I have 33's on my 1996 Discovery SD, the tread is about fully gone now. So I started looking around for some new rubbers, and possibly new rims. But I'm not really finding anything that I like, Wheels or tires. I want a really MEATY tread like I have on my '96 Ford Bronco, they're the Mickey Thompson Baja Claws. But they are way too wide to fit on my Rover, my tires are already rubbin being so skinny. and I was wondering if buying wheel spacers would fix that problem to? so I could just buy some wide tires and get some wheel spacers to even them out. Just let me know if any of you have suggestions on Tires(preferably meaty) and/or rims to buy for my Rover.
Thanks in advance,
Dylan

 

Wide tires will weigh more, cost more, require more fender cutting, have worse traction, worse MPG, wander more, reduce turning radius, and increase wear and difficulty of power steering.

235/70/r16 is the stock size. 235/75 will be a little taller, and 235/85 even more, but it will still perform well. 255/70 will be a little taller a wider, but not much.

Goodyear Wrangler Duratracs and Cooper Discoverer STTs are popular, high quality, aggressive tires.

 

Big fat tires are great for floating on top of snow, but that's about it. If you really want them you'll have to do a lot of cutting, regear, and upgrade your drive line. Spacer help with the turning radius but push the tire into the fender even more. Lucky8 sells wheels made to your specifications so you can fit fat tires, with more offset, and a wider rim.

 

Since you say you've already got 33s on there, I figure you've already made them fit. I've been thinking about them on my D2, but still haven't made up my mind if I want to go that large. Anyway, I've been looking at 255/85R16 in either the BFG Mud Terrain KM2 or the Interco TRXUS. I think they both look pretty meaty.

 

Go and buy this months issue of 4Wheeler Magazine, they did a tire shot out in it, and they did nothing but the kind of tires you are talking about.
I have not read it yet, but it is on the coffee table waiting to be read.

 

Exactly what he said.

Saying wide tires provide less traction is silly. A lot of variables will determine what kind of traction a tire will have.

 

For the mud type street-able tire, Cooper Discoverer STT or Dick Cepek FCII. Both seem to last the longest, handle good on a well set up rig and E rating for towing. Good all around tires and price, at the medium price range.

 

Alright, appreciate the feedback

 

If you must go wide, which I don't personally recommend on a Rover due to both aesthetics and functionality (tuck), get a set of the OEM steel spares and flip them around backwards. Tires will stick out like an extra 3" I think. Be prepared for lots of fender trimming though, probably full flares.

IMO the BFG KM2 and Firestone Destination MT are two of the best streetable off-road traction tires in the biz. The Firestones will plow through anything and clear mud and snow amazingly well. The BFGs have locker-like traction on rocks due to their flexible tread and hold their own in mud/gravel/deep water as well. Both are surprisingly quiet on the highway.

What is the actual size for what you currently have? Are you looking for less rubbing or just a similar tread pattern in the same size? Many here run 215, 235, or 255/85 R16s. They tuck nicely and don't completely destroy your turning radius. Plus, Rovers were always built for skinny tires, look at what they ran in the Camel Trophy.