Thread: Defender Steel Wheels

Why + 20?
A standard +30 will fit 255's but they might rub on the rear spring mounts.
If you want to go bigger rubber you could look at zero or -25 both 16x8. Kings in sydney do zero and -25 are at lots of places, I just got some from les Richmond automotive in victoria. There are occasionally some here and on evilbay.
Zero should let you fit 285's. -25 will get you to 35ish.
Steel Rims

Les is your man

Steel Rims

For my Defender 110 (PUMA), I chose the 16x7 King Wheels Terra steelies and they've been perfect. I bought 6 and they were ata reasonable price - always worth giving the guys at LR automotive a phone call and seeing what sort of deal they can do for you.

Re your offset choice, I selected a 0 offset and have put 265/75 AT tyres on....but I suppose it depends what width you're after.

There's a large number of threads on wheels and tyres....!

Bobby

Bobby, Zero offset with 265's must be very close to the legal limit under your flares? The reason I'm asking is that my ZU's are only +12mm and if I plumb-bob down from the flare my sidewall almost touches the line. The 265 BFG's tread surface is obviously quite a bit deeper under the flare, but can someone possibly enlighten me on how the rule is judged (any part of the tyre, sidewall ok or the "corner" of the tyre shoulder) Cheers, Lou

So what I am reading is 16x7 in +20 seems like it might be a good choice for running 255/85R16. The +20 offset should allow clearance around suspension items and also keep the 255 width tyre under the guards.

Zero offset seems to place a 255 width tyre right on the guard. A +10 offset would be ideal but cannot find anything available.

Thanks all. Will get onto LRA.

Originally Posted by Loubrey

Bobby, Zero offset with 265's must be very close to the legal limit under your flares? The reason I'm asking is that my ZU's are only +12mm and if I plumb-bob down from the flare my sidewall almost touches the line. The 265 BFG's tread surface is obviously quite a bit deeper under the flare, but can someone possibly enlighten me on how the rule is judged (any part of the tyre, sidewall ok or the "corner" of the tyre shoulder) Cheers, Lou

Lou

The 265s with zero offset do extend just the tiniest bit outside the flares. I doubt any of the Rozzers would notice but it'd be safer to get wider flares which is what I did anyway - the factory flares (see pic) were too soft and bendy....and scratched so I replaced them with the Terrafirma ones.

Bobby

I've been waiting for someone to mention the obvious choice: 130 rims. 16 x 6.5, ET +20.6, rated 2200kg each. Land Rover part no. ANR 4583 for the tubeless version.

Plenty of people run 255/85r16s on these wheels.

Originally Posted by Dervish

I've been waiting for someone to mention the obvious choice: 130 rims. 16 x 6.5, ET +20.6, rated 2200kg each. Land Rover part no. ANR 4583 for the tubeless version.

Plenty of people run 255/85r16s on these wheels.

Exactly what I have done. Just haven't got any rubber on them though so can't comment on where they sit.

How are they for price in Australia vs generic steelies? I had to pay NZD$125 over here for second hand ones, and I think new generic are 110-120. Just something else to consider..

To me price is irrelevant. Most of the Sunraysias and Modulars I've seen are rated to 1200kg. Now imagine driving up a steep incline so that 70% of the vehicle weight (let's say 2500kg) is on the rear axle. Now imagine that on that incline your axle is articulated so that all the weight is on one wheel. That's 1750 kg. I would only be running standard wheels or stronger, so how cheap they are doesn't even come into it.