New Freelander owner

After having a Disco 1 for a couple of years , we have now moved on to a Mk1 TD4 Freelander with the BMW engine (53) reg
However.. despite internet search I do have a couple of questions

This is fitted with 17" alloys with 55 profile tyres, for winter use am I better off buying a set of 16" wheels and at's or getting at's for the 17" ?
If going down the 16" route which vehicle do I need to source them from as I gather there are pcd differences on the various years

Is it really necessary to get a lift with at's on for greenlaning/l offroading or would a new shock/spring setup be adequate

and finally....( for now)
Winches... are the detachable ( Camel style) ones any good ? and how do you fit them to the front without major surgery

Thanks in advance to any and all answers

Chris

Cannot advise on whether 16's or 17's are better but if getting different wheels make sure they are from a 2001 Freelander onward as earlier ones wont clear your front brakes.

Mine only has the lowly 15" wheels but most prefer to use either 15" or 16" wheels due to the availability of tyres in AT pattern over the 17"s

lots of good reasons for having 15 inches elvis,wheels that is. tim.

Thanks all, will look for 15 or 16 wheels then
Chris

For winter use I found the original 17-inch Michelin Synchrone's excellent in all that snow.

Due to family issues I was forced to pinch my wife's Freelander on a very regular basis so I could move my parents around in all that snow (they can't get into my 90) and I covered many hundreds of miles in weather that I would normally sit at home in but the vehicle performed wonderfully.
On several occasions the main roads were blocked and I was forced down narrow unclassified roads covered in virgin snow and had to zig zag my way across the country to get to my destination (1-hour jouneys turned into 3-hour expeditions but I had hospital appointments to make) and I was very impressed at just how predictaable the Freelander was on those tyres.
I am used to running other LR's on different types of tyre in snow and they range from excellent (BFG AT's) to downright useless (bar-grips) but the Michelins were great.

Running on Hankook Ventus now, will have to see what they are like if we get some snow this winter.