Body and Suspension Mods
Carrying an Oversize Spare
The Tire Rack (direct link for user reviews, prices, technical specs etc).

Photo: Donald Fisher's Classic with trimmed wheel arches

Body & Suspension Modifications to Fit Bigger Tires

As mentioned above, once you go above a certain ture size, you will need to modify either the suspension or the body or both. Roughly speaking, anything above a "31" inch tire (245/75R16) will probably need some modification to the vehicle to maintain full articulation at all steering wheel positions. 

For details on lifting the suspension, see the suspension page and the page on lifting the air suspension.

For details on fender trimming, see the page on "Trimming Wheel Arches to Fit Bigger Tires, where Donald Fisher has kindly provided the most detailed information I have ever seen on how to trim the wheel arches to accommodate the larger tire sizes (265/75R16 in his case). Full illustrations are included to show you how to end up with a professional-looking job.

Carrying an Oversize Spare

If you fit oversize tires to your Range Rover, give some consideration to the spare tire situation. Limping home with three big tires and one small one is not to be contemplated lightly. On 1989 and later Range Rovers, this is likely to damage the viscous diff lock on the transfer case. So carrying spares of the same size you are using on the wheels is important.

On the Classic, the factory stowage position for the spare tire can be adapted for sizes up to 215/85R16 with a bit of coaxing.  Larger sizes may require modification to the rear seat belt anchor.  Niall Sommerville finds that a spare up to 255/65/16 can be squeezed into the Classic's original spare stowage space if the tire is first deflated. He carries a compressor, a can of tyre sealer or his Flat and Fire CO2 extinguisher which has a tyre reinflation connection. Carrying the sealer/inflator or slime is a good idea, because if you store this flat long term it can leave the tyre with an odd shape and although Niall has never experienced one coming away from the bead yet, he regularly takes them out and blows them up to full pressure, then gives them a few miles on the road if he has the time. Beyond that some "adjustment" using a sledge hammer may be needed.

Granville Pool drilled a hole lower down in the wheel center retaining plate to accommodate his 215/85 spare. The carpet cover barely went on but fitted well enough. The side cover panel was a very tight fit but he got that on too. The hinged pacel shelf is now also a snug fit but that is an improvement, as it was rather sloppy and loose before.

Another possible solution on the Classic is the Pivlock swing away tire carrier.

On the 4.0/4.6 models, which carry the spare below the load space, the fitment of the stock spare is very snug in this compartment. On off-road expeditions I usually carry two spares anyway, and have the full size (ie oversize) spare sitting inside the load space. This is supplemented by the stock spare in the factory storage compartment for an emergency backup which I hope will get me to the nearest tire place at a crawl. Not entirely happy with this setup, I recently did some experimentation and found I could fit a deflated, half worn 245/75 R16 into the spare storage compartment by removing the polystyrene foam stowage container for the jack, jumper cables and chocks, and very mildly expanding the walls of the remaining space at the right hand side and front with a sledge hammer. It is a fairly tight fit, so make sure you carry something for levering it out again. The wider 255/70 Big O XT was much harder to fit in, but maybe it would have if I had deflated it.

Naturally, if you carry a deflated spare it is essential to carry a compressor or other means of inflation. The built-in air supply on the 4.0/4.6 is adaptable to this purpose.

Please email me if you have experience with non-standard tires and/or wheels.

The Tire Rack direct link for user reviews, prices, technical specs etc.