Defender - L663 - Snow Chains ?

[vdn]

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]

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]

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

[camel_landy]

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