Hi,

I am getting my new RRS TDV8 in a few weeks, and though I live in Switzerland, it is delivered with summer tires. So, of course the first thing I need to do is make sure I have a set of winter tires just waiting to be put on.

I guess I have a few decisions to make, and I have looked around on this site, and I am confused Should I stick with my 20" rims and just change the tires, or buy a complete set of 19" rims with winter tires?

From all I have seen, I have the following options:

1) Stick with 20" rims, and buy;
a) 4 x Continental ContiCrossContact Winter
b) 4 x Pirelli Scorpion Ice + Snow

2) Buy 19" rims, (should I get original LR ones, or just any alu rim?) and;
a) 4 x Bridgestone Blizzak LM25 4x4
b) 4 x Continental 4x4 WinterContact
c) 4 x Continental Conti4x4WinterContact SSR
d) 4 x Michelin Grandtec WT M3
e) 4 x Michelin Latitude Alpin HP
f) 4 x Pirelli Scorpion Ice + Snow

I am currently using the Bridgestones on my Lexus RX, but there are certainly a lot of choices. I will be driving in Switzerland, Austria, and southern Germany, so I need good snow tires, that stick on ice as well, and will no wear super quickly as the season is long, and with a lot of tarmac driving as well.

KB RRS TDV8, black with ivory.

I live in the Lake Tahoe Northern Nevada area, where we receive a fair amount of snow. In addition, the roads are infamous for icing up over night. I have been using the Pirelli Ice and Snow and would not consider any other tire.

Don't forget Nokian, they also have an outstanding reputation among winter tires. They may be easier to find, (and a great deal cheaper, hopefully) in Switzerland than here in the US. When Land Rover was testing their new 5-liter V8s in the snow of Northern Europe last winter, all spy pictures showed test mules fitted with Nokian snow tires, so for LR to trust them on test vehicles they must be as good as they say. They make winter tires in both 19 and 20" sizes suitable for the RRS stock wheels. http://www.nokiantyres.ch/produkte-chde 

Pirelli Scorpion Ice + Snow are still *zhe* best  
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
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WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

I also use Pirelli ICE & SNOW on 19".
And if you drive a lot you will like the silence : these tires make no noise.

I do not know if they are the best on snow but I trust my LR snow mode. Nokian's are surely better on snow but I they are probably horrible on the motorway.

good luck

Thanks for the suggestions!

And what about the rim sizes? Should I just use my 20" rims, or buy some 19" rims? If I understand correctly, it is a matter of getting more tire wall, and a 2cm narrower tire (275/45 R20 vs. 255/50 R19).

KB RRS TDV8, black with ivory.

Killerbob wrote:

Thanks for the suggestions!

And what about the rim sizes? Should I just use my 20" rims, or buy some 19" rims? If I understand correctly, it is a matter of getting more tire wall, and a 2cm narrower tire (275/45 R20 vs. 255/50 R19).

KB

Hi,

On the LR site in CH I just noticed it says both sizes; 275/40 R20 and 275/45 R20. However, as it only mentions 275/45 once, and 275/40 several places, I think you are right, my RRS will come on 20" 275/40 rims and tires.

The Nokians certainly look good, but they are not any cheaper, they are priced the same as the Pirellis.

Regarding the rims, how much should I be paying for the original 19" rims? Or, should I just go with any rim producer?

KB RRS TDV8, black with ivory.

standard LR rims 19"  
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
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WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

I have Continental CrossContact Winter tires on my 20" rims and they are superb. I also did not know at that time or to choose Continental CC Winter or Pirelli Scorpion Ice and Snow but after asking around ( my father in law also deals with tires) I took Conti`s but there is no big difference there are both superb tires. The only thing that I regret is that I did`t took 19" rims.

So go for the 19" rims(255/50/19 has a bit better grip and confort than 275/40/20) with Conti or Pirelli tires probablly not original because they are over priced (take the original rims only if you get a good deal with a set of tires like I was offered last year at Austrian dealer - set of 4 on original 19"rims with Pirelli I&snow for a bit less than EUR 2000. 2008 RRS TDV8 HSE, Java black, Alpaca,.....

You can get genuine LR 19" rims for good prices on e-bay. When buying tyres, don't be afraid of going for 255/55/19 if you need extra sidewall.

Do you need snow tires there Leo ?  
L 405 2013 FFRR 5.0 SC
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WINNER - 2009 �Best Avatar� Award
WINNER - 2009 Comedian Of The Year Award

No, but I do when i'm in Finland.....have to travel there and other cold places quite often, unfortunately.

I don´t think that 255/55/19 are declared for RRS ( EU Homologated) so if you put that dimension 55 on your car and have an accident you might have a problem.. 2008 RRS TDV8 HSE, Java black, Alpaca,.....

I have the Yokohama snow tires in 19", are great in the snow and not bad for the road.

Have a look as they do the loadig for the RRS and also are relatively good value for money

Sacha RRS TDV8 HSE 2007- JAVA Black/Black interior,
UK BMW M3 CSL SB- now sold
1968 Innocenti mini