Having recently acquired my Freelander 2 I have not yet driven it in snow. I have been used to driving a Defender 90 TD5 with 265 BFG Muds and lockers which as you can imagine was unstoppable. My FL is fitted with 235/60 18 Kumho 978 road tyres which are nearly new.

Can anyone give me an idea of what sort of difference I am going to find and if I really need to fit some winter tyres? I drive for 4x4 Response so need to go out in snow. I see that Avon Ranger Ice do an 18 inch, anyone used them in snow yet?

Thanks. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

Welcome to the Forum. Type winter tyres into the search engine and you'll see the subject has been covered extensively.

If you need to go out in snow then I'd say winter tyres are a definite requirement. If you are caught out in snow on normal road tyres then the chances are you'll get by using the capabilities of your Freelander 2.

I've driven both my FL2 on snow on normal road tyres without any real problem but I've moderated my speed and driving style to minimise the risk of skidding and longer stopping distances.

I've just done the same, so I'm looking for the same answer, but in the meantime I've just put on 4 Pirelli Scorpion ATR, If I can get up the drive and along the 75 yards of unmade bridle path I'm home and dry and I think these tyres will do it also very quiet to drive on tarmac, much better than the Falkens and BFG's I used on out late, lamented, Defender, which is probably now with a nice Pikey family in the former Soviet Bloc

By the way triumph Rocket 3, much respect I've ridden one as a courtesy bike, for the un-intiated JST's bike has an engine which has a 100cc bigger capacity that the Freelander  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

The FL2 is superb on M+S tyres in snow as I discovered last winter on the wranglers. I have acquired some Avon Ranger Ice winter tyres for this winter and I am keen to test their abilities.

I too have joined a 4x4 response group so the added safety of winter tyres will be useful.

This link may assist with regard to the Avon tyres: http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic10276.html LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

Thanks guys....food for thought! I like the look of the Ranger Ice tyres but I am a bit of a numpty when it comes to FL tyre issues having been used to big Defender donuts! I had a set of spare alloys with BFG A/T tyres on for the summer and Muds for the winter/off roading but being an idle git I couldn't be bothered to keep swapping them round so left the muds on all the time and sold the A/Ts. I got used to the noise and found that they didn't seem to wear any more in dry conditions but would the same apply to FL winter tyres? i.e. will they wear more noticeably in the dry?

Martyn, I don't know why but I didn't expect to find many bikers in this forum (so much for pre-conceptions ). Perhaps we should start a "Bikes" thread in "Off Topic". I like the Aprilla but bum in the air nose down sports bikes are beyond my ageing carcass now so I stick to the old git cruiser thing. Plus the fact that I take the "talking luggage" with me everywhere. Still, with a couple of tweaks that I have on the Rocket it can manage 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and eats Harleys for breakfast

Thank you for your indulgence. John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

I came from a 110 defender with bfg's a few years ago. The defender is unstoppable angled have the bonus of a locking diff, freelander has enough gadgets on board to make up for that. The main difference I found was I can stop easier in the freelander than defender. You don't need to waste your money on winter tyres, a good set of AT's will do the job. General grabbers especially good

And oh dear Dr, you have lowered your self to be a wannabe hero! You will wearing high vis on all occasions have to grow a beard and get a gay sticker for your car 😝

There's a few bikers lurking around I'm sure. I have a Fazer 600, not much good in the snow though....

I'm not too young myself John, 56 to be precise, so as well as the Akra's , the PC111, and the quickshifter button, a bi-monthly visit to the physio and a bottle of radox are what keep me acting like a 12 year old on two wheels, yes I think we might start an "off topic", owning a Freelander and a bike is a bit like Dr Jekyl and Mr Hyde, I love 4x4s, except when I'm behind one lumbering along on a twisty road and it has black windows and I can't see through it round it or over It  2009 GS Auto Zermatt Silver - Sold June 21 after 10 years of ownership

2016 Subaru Outback SE 2.0 diesel SE Premium Lineartronic Sold 2024 after 8 years and 80k miles . Best Car I ever owned !

2023 Toyota Hilux invincible X 2.8 Auto .

Actually Landy it's called helping people the best I can and the group consists of guys who aren't wannabe Heroes at all they just want to help. One of the guys also works for Edale Mountain Rescue so I haven't lowered myself I have raised myself above stuck up superior attitudes like the one you have displayed.

Was it you who worked for a mountain rescue? If so, then you have more skills for helping people but that's no excuse to act like a t t cos it's actually pretty pathetic. LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

"a couple of tweaks that I have on the Rocket it can manage 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and eats Harleys for breakfast"

A Raleigh Chopper with tassels and a lollipop stick through the spokes for noise would eat a Harley for breakfast....
Apologies to any Harley riders on the forum....

Stuart
(still on the arse up, nose down variety of bike...and feeling the pain).

stooby wrote:

"a couple of tweaks that I have on the Rocket it can manage 0-60 in 2.8 seconds and eats Harleys for breakfast"

A Raleigh Chopper with tassels and a lollipop stick through the spokes for noise would eat a Harley for breakfast....
Apologies to any Harley riders on the forum....

Stuart
(still on the arse up, nose down variety of bike...and feeling the pain).

I unreservedly withdraw the comment. A biker is a biker whatever they ride so many apologies to the Harley guys! John
07 HSE Narvick Black
Land Rover Series One
Triumph Rocket 111 (sadly gone!)

...they do deserve some ridicule. Even if it's just a little....

By the way, the rocket does look like a lot of fun. I'm at the stage of thinking of giving up sports bikes but I had no idea what to go for next. Definitely not a Harley though...

Stuart

The Doctor wrote:

Actually Landy it's called helping people the best I can and the group consists of guys who aren't wannabe Heroes at all they just want to help. One of the guys also works for Edale Mountain Rescue so I haven't lowered myself I have raised myself above stuck up superior attitudes like the one you have displayed.

Was it you who worked for a mountain rescue? If so, then you have more skills for helping people but that's no excuse to act like a t t cos it's actually pretty pathetic.

Not ours though I can assure you LL.B (Hons) - University of Derby
LOT (Lord of Time) - University of Gallifrey

The Doctor wrote:

Not ours though I can assure you