Hi all,

I'm usually over at defender2.net, I drive a 09 plate 110 however I'm considering picking up a td4_e Freelander for my daily commute.

Just curious how the low resistance tyres keep up in the snow/muck/mud. I don't plan on any severe off roading in a Freelander, however I don't want to get stuck in 1 cm of snow!

My Goodyear Wranglers (all terrain) are pretty worn (about 2 - 3mm tread left) and I didn't get stuck at all in any of the snow we had recently. I even went for a play a few times on quite a steep grass bank covered in about 8cm of virgin snow and although it slipped a bit, the car climbed over it without any real drama.

Just as an aside, my car is on it's original tyres and have lasted around 32k miles. I'm just about ready to change to General Grabber UHPs. Poke it, Poke it, make it do it again!!

Gone - 2008 Freel2 HSE Santorini Black
Hello - 2010 RRS TDV6 3.0 HSE Santorini Black

eutek wrote:

Hi all,

I'm usually over at defender2.net, I drive a 09 plate 110 however I'm considering picking up a td4_e Freelander for my daily commute.

Just curious how the low resistance tyres keep up in the snow/muck/mud. I don't plan on any severe off roading in a Freelander, however I don't want to get stuck in 1 cm of snow!

In the snow we had this winter in the UK, did any member actually have any problems, I know I didn't and have not heard of anyone on here getting stuck in the snow  p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

[quote="iain cooper"]

eutek wrote:

if you think the FL2 will get stuck in 1cm of snow then it's probably not the car for you, I would recommend that you stick to your defender just to be on the safe side.

Iain

Thanks for the suggestion. My query is directed at the tyres that the td4_e comes with, rather than the ability of the Freelander itself.

They're very good vehicles both on and off-road. I've seen them on the Land Rover experience track, I've driven two and I really like them... otherwise I wouldn't be contemplating buying one.

However I've seen perfectly capable offroaders stuck due to the tyres used. I'm not talking about deep muck either. Wet grass, a wee amount of snow, etc.

The press blurb states that the td4_e has "low resistance" tyres. I recently test drove VW Polo Bluemotion with similar such tyres, and they were absolutely useless in the rain. Lest someone point out the obvious, I realise that a Polo isn't anywhere near a Freelander.

As stated above, it is the low resistance tyres that I'm curious about.

ad210358 wrote:

In the snow we had this winter in the UK, did any member actually have any problems, I know I didn't and have not heard of anyone on here getting stuck in the snow

I owned a TD4-e from November last year to the end of January this year and it behaved spot on through the snow and ice of December. Yes, the tyres would have been it's downfall in the heavy stuff but for the commuting in the snow and through 500mm where I went playing it never faltered.

EYorkshire wrote:

I owned a TD4-e from November last year to the end of January this year and it behaved spot on through the snow and ice of December. Yes, the tyres would have been it's downfall in the heavy stuff but for the commuting in the snow and through 500mm where I went playing it never faltered.

I have a late 2009 TD4_e and that came with normal Goodyear Wranglers, none of this low-resistance stuff

Like all freelanders with the wranglers fitted, drove totally fine in snow, even some deep snow. Ground Clearance was my only issue.

eutek wrote:

ad210358 wrote:

In the snow we had this winter in the UK, did any member actually have any problems, I know I didn't and have not heard of anyone on here getting stuck in the snow

That is good to hear. I personally have never seen one stuck either.

Can't say the same for BMW X3, X5, Toyotas of all shapes and sizes etc.

The BMW's get stuck on damp grass so it is hard to compare. I was going out in the snow just for the hell'uv it no problems, no where I wanted to go did I not get, even stopping on the hills, laughing at the Beemers and setting off again was achived with no fuss, mind you would have looked B silly if I couldn't have moved off again. p****d off with a Digital Keyboard Warrior

Mines running conti 4x4 contact and went all around the lake district over the last 2 winters and that includes compact snow, without any bother.
If in doubt the new grabber A/T is available in most sizes including 235/65/17 which I'm going to get soon.

Hi EUTEK, I have a TD4 GS which came with 235/65 17 Goodyear Wrangler HP's - these were great on road in rain, snow & ice. However they were useless in sticky mud as they didn't clear enough to give any traction. I swapped them recently for the new pattern General Grabber AT which have solved the mud problem with no appreciable disadvantage. Haven't had any snow since fitting them but feedback elsewhere is encouraging.
More on this in my original post: http://www.freel2.com/forum/topic7740.html

Hello EUTEK,
I'm on Michelin road tyres and i've driven alot in the snow this winter with no probs. Stopping downhill was not good but i couldn't get any Wintracs anywhere. So i'll get some this summer in readyness.
I think two sets of tyres is sensible. Another member of the failed FL2 clutch/DMF club, twice.

Thanks for all the responses. They're what I was hoping to hear.

I am using the wife's car for my commute, and while it is better than the 110 it still isn't ideal. I really enjoyed driving the Freelander, more so the td4_e than the auto gearbox XS that I was given a loan of.


Thanks again!

Pegleg wrote:

Hello EUTEK,
I'm on Michelin road tyres and i've driven alot in the snow this winter with no probs. Stopping downhill was not good but i couldn't get any Wintracs anywhere. So i'll get some this summer in readyness.
I think two sets of tyres is sensible.