Choosing the right tyres for your Land Rover / Range Rover: A complete guide
24/03/23
Are you in the market for a new set of tyres for your Land Rover / Range Rover, but don't know where to start, or what to choose? We don't blame you; there are a lot of options out there!
To equip you with the knowledge you need to buy with confidence, we - the team of LR / RR specialists at Newbury 4x4 – have written this guide. It discusses:
- key things to consider when you buy LR / RR tyres
- everything you need to know about tyre sizes
- how to choose the right tyres for the weather conditions you drive in
- the best tyre brands for Land Rovers / Range Rovers
Want to find out more about what we do? Check out our services page for more info or get in touch with us here.
What are genuine Land Rover parts and why choose them?
There are many factors that you should consider, including:
- the manufacturer
- driving terrain - this may require special treads
- load and speed ratings
- tyre size - all LR / RR models will have different requirements
- weather conditions - these may also require specialised treads
- how many tyres to replace
Let's look at these in more detail.
Why does the manufacturer impact the quality of your Land Rover / Range Rover tyre?
As with all car parts, who makes your tyres will determine their quality.
Quality will affect longevity and durability, with tyres from less premium brands often wearing unevenly too. It will also affect the fuel efficiency – and sometimes even the handling – of your vehicle.
If you stick with LR / RR suppliers – or "original equipment" manufacturers –it's easier to meet all the necessary requirements for your vehicle (e.g., in relation to tyre size, load capacity, speed rating etc.) and maximise its performance.
We discuss premium tyre brands below. If you want to find out more about what original equipment parts are, and what they mean for your vehicles and warranties, read this blog.
Driving terrain
You should also consider the terrain you drive on when you replace your tyres. Different terrains have different traction requirements, and you might need mud terrain, all-terrain or even all-season tyres.
To work out what you need, think about where you will spend the majority of your driving time. Is it on or off-road?
Mud terrain tyres
As the name suggests, these are more suitable for extensive off-road driving.
They typically have deeper tread patterns, with wider gaps and large tread blocks. This gives them better traction on surfaces which would clog up other tyres, like wet grass, mud or sand.
Mud terrain tyres are also usually more durable, with some even offering sidewall protection for rocky terrain. However, they're typically noisier and have a higher fuel consumption than all terrain or road tyres.
All-terrain tyres
If you use your LR / RR model mainly on-road, with some off-road driving – and, if you want to make your fuel go further – all-terrain tyres will likely be the more suitable option for you.
You might also want to consider a second set of tyres for your LR / RR, with one for on-road and one for off-road driving.
All season tyres
If you only drive on-road, but experience varying weather conditions, all season tyres will likely be the most practical and functional choice for you, especially if you don't want to change every winter. If you want to splash out and cover all eventualities, you can also get all season all-terrain tyres.
Load and speed ratings
Your tyres must meet or be above the speed rating – the maximum speed a tyre can travel at over a period – for your LR / RR model. They can also only carry a certain amount of weight safely. This is known as the load rating of a tyre.
Knowing what these ratings are is an essential part of choosing the right tyres for your LR / RR. It will also help you maintain the safety and performance that you are used to.
The rating requirements are set by LR / RR. You can find them in the manual or handbook for your vehicle. A reputable tyre supplier can also help you with this, and Newbury 4x4 can recommend a local supplier if you need one.
If you want to check the load or speed rating of a tyre yourself, look at its sidewall. The last two numbers at the end of the engraved tyre specification give you the load rating, and the letter at the end gives you the speed rating.
Land rover / Range Rover tyre sizes explained
When you're buying new LR / RR tyres, it's important – for many reasons – to get the tyre size right.
Where to find tyre sizes
To check what tyre size you need, look at your vehicle manual or handbook. You can also find this information on the driver door panel or inside the fuel flap or glove compartment of most LR / RR models.
You can also check the sidewall of your existing tyres if they are original equipment tyres, i.e., the ones that came with your LR / RR when it was manufactured.
How to understand tyre sizes
To choose the right tyre size, you will need to know the:
- width
- tyre profile (height as a percentage of width)
- diameter (the size of the wheel rim the tyre fits onto)
On a tyre sidewall, the first three digits of the tyre specification describe the width of your tyre in mm, from one sidewall to the other.
The next two digits give the tyre profile. There's then a letter which describes the tyre construction type. The next two digits give the diameter in inches. source
What tyre sizes do you need for your Land Rover / Range Rover?
All the wheels on a 4x4 vehicle should have the same tyre size. If they don't, handling and safety will be affected. You can also cause permanent damage to the 4-wheel drive system.
Tyre sizes vary across the range of LR / RR models, including the Land Rover Defender, Discovery, Series, Range Rover and Land Rover Freelander, so check your handbook or vehicle to find out what you need.
Choosing the right Land Rover / Range Rover tyre for the weather conditions
Different tyres will perform better in different conditions. You may need specialised tread patterns if you regularly drive on extreme ice or snow or in extreme temperatures.
For most people in the UK, this means all-season or summer tyres will be fine.
However, if you live in the countryside, where the highest levels of ice and snow are usually found, you might want to consider investing in a set of winter tyres to ensure maximum grip and safety in those conditions.
When it comes to performance in heavy rain – check the wet grip class of your tyre. This rates the braking distances of your tyre on wet roads and you can usually find it on labels.
Do you need to replace all your tyres at once?
No, but we recommend you do not have a mixture of tyres on your vehicle, i.e., from different brands. It's also generally good practice for 4x4s to have matched pairs i.e., front pair and rear pair.
Best tyre brands for Land Rovers / Range Rover.
At Newbury 4x4 we always recommend buying from good quality, premium tyre brands. These include original equipment LR / RR suppliers like Pirelli, Goodyear and Michelin, as well as BF Goodrich, who make excellent LR / RR compatible tyres in many tyre sizes. (source for differences)
How can Newbury 4x4 help?
Our team of technicians have 90+ years of experience and offer a full range of services for Land Rover / Range Rover models at a sensible price.
To get the most out of your tyres, remember to check the pressure, tread depth and alignment regularly. Newbury 4x4 can help with wheel alignment, recommend tyre suppliers and more.
To get in touch, call us on 01635 32028 or email service@newbury4x4.co.uk