1STDISCO Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Hi all, bought my first discovery back in May, its a 2001 td5, I'm 22 so fairly new to the whole car maintenance thing anyway so any advice would be greatly received! I have to admit that my disco rarely sees serious mud, but we bought it to tow our horse trailer around so its definately not a Chelsea tractor! So far I've had no major issues other than an dodgy handbrake which has just been fixed by LR. However it does at times venture off road either down dirt tracks to fields, or towing the trailer across fields at events. The first time I took it down a dirt track to one of the field our horses are in it had been raining a little, after only a few hundred yards it started spinning it wheels. It coped ok in the end and was great off road in all other aspects. Again it spun its wheels a few weeks later towing the trailer over a damp grass field at an event that all other 4x4s (including discos) seemed to be coping fine with. Slightly concerned at the lack of grip I looked into the tyres on the vehicle. When I purchased the car I asked the sales guy about the history of it, and with it already having a towbar, what it had been used for. The previous owner was a regualr LR customer and the salesman confirmed that he had used the disco to tow his caravan to and from France. With a bit of further investigation, it looks like the tyres on it are really suitable for roads only. In terms of experience driving off road I have driven my mother-in-laws L reg discovery tdi across the fields for years (since I started dating my wife when I was 16) and have had no problems coping with worse that I have put my disco through. Her discovery has now gone as we have the horse and she can't remember what tyres she had on it. Bearing in mind that I do spend the majority of time driving the car on the roads, I am looking for a tyre when it comes to replacing them that is mainly for road use, but will have grip in minor offroading, I'm not going to be doing anything major, but dont want to get stuck in a field at an event with the horse on the back. Any recommendations? Thanx Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BogMonster Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Welcome General Grabber AT2, just what you need. They are available in both the standard sizes 235/70R16 and 255/55R18 and other non standard sizes as well e.g. 255/70R16. http://www.4site4x4.co.uk/tyre-details.aspx?id=6 shows details It won't perform nearly as well as a proper MT in really muddy fields but will be a hell of an improvement over any of the standard road tyres without compromising the on road performance. What exactly is fitted at the moment? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
discojmz Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 if you wanted to go a touch more aggressive, ive just fitted cooper discoverer STT's to mine and theyre absolutely brilliant. My driving is about half road half tracks and fields and only the odd little bit of playing, but the siped tread on these and the fact theyre somewhere between a BFG AT and MT in agression makes them really impressive on the road, especially with braking in wet or dry. theyre one of the heaviest load rated tyres available too which is good for towing etc. Ive not got stuck with them yet, and believe me, Ive tried! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Jos Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I have some General Grabbers MTs in 235 85 R16 for sale in Exeter if you're interested. They're not very aggressive for a MT and I have found them pretty good on the road. Cheers, Jos Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
freeagent Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 I've got general grabber AT2's on my 300Tdi disco... in 245/75/16 size.. I'm very pleased with them, not tried them in really deep mud yet but they performed pretty well on a recent trip to the Pyrenees.. I'd buy the same again when they wear out... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicks90 Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 i have just fitted a set of cooper discoverer all terrains to our disco2. coped perfectly on a few very muddy fields in the past couple of weeks, rarely having the traction control kicking in. Well impressed. on road they are superb. the blurb from coopers website goes on about directional pattern blahblah computer designed for reduced noise blahblah. well i thought this was jsut sales waffle, but eee-by-gum, they are SILENT on the road. Even on the concrete bits of the A1 - which normally make the car sound like all 4 wheelbearings are siezing up - it was virtually noiseless. Much much quieter than the mitchelin road tyres it had on before!!! I really am impressed at how nice they are to use day to day considering they are an all terrain. Previous bfg a/ts made a total din in comparison. Well worth considering if the majority of your miles are on the road and you just need that extra bit of traction for towing stuff over fields. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Fern Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 Congratulations. That's what i'm was thinking - bfg at is in the past. cooper st is next generation. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lrfarmer Posted October 2, 2008 Share Posted October 2, 2008 i run 235/70/16 insa turbo mountain's the once i've had from new have done 15,000miles and don't look worn thay tow my three horse trailer in and out of most fields and there only £43.50+vat http://www.paddockspares.com/pp/SHOP_BY_BR..._Tyre_Only.html Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
1STDISCO Posted October 8, 2008 Author Share Posted October 8, 2008 i have just fitted a set of cooper discoverer all terrains to our disco2.coped perfectly on a few very muddy fields in the past couple of weeks, rarely having the traction control kicking in. Well impressed. on road they are superb. the blurb from coopers website goes on about directional pattern blahblah computer designed for reduced noise blahblah. well i thought this was jsut sales waffle, but eee-by-gum, they are SILENT on the road. Even on the concrete bits of the A1 - which normally make the car sound like all 4 wheelbearings are siezing up - it was virtually noiseless. Much much quieter than the mitchelin road tyres it had on before!!! I really am impressed at how nice they are to use day to day considering they are an all terrain. Previous bfg a/ts made a total din in comparison. Well worth considering if the majority of your miles are on the road and you just need that extra bit of traction for towing stuff over fields. Thanks for all the advice, the coopers sound good, any idea of cost? Think the tyres are going be up for replacement within the next month or so. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
roybatty666 Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 does an 2001 still have the center diff-lock or is it TC central? My knowledge of later landies is a bit more limited. If it does have one did you have it on? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JimAttrill Posted October 10, 2008 Share Posted October 10, 2008 Please explain in words that are understandable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
nicks90 Posted October 13, 2008 Share Posted October 13, 2008 Thanks for all the advice, the coopers sound good, any idea of cost?Think the tyres are going be up for replacement within the next month or so. i got mine from ebay - brand new and fitted for £220 for 4 the chap i bought them off is from just outside York and he actually has a set of coopers on ebay at the moment:- http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/255-65-16-Cooper-Tyr...id=p3911.c0.m14 cant remember his name - but he's someone well known in the british offroad championship race series. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.