Series 2a wheel swap

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Gipsyracer

New Member

Posts

3

Location

Sunny Manchester

• Feb 12, 2022

• #1

Newbie here, so please excuse the very basic question.

Just bought my first Land Rover, a series 2a 88. Been off the road for many years so tyres knackered. It will be used mainly on the road. Rebuilding on a budget with my lad, who is just about to turn 16 so I'd better get cracking. I've seen a few defender wheel sets for sale in the usual places with Michelin 7.5 x 16" tyres for sale, presumably offered by folks who have fitted fancy alloys. These look like a cheap way into a newish set of rims and tyres. Are there any pitfalls? Alternatives? (I'm aiming for a fairly standard look, taller gearing is OK)

 

Gun7354

Well-Known Member

Posts

294

Location

Notts

• Feb 12, 2022

• #2

Go for it and sell yer old ones. I did the same and got rid of tubed tyres replacing with modern tubeless. Just double check they are tubeless.

 

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

Posts

27,632

Location

Manchester

• Feb 12, 2022

• #3

A perfect solution. Got my set for £50. Seven years later the rear Michelins are still good.

 

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Wildefalcon

Well-Known Member

Posts

1,668

• Feb 13, 2022

• #4

The wheel studs can be different size. No big deal, but worth investigating.

 

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lynall

Well-Known Member

Full Member

Posts

25,738

Location

Kent

• Feb 13, 2022

• #5

Pretty much any live axle land rover steel wheel will fit, dont worry about studs/nuts they will fit, the Michelins are a good choice, dont got any wider as it will make the steering a real pita at slow speed.
If they are screw in studs dont over tighten the wheel nuts.

 

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

Posts

27,632

Location

Manchester

• Feb 14, 2022

• #6

lynall said:

Pretty much any live axle land rover steel wheel will fit, dont worry about studs/nuts they will fit, the Michelins are a good choice, dont got any wider as it will make the steering a real pita at slow speed.
If they are screw in studs dont over tighten the wheel nuts.

Click to expand...

If they are screw in studs; wack a big splodge of weld on the back.
Works for me

 

L

lynall

Well-Known Member

Full Member

Posts

25,738

Location

Kent

• Feb 14, 2022

• #7

Bobsticle said:

If they are screw in studs; wack a big splodge of weld on the back.
Works for me

Click to expand...

Dont last, tried it yrs ago and they always came loose, in the end I drilled out the threaded hole and fitted the longer knock in studs.

 

Bobsticle

De Villes Advocaat

Posts

27,632

Location

Manchester

• Feb 14, 2022

• #8

lynall said:

Dont last, tried it yrs ago and they always came loose, in the end I drilled out the threaded hole and fitted the longer knock in studs.

Click to expand...

Bigger dollops with a 4mm stick.

 

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nickjaxe

Well-Known Member

Posts

821

Location

North Cheshire/Merseyside

• Feb 14, 2022

• #9

I got a set of old LWB 109 rims....more offset than defender rims so to me look better.

I fit 205x16s on them....tubeless..been on well over 20years.

 

R

rob1miles

Well-Known Member

Posts

3,565

Location

Slough and Bath

• Feb 14, 2022

• #10

Defender steel wheels fit fine. 7.50 is a good size and its not a huge job to swap to the 16mm suds if you have to.

 

C

Colthebrummie

Well-Known Member

Posts

9,870

Location

Thatcham

• Feb 15, 2022

• #11

I replaced my old wheels with new defender wheels and it transformed the look and the steering. It was all over the place.on the old wheels and knobbly tyres.

Col