Defender - L663 - Snow Chains ?
Defender - L663 - Snow Chains ?
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vdn

Original Poster:

9,287 posts

229 months

Sunday 24th May
quotequote all
Wife's Defender will be on winter Alps trip duties. Looking at snow chain options... plan on getting a second set of wheels for winter tyres. What size should I go for? Currently has 22" wheels on. Google AI says that for chains, wheel size cannot be over 20". Is that right? Surely the rolling diameter is the same regardless?

Stu R

21,533 posts

241 months

Sunday 24th May
quotequote all
vdn said:
Wife's Defender will be on winter Alps trip duties. Looking at snow chain options... plan on getting a second set of wheels for winter tyres. What size should I go for? Currently has 22" wheels on. Google AI says that for chains, wheel size cannot be over 20". Is that right? Surely the rolling diameter is the same regardless?
Stupid that LR don't offer them beyond the 20" wheel, but correct. It's to do with sidewall clearances rather than rolling radius.

The aftermarket caters to larger wheels, I have some for 23" wheels in the US and I checked for my defender in the UK and they're available there too for broadly the same price as the official ones.

vdn

Original Poster:

9,287 posts

229 months

Sunday 24th May
quotequote all
Thank you! So chains can be got, for larger rims - but not officially. Thanks, I'll take a look!

camel_landy

5,447 posts

209 months

Sunday 24th May
quotequote all
IMO - Get yourself a set of smaller rims, with narrower tyres for winter use. The narrower winter tyre, will give better traction when it becomes slippery and buys you a bit more time before having to fit the chains.

Whilst you can fit chains on the bigger rims, they're also generally associated with wider tyres. The wider tyres run the risk of damaging uprights and/or other components within the wheel arches. Once fitted, the chains will damage the lacquer on the rime, mix that with the salt and the rims aren't going to last long.

M

vdn

Original Poster:

9,287 posts

229 months

Thursday 28th May
quotequote all
Thank you! I'm about to go for 20's as advised.

Another question ... car is a 23 plate 110 but we are considering a 130 in the future.

I've now read that some of the alloys used on the 130 have a different load rating... not the tyres, the actual alloys! And so I'm a bit perplexed again. I'd like to get winter wheels that will be happy on a 130 if we get one down the line.

Anyone know if 110 Defender and 130 have different alloys due to load rating??

camel_landy

5,447 posts

209 months

Thursday 28th May
quotequote all
Not sure of the specifics but the 130 is a heavier car.

The pragmatic solution is to just see what LR offer for the 130 now and get some of them... Have you considered the steel rims as an option?

M