Period "Looking" Tires Question

[dcg]

All... I'm trying to decide on usable, period looking tires for my early 110. As my truck will need a lot of shakedown, it will spend most of its time on road. While Destones D503s or something of the like would look great, I'm not sure I could handle crossplys.

I would prefer:
~Radials
~Tasteful side tread (or none at all)
~235/85R16 or 7.50-16

I've been considering Michelin XZLs or Toyo M-55s. The sane choice would be to get Michelin Agilis Crossclimates (I just put Michelin LTX M/S on the 4Runner and really like them) or KO2s.

I have long been a BFG fan, but I just don't care for the asymmetrical sidewall treads on the KO2 or KM2/3. The HD-Terrain looks like a nice tire, but similar side tread.

What other choices are out there? It seems that most series restorations are running XZLs.

 

[pmatusov]

XZLs are fantastic - if you don't DD your truck. With the small contact area, they wear very quickly on pavement in city driving.
Otherwise, any 215/85 or 235/85R16 should do. I am also not that hot on aggressive all-terrains anymore - looking back, all trails I've ever driven on BFG A/Ts could have been driven on Michelin LTX M/S, at half the wear rate.

 

[erover82]

Been eyeing Falken M/Ts for some time now. They're a bit more conservative with the sidewall design, less expensive to replace when you start using them offroad, and are available in both 235 and 255 section widths. It's also possible I'm just a sucker for their marketing.

 

[dcg]

That's a handsome 110... has all the right bits as far as I'm concerned.

I'm there with you on the Falkens. 4xOverland / ASPW has been using them (they were on his Troopy & RRC for the Canning) and has been very happy with them. We'll see if he puts them on his 500,000km Troopy build. They are more reasonably priced than the XZLs. $2500 for a set of 5 is really hard for me to swallow. You hit a point that I missed, easy access to replacements is a nice to have. Folks favoring 255s seems to be a common theme.

 

[Mirrajumper]

XZL all the way.

 

[dcg]

The XZLs have been calling me… as my friend Small Wave Dave would say… the’re the duke! Is RN the best place to get a set?

 

[pfshoen]

Discount Tires set me up with a set of Coopers for my RRC that fit right and look the part. 225/75 Discoverer AT3. Tread pattern is very close to the oem Michelin 205R16's but there is a little sidewall tread. Lighter duty than some for a better ride. Their store in Scottsdale re-tires a lot of RRC's. Lol.
I wouldn't put bias ply tires on a golf cart.

 

[evilfij]

If you are not hard off roading, there are a number of commercial traction type tires from BFG, bridgestone etc. in 235 85 R16 that will look like factory tires (heck, you may be able to get avons still, I don’t know). These are sold for the back axle of dually pick ups. Tire rack stocks them.

There is also the Michelin XPS Rib, Michelin used to sell XPS Traction, but they seem to have discontinued the 235 85 R16.

 

[Mirrajumper]

The other consideration is whether or not you would run the XZL with inner tubes and on what wheels? I ran my Mundo Maya CT truck with XZL and tubes. I run my defender without tubes. Defender sees a lot of sand play, and the lower tire pressures causes the inner tube to rub and can develop air leaks. So I run them tubeless and using the fat valve stems.

 

[dcg]

Discount Tires set me up with a set of Coopers for my RRC that fit right and look the part. 225/75 Discoverer AT3. Tread pattern is very close to the oem Michelin 205R16's but there is a little sidewall tread. Lighter duty than some for a better ride. Their store in Scottsdale re-tires a lot of RRC's. Lol.
I wouldn't put bias ply tires on a golf cart.

The Cooper AT3s are not a bad option. Are they the LT version?

The other consideration is whether or not you would run the XZL with inner tubes and on what wheels? I ran my Mundo Maya CT truck with XZL and tubes. I run my defender without tubes. Defender sees a lot of sand play, and the lower tire pressures causes the inner tube to rub and can develop air leaks. So I run them tubeless and using the fat valve stems.

