Wheel offset vs wwheel spacers vs wider wheels

[ash240970]

My series 2a SWB is currently running on wolf rims shod with Goodyear G90 750x16 boots and when i drive it i just cant help thinking that it leans just that bit too much when going round bends down country lanes.

Looking at the vehicle i cant seem to stop wondering whether to put wider wheels and tyres on it, get rims with a wider offset so i can keep my tyres or fit wheel-spacers just to give it a slightly wider track and therefore increase stability when cornering.

I realise that any change in offset may increase the possibility of fouling the inner/outer wing when off-roading due to articulation but i don't do any serious axle twisting. I also realise that the tyre tread must not stick out from the acrhes unless i want to put arch extensions on (which i don't).

Opinions please/what did you find worked best, bearing in mind that i do not want to fit any wheels that just do not look right on an older series landy. Will the fitting of any of the above put any large amounts of undue stress on the swivel hubs?

Oh yes i forgot to mention that Rocky M paras are fitted which has increased the ride height slightly (especially with the 750x16 boots)and adds to that lean when cornering.

                                                Cheers,

                                                      Andy.

[ian_s]

i think you'll find it wont make a large difference to the body roll
its an offroader, it will lean a lot!

[Terranosaurus]

i think you'll find it wont make a large difference to the body roll
its an offroader, it will lean a lot!

Absolutely - theres a lot of nonsense talked about this, on some independent suspension set ups wider wheels/track can actually make the truck roll more due to the increases leverage the wheel has over the spring.

[Jake]

Not really an answer to your questions but i always liked having modulars (which have a nice small back space, or large off set depending on your school of thought)
I like the wider track they give and i always thought that if you have a wider track, you have better stability
This our old Series 3 with 235/85R16 Goodyear MTR's fitted

[ash240970]

Thanks for that but i would still like to give one of the options a try for myself just to see what will happen - anybody got any wheel spacers i can borrow for a couple of hours(preferably local to me),
I am not doubting the fact that it could induce more body roll, but why would people manufacture wheel spacers and wheels with different offsets if they have a negative effect on the vehicles handling.

[Welshbreed]

I am not doubting the fact that it could induce more body roll, but why would people manufacture wheel spacers and wheels with different offsets if they have a negative effect on the vehicles handling.

On the most part, to make money

[Bob Ajob]

I've heard that wheel spacers are not very good on with wheel bearings, bit more load than they were designed for, could be just hearsay though.

If I was making the decision, I think I'd go for 130 rims, these are readily available from various ex-mil places, certainly www.vass.co.uk, and possibly www.pablanchard.co.uk.

130 rims should still look right on a series, think they're still completely solid, or certainly as solid as Ninety / Oneten wheels. Plus they should still fit without coming out of the body work, especially if you get them still with 750s on ;) Plus being 6.5" wide you can fit wider tyres if you so wish, certainly 235s, possibly a little wider?

[auf_wiedersehen_pet]

I've heard that wheel spacers are not very good on with wheel bearings, bit more load than they were designed for, could be just hearsay though.

Whether it is spacers, offsetwheels or wider wheels, all of them put the tyres further out and therefore put extra stress on bearings, etc.

I ran spacers on my old RRC, Modulars with greater offset on my Disco and S1 - all with no problems.

[TBM]

Although the wheel spacers and offset wheels do put extra strain on the bearings, in true Land Rover over engineered style they can more than handle it.

The horror stories you hear about collapsed bearings come from minis and escorts from the 70's - they would often collapse with the extra strain.

(love the look of that S1 by the way!)