What can you tell me about my tires?

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What can you tell me about my tires?

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What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/18/2008 12:17:35 PM

andrewmcoffin

Posts: 126
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

I've been following several threads about tire recommendations and size. I bought my 2002 Disco from a VW dealership, and the dealership had just put on new set of General Grabber ST tires, 255/65 R16. Anyone know anything about these tires?

These tires are still very new with great tread, so I'm probably not going to replace them anytime soon, but at some point I'd like to find a nice hybrid tire that offers the best combination of gas mileage for street driving and reasonably aggressive tread for offroad performance.

I will soon have an OME lift completed, but I do not want to increase the tire size much, and in the process lose gas mileage. (I mainly bought the OME springs and shocks because of the extra weight from the ARB bumper I installed.)

Photos attached...

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_____________________________

2002 Discovery II SD
ARB Bull Bar
Old Man Emu Shocks & Springs
Old Man Emu Steering Damper
Tom Wood's Custom Front Drive Shaft
General Grabber AT2 255/70R16

Post #: 1

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/18/2008 2:03:32 PM

Disco Mike

Posts: 10523
Joined: 4/27/2006
Status: offline

If you don't have the lift yet, give Tony a call, best price on line for OME products. As for the tires, a set of 245/75/16's, possibly BFG's. will give you a great ride, last forever and are nice off road.

_____________________________

Mike
Retired service manager. Member of the Solihull Society, NCLR club,past member of the SCLR club and Santa Barbara 4 Wheelers.
99 D2, 3" lift, lockers, H.D. axles, 4:11 gears, Custom front and rear bumpers, Warn winch, HID lights and an Engel 45.

(in reply to andrewmcoffin)

Post #: 2

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/18/2008 4:41:49 PM

okdiscoguy

Posts: 2485
Joined: 2/16/2007
From: Tulsa, OK
Status: offline

So, you are lifting and installing an ARB bunper, but you are concerned about fuel mileage? I would opt for the larger tires and offset your gear ratio like DiscoMike did... You get the good tires to offroad and fill up the fenders, and the gears get your mileage back..

_____________________________

97 Discovery SD-7 156K miles
04 Cadillac CTS 34K miles
Good Oil
number of posts does not = knowledge (unless it is me)

(in reply to andrewmcoffin)

Post #: 3

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/19/2008 8:58:13 AM

bigugly82

Posts: 256
Joined: 9/27/2006
Status: offline

okdiscoguy,

Please forgive me. What do you mean and how do your change your gear ratio? New Trans?
I'm still learning. Like I said when I joined, a '74 VW was my main transportation for many years!

-Ugly

_____________________________

'03 Disco 45K miles
'74 VW Super Beetle 67K -original

(in reply to okdiscoguy)

Post #: 4

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/19/2008 9:28:42 AM

jkid

Posts: 598
Joined: 9/26/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: bigugly82

okdiscoguy,

Please forgive me. What do you mean and how do your change your gear ratio? New Trans?
I'm still learning. Like I said when I joined, a '74 VW was my main transportation for many years!

-Ugly

What happened to your big ugly '82?
You can change the ring and pinion gears in the axle differential to give you different sizes and therefore ratios.

_____________________________

01 D2 SE (90K miles) Stock For now
1982 Mercedes 300SD (270k miles)

(in reply to bigugly82)

Post #: 5

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/19/2008 12:12:50 PM

bigugly82

Posts: 256
Joined: 9/27/2006
Status: offline

I knew someone would catch that! I had a mechanically inclined friend who needed a vehicle for his wife ASAP. He took it off my hands for me. Between my VW, Rover, and MINI I couldn't also keep up with the 300D. I'm sure I'll eventually get another one. Like I told my fiance, "if I ever win the lottery and go broke; just check in the garage to find out where my money went!"

*Is it difficult to change out gears? I've seen sites selling different set ups. Kind of pricey. $$$

-Ug

< Message edited by bigugly82 -- 3/19/2008 12:17:16 PM >

_____________________________

'03 Disco 45K miles
'74 VW Super Beetle 67K -original

(in reply to jkid)

Post #: 6

RE: What can you tell me about my tires? - 3/20/2008 9:16:29 AM

andrewmcoffin

Posts: 126
Joined: 7/14/2007
Status: offline

quote:

ORIGINAL: okdiscoguy

So, you are lifting and installing an ARB bunper, but you are concerned about fuel mileage? I would opt for the larger tires and offset your gear ratio like DiscoMike did... You get the good tires to offroad and fill up the fenders, and the gears get your mileage back..

While, I figure if I need to make compromises with the upgrades to keep the truck useful and efficient on the highway (where it's used most of the time) but still modestly upgrade its offroad capabilities. If I go all-out with a roof rack, massive knobby tires, etc. I may not be able to afford to drive the truck!

I wish I understood more about the gear ratios...I'm too much of a novice to attempt that yet.

I'm putting the OME shocks and springs on this weekend. They give the truck a two-inch lift just by installing them, right? I don't really have an option on the lift one way or another when I put this kit on if I understand correctly...

Do you think the truck will look odd with the OME lift and standard size tires? Any downsides (or, for that matter, advantages) to running the OME shocks and springs without increasing the tire size?

_____________________________

2002 Discovery II SD
ARB Bull Bar
Old Man Emu Shocks & Springs
Old Man Emu Steering Damper
Tom Wood's Custom Front Drive Shaft
General Grabber AT2 255/70R16

(in reply to okdiscoguy)

Post #: 7