Best snow tyres for the Land Rover Defender

Ensure your Land Rover Defending is sure-footed on all terrains this year. 

The tyres implemented on a Land Rover Defender can genuinely make or break the comfort of your ride, especially when there is an additional natural element, snow. The majority of individuals who drive scarily lack awareness of their surroundings which is why having the correct seasonal tyres is vital to aid emergency braking. 

If you are approaching the snowy season and you still have your summer tyres on, you will not only have an unpleasant journey, but you will also be putting your life and anyone else’s life who is in the car with you in danger. Winter tyres, especially Land Rover Defender tyres, have been specifically designed and tested to combat snow, ice, slush frost, and wet roads. 

Difference between summer and winter tyres

Summer tyres will struggle when being driven in a snow or winter season. The harsh temperature will physically harden the summer tyres, which will result in them losing their characteristics such as:

  • Griping on the road will significantly decrease
  • The ability to stop will be reduced
  • Decrease in traction 
  • Less resistant to hardening
  • Less control of your vehicle under icy conditions
  • Increased likelihood of aquaplaning
  • Decrease ability to start and stop when on top of snow and ice

Defender winter tyres have been designed explicitly by Land Rover using soft compounds, so they don’t harden when harsh temperatures drop below 7 degrees centigrade. Furthermore, it is always advisable for you to change your tyres from winter to summer when the seasons change back. 

It is vital as a Land Rover Defender owner to understand the importance of looking after your tyres and changing them appropriately with the seasons change to keep not only yourself safe and pedestrians are other vehicles on the road safe. 

Difference between winter and snow tyres

Winter tyres, otherwise known as cold weather tyres, need not be confused with snow tires which more often than not are studded and will not offer the same level of grip hen driving on wet roads. 

Snow tyres should only ever be used when you are entirely sure that you will be driving over terrain that will consist of deep snow or ice for a substantial amount of time. For the winter season, we would always recommend you choose winter tyres.

Please do be aware that while winter tyres have been designed specifically for the colder seasons, you will still have to drive extra cautiously. Winter tyres do not handle as well as standard summer tyres in the warmer seasons. 

All season tyres

All-season tyres are perfect for mild weather changes. However, they do not provide nearly as much grip as winter tyres do. Individuals who experience relatively cooler winters can benefit significantly from winter tyres. 

Winter tyres are specifically designed to have flexible compounds and specialized tread design; the winter tyres will ensure your all-season tyres last a lot longer. While using your winter tyres for better performance and a safe journey, your all-season tyres won’t be wearing down and will be ready to be used when the season begins to warm.  

Stopping distance in Winter

Braking in the winter season with snow on the ground can add 16 feet when driving at a speed of 30mph, which equals the length of two vehicles.

When breaking on an iced-over road at 20mph with a car that still has its summer tyres on, it will add an extra 36 feet to the stopping distance; this distance could be the difference between you stopping safely and a car on car collision occurring. 

Finding the value in snow tyres

Like everything, the cost of your snow tyres will depend entirely upon the model of the car you have and the quality of the tyre you are after. It is worth noting that winter tyres can save you money in the long run. Snow or winter tyres are usually cheaper than summer tyres. Due to the tyres being designed specifically for the snowy season, will last longer while letting your summer tyres rest to be used again later in the year. 

To sum up…

When it comes to snow or winter tyres, it truly depends on the type of activity and amount of driving you will be doing in such conditions. Every model is different; its mechanical characteristics, specific dimensions require you to choose the correct type of tire. 

To be on the safe side, we would always recommend contacting your nearest Rover RR shop. A member of our team will listen to the type of driver you are, the specific conditions you will be driving on, and your budget before recommending any types of tyres; if you would like to find out more, contact Rover RR today.

Popular Land Rover Defender 110 Modifications

Completely modifying your Defender is an unforgettable experience; putting those additional accessories on your Defender is hands down everyone’s favorite part.

