Tires for my LR3

[brodylittle]

I'm new to this forum and I just bought a 2005 LR3 and I want a more aggressive tire. Can someone help me and let me know if a bigger tire would work without modifing anything. I was looking at the Nito Terra Grapplers and the Cooper Discover STT's but the tire place that I go to says they wont work. Any suggestions............please

[Off Roving.com]

I can speak from experience on tires for LR3 and Sport. I used to be a big Nitto advocate but found Cooper Zeon LTZ all terrains. What I found was a softer compound which was quieter on the road, stickier on the loose and wet stuff [what really matters, otherwise why else choose a non-factory tread?]. They performed supremely on our Great Divide II trip where the terrain changed as quickly as the weather. I drive nothing other than them from an honest user point of view.

Here are some pics on the sport. Others will post for LR3 for you [I've asked them to chime in].

[Boaz]

I have a Sport as well, and originally got the Nittos, since that's all there was. I liked them, but switched to the Cooper Zeon LTZ's as well. I'll second what Adam said. They are less noisy than the Nittos on road and stickier off road. They are also very good in the snow. We took them into some deep snow with no chains and did much better than the other Rovers with stockers and chains. I had them in several days worth of rock crawling over some pretty sharp rocks and never side walled them either, though I had a spare along just in case. Here are a few photos of my sport as well as a couple friends' LR3s who have them. Cooper has been supportive of the Land Rover brand as well, which is nice to see. Oh, and one last thing, they're a little cheaper than the Nittos as Discount Tires. Can't beat that!








Oh, and here's proof that it will fit in the spare tire well. The friend with the LR3 above just liked it better on the rack.

[jimbiram]

I have had the Cooper Zeon LTZ's since August last year and they now have 14k miles on them. I think they are a great tire. The ride is good on road, and they have performed really well offroad. I'll post some photos later, but here's a little fun video from the trip. By the way, we all had Coopers Zeons LTZ's except for the Disco II that had another Cooper Tire.

Video of Gold Mountain 4-5-08 - Photobucket - Video and Image Hosting

Enjoy....

[sideview]

Originally Posted by jimbiram

I have had the Cooper Zeon LTZ's since August last year and they now have 14k miles on them.

How are they holding up wear wise? I've heard good things about them but some mentioned them being softer rubber/may wear faster...I'm just wondering. Been happy with the Nittos on & off-road, can't complain - 18K & no signs of wearing out any time soon, but when the time comes might consider a switch if the Zeons also wear well.

[brodylittle]

Thanks for the help............I'll look into the Cooper's. Has anyone ever used the General Grabber AT 2's??

[jimbiram]

My Zeon LTZ's are wearing very well, and with minimal tread cuts from rocks, etc. They still sound quiet on the road as well. 14k miles and they look brand new. Don't listen to the hype about the softness. That gives them a good ride on road. Off road, just be sure to air down and take rocks on the tread, not the sidewall. In Colorado, we rode a lot of broken rock roads and no one had any trouble last summer on Great Divide Challenge II.

[couchsachraga]

Well, I tried to order Zeon LTZ's today...and they are all out...and don't expect to have any again until August! Which is not helpful for my July off-roading trip.

So, what's "second best"? BF Goodrich? Nitto?

I'm looking for a good AT tire (I'd love to put Mud Terrains on it, but for the amount of highway driving I do it's not really practical. Though I do like my wrangler MTRs on my '68 Rover

[Off Roving.com]

Go with the Zeon's. Overall traction and ride, the best hands down. I'm testing the STT's on my LR3 right now but fear they will rub. Not as useful as an all around tire either. Cool, yes, but pretty purpose-built.

[couchsachraga]

Well, I ordered the Nitto's. And I'm not sure I'll ever order Coopers...period

Why?

We all agree the Zeon is a great tyre. Other brands enthusists really like them too.

BUT, Cooper is not making them at the moment, and has recalled what DiscountTireDirect had (ok, they have ONE tyre right now).

So, if you need a tyre due to a flat, your screwed. You can't get them.

No on-line tyre dealer has them, and no brick and mortar shop has them. And neither know when, or if, they'll have them (Discount Tire says they are re-negotiating, another online Tire place says Cooper has said no more internet sales for the Zeon LTZ, and the local Cooper dealer had to call the warehouse, who called Cooper, who said they are having production issues and will not be making them for a while. Earliest it appears they will be available will be August.

So, for my July trip, I'll be on Terra Grapplers.

And given Coopers lack of support (again, what if you blow two tyres while off-road? Do you really want to purcahse 4 or 5 new tyres?), I'm not sure I'll ever feel comfortable purchasing from them. Which is sad, because from all reports they are a suprior tyre! (the dealers said this sort of thing is "normal" for Cooper, and is why they are having so much financial difficulty...).

Thanks for all the ideas

[LR3invancouver]

Originally Posted by Off Roving.com

Go with the Zeon's. Overall traction and ride, the best hands down. I'm testing the STT's on my LR3 right now but fear they will rub. Not as useful as an all around tire either. Cool, yes, but pretty purpose-built.

Spiker,
I would like to hear back on the SST's. I am switching to 18" rims and am considering them or the GY 18" MT/R's now available (same O/D as the SST's I think). I love my 19" MT/R's but am open to your feedback.

[hiserote]

I own a -06' LR3 HSE. when I bought my LR3 I put on toyo open countrys. 285/60/18. i live in utah and have been to moab 3 times on the tires this year. and they are wearing very well in my opinion. Might was to look into that tire.

[ArmyRover]

Man that is one rolling billboard can I borrow a sticker