Introduction with pics ('cos we all like pics)

[Freeloader2]

I thought i'd introduce myself and the new addition to the family.

2010 TD4 HSE with Lux Pack, Tech Pack, Tow Pack

As seen, it came with the 19" wheels and Continental Crosscontact UHPs but like most of you, i found them to be useless off road. With the assistance of this forum and some serious investigating, I recently fitted more fitting wheels and tyres to match the LR pedigree.

I haven't challenged it off road yet in fear of shredding a $400+ tyre, but with the addition of the muds, I am keen to see what it is capable of.

As far as a personal intro goes, I have recently moved back to the ACT and have enjoyed 4WDing for many years now. 80 Series Cruiser in the Top End, Suzuki Vitara in NSW and countless Mil Spec 110s just about everywhere. I am eager to get some serious time up in the bush around the ACT, with a trip to McIntyers Hut on the cards asap.

[Ausfree]

Nice new addition to the family, mate. Those wheels and tyres certainly give your FL2 a "mean" look!!!! Welcome to the Forum!!:D:D

[freelander dave]

hello freeloader 2 - could you please provide further info on the tyres and rims - they look good

i have a 2010 2.2d auto - std 18"s - fitted a set of oe 16"s with 225/75x16 maxxis buckshots

freelander dave

[Freeloader2]

Wheels took some finding but what you see are Ford Mondeo/Focus 17x6.5 (pcd 5x108, cb 63.4, offset +45) and tyres are 255/65-17 Maxxis Bighorn. I umm'd and ahh'd over every tyre on the market but when it all boiled down, i wasn't prepared to fork out $400 per tyre for BFG and the Coopers range are too controversial for me to 'trial'. So, in the end it came down to the Maxxis for these reasons;

Great price - 25% less that the rest
Perfect Size - 23mm larger in diameter than stock
Availability - fitted within 18 hrs of ordering

It's a pity that the Kumho KL71 don't come in a similar size as they were a good balance for my needs. oh well

The difference in the ride is fantastic. The extra 3" of sidewall has made it into a cushioned (yet not soggy) beast with the expected and tolerable whirring of a mud tyre.

Start to finish i spent less than $1400 :D

Freelander Dave,
I noticed on the wheel and tyre placard in the door that they can have a 16" but i've never seen them nor could i find them on the net. Do you have pics?

I wish i could have gone to a 16" for the great range of tyres, but it seemed like a bit of a gamble. I almost bought a set of 16x7 Volvo mag wheels but read of people having calliper clearance issues. I did try on a volvo 16x6 steel wheel and i believe it would happily run 235s with no rubbing.

[zokes]

I've been looking for wheels and tyres for ages since our TD4e came 'upgraded' with 19" wheels :eek:

LR dealer in Adelaide has some 17" on order for us, and there was the option of 16" too (but only for the diesels - the petrols have bigger brakes, and maybe the new SD4s do too). 16" are standard on the base model in europe. However, we're still under warranty, and try as I might, they refused to let me go near tyres not on the placard unless I didn't want the warranty. Fair play to the guy I was speaking to, he sounded as cheesed off as I was about the whole thing. The trouble is, there are even fewer AT/MT tyres in the official 16" size than 17", so we had no choice but the 17" wheels.

I asked several after-market places online and in Adelaide about wheels, but noone could get hold of any to suit apart from LR. What's the load rating of the mondeo-fit wheels? That car's a good deal lighter than the FL2, and wouldn't be engineered for taking hits off road either.

[Freeloader2]

Hey Zokes,

I know your frustration, finding wheels and tyres for this rig has been the death of me. If only they make 17x7 Steel rims for it!

I am using the muddies for 4wd trips only, so as not to wreck the OE 19s and tyres. I wasn't too happy with the amount of wheel spin (with the UHP tyre)required to engage the effects of TR, so I hope this reduces significantly with the new ones.

