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shamus5178



Member Since: 28 Sep 2012
Location: Ashford
Posts: 197

Scotland 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto Firenze Red
Wheel size / comfort

Now, this may have been flogged to death, i have used the search function so please, for the love of all that id FL2 related, dont shot me down.


Ok, I currently run MY13 LUX on 19" shadow chrome wheels , which to be fair, look quite nice. I have always liked the look of 17" wheels as the xtra bit of tyre sits nice on the car.

My question is would i get any benifet / notice any difference changing from 19 down to 17" other than cosmetic?[/s]

Post #347267 12th Apr 2018 12:02 pm
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Steve D



Member Since: 19 Jan 2013
Location: Essexshire
Posts: 4091

United Kingdom 

A softer ride but more roll in the corners. Less likely to damage tyre sidewalls if you bump up the kerb, less likely to mis-shape the rims if you take speed humps too fast and of course, more money left in your wallet when you fit new tyres! Past: FL2 TD4 HSE Auto
Evoque SD4 Dynamic Lux Auto
Present: Audi A3 S Line.

Post #347274 12th Apr 2018 12:22 pm
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T4



Member Since: 05 Mar 2018
Location: Essex, Gower & anywhere inbetween
Posts: 141

United Kingdom 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Tambora Flame

More availability of seriously knobbly tyres and more effect if you reduce pressure for mud etc.

In many respects, esthetics aside, there isn't much to be said in favour of 19" rims on a Freelander- before anyone gets narcky, I currently have two sets of refurbed 19" wheels.

Even older sports cars can suffer with lower profile tyres as they can become more prone to tramline and can wear bearings faster.

The whole big wheel thing was as a result of motorsport. The bigger the wheel, the bigger the brakes you can fit inside them. What became apparent was the shorter, stiffer side walls made the handling more direct. This is great on a nice smooth race circuit but not really appropriate to pot holed roads and off roading when compliance is a desirable atribute.

So, in summary, posing aside, there is little to be said in favour of fitting big wheels on a vehicle with any off road aspirations...except, if you need to make an abrupt change of direction at speed. How much weight you apply to this requirement is fairly critical as, should this be needed, bad things may happen.

Post #347278 12th Apr 2018 2:02 pm
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LR NUT



Member Since: 12 May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4350

Scotland 2014 Freelander 2 TD4_e Dynamic Manual Fuji White

17ā€ alloys on a Freelander 2 is like a magic carpet ride in comparison to 19s. The suspension set up on the Freelander 2 is excellent for coils all round. 19s in comparison to 22s there is little difference to the vehicle, you can only really tell the ride is firmer if you race over speed bumps.

A lot of people on the forum can talk the talk but Iā€™m telling you first hand experience. My 22s are fitted with M+S tyres, budget tyres will make the ride firmer on any size of rubber as will worn down tyres. Having good quality branded tyres makes a world of a difference. Thumbs Up MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony šŸŖ£šŸ’ŗā€™s

Post #347280 12th Apr 2018 2:19 pm
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JulesK



Member Since: 07 Dec 2014
Location: Ceredigion.
Posts: 1652

Wales 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Firenze Red

17"on my GS and now 18" on my HSE both very nice ride and good handling on and off road. don't know about low profiles and the bling stuff but wouldn't fancy collecting the Sheep Sheep from the fields with them on.

May be wrong but just doesn't sit well with me. Thumbs Up If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

šŸ‘
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Post #347285 12th Apr 2018 2:59 pm
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Bobupndown



Member Since: 26 Dec 2014
Location: Upside down behind the TV!
Posts: 2622

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 GS Auto Orkney Grey

Click image to enlarge

I had 18's on my Disco 2 and always thought it would ride better on the 16" option.
Happy compromise with standard 17's on this Freelander Thumbs Up Landrover - turning owners into mechanics since 1948

2014 Orkney grey Freelander SD4 GS.
2004 Zambezi silver Discovery 2 Td5 (Gone)
1963 Surf blue Morris Mini Minor Super de Luxe (my little toy)

Post #347293 12th Apr 2018 3:46 pm
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LR NUT



Member Since: 12 May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4350

Scotland 2014 Freelander 2 TD4_e Dynamic Manual Fuji White

A Freelander on 19s is far smoother than a D2 with 18s on rear air suspension. The D2 obviously being a lot heavier and has solid live axels. MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony šŸŖ£šŸ’ŗā€™s

Post #347300 12th Apr 2018 4:40 pm
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IanMetro



Member Since: 11 Sep 2017
Location: Somerset BS21
Posts: 2747

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 Metropolis LE Auto Fuji White

I don't find the 19 inch (55 profile) tyres uncomfortable at all. I will agree that I have suffered more tyre damage over the last few years than all my driving years before. I had although put this down to the appalling state our roads had been allowed to get in. On the plus side, I am glad that I have an off-roader to cope with these conditions.

