Wheel spacers

[MINESAPINT]

I am sure I read on a post somewhere that wheel spacers are illegal.

However I went to a Land Rover refurbisher yesterday to see what can be done to refresh my tired 110Ht and one suggestion he made was to fit wheel spacers. I said to him I thought they were illegal but he assures me they are not.

Advice please.

MINESAPINT

[FridgeFreezer]

They may be legal but why exactly do you want them?

[Litch]

Their use becomes an issue if it pushes the tread past the edge of the wheel-arch (easily identifiable by the increase of muck up the side of the vehicle). This depends entirely on the width & offset of the wheels you intend using.

You MUST notify your insurance company if you intend fitting them, most will allow them but some will want an additional premium.

Don't be tempted to keep quiet about it because in the event of a claim that results in an insurance assessor looking at the vehicle (whether it is your fault or not) they will use the fitment of spacers as a reason not to pay out. Remember, invalid insurance is no insurance.

[MINESAPINT]

With regard to why I want them. I don't know if I do. That is one of the reasons for this post. The Land Rover blingeruppa I spoke to yesterday did recommend them sighting 2 reasons why. They will enhance the look of the vehicle as they will bring the wheels more in line with the plastic wheel arches and they will also enable the steering stops to be adjusted to provide a better turning circle. Some people have a thing about turning circles on 110's I know but I have known nowt else for the last 25 years so could say I have got used to it.

Litch - You are absolutely right about the insurance issue and I have made it quite clear that nothing must be done to the vehicle to compromise the insurance. I am awaiting the quote for the work which will be forwarded to the insurers for their decision. Last time I approached the insurers when I wanted to chip the engine they wanted 40% extra. The vehicle is not chipped!

I have just renewed my insurance for £259 fully comp including legal & breakdown and do not wish to pay any more. The insurance is always the deciding factor. OR perhaps the wife!

Thanks

MINESAPINT

[FridgeFreezer]

If you want it wider I'd spend the money on chunkier tyres, spacers always seem like a bit of a bodge to me.

[MINESAPINT]

I agree, I also think spacers are a bodge. Chunky tyres are also part of the package. Currently I have BFG all terrain 235 85 16 fitted onto deep dish alloys by Land Rover. The plan is to keep the alloys and fit Insa Turbo Special Track 265 75 16 as well as the spacers. This is the recommendation.

Many years ago I had a White 109/110 Ht 200Tdi reg J ??? BWU (if anyone knows where it ended up) which had I think 10 x 15 inch chrome modulars with some 33 12.5 15 General Grabber tyres. These did not need any spacers and filled the wheel arches perfectly without causing problems and provided a very comfortable ride. Insurance company also happy!

Do you think spacers are unnecessary and the larger tyres will be enough???

Open to suggestions.

Thanks

MINESAPINT

[Shox Dr]

Personally I think they are a complete ripoff, and a Bodge

Put the money towards a new set of rims, with the correct offset

[MINESAPINT]

This is where you lose me. I understand what offset is but would not have a clue what offset to order. It is an expensive hobby using trial & error!

So 110 Td5 Hard Top Year 2001 currently fitted with deep dish alloys - no idea what offset these are?

If I was ordering new rims I would really like to go back to 15 inch so I can get more rubber.

Suggestions most welcome.

Thanks

MINESAPINT

[alfredenewman]

what is the difference in spacers and a more negative offset particularly on steel wheels as you will have [i think] more stress on the relatively thin steel of the wheel than on the large chunk of spacer . do you all imform your imsurers of the off set of your wheels

[MINESAPINT]

If I can determine or if anyone else can determine for me what would be a suitable offset for my vehicle I would only go ahead and make a purchase after consultation with my insurance co. My last attempt to "BLING UP" my 110 was thwarted by my insurance co, not because they would not insure the vehicle in its new guise but as a good yorkshireman I was reluctant to pay the 40% loading they asked for. This would have been an extra £120 pa.

When I completed the application form for the insurance I was asked "Is the vehicle modified"? Enquiring further as to what would class as a modification the reply was "anything that has been done to the vehicle which would alter it from its original specification". For example if it has been serviced and non genuine parts have been fitted during the service, if the vehicle did not have a radio and one has been fitted or the existing radio upgraded, extra lights, chequerplate etc. In fact I have added a radio and some chequerplate which I declared and these items were accepted.

It seems some people are of the opinion only modifications which affect the performance of the vehicle are relevant for insurance purposes. This is how it was explained to me:

Anything that:

Improves performance, alters the manufacturers specification, makes the vehicle more nickable, makes the vehicle more likely to be broken in to ie for a fancy sound system, makes the vehicle more attractive to vandalism, makes the vehicle more likely to cause injury to its occupants or other road or pavement users and apparently fitting a non genuine fuel filter!

Occasionally I have been encouraged to contact specialist 4x4/Land Rover insurers who apparently have a more sympathetic view with regard to modifications but I have found they charge about double what I pay now!

There is no doubt insurers like bog standard vehicles exactly as per the manufacturer's specification. This way they are sure of what they are insuring. Fair enough I suppose.

MINESAPINT

[Mo Murphy]

MINESAPINT,

I only know of 2 people who fitted spacers and both removed them after issues with them coming loose.

