NextStepDesigns

81 Responses to “LR3 wheel & tire specifications and options”

1. Brad says:

   October 15, 2008 at 7:46 pm

   Thanks Nathan. I found the 18″ 5 spoke wheels at California Chrome in Valencia but it took quite a bit of searching. Apparently everyone has the same idea and it’s making the 18″ wheels scarce. Thanks for your advice!
2. Phil says:

   November 25, 2008 at 1:07 am

   Hey, you might want to check the Nokian website, but it looks like there is are a few more winter tire options for the LR3. The WR2 is available in both 18″ and 19″ sizes and I think that there’s also Hakkepelita studded and non-studded tires also.
3. John says:

   December 8, 2008 at 1:38 am

   Nathan You have done all the homework for the rest of us - Cheers mate. Looking at the lift mod as well as rock sliders, both found on Disco3 Forum and doing tires as well.

   Quick question - for something like the rubicon, what’s your choice coopers or nitto?

   Thanks Again.

   Cheers
   John Z
4. bert says:

   December 11, 2008 at 7:07 am

   The best tire for mud, snow, ice, sand, and rock that are the smoothest, softest, and quietest highway ride; are the Dunlop Grandtrek PT1.

   I have them in the 285×60-18 size, Dunlop claimed due to thier heavy duty cut and chunk resistant sidewall construction they are ideal for retread applications as well.

   These tires will corner so hard with out squeal that I am taking corners as fast as my Porsche (the 2″ wider track with the Redbourne wheels help a lot), the wet and dry traction exceeds the Goodyear, michelin and Pirelli tires that I also have mounted on extra rims, yet they make less noise on the highway!
5. Jantiz says:

   January 18, 2009 at 4:27 pm

   We need to be careful when we give advice on things like tire choices for the LR3 and RRS. People log in and assume that the posts here (NOT the original list which is genial and GREAT information) are from people who know their stuff and will go out and make a purchase based on bad information sometimes. Like the post above for example. bert says that the Grandtrek PT1 is the best tire for mud, snow, ice, sand and rock. The linked web site in his post will take you to a description of the tire where it is clearly stated that the Grandtrek is NOT meant to be used in snow and though it doesn’t say it, it is obviously not an ice tire either. One look at the thread design will also tell you that it is not a mud tire and probably not aggressive enough to be the best sand tire either. So at best, we are left with a very quiet highway tire that does good in wet weather and high speed cornering stability.

   Lets try to be fair and unbiased when we recomend something to our fellow LR3/RRS owners. I have been running Goodyear Silent Armors in the 265/60/18 size for over 40k miles now and can tell you without any reservation that these are the MOST well rounded tire for the LR3 in todays market, period. As I have stated somewhere else before, you can find better mud tires, better winter tires, more quiet tires, softer riding tires, better sand tires and so on, but you will NOT find another tire that can do ALL these things remarkably well, all in a single tire. The Zeon LTZs are a close second as far as all around performer, but they currently score less than favorably in snow/ice and while they seem to be fairly quiet, they do transfer more thread vibration than I’d prefer.

   Feel free to find me at LRRForums.com and read some more under any of my posts for LR3 tires.
6. nwoods says:

   January 19, 2009 at 11:41 am

   I would hope everyone reading this blog understands that the comments, and the posts themselves, are just opinions. I am fairly careful about what I post to ensure that it is solid information, but whenever someone throws out words like “the best” it must be taken with a dose of skepticism.

   As for YOUR recommendation that the Silent Armours are “the MOST well rounded tire for the LR3 in today’s market, period.” I would have to disagree. The Silent Armours are certainly a quality, capable tire, but they are decidedly street oriented.

   I think the blurring of lines comes from the distinction between All Terrain, verses a generally well rounded tire. Terrain, by definition, suggests off tarmac. For me, I am interested in a good tire that performs very well in all terrain conditions I am likely to encounter. Street performance is a factor, but secondary.