Modifying your Defender is almost a rite of passage, with a lot of the appeal coming down to the fact the car can be modified so easily by its owner. For many individuals who own a Land Rover Defender 110, simply upgrading their exterior is the most exciting and essential part to them; however, there are a vast amount of performance upgrades that we would always consider customers learning about. 

We will examine the best modifications for the Defender 110 that can substantially enhance your driving experiences throughout this blog. So let’s take into the popular Land Rover Defender 110 mods starting with the motor:

Motor

Modifying the motor is one of the top modifications for Defender 110; it is the heart of the car. The motor can completely transform your vehicle from torque to energy efficiency, from power to speed. 

When deciding on what modification your Defender will have, you can choose between seven various engines that additionally depend on the model and body style that you select. These can include:

  • P300 Mild hybrid electric vehicle (MHEV)
  • Petrol Engines
  • Diesel Engines
  • P400 2 Plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHEV)

The defender sport further offers the following:

  • D165 Manual 
  • D165 Automatic 
  • P200 MHEV
  • P250MHEV
  • P300e PHEV

When it comes to modifying your Defender, you have several options to work with so take time to think about the character of your Land Rover and the type of lifestyle you have. 

Wheels

No matter whether you are looking for practical wheels or more of an aesthetic look, modifying your Defender from steel to alloy wheels can make a whole amount of difference to the:

  • Style 
  • Balance
  • Durability

Wheels are genuinely a make-or-break contributing factor when it comes to your Defender as they are one of the most prominent parts of any vehicle. The Defender Boost alloys and Sawtooth have always been popular within the Land Rover community, with the Zu alloy wheels following closely behind. 

Tyres

If you are going to go all out with your defender’s wheels, you can’t forget about the tires. New tires will be the finishing touch, especially if you are upgrading your wheels in the process. Before you think about the tires you want, you first need to look at the kind of lifestyle you live, whether that is mostly:

  • Off-road
  • All-terrain
  • All road

Avon, Pirelli, and Continental are all popular choices of tire brands when it comes to your Land Rover Defender. 

Suspension

Defenders have been specially designed to overperform when in an offroad situation; however, their suspension can improve continuously. It is well known that most defender owners will go ahead and fit their vehicle with the best suspension out there to create a much smoother ride for those off-road experiences. Whether you choose to change the coil springs or install shock absorbers, you can make your bespoke suspension that suits your character and needs. 

LED Lights

LED lights have always been a massive and inexpensive way to spruce up your Defender. If you are to add additional lighting to your vehicle’s grille, not only will your visibility improve when in off-road situations or at night, but the appearance of your car will drastically change. 

When choosing LED lights for an off-road vehicle, you need to consider that the lights need to be IP67 rated. This is to ensure the lights themselves are dustproof and can be submerged in water without becoming faulty. LED lights offer a longer lifespan as well as being more energy-efficient than traditional halogen lights. 

Exhaust

Changing your exhaust will ultimately change the volume in which you drive; if you are a customer who wants to make an impact with your Defender, you can choose to install a bespoke exhaust that will allow everyone to know when you are nearby. However, it is good to understand that it can impact your vehicle’s fuel efficiency while improving the engine’s performance when you adapt your exhaust. 

Sidestep

A side step is not everyone’s favorite additional feature; however, they have become rather trendy when it comes to the defender modification community in recent years. The vehicle itself is exceptionally tall; adding a side step can make it a lot easier for you to enter and exit your vehicle. 

Furthermore, if you are a customer who uses their roof rack, it can make the process of adding or removing luggage or bikes exceptionally easy. Depending on the type of Defender you currently have, you can opt for a modern or classic visual for your sidestep. 

Your vehicles insurance 

It can be enjoyable for customers who own defenders to start modifying parts; however, it is crucial to be aware of how these modifications can affect your vehicle’s insurance.

It is crucial to tell your insurance providers no matter the modification you have updated your land Rover Defender with. The Defender 110 is a fantastic vehicle to modify; however, you must research and carefully examine your car before jumping into a project like this. 

If you ever have any queries or questions regarding your Land Rover Defender or Range Rover, feel free to give us a call on 801-797-3180 to speak to a member of our team.