BFG Trackedges

On or around 4 Jul 2005 15:11:53 -0700, snipped-for-privacy@legend.net.uk enlightened us thusly:

If they're standard narrow 90 rims, then the tyres are a tad wide for them.

110 rims would be better.

The min rim width for this size tyre going by the BFGoodrich fitment guide is 6.5J, the 90 and 110 std rim width is 5.5J, in my experience 7J would be the best size for this tyre. You need to think about the safety side of things and don't forget that only the very latest L/Rover steel wheel rims are tubeless, all the earlier steel wheels need a tube, we are still getting L/Rover Defenders coming in with the tyres built up tubeless which is a "NO NO" All the best Andy Sargeant

On or around Tue, 5 Jul 2005 08:54:23 +0100, "Andy Sargeant" enlightened us thusly:

110s are wider than 90s, though. The 110 rims will take 235/85 tyres, and indeed are supplied as such by the factory, these days, I think.

standard SWB/90 rims are a bit narrow though as you say. In fact, disco steel rims are 7J and 205 tyres look distinctly undersized on 'em.

Thanks for the replies.

I had tubes fitted when the tyres where put on. I'm probably going to put them on a set of 7J's but out of interest, what are the implications of running these tyres on standard 5.5J rims ?

Also, should I keep the tubes when having these tyres fitted on the new rims ?

Cheers,

Chris

Austin, The std steel rim supplied from the factory is the same on 110 and 90 being

5.5x16, unless "Wolf" steel rims which are 6.5x16, which will take a 235 section tyre with ease, the 235/85x16 tyres supplied from the factory only come out on 7x16 alloy wheel rims, it is NOT recommended to fit 235/85x16 on the std 5.5x16 steel wheel rim. Disco steels as you say are 7J and do look a little strange with 205's on them, we do have a good selection of these Disco steels at present if anyone is looking. Regards Andy Sargeant

On or around Wed, 6 Jul 2005 08:54:55 +0100, "Andy Sargeant" enlightened us thusly:

in the old days, SWB and LWB had different rims, and I'm fairly sure that still applies to the 90/110. I had 235/85s on standard LWB steel rims and they didn't look wrong - after all, the standard fitment is 7.50R16, compared to 6.00 for SWB/90 - the latter were replaced with 205R16 which are about 2" wider nominally, by the factory, on the same rims, AIUI (if not that, then they were a legitimate fitment[1]). Thus I can't really see why

235s, which are nominally about 2" wider than 7.50, are a problem on LWB ones.

out of interest: is there (and if not why not) a maximum rim size recommended for any given tyre, as well as a minimum? Seems to me that mounting a narrow tyre on a wide rim is just as likely to be dangerous as mounting a wide one on a narrow rim.

[1] Since the writing of the main text of this manual, BL have issued a great deal of information which relates to tyre makes and sizes...

BL state that any 88" wheelbase vehicle fitted with 5.50x16 rims can now be equipped with the Range Rover 205R16 tyres...

90/110 have always had the same (LWB) rim, right up to TA VIN no's. 90's were supplied with 205's as standard up till somewhere before the 200Tdi came in. 6.50's were never fitted as far as I know.

as are a great number - 6.50's have been difficult to get for a long time, and I believe there is now only one supplier, making a copy of the 60's style ones.

Richard

The tyre manufacturers usually list a max/min range of advised rim widths. In the book I've just viewed, Michelin list a preferred width and also a 'permitted' range.

For the subject 245/75R16 that was originally mentioned (if I remember correctly), BFG quote a width range of 6.5" to 7.5"

The use of 205R16s on a 4.50-16 rim is a horrible combination. It wobbles all over the place.

On or around Wed, 06 Jul 2005 19:54:10 +0100, Dougal enlightened us thusly:

yebbut, we were talking about 5.5x16.

It was just a general statement!

On or around Wed, 06 Jul 2005 21:40:54 +0100, Dougal enlightened us thusly:

Oh, OK. I didn't think it likely that anyone actually had a 4.5x16 rim, at that.

Certainly never had any problems with 235/85 tyres on standard 110 rims. Naturally, since I've been trying to find this out, I've failed to find a single 110 on standard rims. On series vehicles, LWB ones had wider rims than SWB. Whether this still applies to 90/110 I don't know for certain, but the 110 rims on mine looked a lot like LWB rims on a series.

Austin, The standard steel wheel rim is the same size on all 90/110 Defenders and has been since the very first, 5.5x16 is the size as I said, you are right though the series L/Rovers were different from SWB to LWB. Here is a question for all of you; How many different type wheel rims have L/Rover produced from the start of production of the first Series One to the latest Defender (steel and alloy) but not including R/Rover and Discovery, only L/Rover supplied wheel rims. I must point out yet again that it is NOT recommended to fit a

235/85x16 tyre on a 5.5x16 wheel rim, which is the size of the standard 110 wheel rim which you are using, not a problem to me but please think of the insurance implications if it could be proved that the over sized tyre fitted to your standard wheel rim caused an accident, hopefully this will never happen but you know what insurance companies are like, and NO I am not trying to sell you new wheel rims as you may think. We have had problems in the past with sidewall cracks due to the wider tyre being pinched on to narrow a rim.

Best regards

Including South African 90's, Defender has had 26 different wheels, then there's 6.50 rims, 1-Ton Rims, split-rims and FC rims, plus arguably the Forrest (Bog) Rover, Cuthbertson and Rail Rover.

Richard