Tire Trouble

[merlin617]

Hi everyone.

Can someone please help me. I want to fit a set of 235/85R16 BFG Mud terrains to my 90. Its running on Goodyear 7.50R16 G90s at the moment on standard rims. My question is, can I fit the BFGs onto my original rims? Ive rang several tyre fitting places and some say its OK and some say its inadvisable. I don't really want to change the rims as I'm quite fond of the originals. Has anyone out there in landy land got these tires fitted on landy rims or does anyone know definitively if its safe to fit them or not. I don't want to get into a debate about which tires are best but if these wont go on can anyone suggest an alternative? as i don't fancy shelling out 400 odd quid on these tires to have them part company with me going round a corner if you get my meaning.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated

[Eeyore]

On the the BFG website, they recommend fitment to a wider wheel (6.5" IIRC).

I went for Wolf rims when I fitted mine.

[ChrisV8]

My tyre man advised putting them on wider rims so both of mine have 7 inch rims modulars on the 110 and Disco rims on the Rangie, you could as it is a 90 use standard Disco steels which are wide enough or alternatively as suggested use wolfs which are 6.5 inch wide. Wolfs tend to be rather expensive Disco rims dead cheap or find a set of modulars, so many choices !

[Tommo]

disco steels are the strongest steel wheel ever made by land rover, supposedly. But they look a bit gash.

although the question you asked was what other tyres would be better rather than suitable wheels. just get the BFG's in a narrower size.

personally though i would put them on your rims. 90's have a 205 standard so an extra 30mm wont bother it much especially with such a high profile. you can fit  33x12.5" wide tyres to 8" rims dont forget. and theres a few people about who run them on 7's with no bother. not advisable though.

[Eeyore]

disco steels are the strongest steel wheel ever made by land rover, supposedly. But they look a bit gash.

although the question you asked was what other tyres would be better rather than suitable wheels. just get the BFG's in a narrower size.

personally though i would put them on your rims. 90's have a 205 standard so an extra 30mm wont bother it much especially with such a high profile. you can fit  33x12.5" wide tyres to 8" rims dont forget. and theres a few people about who run them on 7's with no bother. not advisable though.

Wolf rims were tested to twice the proof load of standard LR rims, but thats discounting the new military wheels which are quite lterally 'bomb proof'. But Disco steels are pretty tough cookies.

The 235/85 x16 is the nearest metric equivelent to the ol' 7.50x16 which is a standard fitment to 110s. 265/75 were a factory option for the 90 and they are only marginally smaller dia than the 235/85.

If it was my money, I'd ditch the standard rims for something with a bit more wdith. The Disco steels are wider than Wolf rims so may offer more future tyre options should such decisions be made, but they do lack offset. The grey modulars are a pretty darn tough rim too, and they're cheap if you want a non-standard steel option.

[DogVanMan]

I'm running 235/85/16 General Grabbers on a 90 with standard rims at the mo, and previously ran A/t on them same size, no problems but they are in theory too big..

Wolfs are a good bet for 235's - plenty wide enough and bulletproof. I run my 110 on them and I'm looking around for another set for the 90 but to answer your question, standard rims will cope with 235's in my exp.

Incidentally the wolfs took the 90 to Morocco and back with 275/70/16 Geolandars on and never a problem over 6000 well loaded miles of everything from river beds, desert to 12hr motorway runs through Spain. They're also too big for the rims in theory... I'd take what the recommended fitments say with a pinch of salt. The downside is that they can wear more in the centre, same effect as over inflated, as the relatively narrow rims pull the sidewalls down and in.

SO.. 235/85/16 on standard rims are ok in practice but wolfs are plenty wide enough and you'll never need anything stronger. Better offset too. That's what I'd do all in all...

Graeme

[merlin617]

Hi guys,

Many thanks for all the advice. As the general concensus of opinion is that its OK to fit BFGMT 235/85R16s to the standard Landy rim, that's what Ive done and very nice they look to . They are a lot quieter than the G90s and the old girl feels much more sure footed on wet tarmac now. As for orf road I don't know yet but intend to find out this afternoon :twisted:

Thanks again for the help.