Ford(UK) rate the wheel at 690kg(2760kg for 4), i'm guessing to cater for the Mondeo Estate owners that pack them out then tow a caravan. It's over the FL2s gross weight, even still, i'm never going to max out the rig for a 4wd trip and the Bighorns will absorb most of the impact of offroad hits. For normal use and towing, i'll be using the 'stockies'.

Try a set of Volvo xc90 rims if you can get a hold of them in SA.

[mikehzz]

Nice :) I went Mt Coree, Flea Creek and Macintyres few weeks ago. Not much of a challenge at the moment there were xtrails and a Subaru Outback down there. Wet weather would sort them out :)

How close are those tyres to rubbing? I was toying with 245/70/17 Cooper ST's as they have a new compound and are 10 ply lt. They would be another 11.5 mm bigger than yours in diameter. Cheers

[djhampson]

Looks great with those wheels and tyres on it... Go get it dirty!

[Freeloader2]

mikehzz,

When i was first looking at new tyres for it, all I could find at first was the 245/70-17 and i was worried that they would scrub. I put the OE 235/55-19 on full lock L&R at the front and measured the clearances. The end result was that if I ran a tyre with 776mm diameter (maxxis), I wouldn't have any day to day issues but there was a risk of rubbing when articulated. Just to play it safe i went for the 255(764mm) though with 773mm(cooper), 16mm of extra clearance over stock would make a welcome difference to all FL2 owners that don't mind taking them offroad.

You're right DJHampson, it needs to be dirtier. I am looking at a weekender soon and will do either McIntyres or Bendethera. I just got back from my first trip to Bendethera yesterday and I am confident that, as long as the watercrossings stay down, the Freelander would eat it up.
I drove my Vitara and with 240mm clearance and didn't have a trouble in the world. It's got crawler low range gears and i was in 3L to 5L most of the time. 5000rpm in 5L just cruising along the flat bits :D
I actually think it is a track more suited to the FL2 than the Hilux's i went with. They were in and out of low range every few minutes.

On a side note, I found something quite amusing/ridiculous on the LR Roadside Assistance website,

"Bogged Vehicle
If your vehicle is bogged, we will arrange for it be recovered, provided access is available to a conventional two-wheel drive recovery vehicle and no other specialist equipment is necessary. Any additional costs will be your responsibility."

I am struggling to see the logic in this

[zokes]

Well, we've just spent a bloody fortune on a set of 17" from LR. Even more irritating - there's now a bloke in ADL selling 5x17" for $300 the set on Ebay!!!! FFS! She looks much better on the Cooper AT3s, that's for certain!

Anyway, I now need to work out how to flog off the 19s to someone who would rather use their FL2 to drop the girl off at Mercedes College rather than bouncing around the Flinders! Ebay prices look dire and Gumtree don't look much better. Any other ideas? Being in new(ish) to oz I'm not really sure of where's best to list them.

[newhue]

Freelander2, that's not a bad looking ride you have there, and good on you for persisting with the wheels. It may come as no surprise to you, but I have driven 8 of them as loan cars while the Defer has been serviced or warranted.
I used one as a work car for 8 weeks, amazingly big with the seats folded down. And go very well too.

The wife would like one and so would I as a second car but being a Landy they are pricey as you well now.

welcome aboard,

[theface26]

Zokes, i'm still in planning stages of what to put on my newly aquired SE, but I do know that what ever after market whrels I buy, ill sell them easier that the OE ones. So, why not store the 19s till you sell the FL2 and flog the aftermarkets off seperate then?

[MihaiB]

Hi!

My name is Mihai, I am from Romania, good to be here! From what I know, there is a serious offroad community in Australia so I hope there will be some Freelander 2 offroaders to share info with.

My car is a 2011 MY Freelander 2, SD4 engine, HSE. As extras I have added Matec sump guards (front and back) and OEM headlamps protections. I use 235/65/R17 Goodyear Wrangler MTRs for offroading and regular tires for going onroad. A small roofrack (only for the back of the car) is in construction.

And a couple of pics...

Cheers!

[djhampson]

Great pics! Welcome aboard!

[mikehzz]

Yes welcome Mihai. I enjoy your posts over on freel2.com. Cheers mate