Wheels and tyres for series 1 Discovery

[godzilla84]

Anyone who has read my last post will know that I am new to this off roading malarky so please bear with me if these seem like stupid questions........

What are the biggest tyres I can fit to my disco without making any modifications to the suspension or bodywork? I seem to remember that i have read somewhere that 235/70/16 is the biggest but I wanted to check that out.

Also, I am currently running the standard 205/80/16 wheels and tyres, can I fit a 235 tyre to the 205 section wheels??

Stupid questions over for now. Like before, any advice will be greatly apreciated!!

[JWH]

http://members.shaw.ca/jbarge/tires.html should explain all.

Basically biggest size without fiddling with anything is 245/70 but 235/85 will go on with 20 minutes spent with an angle grinder.

Not sure on the tyres going on standard steelies. Modulars shouldn't cost more than £30 each and will increase your offset slightly meaning wider tyres without having to worry about adjusting lockstops (up to a point anyway).

[300bhp/ton]

godzilla84 said:

Anyone who has read my last post will know that I am new to this off roading malarky so please bear with me if these seem like stupid questions........

What are the biggest tyres I can fit to my disco without making any modifications to the suspension or bodywork? I seem to remember that i have read somewhere that 235/70/16 is the biggest but I wanted to check that out.

Also, I am currently running the standard 205/80/16 wheels and tyres, can I fit a 235 tyre to the 205 section wheels??

Stupid questions over for now. Like before, any advice will be greatly apreciated!!

It depends what you want to do. If you just want some AT's for road use then you can go bigger. However some serious MT's have big lugs which can cause more issues, off roading will also make the suspension flex making rubbing more likely.

The two main area's that cause problems are the rear of the rear arch and the front bumper corners. Both can be sorted out in 30-60mins easily.

A 235 70 will give you a wider tyre, but it won't really be much taller (if any) as the side wall is 70% of 238mm compared to 80% of 205mm on the other tyres.

If you are happy trimming the rear arch and modifying the front bumper corners then you could easily fit 31.10.50's (15 rims though) or with a little luck some 238/85R16's (about 32" tall).

As for the stock rims. Yes they will be fine for any of the sizes you are looking at. Only downside is a wider tyre is likely to rub the radius arms at full lock so you may wish to adjust the stops (you'll lose a bit of lock).

If you go for after market rims, most will have a better offset so will be ok and will retain the steering lock.

[godzilla84]

Im probabbly gonna try 245/70/16 for now on the standard alloy wheels. I dont wanna start trimming stuff off just yet cos I might only have the disco until next year (im planning on running a 90 Defender and a second car if the insurance permits)

[300bhp/ton]

TVR Moneypit said:

225 is about the biggest you can fit without them fouling the chassis on near full lock. Unless you fit 30mm spacers of course?

You just adjust the steering stops if you mean the front the wheels. And its the radius arms not the chassis.

[godzilla84]

Given that its already got the turning circle of a super tanker......how much of the steering lock am I going to lose by fitting the tyres on the standard wheels?

[300bhp/ton]

godzilla84 said:

Given that its already got the turning circle of a super tanker......how much of the steering lock am I going to lose by fitting the tyres on the standard wheels?

It shouldn't be that bad, and it may not be an issue at all, depends where the stops are at at the mo.

Running after market rims (8 spokes/modulars) you'll probably be able to gain steering lock. I run 8 spokes and 33.11.50R15's (about a 290 width) with huge lugs and have better lock now than when stock.

[godzilla84]

Well having taken it off road for the first time yesterday and discovered how well it coped on standard road tyres im gonna try the 245's on standard rims for now and adjust the bump stops and then save up for a set of modular wheels.

[godzilla84]

Change of plan!! I was offered a set of 5 slightly worn Mud Terrain 235/70/16s for £100 so I have snapped them up for the time being. Im now gonna start buying all the other off road trinkets I want for the disco and then get the arches modded and the suspension lifted to cope with some bigger tyres.