9.00x16 tyres on a Defender
Michael
to a late model Defender?
FYI, I am told that this size tyre has a diameter of approx 36',
though it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. A 7.50x16 averages
about 31.5" diameter.
So far, I have been told:
1) Fit Wolf or 130 rims (I am not sure if these have the same offset
as standard Defender rims, or if they are just wider), and;
2) Fit longer springs and shocks (Not sure if +1" is enough, or must
one go to +2").
Do I need to do anything else? What about when these long springs are
fully compressed?
Once any necessary modifications have been made to fit the *taller*
tyres, how much *wider* can I go before I have to make more
modifications?
Thanks in advance,
Michael...
PS. I know about some of the possible negative effects of taller
wheels (adverse handling, change to gearing, extra strain on
transmission).
John
for looks?? You have large diameter tyres for ground clearance and
gearing, wide tyres for floatation. You do not say why you are looking
at them.
Also they put a lot more strain on the axles and gearbox, personally
if you are going to use them heavily, uprated half shafts and 4 pin
diffs are needed.
john 110 on 35/12.5/15, Salisbury axles both ends
Rich
alter the caster angle on front steering geometry and make it dodgy on the
road!!!!
This is due to the front suspension arms being fixed to the axle and
pivoting about the point at which the arms connect the chassis.
Michael
>It looks as though you do not really know why you are doing this! Just
>for looks?? You have large diameter tyres for ground clearance and
>gearing, wide tyres for floatation. You do not say why you are looking
>at them.
>
>Also they put a lot more strain on the axles and gearbox, personally
>if you are going to use them heavily, uprated half shafts and 4 pin
>diffs are needed.
>
>john 110 on 35/12.5/15, Salisbury axles both ends
>
Hmmm.. thanks for your input, John, but actually, I *do* know exactly
*why* I am opting for taller tyres. I just don't know what I need to
do to my vehicle to fit them!
I agree with your comments on the transmission strain (I mentioned
that snag in my original post), and yes, I intend uprating the diffs
and half-shafts. I am also aware of the problems with handling, the
extra unsprung mass, and the increased purchase price...
But larger diameter tyres:
* offer much better flotation (see footnote).
* Wear out more slowly (other things being equal)
* Offer better ground clearance
* Dissipate heat more effectively
* Travel over uneven ground more easily (don't snag on obstacles)
* Build up less of a "front" of sand or mud as you drive - this is a
real problem for wide tyres.
Regards,
Michael...
Footnote:
Actually all tyres, no matter how wide, narrow, big or small diameter,
offer almost the same contact area on a flat road, at any given
pressure!
A weight of 500kg (5000 newtons of downward force) on a tyre at 100kPa
(1 Bar) will spread the tyre over an area of 0.002 square metres (if I
have my arithmetic right). It doesn't matter what dimensions the tyre
starts with, it will distort until there is sufficient ground
supporting it.
The advantage of bigger tyres (wider OR taller), is that they can be
run at lower pressures. The increased distortion (leading to a bigger
"footprint") takes place over a bigger area, and therefore doesn't
damage the tyre.
Of course the picture changes somewhat if a tyre digs into soft
ground. Under these circumstances a large diameter tyre will have a
clear advantage over a small tyre, no matter how wide the small tyre
is. The small tyre has a very steep "hill" to climb to get out of the
hole, compared to the large tyre.
Hope this was of interest to someone!
Michael
Hello Rich,
Can this be adjusted at all? This vehicle will be designed to travel
at around 50-55mph. Will it still present a problem?
More importantly, do I NEED more than an inch for 9.00x16 tyres?
Regards,
Michael...
giles evans
Use wolf rims (surprisingly cheap from your main dealer).Once fitted to the
vehicle,adjust the lock stops and trim the lower portions of the wheel arch
extensions,as these will foul on certain combinations of lock and
articulation.In most cases this is all you will need to do.
Any other mods will depend on the use you want to put the vehicle to and
the particular tyre you choose.For instance Petlas or Avons will cause you
no other problems(except Petlas are not strictly road legal in the UK) but
the larger 900's like Michelin XZL's will cause more problems.
If you decide you want to lift the vehicle it is not just the length of
the spring which is important-the rate also determines the final ride
height.Also you are right to be wary of the sring becoming "coil bound" with
poorly chosen springs. Try one of the specialist spring suppliers for
advice.
If you are doing a lot of off roading you may need to space the bump
stops to prevent the tyre hitting the top of the wheel arch.
Also think about uprating your brakes as the extra diameter will reduce
their effectiveness
Hope that's some help.
Giles
Michael wrote in message <38f8b3a3...@news.demon.co.uk>...
neil
been running 9.00x16 bar treads on My s11a swb V8 for a couple
of years now. The only real problems are heavier/slower steering and reduced
steering lock more like a 109's turning circle. I am due to change them soon
and finding a reasonable priced set is being a challenge.I may go for
smaller 265s or even swap to 15" rims.
Yours
Neil
John
>Hmmm.. thanks for your input, John, but actually, I *do* know exactly
>*why* I am opting for taller tyres. I just don't know what I need to
>do to my vehicle to fit them!
I would suspect at least a 2" lift would be needed, probably with
stiffer springs to keep stability. Look at the Safarigard website,
Greg runs 900x16 XZLs on his D90 - but that is very lifted/modified!
Another factor is what treads are available, little 900/16 other than
Michelin....
john
Michael
I am considering Michelin XCL's (not least because I have been offered
some quite cheaply, but also because I have had good experience with
Michelins, and don't mind the noise...).
