Later Defender or Discovery alloy wheels compatible with 1988 Defenders?

Hello fellow members
Can you fit the later Defender or Discovery alloy wheels to a series 3 defender?

What's a series 3 defender ?

Mystery Machine ?

The general problem with fitting later wheels to a series is the wheel studs are a bit short.

I fitted defender wheels to my series 3 about 5 years ago. The wheels came from a brand new defender at that time, the owner wanted fancy wheels before he took delivery so I bought the originals from the dealer. Tottot is correct, the defender wheels must be a bit thicker cos there is no stud thread protruding from the nuts when tightened, still passed the mot though which was my concern.

Col

Much the same issue when fitting proper [ not copy ]" Wolf" wheels.

Longer studs are the way to go

I think he is talking about alloy wheels, Boost, Freestyle for example.

tottot said:

Mystery Machine ?

Click to expand...

The series III is the most common series vehicle, with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985.

The series III is the most common series vehicle, with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985.

The series vehicles were built from 1948 until 1985 The final series 3's were still being built despite the one ten models starting production in 83 and ninety in 84. this was to full fill contracts for them. The Ninety and One Ten continued to 1990. I have one of the last Ninety's made before JLR took the LAND ROVER name for the company in general and the new TDi models were given the name "Defender". This has lead to much confusion over the years as to what is a Defender. Even more so now with the "new Defender PRETENDER."

alf1956 said:

The series III is the most common series vehicle, with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985.

Click to expand...

Yes, but a series 3 isn't a Defender.

And neither are Land - Rover ONE TEN and NINETY models built between 1983 - 1990.

Galladog said:

Yes, but a series 3 isn't a Defender.

Click to expand...

It is according to Ben Fogle!
His (awful) book termed all Series & coilers "Defender" (and he got suitably hammered for it).

I was given three copies of that book and would have given them all away but one copy was the last book ever given to me by my later father (a LR lover) so I haven't the heart to do so.

alf1956 said:

The series III is the most common series vehicle, with 440,000 of the type built from 1971 to 1985.

Click to expand...

They were, but they are not Defenders .... Defenders came after 1990.
As far as I know, the wheel stud pattern has been the same since the Series III right up to when they stopped in 2016.
Boost wheels fit but you need to reduce the turning circle or they hit the hockey sticks, they also look sill on an SIII IMO

https://www.roadkillcustoms.com/wheel-bolt-pattern-cross-reference/makes/land-rover-wheel-size/

Someone gave me that awful Fogle book as well, Yuck. Long gone.

Even JLR luvvies are airbrushing history and ‘tracing the lineage of the Defender back to 1948’ in pursuit of the ‘Heritage of the New Defender’.

I work with these feckless Tarquin’s and Jocasta’s, new History is education apparently……

****ers

Unsure if boost alloys will go over the 1/2shaft ends(early defenders with rear drums had the problem as well)

miktdish said:

As far as I know, the wheel stud pattern has been the same since the Series III right up to when they stopped in 2016/

Click to expand...

Not 100% about that. What I do know is that Disco 2 wheels don't fit on a Ninety.
I know this because at one time I had both a Ninety and a Disco 2, and out of curiosity, I tried a wheel off the Disco on the Ninety.
Not sure how that relates to late model Defenders, as I have never had one.