Greetings all - apologies if this was already posted somewhere and I just didn't see it.

So I'm desperately wanting a new Defender 110, but I live in the mountainous part of Colorado where winter tires are a MUST during snowy months. I've driven both snow-rated all-terrains, and dedicated winter-specific tires on all my past SUVs.. the winter-specific tires always win in terms of braking and cornering, hands down.

Does anyone know of a winter-specific tire that'd fit on ANY of the new Defender rims? I realize the Goodyear Wrangler all-terrains are an option, but these will never perform as well as a true winter-specific tire, even if they're snow-rated. I've contacted Tirerack, Les Schwab, Nokian, my local Land Rover dealer.. none of them could find one in the new Defender's stock tire sizes (specifically the 255/65-19 and 255/60-20 sizes). It seems the Defender has some rather unusual OEM tire sizes. One suggestion was to purchase aftermarket rims/tires and swap them every season.. but if the overall rim/tire diameters are slightly off, could cause odometer/speedometer/TPMS inaccuracies (not to mention the aftermarket appearance). Same goes for finding a tire that fits the rim, but doesn't match OEM spec. Not ideal for a brand new $75k+ car.

Has anyone else here shared similar concerns? I'm ready to get a new Defender, but this could be a dealbreaker. Winter months aren't too far away so I want to confirm something out there exists before dropping the ball.

Thanks in advance for any insight/advice-

Al

**Edit - I mis-typed the sizes. Defender shows 255/65-19 for the 19's, and 255/60-20 for the 20's.

 

Quick check of tire rack turned up 4 dedicated snow tires in your 255/55r19

https://m.tirerack.com/tires/TireSea...&diameter=19#0

 

The Defender is still very new and there will be a catchup by manufacturers to make that specific size. But you can find 6 options today in 275/55/20 very easily which fit the 20" rim fine and get you some great options including Blizzaks which I run in Colorado on our cars. Plus it's August, you have plenty of time.

 

Apologies - that's not the correct tire size. I've since corrected the original post.

 

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires...m=56VR0SCORWXL

I'd buy a set of someones take off 20s... are stock wheels 20" with 47mm offset? Those wheels are on the disco V and on the rrs back to 2012(13?). Tpms is plug and play. I got 4 on amazon for like 120$ shipped... my offroad tires for my disco are rrs 20s and amazon tpms with zero issues... have you thoight about a different tire ratio... you have some more room to play with and slightly upsize your tire.

 

I decided to postpone ordering my new Defender and take my LR4 through one more winter due to this issue. I can't find a single winter tire in the Defender 19" or 20" size.
Closest is 255-55-19 which I have on my LR4. With weekly trips to VT, I can't imagine going without winter tires. I'm a big fan of Nokian winter tires and I reached out to them. Their reply is that they will probably offer a winter tire in a Defender size but not until next year.

 

My defender arrives in 5 weeks just found Pirelli Scorpion Winter tires 255/60 R20- not cheap though

 

I don't know how you were searching, but I ordered my Defender a few months ago for delivery in January, and there have always been a couple of options up on Tirerack for snow tires in the standard 20" size. Maybe you were searching for 19, and they do not show anything there, but you can get Pirelli or Conti Snow tires in the 20" size. Not as good as the Nokians, but still not bad, and a heck of a lot better than any AT or All-Season in snow. I picked up a set of take-off 20's on Ebay and plan to get the Conti's for this year, and maybe sell them and get a set of Nokians next year if they come out with the stock 20" size. There may be more options with upsizing or downsizing, but I don't like to play that game if there are standard sizes available. Tirerack snow tires for Defender

 

LOL -- am feeling similarly uncomfortable with my current setup (19'' Goodyear Wrangler AT Adventures, which are M+S and NOT 3 peak snow rated) as the long-term tires for my new Defender given my own trips between metro Boston and VT (far fewer this year due to Covid travel restrictions, annoying but don't want to lie to schools my children attend). I've always done separate winter tires and will eagerly watch as new options come -- ideally, I'd feel good with a snow rate AT setup (knowing they're not as good as dedicated winters) and just run one set all year... but who knows.

 

I ended up getting the Scorpion winters instead of the Conti’s partly because of the LR designation, and I have to say that I’m pleasantly surprised. They are actually much better than the Nokians on dry pavement. Much tighter handling and far less squishy. And surprisingly good on icy and snowy roads. I’m very happy with these so far.