Tires...

[78LtWt]

I have a 1978 lightweight, and I need to get new tires. I've looked at the bias plys from cooper, but i'm a little leary about using bias tires. I like the way they look, they are real close to the original equipment. Anyone have opinions on using bias tires?

[Momo]

Coopers are great, just stay away from retreads/obscure Asian brands. They wear like an eraser on a #2 pencil at the SATs


Bias Ply

Pros: Period look, steer easier, good in snow, fits your bonnet better,

Cons: Far shorter life than radials, rigid sidewalls make airing down ineffective, harsher ride


Radials

Pros: Awesome choices out there, great aired down, long life, one of the most technologically tuned pieces of equipment in the automotive industry

Cons: Wider track equals tougher low speed steering, can look silly on your bonnet/reduce visibility if too big a size, white sidewall lettering looks dumb on a Series Land Rover (keep it on the inside...)

[I Leak Oil]

I drove my series for years with bias ply tires. When I switched to radials...WOW! big difference on pavement. Not a noticable difference in the dirt other than when you air down the radial actually flexes. I could air down my bias ply tires to 15 psi and couldn't tell the difference. You'll be able to get a radial off the shelf almost anywhere if necessary, most shops don't stock bias.
Jason T.

[SafeAirOne]

I had the original 16" tube-type bias ply tires on the original rims on my 109 initially. I replaced them once--the tires wore down after about a year and a half of daily driving plus heavy desert off-road driving.

I picked up some NATO black steel rims at one point and put slightly fatter tubeless radials on. I noticed a huge difference in that it seemed to steer easier (almost like getting a weak power steering system installed), rode smoother and, best of all, I didn't have to disassemble the wheel to fix a nail puncture now. An additional bonus is that I didn't get 5 minutes of "thump-thump...thump-thump" when I first drove the rover on cold mornings because there were no flat spots to work out on the radials.

I did retain 2 of the old balding bias ply tires/wheels to use as spares--one on the bonnet and one on the rear door.

[xsbowes]

An additional bonus is that I didn't get 5 minutes of "thump-thump...thump-thump" when I first drove the rover on cold mornings because there were no flat spots to work out on the radials.



It doesn't even have to be cold, I'm in Hawaii and my bias ply tires do this.

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2073/10249131/18498171/292145231.jpg

Stacy

http://pic80.picturetrail.com/VOL2073/10249131/18498171/317946403.jpg

[78LtWt]

Stacy, what type of tires are you running, they look pretty close to the originals. I don't mind putting modern tires on, I just don't want some real "chunky" mudders. Thanks, Jef

[xsbowes]

They are commercial traction tires. The size is 7.5x16. I think the spare is the one that was on it when MOD sold the truck. It's 6.5x16. I'm not sure of the brand name.

[PH4]

What is the name of the "commercial traction tires" and do you know where they can be purchased?

[yorker]

http://www.stausaonline.com/light-truck/super-traxion.html

http://www.cokertire.com/

http://www.wallacewade.com/

Try these places if you want a traditional style bias ply tire.

[xsbowes]

The side wall says "Star Commercial Traction". I don't think they are manufactured anymore. I'm looking at going with these:

http://www.sams4x4store.com/SuperSwamperTrxusMudTerrain.htm

I'll put the LT265/75R16 on the four main tires and the LT235/85R16 on the spare since it is a narrower rim.

They are made by Interco Tire and have gotten pretty good reviews. For these sizes the run about $150 ea.

[SafeAirOne]

Those tires look like the Power King Super Traction tires I used to run on a non-rover military truck I used to have (in 900x16).

Take a look at the tire on the left at:

http://www.tbcprivatebrands.com/multimile/viewline.asp?id=107

They come in 700x15 and 7.50x16 on this site.

[Rineheitzgabot]

I suppose that you have 16" rims. Shown below is my S2A with 30 9.50R15's I just got. It is a fairly conservative, radical, tire, if that makes sense (and really affordable)

Drives nice, but can "get busy" in the dirt, if ya' know what I'm sayin'.

[Rineheitzgabot]

Sorry, they are "Dunlop Radial Mud Rovers".