   I would suggest that the BFG T/A All Terrain’s are probably the best all terrain tire available, with the Coopers being second to them, but having somewhat better street manners. Next is the highly comparable Nitto’s (compared to the Coopers), then after that you have to choose orientations, more street, or more aggressively off road oriented.
7. Ryan Lucas says:

   January 23, 2009 at 11:10 am

   I am looking at the hankook DynaPro ATM RF10
   http://www.discounttiredirect.com/direct/findTireDetail.do?pc=10825&counter=2&ar=65&rd=18&sw=false&cs=265
   I like the idea it looks like the cooper ltz tread pattern but narrower so it may do a little better in the snow. Any thoughts on these? The price is tempting.
8. nwoods says:

   January 23, 2009 at 8:30 pm

   Ryan, I’m unfamiliar with Hankook’s in general, not sure who actually makes them. Several people on various forums are running with Hankook winter tires, and love them. The tire you linked to is very similar to the Goodyear Silent Armor that is well respected also. The tread looks like the Cooper, but a bit tamer, with more street oriented side lugs. If your use is primarily street, these certainly seem like an appropriate hybrid street/trail tire.

   I did a bit more searching and found this: http://www.4×4tirereview.com/abouttesting.html
   They seemed to like them, and they tested them in snow and dirt. Here is another link with more actual info. I’m impressed! These Hankook’s seem like a pretty good find!
   http://www.4×4tirereview.com/ATcomparotest.html

   http://www.4×4tirereview.com/sitebuilder/images/Hankook_1979-146×219.jpg
9. Ryan Lucas says:

   January 23, 2009 at 9:26 pm

   Thanks. Ya I have been thinking between the hankook and the general at that is almost identical to the bfg in a 285-60 the price is the same I may just flip a coin
10. Ryan Lucas says:

    January 29, 2009 at 7:26 pm

    “I would suggest that the BFG T/A All Terrain’s are probably the best all terrain tire available, with the Coopers being second to them, but having somewhat better street manners. Next is the highly comparable Nitto’s (compared to the Coopers), then after that you have to choose orientations, more street, or more aggressively off road oriented.”

    So you would rate off road ability
    1. BFG ATKO
    2. COOPER LTZ
    3.NITTOs

    ? would you rate the General Grabbet at2 next to the bfg?
11. nwoods says:

    January 29, 2009 at 8:27 pm

    Hello Ryan, generally speaking, yes, I think that ranking is correct Though those Hankook’s you pointed us to might rank up there also. I’ve seen the General Grabber AT2’s in person, and have heard that they rode well and did surprizingly well in mud (Colorado mud), but they appear to be only a 2-ply sidewall, whereas the BFG is a 3 ply and famously tough, so I would still rank the BFG higher, and put the AT2’s 4th or 5th on the list (depending on how good the Hankook’s prove to be)

    Now, there are certainly more agressive tires available (MTR, STT, etc..), and a distinction should be made about what I am refering to in “best all terrian tire” comparisons. For me, terrain by definition is off pavement. I think the BFG offers the best all around off pavement performance, and its on pavement performance is pretty good too, but is stiffer and louder than the Coopers. The BFG will wear longer, but at the sacrifice of ride quality.

    For me, as a frequent off roader, the BFG is a good choice. Others may want a slightly tamer tire such as the Cooper/Nitto/Toyo tire, and then you go down another level to the excellent street performance with acceptable off road performance in a tire like the Goodyear Silent Armors.

    It just depends on how much you want to spend, and how often you will use the more extreme capabilities of the tire. They are all excellent compared to the Goodyear Wrangler HP’s!
12. Ryan Lucas says:

    January 29, 2009 at 10:54 pm

    I think we are on the same page thanks. I always appreciate your thoughts and opinions
13. Ryan Lucas says:

    January 29, 2009 at 11:10 pm

    I am leaning away from thw mtr I don’t want to loose the articulaton and I just cant seem to get the nerve to have a over a grand in tires and wheels sitting in the garage to use 8xs in a year when I can just choose another line and use some finesse to get thru. I am not running a Jeep anymore So far I have keept up with the guys I run with on my avons other than in the deep snow. sure I had to run a line a little different but I have made it thru. I just can’t wait to see how the LR3 handles with a decent set of shoes. Right now it is sprinting in flip flops and is keeping up fairly well with modified older generation rovers.
14. Ryan Lucas says:

    January 30, 2009 at 4:17 pm

    wow I just got the link on the shoot out between the bfg, hankook, and toyo
    quite Interesting eh! wish they wold have been able to put the cooper and general in it as well to see how they performed compaired to the tried n true bfg. Looks like It is getting put in its place. I will have to keep tabs on the testing to come.
15. Ryan Lucas says:

