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RatleyRambler

Member
Hi, I have just taken the plunge and bought a Series 3 Lightweight. It is presently fitted with alloy wheels with well knobbly and wide Colway tyres. The original wheels and tyres were sold years ago. Unfortunately it has been sat in a garage for something like 15 years. 2 of the tyres went completely flat and have badly cracked sidewalls so I need to replace them.
I am minded to refit standard wheels and suitable tyres but I’m not sure what they should be. I’ve researched various places and get hints that that it might have had swb wheels or possibly special heavy duty military ones. And adverts tend to say “Landrover series wheels..”
So some dumb questions;
1) what is the difference between swb and lwb series 3 wheels?
2) are there special military wheels possibly with a code number starting FV…..?

Thanks for any help🙏
 
Standard series wheels are the same diameter, but two different widths. Ignoring series 1.

SWB are narrower, limiting tyre sizes. LWB are visually similar, but allow more tyres.

Wolf rims also fit.
 
LWB
IMG_20230602_083626.jpg


SWB
IMG_20230602_083711.jpg


Note the width of the bit where the tyre bead sits.

Wolf rims are wider again.

Depending on what tyres you fit, you can fit either series rim. The risk with the wolf rim is that it results in tyres protruding beyond the body work.

I think SWB were standard.

Photos of lightweight please? Mines 1972.
 
Basically, unless you want it original, get a set of standard defender rims, job done.

Defender rims are better, welded, with the internal bead for tubeless tyres. And cheap.
 
Last edited:
Wildefalcon said:
Basically, unless you want it original, get a set of standard defender rims, job done.

Defender rims are better, welded, with the internal bead for tubeless tyres. And cheap.
Click to expand...
Thank you so much for this explanation - and with pictures😊.
And here a couple of pics of the new toy. You can see the wheels and tyres fitted at the moment.
 

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And another photo: wolfs on a lightweight.
 

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Hmm, from these photos it looks like the wolfs are offset more to the inside. Yet the tyre ends up outside the wheel arch. Must be the way I’m looking at it!
 
All Lightweights in service were fitted with 6.50x16 tyres but these are very hard to get hold of now. 205/80 R16 are similar size but not quite as tall and don't 'look right' A 750R16 tyre on a standard LWB (5.50Fx16) rim would be the easiest option.
 
wireman said:
All Lightweights in service were fitted with 6.50x16 tyres but these are very hard to get hold of now. 205/80 R16 are similar size but not quite as tall and don't 'look right' A 750R16 tyre on a standard LWB (5.50Fx16) rim would be the easiest option.
Click to expand...
Thanks for the update. Very clear now which way I should go 😊
 
Arghh, 9 months on and I still haven't done anything about sorting out wheels and tyres :-(

But I have got the engine running and got a garage to put it in. Just got to get the brakes and clutch sorted now then it will be back on the road.
 
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