85 R16
Diameter: 805.9 mm / 31.73" (+ 68.0 mm / + 9.2% compared to the standard tyre)
285/75 R16
Diameter: 833.9 mm / 32.83" (+ 96.0 mm / + 13.0% compared to the standard tyre)
I hope this is useful if you are thinking about new tyres.
Yeah, I think that was the right choice too. The 285's would be more dramatic looking under it but would be all wrong on the road, oh and cost a fortune on fuel.
Wait 'till you see the mileage you will get from them. You will be a much older person by the time they need to be replaced.
One thing. The BFG A/T will tend to scrub the inside and outside shoulders off on the front two tyres so need to be shifted onto the back about every 7/10,000 miles. They will then wear out evenly.
Regards,
Mike
Thanks Mike,
I did see an article a couple of years back about a farmer who was forced to put a new set of tyres on his Land Rover 90. He was grumbling that he only got 110,000 miles out of his BFG ATs :)
I'll be watching out for the front shoulders scrubbing - thanks.
I put some 32x11.5x15's BFG MT's on my standard 460 and noticed that the speedo (when calibrated against my tomtom) was now spot on.
So thats a bonus :D
Some would comment that the 11.50 wide tyre is a little too wide for the standard 7jx15 alloy wheel rim for daily road use.
Do you find that the vehicle rolls on the rim when going around the bend quickly?
Something to keep a eye on is the area of the tyre where tyre meets the rim both on the inside and outside 'cause if its rolling too much you will see wear and eventuallly cracking there. The wear will look like that the rim is burying itself into the tyre bead area.
Nothing to be too concerned with just throw an odd look at it from time to time.
Regards,
Mike
Thanks for heads up Mike.
Don't really do that many miles in the G and hardly any in a 'spirited' fashion.
Doesn't feel any different to the 10.5x31 I had before except a little more noise and a little more care in the wet (swapped AT to MT tread)
Andy
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Thanks for the info.