If you want the tyres to fill your arches, then I would stay with your alloys (which I think are the best looking lot of the bunch) and fit 255/85r16 tyres. These are 33" tall and so will fill your wheel arch whilst being wider than your 235s without coming past your arches and they'll fit on your rims too.

HTH

Mo

[MINESAPINT]

Mo, thanks for advice, gratefully received.

The reason why I planned to change my 235 85 16's for 265 75 16's was to fill the arches and keep the speedo correct. One of the issues raised by my insurers, the 265's on a tyre calculator gives one quarter of 1% difference which I hope they will be happy with.

255 85 16's sound attractive but might need to adjust speedo.

Is this possible?

Is it a big or expensive job?

MINESAPINT

[FridgeFreezer]

Borrow a GPS and see just how accurate your speedo isn't as standard most will over-read by up to 10% so you should be fine.

If you insurers are that bloomin' fussy I'd shop about, NFU and Adrian Flux really don't care what you do to your vehicle as long as you're not charging round council estates with drum'n'bass blaring out on the stereo for example my 109 costs me about £400 per year, fully comp, agreed value, and it's got a couple of little mods on it

[Mo Murphy]

Mo, thanks for advice, gratefully received.

The reason why I planned to change my 235 85 16's for 265 75 16's was to fill the arches and keep the speedo correct. One of the issues raised by my insurers, the 265's on a tyre calculator gives one quarter of 1% difference which I hope they will be happy with.

255 85 16's sound attractive but might need to adjust speedo.

Is this possible?

Is it a big or expensive job?

MINESAPINT

As FF says above If you do need to change the speedo drive, it's a simple and cheap job (which on a landy is something of a rarity !)

[Les Henson]

Some wheel spacers are clearly marked 'not for road use', but you would be wise to check with your insurers anyway.

Les.

[mmgemini]

Mo, thanks for advice, gratefully received.

The reason why I planned to change my 235 85 16's for 265 75 16's was to fill the arches and keep the speedo correct. One of the issues raised by my insurers, the 265's on a tyre calculator gives one quarter of 1% difference which I hope they will be happy with.

255 85 16's sound attractive but might need to adjust speedo.

Is this possible?

Is it a big or expensive job?

MINESAPINT

I run 235/85' on Discovery steel rims.

Believe me the speedo is no where near accurate compared to the GPS. 78mph on the speedo = 70mph on the GPS

I suggest you try the 265's and I bet your speedo is spot on with them fitted

mike

[Litch]

With regards to wanting to fill the wheel-arch and bring the tyre to the edge of the spat, it all depends on the wheel you are fitting.

I run my 90 on 265/75x16 BFG AT's and whether they were mounted on Mangle modulars and the current ZU alloys, the tyres are close to the edge and the turning circle is excelent (it has the same turning circle as my wife's MGF & Saab 93). If I were to add spacers then the tyres would be sitting past the edge of the spat.

Speedo accuracy has never been an issue on my 90, it has the blue drive-gear fitted and the speedo checks out as follows.

Ind 30MPH= 28MPH on GPS.

Ind 50MPH= 48MPH on GPS.

Ind 75MPH= 72MPH on GPS.

Around here we also have quite a few of those speed waring signs that tell you your speed as you approch and they tally exactly with the readings taken by the GPS.

[MINESAPINT]

My insurance is in fact with NFU and I have just renewed for £259 fully comp protected incl legal & breakdown. (110Ht Td5 2001).

I did try Adrian Flux a couple of years ago and they were talking silly money. £500 or so with a few mods.

Fairly complicated business really matching speedo to actual (GPS) speed. The difference will be changing all the time as the tyres wear down.

Thanks to all for replies and help.

MINESAPINT

[mmgemini]

Litch.

That's much what I expected.

mike

[The Badger]

If you don't want spacers, get some zu-rims. They have built in spacers, well they are not spacers, just built so you don't need spacers, but make your truck look like it has spacers. They are also rated at holding 1.5 tonn of weight per rim... And no I don't work for them, they just are tougher and less hassle.

[Litch]

"If you don't want spacers, get some zu-rims. They have built in spacers, well they are not spacers, just built so you don't need spacers, but make your truck look like it has spacers. They are also rated at holding 1.5 tonn of weight per rim... And no I don't work for them, they just are tougher and less hassle."

I concure, they are an excelent rim and like I said in my previous post they make the tyre sit close to the edge of the spat. I wouldn't say they give the effect of fitting spacers as they have the same offset as my old Mangle modulars but they sit well under the arches.

[Marjan]

Good grief you lot pay a lot for your insurance, I pay £155 fully comp and I have declared all my mods.

[white90]

MINESAPINT,

I only know of 2 people who fitted spacers and both removed them after issues with them coming loose.

If you want the tyres to fill your arches, then I would stay with your alloys (which I think are the best looking lot of the bunch) and fit 255/85r16 tyres. These are 33" tall and so will fill your wheel arch whilst being wider than your 235s without coming past your arches and they'll fit on your rims too.

HTH

Mo

Make that 3 Mo:(

lost a wheel at 30mph on Sat AM

I reckon it was operator error as the other stayed on

[TJ101]

Make that 4 Mo

The Rangie tray has them, and no problems

[10 Para]

I am just about finished on kitting out my 2016 Land Rover defender and am thinking about the wheel, tires and spaces can any one give advice as will the alu cab up top with the roof rack it is look quite tall , also got the chelsea wide body kit and the truck will be use in Australia on corrugated dirt roads.