Just took delivery of a new Defender X last week that someone had backed out of their order.
It had pretty much everything I wanted except the correct wheels.
It came with stock 20" 5095s.

I asked my dealer if I can purchase stock 22's to put on it and they told me that my brake calipers are the wrong size (too small) so I can't use 22"s.
Has anyone heard of this before?
Now I need to go measure my brake calipers...

 

Smart dealer….

It’s the other way around. You can’t fit smaller wheels (17s/18s) if the larger brakes are fitted.

22’s will fit.

 

Interesting, but agree it's the other way around. I do have calipers from a V8 if you are interested! I think you'd need discs and pads too.

 

Thanks!
I think they were implying that the brakes wouldn’t be big/strong enough for the bigger wheels?

 

Are these the blue ones?

 

The rolling diameter between the 20’s and 22’s is roughly the same and the overall wheel/tire weight would be very similar too. So again, doesn’t make sense if that's why they won’t sell you 22’s.

You don’t get different brakes from the factory if you order your Defender with 22’s vs 20’s.

 

Thanks that’s what I thought too but I’m new to this!

 

Your dealer is an idiot. If 20’s fit, so will 22’s (assuming bolt pattern, offset, and tire size are correct).

 

I know it's not what you want to hear, but use the 20" wheels. The increased rotational weight, along with greatly increased susceptibly to damage (potholes, rocks, curb damage) and decreased ride quality make them purely a style statement. We offer them because there are some members of the public that insist on them (and members of the design team love the look in press shots) but it's not the way to go.

 

Damage point makes sense but rotational weight? Who cares!?

Separately, ride isn't nearly as bad as some people say it is. I have 22s on my L405 and Defender and ride quality is superb for such a large wheel.