    January 30, 2009 at 4:20 pm

    Hankook Dynapro ATM RF10 Are you recomending the 265-65 or 265-60 the link is to a 65 and the post is a 60. no big deal just thought id let you know. Ill quit cluddering up the posts for a spell.
16. taylor says:

    March 2, 2009 at 9:20 pm

    do you guys have a recommendation section, i’d like to suggest some stuff
17. Andrew says:

    March 16, 2009 at 12:51 am

    Hi Guys - I am going through the same…

    I like the LTZ Coopers but wont be able to fit snow chains…

    I priced the BFG AT and they were Very expensive, try 40% more than the LTZ (not sure if it seems right)

    Looking for AT bias, prefer 255/265×60x18… would go for the BFG but for the price…

    Thoughts?
18. Serren says:

    March 20, 2009 at 2:35 pm

    I dont usually comment, but after reading through so much info I had to say thanks
19. E says:

    April 2, 2009 at 10:11 am

    Do you know anyone who can get the 275/65/18 MTR in the spare tire well of a Sport?
20. Paul says:

    April 5, 2009 at 7:57 pm

    I was wondering if the 285/60 stick out beyond the wheel well of the LR3? I just bought mine and was already looking for an A/T tire with an aggressive tread but I do not like them to stick out passed the wheel well…
21. nwoods says:

    April 5, 2009 at 9:29 pm

    Hello Paul. No, the 285/60/18’s fit just fine inside the wheel well. Here is a photo. However, they do fill the wheel well, and allow very little room inside between the tire sidewall and the upper suspension A-arm. This can be problematic if you need to run snow chains in the winter. With 285/60/18, you cannot fit chains.
22. paul says:

    April 5, 2009 at 9:41 pm

    thanks a lot for the photo. When I saw that before I thought those flairs were not the standard onnes but part of the accessories. Thanks again. I am going to try and get the coopers…do you know if there still is an availability issue?
23. paul says:

    April 5, 2009 at 10:23 pm

    Do you know the width of the wheel well?
24. nwoods says:

    April 5, 2009 at 11:44 pm

    Paul, I have no idea what the inside wheel well measurements are, but at 285/60/18 is 31.5″ tall, and 11.25″ wide. They fit, but barely. Anything wider will rub the A-arms, anything taller rubs everything else. The 285/60 will rub in the rear under full compression, but not problematically. You will need to check your front left wheel well for the brake sensor location though. If it’s outboard of the frame (on the side of the frame) it could be rubbed through at full left lock. it takes 30 seconds to relocate the wire to run along the top of the frame and out of the way. You can reuse the clip its mounted with!
25. nwoods says:

    April 5, 2009 at 11:46 pm

    I have not heard of any availability issues lately.
26. paul says:

    April 6, 2009 at 5:06 am

    Thank you…
27. LLP says:

    April 21, 2009 at 11:59 pm

    Great info! I have an LR3 and was originally looking at the BFG’s but now I am considering switching to coopers or Nitto’s. the picture link above (re: 285/60/18’s ) are those Coopers or Nitto’s?

    Lastly, I love the Black Rims. Did you have them powder coated or painted?
28. nwoods says:

    April 22, 2009 at 1:08 am

    In the text of the article, I link to an image of the Nittos on my truck, as well as a link to the Coopers on my Truck. The Cooper image has about 32,000 miles on it, holding up great, the Nittos about 15,000 I think, maybe a bit less. The Nittos did not last me as long as the Coopers are doing. I really like the Coopers. Yes, my OEM 10 spoke 18″ wheels are powder coated. Looks good, but not very durable in the rocks that I subject them to.
29. Mark says:

    April 27, 2009 at 9:35 pm

    I am replacing a set of Toyo Proxes. I am looking for a more off-road look, and capabilities. Will I be dissapointed in the Slient Armours off-road look and ability?
30. FAROUK says:

    April 29, 2009 at 6:02 am

    nwoods, your thoughts on the 255 70 R18 GY triple tred, please.

    Thanks in advance and regards.
31. Canton Tire says:

    May 13, 2009 at 2:26 pm

    I love hardcore offroading and have been looking for tires for awhile now. Thanks for the help! Great article!