So far, from this ng and other sources, the picture seems to be:
* Fit the tyres to Wolf rims (will 130 or Disco steel rims do the
job?)
* Adjust steering lock stops.
* Raise the suspension all round by 1" (longer, stiffer springs,
longer, heavy-duty shocks).
* Space the bump stops (1" spacer?).
* Trim wheel-arch extensions (front and rear?).
* Heavy duty half-shafts & 4-pinion diffs, 4.7 ratio (I intend running
Rover, not Salisbury, so this is very important)(I am considering
Ashcroft for these components - any experience?)
*Up-rated brakes
Any further comment or suggestions would be welcomed.
Regards,
Michael
PS. Giles, you have been helpful to me on previous questions as well -
thanks again!
giles evans
standard LR rims) so don't use them.
Ashcroft shafts and diffs are excellent.They will make your axles nearly
as strong as a Salisbury
Wheel arch extensions need trimming front and rear,but not by much-do it
carefully and no-one will know you've done it!
Michael wrote in message <38fcbfc4....@news.demon.co.uk>...
Kent Clarstroem - Dimension
> I would suspect at least a 2" lift would be needed, probably with
> stiffer springs to keep stability. Look at the Safarigard website,
> Greg runs 900x16 XZLs on his D90 - but that is very lifted/modified!
> Another factor is what treads are available, little 900/16 other than
> Michelin....
285/75 or 255/85 is a good option though, not as wide and high but good
enough I'd say. Lots of treads and manufacturers has these.
Regards, Kent
-- Kent Clarstroem, Dimension Syd, +46-46-2882100 --
Steve Goodfellow
<sg...@snowy.com> writes
>Anyone know what modifications one needs to make to fit 9.00x16 tyres
>to a late model Defender?
>
driving a couple of Defenders with 9.00x16 tyres fitted. They belong to
a bunch of extremely nice people from Hereford.
>FYI, I am told that this size tyre has a diameter of approx 36',
>though it varies from manufacturer to manufacturer. A 7.50x16 averages
>about 31.5" diameter.
The tyres of preference on these Defenders were Michelin with sand
pattern treads (XZL?). Sorry, but I don't know what diameter they are.
>
>So far, I have been told:
>
>1) Fit Wolf or 130 rims (I am not sure if these have the same offset
>as standard Defender rims, or if they are just wider), and;
>
The rims were certainly not standard Defender, but no-one knew what they
were. Certainly not Wolf as these Defenders were too old for that. 130
perhaps?
>2) Fit longer springs and shocks (Not sure if +1" is enough, or must
>one go to +2").
They were fitted with +1" springs and OME shocks.
>
>Do I need to do anything else? What about when these long springs are
>fully compressed?
No other mods had been made to theses Defenders except to cut away a
large chunk of the wheel arch extensions on the front to prevent the
tyres rubbing on them at full lock with the suspension depressed.
>
>Once any necessary modifications have been made to fit the *taller*
>tyres, how much *wider* can I go before I have to make more
>modifications?
For normal use and even extreme off-roading here in the UK I doubt any
other modifications are necessary. The vehicle I was driving (one of
about 70 in use) normally carries upwards of 3 tonnes of kit and is used
in some pretty hostile parts of the world.
>
--
Steve Goodfellow http://www.imjin.demon.co.uk
1995 Land Rover Discovery 300Tdi
North Somerset Land Rover Club http://www.nslrc.org.uk
Michael
These, umm, extremely nice people from Hereford <grin> - do you think
they'd mind if I contacted them and asked about their vehicles?
Regards,
Michael (mgr...@acrcc.demon.co.uk)
Steve Goodfellow
<sg...@snowy.com> writes
>Thanks for the useful info, Steve.
>
>These, umm, extremely nice people from Hereford <grin> - do you think
>they'd mind if I contacted them and asked about their vehicles?
>
>Regards,
>
>Michael (mgr...@acrcc.demon.co.uk)
>
>
though.
Julian Phipps
Why exactly do you want 9.00x16s?
Michael <sg...@snowy.com> wrote in message
news:38fc0e60....@news.demon.co.uk...
> On Sun, 16 Apr 2000 09:45:15 +0100, John <sen...@hotmail.com> wrote:
>
> >It looks as though you do not really know why you are doing this! Just
> >for looks?? You have large diameter tyres for ground clearance and
> >gearing, wide tyres for floatation. You do not say why you are looking
> >at them.
> >
> >Also they put a lot more strain on the axles and gearbox, personally
> >if you are going to use them heavily, uprated half shafts and 4 pin
> >diffs are needed.
> >
> >john 110 on 35/12.5/15, Salisbury axles both ends
> >
>
> Hmmm.. thanks for your input, John, but actually, I *do* know exactly
> *why* I am opting for taller tyres. I just don't know what I need to
> do to my vehicle to fit them!
>
Christopher Seaman
lol
cheers
Chris
Julian Phipps <jgph...@cableinet.co.uk> wrote in message
news:iO%Q4.6054$tQ3.6...@news3.cableinet.net...
Justyn Lane
tyres, but are OK off road, I had a set of 7.50x16 on it and they are only
half worn at 50,000 miles, and have had 9.00x16 on leaf sprung "1ton" S11A
before and have them for their longevity, no problems with mechanicals, as
it all depends how you drive, just have to accept that it takes longer to
wind them up and longer to slow them down, so just be gentle, no reason why
you need to beef everything up to match, it should all be upto the job!!
:-)