what is the ideal wheel size for offroad use? There are a set in Stirling on ebay at the mo for only £50 and they seem a bit of a steal. Am I ok looking at 17" rims or should I be using bigger?
Thanks!D3 05 SE (old one)
RRS 08 SE (new one)
formerly mxgeldar7
11th Jul 2007 5:38 pm
BCP
Member Since: 25 May 2005
Location: East Scotland
Posts: 1464
Someone on here has a set of STTs for sale at £400. They are worth getting. I ran STs for a bit and found them excellent.
I know .... that will be bobbycrispbox - saw him at weekend .....sadly I dont have the readies available right now so am getting rims first then a tyre as I can afford it!
Thought 17" rims and then get some MTRs (as everyone is raving about them) would be the way to do it!D3 05 SE (old one)
RRS 08 SE (new one)
formerly mxgeldar7
11th Jul 2007 5:46 pm
SN
Member Since: 03 Jan 2006
Location: Romiley
Posts: 13710
You get more rubber on the sidewalls with 17's TBH - IM(L)HO thats the only differentiator there is. Which can be a benefit if you stress your sidewalls - though I doubt you fit into the category of people that would get their D3 into that situation Steve N | 21MY Defender | 08MY Discovery 3 (history) | 06MY Discovery 3 (ancient history)
11th Jul 2007 5:46 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
17 is also narrower and I think this can be a benefit ??? Dunno... an expert will know for sure.
11th Jul 2007 7:38 pm
DiscoStu
Member Since: 09 Apr 2006
Location: London
Posts: 11412
mxgeldar7 wrote:
Thought 17" rims and then get some MTRs (as everyone is raving about them) would be the way to do it!
Member Since: 12 Dec 2005
Location: The Gaff
Posts: 50934
SN wrote:
You get more rubber on the sidewalls with 17's TBH
...but of course... MTR's have 'Durawall' reinforcement 21 year LR veteran > D2 GS 2003 > D3 S 2006 > D3 HSE 2009 > D4 HSE 2013 > D4 HSE 2015 > D5 HSE 2018 > DS HSE R-Dynamic P300e 2021
11th Jul 2007 8:19 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
17" + deeper sidewall, more flex and better footprint when pressure dropped. ST & STT available
- minimal clearance between brake caliper & rim, with possible damage from stones etc.
18" + better clearance around brake caliper
- only AT2 available in this size, nothing wrong with them as an AT tyre but no MT tyre available limits their use. Also IMO the style 1's look pants..
19" + Look the best style IMO, MT/R's are available, they will take an amazing amount of damage before they need changing
- prone to facing damage due to the profile of the wheel, only MT/R tyres available, limited sidewall, can be damaged when aired down
11th Jul 2007 10:14 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
So is a narrower tyre not an advantage or is this just a myth ?
I ask as I am interested and love to ask silly questions that may benefit others - really thats the real reason
11th Jul 2007 10:59 pm
10forcash
Member Since: 09 Jun 2005
Location: Ubique
Posts: 16534
Generally only in snow... pretty much everything else a wider (non-carbon) footprint is better as it distributes the weight over a larger area
11th Jul 2007 11:03 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
oh... since using my 17" wheels I've not had any squealing due to stones between the discs and pads... on the 18's I nearly always did... could be coincidence of course... dunno.
11th Jul 2007 11:03 pm
simon
Member Since: 11 Jan 2005
Location: Shropshire
Posts: 18296
10forcash wrote:
Generally only in snow... pretty much everything else a wider (non-carbon) footprint is better as it distributes the weight over a larger area
Thats what I would have thought. Heard stories though of the Frontera being 'over tyred' and easy to get stuck. When shod with narrower tyres they were pretty good off road on muddy fields.
Mind you, this was a story I was told in Devon - down the pub by a Landie owner
11th Jul 2007 11:05 pm
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26701
The squeeling of trapped stones (many suffered from this in Salisbury) is actually stones getting trapped between the caliper and the wheel. My 17's have some nice grooves milled into them where this has happened. A quick reverse sorts out the stones usually. As tfc says, the 17's run very close at the front.
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