def 110 - tires, rims, spacers advise

[robert m]

Looking for some input regarding tires for my 110.
As I have just the stock 16x5.5 rims, my options for tires larger than 7.50x16 are limited. Would like to 'widen' the stance a bit and fit some wider/larger tires. I have heard that I could get away with 255/85/16 on the stock 5.5in rims, but its not recommended. Could possibly get some spacers and fit D1 alloys, which I think are 7in wide (?).
What are the disadvantages of spacers, and would a thin, say a 1in spacer be damaging?
What are the disadvantages of using D1 alloy (other than that shiny look!)?
Finally, the question that has been answered to death.... max tire size on a stock 110. I know the 255/85's fit.... anything larger without cutting or rubbing? Thanks all.
See you at Founders Day.
- Robert

[rayhyland]

I have run 33 inch tires on a stock defender 110 before, no spacers but an offset equivalent of about 1.5 inches. Some slight rubbing at extreme articulation, that was all.

I have a spare set of 33s on alloys at my house that you could try on your 110 if you want to have a look.

Cheers

Ray

[robert m]

Thanks Ray. What kind of alloys do you have? and what kind of tires? The 255/85s are actually 33in tires with a width of just over 10in. What do you mean by 1.5" offset? on what rims? Thanks

[rayhyland]

They are RRC alloys, they fit my 1993 110 with no issues.

They have Chapparal ATs on them. Dont remember the exact metric size.

the 1.5 inch offset was on the rim, it means you can run a wider tire without a spacer. For these rims I usually run on the road with no spacer but you lose some turning radius. A 1 inch spacer would be ideal for these.

I have used 1 inch aluminum spacers with 36 inch tires on Mach 5 rims in jungle racing in Malaysia with no issues, so you dont need to worry about them if you use them, they are very strong.

Ray

[red90]

Up to 285/75/16 fit without trimming or mods as long as you have a rim that sits out a bit more than stock.

255/85 should be OK on Disco alloys without spacers other than reducing the turning radius a bit. If you have an early truck (pre-200TDI), you need thin spacers on the front or a bit of grinding to fit the alloys as they foul the drive member bolts.

Wolf rims are a nice choice with 255/85 as the extra 1" of width is all to the outside.

[Bill E.]

Hi Robert, I've run 255/85 16 BFG MT's on both stock steel rims and wolf rims for years now on my 90. With both types of rims I get only very minor rubbing at full articulation when the rear wheel is stuffed upwards and the knobbies catch slightly on the chassis rail at the front on hard over turns. Generally speaking I would not even worry about this rubbing because it only happens when your extremely twisted up at very slow speeds.

[robert m]

Wow, thats great. Thank you for all the info, exactly what I was hoping to find out.
Now for another question..... was driving around the Chekamus river / Starvation Lake in Squamish today and on the way back to Vancouver noticed a strange vibration. Not the kind you feel when a wheel is out of balance, more like driving on a hard gravel road.... and I didn't feel it just in the steering wheel, but the whole truck. Almost like it was coming from the rear. Sort of think it may be a bad univ joint, but almost thought the truck had a bit of power loss..... hard to discribe..... happened only under full load, ie going up long hills on hwy99 at about 70-90 km/hr. Felt like when a 4 cyl runs on 3.... kinda shaky.
Any thoughts?
Going to check the Universal joints tomorrow. Also, maybe related, a couple of weeks ago heard some faint clicking from the rear diff at super low speed (5km/hr).
btw its a 92 110 200tdi w Lt77s

[red90]

If only under load, I would suspect a U joint as well. If a U joint the frequency will fast faster than an out of balance tire. If you have a feeling for how a tire vibrates, a U- joint is 3.5 times faster.

[robert m]

Thanks. Thats kind of what it feels like , a very fast vibration. Checking the u-joints. - R

[LandyAndy]

I have run 33 inch tires on a stock defender 110 before, no spacers but an offset equivalent of about 1.5 inches. Some slight rubbing at extreme articulation, that was all.

I have a spare set of 33s on alloys at my house that you could try on your 110 if you want to have a look.

Cheers

Ray

I have a spare set of 255/85x16's on Mach 5's and Qt steel spacers that you could try as well.... prob a bit of a drive up to Revy for you though.

Andy

[robert m]

Thanks Ray. Andy, As Much as I like the area, it is a bit of a drive.....if I lived closer, I'd be there in a flash! Regarding the vibration... yep, problem solved a very bad u-joint.