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Ale90

Member Since: 13 Jan 2024
Location: Guildford
Posts: 38

2003 Defender 90 Td5 CSW Santorini Black

Can I use 5.5 inch spare with 6.5 inch wheels (wolf content)

To all Land Rover wheel experts,
I wonder if you can help me with this question.
I’ve purchased 4x very nice 6.5 inch wide wolf style 0 ETO wheels (235/85/16 ATs) from another D2er and I was looking for a cost effective spare (to be covered as non-match).
I managed to get a 5.5 inch standard steel wheel and was wondering if I put a generic AT 235/85/16 on the 5.5 inch spare would that be ok in the unlikely event I needed to use it?
I know you have to match tyres on an axel but have heard you can get away with an AT to same size AT without them being exactly the same. However the narrower 5.5 steel will result in the generic 235/85/16 being narrower than the better ATs on the Wolfy ETO 0s.
My question is; if I put a new cheapo 235/85/16 on the 5.5 will it just be an ornament?
Cheers for any advice!

6th Mar 2024 9:43pm

DSC-off

Member Since: 16 Oct 2014
Location: North East
Posts: 1428

2015 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Aintree Green

I believe a 5.5" Rim is too narrow for a 235 section tyre.
BF Goodrich specify a Rim Width of 6.0 to 7.5" for a 235/85R16 AT tyre, other manufacturers may be different.
If the tyre isn't type approved for that rim size, then it shouldn't be fitted for road use.

https://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/auto/tires...yreSize=16

BFGOODRICH
®
ALL-TERRAIN T/A
®
KO2 235/85R16 120S RWL

CHECK AVAILABILITY
MSPN

75445

Mileage Warranty

50,000

Section Width on Measuring Rim Width

9.3" on 6.5"

Overall Diameter (in)

31.7

Max Load, Single (lbs@psi)

3042 @ 80

Sidewall

RWL

Revs/MI

656

Tire Weight (lbs)

49.3

Rim Width Range (Min/Max)

6.0-7.5

Tread Depth (32nds)

15.0

Specifications

3PMSF

M+S

6th Mar 2024 10:36pm

Chicken Drumstick

Member Since: 17 Aug 2020
Location: Near MK
Posts: 752

Technically no. A 235/85 requires a min of a 6.0 wide rim.

You may also find a 5.5" rim requires an inner tube. Many modern tyres do not play nicely with inner tubes.

6th Mar 2024 10:38pm

Ale90

Member Since: 13 Jan 2024
Location: Guildford
Posts: 38

Ok thanks very much for the advice.
I think I’ll probably use it as a dummy spare until I get a 6.5 steel spare.
Cheers!

6th Mar 2024 11:31pm

Evil Elsie

Member Since: 25 Feb 2023
Location: Cumbria
Posts: 202

If you've already got the wheel then just buy/fit a narrower tyre..??

If the narrower wheel is only going to be used as a spare/get you home/get you to a garage then surely it's no different to these skinny space saver things that modern cars have..??

Cheers, Dave. 2002 Land Rover 110 Td5 Utility
1990 Suzuki GSXR 1100L
1980 Yamaha RD 350LC
1976 Yamaha RD 400C

7th Mar 2024 9:49am

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