Series 3 Which wheel rims ?

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Axlewhine

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10
Location
hailsham, east sussex
Hi all, need some advice about which wheel rims can I bolt on my 109.
Will Defender, Disco or R/Rover alloys or Wolf steel rims fit? Currently have standard 5.5 tubed rims with 235/85 tyres but would like to increase the width to 6.5 or 7 & possibly by a Bullworker!!
Look forward to your replies.
 
Hi all, need some advice about which wheel rims can I bolt on my 109.
Will Defender, Disco or R/Rover alloys or Wolf steel rims fit? Currently have standard 5.5 tubed rims with 235/85 tyres but would like to increase the width to 6.5 or 7 & possibly by a Bullworker!!
Look forward to your replies.
Alloys, no not without spacers and wolfs yes only there's some discussion as to whether you need longer studs
 
Hi all, need some advice about which wheel rims can I bolt on my 109.
Will Defender, Disco or R/Rover alloys or Wolf steel rims fit? Currently have standard 5.5 tubed rims with 235/85 tyres but would like to increase the width to 6.5 or 7 & possibly by a Bullworker!!
Look forward to your replies.
Put the original wheels on. Nothing else really works as it will be a bodge
 
Alloys, no not without spacers and wolfs yes only there's some discussion as to whether you need longer studs

On a series I think you do need different studs.
bear in mind only series 3 onwards have press in studs, earlier are screw and peen. There is some modification to do to get the later m16 studs to fit a series IIRC.

The question about studs is only about pre-wolf defenders and wolf era Defenders and 40,45 and 60mm studs
 
Wolf steels will fit a series, you also don't need longer studs (at least not on my series 3 I didn't) you just do them up to a higher torque as per the MOD instructions for fitting HD rims to standard studs. Everything else you mention will just spoil your series, I would not even entertain alloys. And disco steels have the wrong offset and do not look right.

1.jpgLR Bulletin - HD wheel.jpg
 
Wolf steels will fit a series, you also don't need longer studs (at least not on my series 3 I didn't) you just do them up to a higher torque as per the MOD instructions for fitting HD rims to standard studs. Everything else you mention will just spoil your series, I would not even entertain alloys. And disco steels have the wrong offset and do not look right.

View attachment 221033View attachment 221035
Thanks for the helpful info.
Back in the 70's when I used to run 3 X 109s for business I had Austin Champ split rims on them. Made tyre changing easier & also looked good!
 
Its not a big deal to fit the 50mm studs, 95p each and you can do it with the hub on, just use a ball joint spliter to press the old ones out. If you have screw in type you have to drill 16mm (and 20mm recess) but its not a huge job, just takes time and you need to take the hubs off.
 
Hi all, need some advice about which wheel rims can I bolt on my 109.
Will Defender, Disco or R/Rover alloys or Wolf steel rims fit? Currently have standard 5.5 tubed rims with 235/85 tyres but would like to increase the width to 6.5 or 7 & possibly by a Bullworker!!
Look forward to your replies.

You should check the manufacturer specs for your tyres. I’m willing to bet they say 6.0” minimum rim width, ie a 5.5 is too narrow.

I hope you are running tubes too.
 
Some years back when I fitted std wheels with 235/85 (with tubes) I did a lot of checking and found Cooper tires (USA) technical site listed 5.5J as "optional" but 6j as minimum recommended. Every other tyre manufacturer listed min 6J. When I needed new tyres 3 months ago I decided to check again to be sure. Cooper Tires had updated their tech advice to be "mimimum 6J" and given how much checking I did I can confidently agree with you. So much so I shelled out for a set of used Wolfs and studs and I can say they are a huge improvement. Tyres sit better, ride is good and its all in spec and since I "self MOT" I now have no explaining to do. The tyres actually look better, they sit flatter and don't look odd like they did on the 5.5J where they were pinched in. Even on the 6.5J Wolfs the 235/85 are still inside the wheel arch with no part of the wheel or tyre protruding outside the body line.
 
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