Advice on tire size for LR4 with 19" rims

[Doctor W]

I'm seriously looking at getting a LR4 as a new purchase......will be used in the far north-west.......of Australia. The Kimberley - hot "tropics" (it rains very heavily for about two months of summer and cyclones/tornadoes - rest of time it's semi desert/desert ( bit like NV, AZ, NM) basically I do about 40 miles washboard dirt (unless it's gone to mud lol) and about 10 miles 55 mph sealed road into town 2 or 3 or 4 times a week.

I need advice on good tire choice for the 19" wheels (smallest I can get with the SDV6) ...standard size is 255/55x19....I want to go to 255/60 or 65x19....I've really liked the Cooper ST Max LT 245/75x16 E Load on my Jeep but Cooper only offer LIGHT DUTY AT3 (I don't think so!!) or some HT type (out of question) in this LR4 size. My old LR 109" S2a wears Goodyear TG's in LT 7.50 x 16 which I like the stenght of, but they don't handle as well as the Jeep ZG (ZJ) on road. Mickey T ATZ P3 don't come in the size I want either.

I want an LT E Load (10 ply rating) with 3 actual sidewall plies and about a 120 weight rating, Q speed rating is OK as I don't drive over 60-70 mph but do run them most times at 24psi down to 20 psi often and have found that E Load/ 10 ply rated can handle the heat/rough terrain/low pressures best.

What advice do you LR4 (and LR3 too ?)guys offer based on experience?

I have perused various posts on this topic but want more specific advice.

 

[rjl]

Unless you have access in Australia to some weirdo sizes in a regular E-Rated tire, you aren't going to find any that fit the 19-inch wheel. For example, we don't get the AT3 in any load rating in a 19-inch size in the States. Our options here are the Cooper Zeon LTZ or Goodyear Duratrac, both in XL load ratings.

Your only recourse for an E-rated tire is to go to an 18" wheel. Your options there are the Compmotives (which will fit on your LR4 without any modification) or finding a set of 18" LR3 wheels (which require a 1.25" spacer to fit on the LR4).

 

[keeper1616]

There is a new option for 18" LR4 wheels. Terrafirma now makes some steel ones. They do still require a spacer, but it's another option. Atlantic British and Lucky 8 carry them in the USA.

But yeah - most decent tire options require an 18" wheel.

 

[Doctor W]

Well spacers are absolutely out - they are a BIG illegality in Australia under ADR rules.... (unless you have an old Porsche that had them as factory on rear wheels on some 80's models).

So I'll be checking on Compomotives......having a S2a I do get magazines like LRO International and seem to recall another brand that supplies wheels for LR's racing in Dakar and such....can't recall the brand though.

 

[umbertob]

On the premiere issue of Alloy+Grit there was a 1-page ad from Atturo Tires showing off their Trail Blade M/T tire sized 255/55R19, for newer Land Rovers with 19" wheels. If you've never heard of Atturo... neither have I. The tire does look fairly aggressive (considering the dearth of choices in 19" tires), more M/T than A/T, and while that size is not a LT - E load either, at least it's got an XL load index. Plus, according to their literature the "menacing sidewall will scare children", so you know it's gotta be good.

Anyway, didn't know if Atturo is even available in Australia - perhaps they have a great reputation there... - but I thought I'd mention them.

Link: http://www.atturo.com/moto/trail_blade_mt

 

[Doctor W]

On the premiere issue of Alloy+Grit there was a 1-page ad from Atturo Tires showing off their Trail Blade M/T tire sized 255/55R19, for newer Land Rovers with 19" wheels. If you've never heard of Atturo... neither have I. The tire does look fairly aggressive (considering the dearth of choices in 19" tires), more M/T than A/T, and while that size is not a LT - E load either, at least it's got an XL load index. Plus, according to their literature the "menacing sidewall will scare children", so you know it's gotta be good.

Anyway, didn't know if Atturo is even available in Australia - perhaps they have a great reputation there... - but I thought I'd mention them.

Link: http://www.atturo.com/moto/trail_blade_mt

I've been doing research online here via satellite internet (really slow!!) as a "small" cyclone approaches and about 4" - 6" per 24hrs of rain for last two days and worst to come. In town now after driving through 1-2 foot floodwaters and axle deep mud!

What I've found is that Maxxis (a Thai made brand popular here in Oz, but not anything I would usually buy) make an LT 255/55x19 E Load 10PR (only a 2 actual ply sidewall though).

Checked out the Atturos - made in Thailand and Taiwan (better than China I guess ??!!) only an XL - I doubt it would work for very long out here.

As I said in my original post, I tend to run pressures of 20 to 24 psi .......this is due to the rough washboard dirt roads, two tracks and NO tracks I drive nearly 100% of the time and have really appreciated the toughness of the two sets of Cooper ST Maxx LT 245/75x16 120Q E Load 10PR with actual 3 sidewall plies (the sidewalls are almost a bias ply construction - 3rd ply at 8 degree angle to other 2) which have been unbelievably tough with no leaks or chips etc - this area of the country usually totally destroys most tires.

 

[iowalr4]

Well spacers are absolutely out - they are a BIG illegality in Australia under ADR rules.... (unless you have an old Porsche that had them as factory on rear wheels on some 80's models).

So I'll be checking on Compomotives......having a S2a I do get magazines like LRO International and seem to recall another brand that supplies wheels for LR's racing in Dakar and such....can't recall the brand though.

Compomotive did supply wheels for the Bowler Nemesis (and i thought something.. wildcat?) and Dakar racing.

 

[rjl]

Well spacers are absolutely out - they are a BIG illegality in Australia under ADR rules.... (unless you have an old Porsche that had them as factory on rear wheels on some 80's models).

So I'll be checking on Compomotives......having a S2a I do get magazines like LRO International and seem to recall another brand that supplies wheels for LR's racing in Dakar and such....can't recall the brand though.

There is also an Italian company called Mudtech4x4 that makes 18" wheels for the LR4.

http://shop.mudtech4x4.com/index.php?id_product=46&controller=product&id_lang=1

As I believe these are better looking wheels than the Compmotives, I contacted Mudtech about how much it would be to ship these to the States, but the conversation sort of fell apart due to either inactivity or disinterest.