NRC7578s. Tubeless. I never considered tubes. The look of the XZLs are still my favorite (my fingers keep typing XCLs).

 

[WreckITFrank]

I have a set of G90's mounted to some wolf's that I may part with.....either just the tires both. Less than 1000 miles on them..

 

[UnfrozenCaveman]

I've got some extra XZL's on the shelf ... no idea on the date codes ... see your PM

 

[jymmiejamz]

Been eyeing Falken M/Ts for some time now. They're a bit more conservative with the sidewall design, less expensive to replace when you start using them offroad, and are available in both 235 and 255 section widths. It's also possible I'm just a sucker for their marketing.

View attachment 27472

I’ve been laughing at that 110 for years because of the $250 mounts for the $50 Walmart totes

 

[pfshoen]

The Cooper AT3s are not a bad option. Are they the LT version?


NRC7578s. Tubeless. I never considered tubes. The look of the XZLs are still my favorite (my fingers keep typing XCLs).

Discoverer AT3 4S. 2+2+1 plies (tread). 2 plies sidewall. Couldn't find an LT designation. Max weight 900 kg. Car stays on pavement although I'm pretty sure it dreams about getting dirty.

 

[rocky]

LR production vehicles didn’t get into “real” AT or MT type tires until NAS appeared. So a “generic” highway type 235/85-16 wouldn’t be out of place.

I’m a big fan of Michelin LTX tires, but feel their longevity (70k in my experience) might be far more than you need, if you plan on flipping to AT or MT down the road.

 

[dcg]

LR production vehicles didn’t get into “real” AT or MT type tires until NAS appeared. So a “generic” highway type 235/85-16 wouldn’t be out of place.

I’m a big fan of Michelin LTX tires, but feel their longevity (70k in my experience) might be far more than you need, if you plan on flipping to AT or MT down the road.

I'm OK with going to an AT or even an MT right now. With an LT95, I won't be doing more than 65. I really like the LTX, I just think it will look out of place on my sliding window one ten.

Thanks to everyone for your continued input. It seems that most tires are either a crossover type (boring) or have an Aztecan side print/tread. I do really like the G90s above. The style of tires I'm looking for are all being discontinued or don't support 235/85/R16. I may end up with a Falken. The Toyo M-55s are pretty expensive and I've read mixed reviews. Generally, the reviews have been very positive. They also may need close attention during balancing (according to a UK article). Looks like the KM2 will be phased out for the new HD. Still looking...

 

[Mirrajumper]

Avon and firestone both have period looking options in the 7.5 x16 or 235/85 size

 

[pmatusov]

Avon and firestone both have period looking options in the 7.5 x16 or 235/85 size

There was an article in some of LR mags from like 20 years ago about two identical D110s traveling across Sahara desert.
The only difference was tires - one had Avon Rangemasters, and another - BFG All-Terrains, both in the same dimensions.
The truck with BFG A/Ts took twice as much fuel as the other. That prompted me to look closer at the tire tread design; multiple smallish blocks on BFG All-Terrains compacted a lot more sand, requiring a lot more work to keep rolling.

 

[jymmiejamz]

There was an article in some of LR mags from like 20 years ago about two identical D110s traveling across Sahara desert.
The only difference was tires - one had Avon Rangemasters, and another - BFG All-Terrains, both in the same dimensions.
The truck with BFG A/Ts took twice as much fuel as the other. That prompted me to look closer at the tire tread design; multiple smallish blocks on BFG All-Terrains compacted a lot more sand, requiring a lot more work to keep rolling.

I’d be curious if they swapped tires could the duplicate these results with the other vehicle. Too many variables in “identical” vehicles. Even just engine condition could make all the difference

 

[pmatusov]

I’d be curious if they swapped tires could the duplicate these results with the other vehicle. Too many variables in “identical” vehicles. Even just engine condition could make all the difference

I don't know how badly a diesel could be tuned, maybe a factor of two can be achieved. But the amount of sand Avon Rangemasters have to displace on every revolution is far less than that for a BFG A/T.