New Owner Tire Size Question
#1
03-24-2016, 09:40 PM
New Owner Tire Size Question
Hey guys, I'm the new owner of a 1996 Discovery - Expedition Build by a guy in the Pacific Northwest with NorthWest Overland.
It has an impressive build, but for the purposes of this question it's got the 4.0 with a slushbox, 20k miles on new heads and gaskets, camshaft, hydraulic lifters, timing chain and gears, water pump, etc so the motor isn't "tired"
I moved it to where I am in Montana at 5500' elevation.
Current tire size is BF Goodrich Radial MT KM2s, 255-85-R16
I am finding when I go up inclines that it really struggles. I can barely push 50 mph in a headwind at a slight incline (again, moving from between 3,000 to over 6,000), without it popping down into 3rd (or 2d!) and even then I've been passed by a semi truck.
On flats (or downhill) it cruises easily at 70+ mph.
I mentioned this to the previous owner and he suggested I switch to a 235/85-16 tire. I know that some people switch gearing, but I figure the costs would be about the same to switch gearing as it would be to get a second set of tires (I'd get a second set of NATO rims, too, so I can just switch them out). My thinking is that if I'm really going overland in it I can put the 255's back on it in an hour or less, but keep the 235's on it most of the time -- IF (big IF and that's why I'm asking) the 235's would see better performance (speed and road climbing) over the 255's.
Will 235/85-16 be any different gearing than a 255/85-16?
Thoughts? I really suck at right sizing tires (and maths) so any help would be appreciated. Not that I don't trust the previous owner but looking for a second opinion on the 235's on this rig.
If it is only going to get me 2 mph faster it's not worth it and I can just deal with the slowness (I know this isn't a speed demon but at times it is just almost embarassing how slow it can be going up a mountain pass).
This is my first Rover (I have had an FJ40 many years ago, and recently sold an FJ60 that was infected with tin worm and getting worse so sold it to a guy who owns a body shop).
Thanks!
It has an impressive build, but for the purposes of this question it's got the 4.0 with a slushbox, 20k miles on new heads and gaskets, camshaft, hydraulic lifters, timing chain and gears, water pump, etc so the motor isn't "tired"
I moved it to where I am in Montana at 5500' elevation.
Current tire size is BF Goodrich Radial MT KM2s, 255-85-R16
I am finding when I go up inclines that it really struggles. I can barely push 50 mph in a headwind at a slight incline (again, moving from between 3,000 to over 6,000), without it popping down into 3rd (or 2d!) and even then I've been passed by a semi truck.
On flats (or downhill) it cruises easily at 70+ mph.
I mentioned this to the previous owner and he suggested I switch to a 235/85-16 tire. I know that some people switch gearing, but I figure the costs would be about the same to switch gearing as it would be to get a second set of tires (I'd get a second set of NATO rims, too, so I can just switch them out). My thinking is that if I'm really going overland in it I can put the 255's back on it in an hour or less, but keep the 235's on it most of the time -- IF (big IF and that's why I'm asking) the 235's would see better performance (speed and road climbing) over the 255's.
Will 235/85-16 be any different gearing than a 255/85-16?
Thoughts? I really suck at right sizing tires (and maths) so any help would be appreciated. Not that I don't trust the previous owner but looking for a second opinion on the 235's on this rig.
If it is only going to get me 2 mph faster it's not worth it and I can just deal with the slowness (I know this isn't a speed demon but at times it is just almost embarassing how slow it can be going up a mountain pass).
This is my first Rover (I have had an FJ40 many years ago, and recently sold an FJ60 that was infected with tin worm and getting worse so sold it to a guy who owns a body shop).
Thanks!
Last edited by AbnMike; 03-24-2016 at 10:07 PM.
#2
03-25-2016, 01:33 AM
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