Unless we get a government that is brave enough to raise enough tax to pay for all our services I think, in time, we will all need tractors to drive around.
Don't get me started on the NHS, Education, Care Services, etc.

Back to the subject, 55 profile tyres are not very extreme by modern standards. FL2 XS SD4 Auto 2010 2012-2017 (21k - 91k miles) (MY2011)
FL2 Metropolis SD4 Auto 2014 2017- (16k - 74k+ miles) (MY2015)

Post #347302 12th Apr 2018 4:56 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red
Re: Wheel size / comfort

shamus5178 wrote:

My question is would i get any benifet / notice any difference changing from 19 down to 17" other than cosmetic?[/s]


Yes you will notice a difference. The upside; with 19s the turn-in is better and there is less roll on the corners. The downside; there is less compliance in the suspension with 19s but it is still a comfortable soft ride compared to many vehicles. Ive had 17s on my previous FL2s and I prefer the 19s ; the better handling out ways the slightly harsher ride IMO Jules


Last edited by jules on 12th Apr 2018 5:42 pm. Edited 1 time in total

Post #347304 12th Apr 2018 5:41 pm
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T4



Member Since: 05 Mar 2018
Location: Essex, Gower & anywhere inbetween
Posts: 141

United Kingdom 2007 Freelander 2 TD4 SE Manual Tambora Flame

Quote:
...55 profile tyres are not very extreme by modern standards


Not on a 305 tyre but on a 235 tyre that is getting pretty shallow. I do have 225/45 and 235/40 on something else though so I guess a fair point.

Post #347305 12th Apr 2018 5:41 pm
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jules



Member Since: 13 Dec 2007
Location: The Wilds of Warwickshire
Posts: 4517

United Kingdom 2014 Freelander 2 SD4 SE Auto Firenze Red

The FL2s 235/55 R19 tyres have nearly 13cm of sidewall. Our Fiesta ST sits on 205/40 R17 tyres and has only 8cm of sidewall - combined with a stiff suspension thats a hard ride. Jules

Post #347306 12th Apr 2018 5:52 pm
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LR NUT



Member Since: 12 May 2012
Location: Scotland
Posts: 4350

Scotland 2014 Freelander 2 TD4_e Dynamic Manual Fuji White

265/35R22 Vs 235/55R19

Click image to enlarge

Click image to enlarge


Body roll is minimum driving on planted 265ā€™s Thumbs Up Ride quality is still excellent Thumbs Up
Click image to enlarge
 MY14 Kahn Converted Dynamic - Fuji White Ebony/Pimento Interior
MY15 Xenon Headlight Conversion

MY17 RRS SVR - Estoril Blue Cirrus/Ebony šŸŖ£šŸ’ŗā€™s

Post #347308 12th Apr 2018 6:16 pm
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Paul4751



Member Since: 02 Mar 2018
Location: lightwater
Posts: 204

United Kingdom 2012 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Auto Alaska White

I have done exactly what you propose; reduced from 19" to 17". I shod them with original spec Continentals and they transformed the ride compared to part worn tyres on the 19" rims. A vast improvement in ride comfort and steering. Have just completed a 2500 trip round Europe including crossing the Alps and Pyrenees in complete safety and comfort with fantastic feeling of security.

Post #347327 12th Apr 2018 8:46 pm
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shamus5178



Member Since: 28 Sep 2012
Location: Ashford
Posts: 197

Scotland 2013 Freelander 2 SD4 HSE Lux Auto Firenze Red

Cheers all, very varied responce on pro/cons. I have the current set of tyres, Continental cross contacts, and to be fair, they weren't new when i got the car,have done all i have asked of them including the two periods of snow we had recently down here in Kent and after 12000 miles are down to 3mm and having thought about reducing wheel size, seemed the prime time to do it before i buy some new boots.

Post #347337 13th Apr 2018 7:06 am
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JulesK



Member Since: 07 Dec 2014
Location: Ceredigion.
Posts: 1652

Wales 2014 Freelander 2 TD4 HSE Auto Firenze Red

what was the outcome? If it wasn't so bad it'd be funny.

šŸ‘
Freelander 2 HSE auto 2014 ( Florrie ) ..... Try again.
Freelander 2 GS 2012...... Gone.

Post #357084 17th Sep 2018 12:42 pm
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