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Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Tyres and wheel spacers

Hello,
I am a new member to the forum (and relatively new to Land Rover ownership). I am hoping for confirmation of what I "think" I have managed to pull together.
I have a Defender 90 puma 2.4. We do some off roading once a month and a low amount of road miles. Approx 3K per year
I want to put some off road bias tyres on. I am looking at the Cooper discoverer pro stt. Reviews seem to suggest the increase in road noise is negligible and provide good performance off road.

I currently have 235/85/16's. I am thinking of putting on 265/75/16s. I'd be grateful for any confirmation or comments on the following:

• The 265 are 30mm wider than the 235 tyres. In terms of impact on turning circle and bump stops adjustments....looking at the middle line of the tyre when its fitted, 15mm of this extra width is on the outer half and 15 mm is on the inner half ..........so my tyres will be 15mm closer to the radius arm ?
• If I fit 15mm spacers that will put it back to the same as I currently have ?
• And if I used 30mm spacers should give me a bit better turning circle once the bump stops have been adjusted ?
• From what I have read 265 wide tyres and 30mm spacers will bring the tyres to the edge of the arches but give Ok clearance. Any views ?
• Is there any potential for seal damage anywhere (e.g swivel hubs etc) by moving the wheels outwards and adjusting bump stops?
• I have read lots of info about possible extra strain on other steering parts as a result of spacers and there seems to be a lot of conflicting info from people who say they have them and there is no impact and others who say they add wear. Any views would be appreciated. Any guesses how long any possible additional wear would be say with 30mm spacers doing 3k ish per year ?
Any help would be much appreciated

23rd Jun 2018 7:43pm

williamthedog

Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

265s will fit on without the spacers. You might have to adjust the stops, although I didn't need to.

23rd Jun 2018 7:53pm

williamthedog

Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

Oh and welcome to the forum

23rd Jun 2018 7:54pm

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Thanks for the help. Did you notice any difference with the turning circle ? Or am I worrying too much about nothing (it happens sometimes with me!)

23rd Jun 2018 7:56pm

williamthedog

Member Since: 29 Dec 2012
Location: south wales
Posts: 3441

Put them on and drive, you'll probably won't notice a vast difference.

23rd Jun 2018 7:59pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

265's work very well with 30mm spacers. They stay within the arches but allow for the turning circle to be increased significantly, compared to running without spacers.

If you do decide to go for spacers, don't use anything less than 30mm. There isn't enough etal for anything less to work safely and the standard studs aren't long enough to accommodate 'through' spacers. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

23rd Jun 2018 8:25pm

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Thanks, especially for the dont go below 30mm spacers advice.

Any views on increase wear on other suspension parts ?

The other bit I dont really understand at the moment is what hub centric spacers are ?

23rd Jun 2018 8:28pm

LandRoverAnorak

Member Since: 17 Jul 2011
Location: Surrey
Posts: 11324

It's worth having a search on spacers, as there's been lots of discussion in the past. Some say that they're the devils work and will increase wheel bearing wear. There's never any real evidence though.

Hub-centric spacers are machined to a close tolerance to enable the wheel load to be transferred directly to the hub rather than on the wheel studs. A lot of people like them but it's academic on a Land Rover as the wheel load is carried on the studs anyway. Darren

110 USW BUILD THREAD - EXPEDITION TRAILER - 200tdi 90 BUILD THREAD - SANKEY TRAILER - IG@landroveranorak

"You came in that thing? You're braver than I thought!" - Princess Leia

23rd Jun 2018 9:38pm

diesel_jim

Member Since: 13 Oct 2008
Location: hiding
Posts: 6095

And remember 265 was a factory option fit with standard alloys (Freestyle and deep dish) without spacers.

23rd Jun 2018 10:16pm

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Thanks for the help, much appreciated

24th Jun 2018 7:15am

JOW240725

Member Since: 04 May 2015
Location: Suffolk
Posts: 7907

2012 Defender 110 Puma 2.2 XS CSW Orkney Grey

I fitted 30mm spacers to standard boost rims (et33) and 235's, adjusted steering stops for a vastly improved turning circle.

I now run 265's on Bowlers (et10) and lost a little turning circle but not too much.

You'll be fine which ever way you go.

Some argue spacers cause problems, and ultimately that's why I changed rims for a bigger offset. But I ran decent hubcentric spacers quite happily for nearly two years.

Also, welcome to the forum.

James
MY2012 110 2.2TDCi XS SW Orkney Grey - http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic43410.html
MY1990 110 200TDi SW beautifully faded Portofino Red - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post743641.html#743641
MY1984 90 V8 Slate Grey - https://www.defender2.net/forum/post744557.html#744557
Instagram @suffolk_rovers

24th Jun 2018 8:48am

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Thanks James

24th Jun 2018 12:11pm

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Hi,

Just phoned Bigtyres to try and order some of the Discoverer Pro STT 265's and they told me that:

"its not got conventional tyre markings marked on it and so it may well not pass an MOT, this is the case with quite a lot of the off road bias tyres"

Does that ring true with anyone ?

Thanks for the help

25th Jun 2018 11:59am

blackwolf

Member Since: 03 Nov 2009
Location: South West England
Posts: 17450

2007 Defender 110 Puma 2.4 DCPU Stornoway Grey

This may be because the STT in 265/75 has a "K" speed rating (68mph max), see http://www.defender2.net/forum/topic62233.html

There is however as far as I know no reason why these tyres would fail am MOT for this reason or cause any other legal complications, unless I suppose you were clocked at a speed in excess of 68mph by a very observant policeman.

25th Jun 2018 2:31pm

Dexterdog

Member Since: 23 Jun 2018
Location: gloucestershire
Posts: 108

Ok, that makes more sense. thanks for the help

25th Jun 2018 5:19pm

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