Freelander 1 Bigger tyres and rims

300bhp/ton · Jan 15, 2019

I know this must have been covered a zillion times, but couldn't find anything on the first 6 pages of the forum.

What sort of tyre size can you fit to a Freelander 1? Just the max diameter will be fine, I can work out the rest.

Ideally I'd like to know for a stock ride height and one with a 40mm lift kit.

I also have a 2nd question. I believe the alloys changed at some point during production, not in style, but fitment. i.e. early rims and latter ones. I assume it's either the backspacing or centre bore, rather than the PCD.

Can anyone clarify what rims fit which age vehicles. Specifically a 53 plate Td4 3 door.

Thanks.

ColinNI · Jan 15, 2019

I've 205 80 16 muds on mine, cleared on standard height no problems, when had 30mm wheel spacers in actually rubbed for first time and especially when I was towing a car and trailer combo.

The 40mm lift kit cured that however. But with the lift I needed to trim front bumper about 10mm off inside lip.

Also it didn't like the factory mud guards so they had to go but bar that grand.

As for rims yes they changed, cars originally had solid front and around 2001 changed to vented fronts, rear hubs changed slightly also, offset is slightly different.

None vented wheels won't fit vented brakes as they catch but if your like me and use hubcentric spacers it doesn't matter as I've 2 sets of rims.

Nodge68 · Jan 15, 2019

It's not the body that dictates the maximum diameter, not on standard rims anyway. The strut spring cup stops a tyre of excessive diameter going on, and the strut steering arm prevents expensive widths being fitted.

I have about 8mm clearance at the strut top, and 5mm between tyre and steering arm, mine being fitted with 235/55/18 tyres.

You can go up to 255/60/18 with hub spacers and a 40mm body lift .

300bhp/ton said:
I assume it's either the backspacing or centre bore, rather than the PCD.

The offset changed after the 2001 MY revisions. This was to accommodate the larger vented front discs and bigger rear drums. The PCD and spigot bore remain unchanged, it was the offset that altered.

300bhp/ton · Jan 16, 2019

Thanks.

What is the recommendation on spacers, looking on ebay there seems to be quite a few different sizes. The Freelander is a 53 plate, so that would be the latter rims I think. The ones on the vehicle are 17" though, and not many AT/MT tyres in the right sizes.

I think I have some 16" rims in the tyre store, I think they will be early ones though, but would need to check. Something like a 225/75R16 seems like it might work well. 29.3" tall and quite a bit of choice.

GrumpyGel · Jan 16, 2019

Don't forget Freelanders have less powerful engines than big Landies (definitely not 300bhp/ton!) and no low-range - bigger tyres are going to reduce the amount of torque.

The search box is very good at getting info on specific tyre sizes, eg searching on 225/75R16 gives quite a few hits.

Nodge68 · Jan 16, 2019

300bhp/ton said:
The ones on the vehicle are 17" though, and not many AT/MT tyres in the right sizes.

225/65/17 is a popular off road size, that doesn't need spacers or a lift, and are available from a range of manufacturers.

GrumpyGel said:
Don't forget Freelanders have less powerful engines than big Landies (definitely not 300bhp/ton!) and no low-range - bigger tyres are going to reduce the amount of torque

Worthwhile advice there too.

300bhp/ton · Jan 16, 2019

Lol. Although a Td4 has more claimed power than my 88 or my Tdi

Any recommendations on the spacer size for the bigger tyres? Btw a 225/75R16 is slightly smaller than the 255/60R18 recommended above.

300bhp/ton · Jan 16, 2019

Nodge68 said:
225/65/17 is a popular off road size, that doesn't need spacers or a lift, and are available from a range of manufacturers.

Do you know of any specifically? Not finding much. Only the BFG AT. But at £140 each I’ll probably pass.

Was thinking maybe more something like this.

Nodge68 · Jan 16, 2019

300bhp/ton said:
Any recommendations on the spacer size for the bigger tyres? Btw a 225/75R16 is slightly smaller than the 255/60R18 recommended above

I don't recommend tyres with a diameter of more than 28.5", simply because it doesn't produce a vehicle that's very capable. Sure the tyres work great, but the rest of the vehicle is compromised somewhat. There's only limited torque available from the engines. The clutches are small and burn out easily. There's no low range, so nothing to help the small engine and mediocre clutch.

My own TD4 SE auto is now running 235/55/18 tyres, which are just 1.4" larger than the standard 215/65/16 tyres. The change in performance from old and new wheel sizes is quite noticeable. The vehicle was nippy and acceleration was brisk, with the standard 27" diameter tyres. Now I'm running on 28.4" tyres, acceleration is slower and it's not nearly so nippy as it was. The main benefit of the larger tyres is more accurate speedo readings and better cornering and they look better. But in performance terms, the larger tyres are a backwards step.

300bhp/ton · Jan 16, 2019

Thanks. Any advice on the width of spacers?

And yeah, I know there is no low range. But bigger tyres will help with the ground clearance. Which should be of help.

My Mum has had a couple of Freelanders for well over 10 years. We ran some 215/65R16’s with no probs. It didn’t feel like it affected performance either. Although I accept they are only slightly bigger, but as a remould they probably where bigger than they should have been for the rated size.

Freelander 1 Bigger tyres and rims

300bhp/ton

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ColinNI

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Nodge68

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300bhp/ton

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GrumpyGel

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Nodge68

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300bhp/ton

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