Wheel spacer advice needed

Hi all,

New to the forum. I have a Series III Stage 1 V8 and a 2004 Freelander Sport Premium.

I'm after some advice on wheel spacers for the Freelander. I currently have the standard 18" wheels and have just bought some earlier 16" wheels to put on winter tyres for a Xmas trip to the Czech Republic. I already know what tyre size I need to keep the rolling radius within 1% change, so no concerns there.

I understand I need spacers to fit the older wheels due to the larger brakes fitted after 2001 and have found various sizes available. Does anyone know what size spacers I should get? I was thinking of 5mm ones from Halfords, so I don't have to worry about longer studs.

All advice welcome & apologies if this has already been covered in another thread.

Try the wheels on the car before going down the spacer route. Imho spacers are best avoided

I haven't heard of anyone fitting spacers to overcome the 'early wheels not fitting later cars' problem. I do not think that spacers will sort that.

Most folks need/fit spacers to allow them to fit tyres wider than 235 section, or bigger than 65 profile, depending on the diameter.

I have 10mm spacers for the front and 7mm for the rear but they are only needed when I fit my 9mm snow-chains on 235/55 17 tyres.

My advice would be to get the right wheels - from a late 2001 / 2002 model year, or newer - the ones with the 'dimples' between the stud holes.

Singvogel.

Thanks for the advice guys. I'll try them on the car first and post back what I find out.

i would not fit spacers they tend to do the bearings in do to more load on them and Singvogel are you sure on fitting snow chains on the bigger wheels are ok I though that lr advised against it just asking

teddywood1 said:

i would not fit spacers they tend to do the bearings in do to more load on them and Singvogel are you sure on fitting snow chains on the bigger wheels are ok I though that lr advised against it just asking

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I agree about spacers putting an extra load on bearings, but I'm talking here about running them for only a short distance at low speed (no more than 20miles or so at under 30mph) - pure emergency situations only.

My chains have only been out of the bag twice in the last 5 years - but they were an absolute life-saver in near blizzard conditions.

I don't struggle with them at the roadside - it's far quicker and easier to change the wheel and slip on the spacer, using a mini trolley jack. No frost-bitten fingers for me - been there, done it and got the scars - no T-shirts were available.

I carry one spare wheel on the back door with chains ready fitted and the other in the load area. Those are for the front wheels. If I need 4 chains that takes a little longer but I put them on with the wheels on the back seat, and me kneeling on the driver's seat.

Unneccesary preparations for a trip to Tescos I admit, but sometimes I just don't have the option of waiting for the snow to stop and often there are no such things as snow-ploughs where I go.

You're right - LR do not recommend fitting chains with their wider alloy wheels as there is not enough clearance. I found that with 9mm chains, 10mm spacers on the front was perfect to clear the struts. The rears can rub against the inner wing plastic liners hence the need for only 7mm spacers.

I also used a couple of stainless-steel self-tappers to secure the bottom edges of the rear inner wing liner to the chassis.

S.

good idea tell LR

LR wouldnt be interested . They dont make offroad vehicles anymore. They make computers with wheels.

Ok guys, fitted the earlier 16s to the Freelander - needed 5mm spacers to clear the front callipers due to the curve on the wheel spokes. So not worried about extra load with only 5mm added. Now all set for road trip across Central Europe for Xmas

Vissie said:

LR wouldnt be interested . They dont make offroad vehicles anymore. They make computers with wheels.

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:hysterically_laughi