Thread: S2A bit and pieces.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

If the centre is welded in the answer is yes, but many tyre places are reluctant to fit tubeless tyres to rims without a "safety bead, although rims without these were used successfully with tubeless tyres for decades before they were invented, and many people have used tubeless tyres on Landrover wheels without the extra bead for many years without incident.

Personally I use tubes, but it is getting harder to find suitable tyres as well as decent tubes.

I don't remember Len Beadell having split rims, but do remember his having endless tyre problems, although it is decades since reading his books.

Split rims were optional on Landrovers since 1948, but seem to have ceased being offered some time in Series 2a production, although I suspect they are still available to special order if your order is large enough (e.g 1,000+!). They have never been offered in Australia as far as I know, but there are a few about, either private imports or possibly imported for government trials, or even on spec by the local assemblers.

In addition there have been some built locally by wheel works, apparently using Toyota rims and with flat plate centres. Some specialist Landrovers in the military had these. These are different from the Landrover ones, which have the two sides bolted together with a circle of bolts, nuts on the inside, and look very similar to the standard wheels.

John

Great information, thanks. I googled the part number for those rims on the Roverparts site and it turns out that they are supplied by Britparts and are actually specified as a "tube type".

Some further searching and it turns out Britpart also do a "tubeless" OEM-sytle 5.5"x16" steel wheel, part #RRC503600PM, which I presume have the safety beading. Britpart only specifies "Defender - 1987 onwards" as the application but Paddockspares carry them and list "Defender Various" and "Series 2 & 3 Various" as the application, getting somewhat more specific on the product page in the "FAQs" section: "Can I buy this for Series IIA (1969)? Yes they will fit a Series 2A.".

Here they are:
RRC503600PM | 16x5.5 LWB Rim Tubeless Type (O.E. manufacture) Black Primer Coated - Paddock Spares

I can't find the offset specified anywhere, though it probably doesn't differ significantly from the stock wheel's +33mm. If I am to settle on one-piece rims for tubeless tyres, these I think will be what I'll get. At only 50 pounds each even after international shipping they might still work out cheaper than the other wheels from Roverparts.au. Here in SA you cannot legally change the specified track more than +/-26mm and the tyre width has to be no more than 20mm greater than the widest tyre originally fitted by the manufacturer. All of that should only be an issue I suppose if I am to consider any wider than stock rim options.

The tyres currently fitted to my stock rims are 7.5" wall, 16" dia., but I can't see/find the actual width marked on the tyres anywhere.

Originally Posted by 87County

The 110 RFSV models currently being sold by graysonline have split rims and 3 spare wheels so most people who buy one of these end up with 7 split rims.

Photos here: Land Rover 110 4X4 Regional Force Surveillance Soft Top (RFSV) 02/1987 Auction (0023-5021796) | GraysOnline Australia

They are heavy rims and difficult to balance compared to, say, a steel tubeless D1 rim.

Those wheels look potentially nice, aside from the downside of having to buy the 110 to go with them

Would they likely be 5.5" width or 6.5" or greater?

Originally Posted by 68s2alwb

.....

The tyres currently fitted to my stock rims are 7.5" wall, 16" dia., but I can't see/find the actual width marked on the tyres anywhere.

The tyres you have are almost certainly 7.50x16. As a general rule, if the tyre size is expressed in inches for the tyre width it is 100% - i.e., the width and height the same, and this was the standard tyre for Series 2/2a/3 109, optional on the 88, and by far the most common on both today and also probably the easiest size to find in a suitable type of tyre. (If the tyre width is given in mm, and no height to width percentage is marked, it is usually 85%)

One thing that perhaps should be pointed out is that radial tyres were optional but uncommon throughout Series 2/2a production, with crossplies almost invariably fitted.

However, for virtually all use I would recommend radials (I was using them to advantage in the Simpson in 1966).

John

OK, that makes sense. For some reason I thought the 7.5 in 7.5x16 only referred to the height. For example our Toyotas at work are fitted with LT265/7.5R16 tyres; the width (245mm) being metric.

So, 7.5" is 190mm. The closest standard metric size to that is a width of 195mm, which according to tyre/rim charts is the widest tyre that will fit on a 5.5" wide rim.

I really should give up for this evening, but 195mm is really thin for a modern 4WD tyre. I've been checking the standard supplier websites (Beaurepairs, Bob Jane, Bridgestone, etc) and LT or 4WD tyres only 195mm wide are next to non existent, let alone ones to fit a 16" rim with a 100% aspect ratio. The nearest standard metric tyre to a 31" dia. 7.5x16 is a 225/85R16, but if 7.5" width was the widest tyre originally fitted by the manufacturer then that would be illegally wide. The widest you could go is 7.5"(=190mm) + 20mm = 210mm and the next standard metric size down from that is 205mm, which would require a 6" rim.

Arrgg, what a pain in the rear!

Hmm, have just read through the current wheel and tyre requirements on the SA transport department website and for some reason tyre width requirements/limitations are no longer mentioned at all:

https://www.sa.gov.au/topics/transpo...eels-and-tyres

They don't even mention the maximum rim diameter now which since the year dot in this state was no more than 50mm (two inches) greater than the largest rim fitted by the manufacturer.

And furthermore they only reference vehicles manufactured from 1973 onwards (those with mandated tyre placards). What about those without?

I wonder the the legal rim diameter and tyre width limitations have been relaxed since I last had a modified vehicle over the pits or if they are currently under review or if the updated website is just omission ridden and sloppy.

If I get time tomorrow I might ring them for clarification.

It is a few months since I bought any, but I have had no problems getting 7.50x16 tyres, which I run on both my 110 and 2a. There are probably issues getting modern tread patterns however.

John

The tubeless wolf rims are a good option, just a bit expensive.


Land Rover Parts - WHEEL - L/R DEFENDER (WOLF)(16X6.5, +20.6mm OFFSET) TUBELESS


Cheers, Mick.

Originally Posted by JDNSW

It is a few months since I bought any, but I have had no problems getting 7.50x16 tyres, which I run on both my 110 and 2a. There are probably issues getting modern tread patterns however.

John

Yeah, you can still get them, but there is a limited number of brands and styles and nearly all tyre retailers would have to special order them for you as they aren't a common stock item.

I'd like to travel the country in my Landy when she is done and if I've done my spares somewhere in the middle of nowhere I'd prefer not to have to camp in the nearest town for several days while my special tyre order arrives from an antique warehouse!

It would be nice to run period-correct tyre sizes and rims, but I'm ruminating over whether it worth the hassle or not.