Finally had the sides completed in Satin Black 3M self healing wrap, considerably cheaper than LR’s PPF, but as equally strong!

Decided to paint the raised air intake gloss black to contrast as the original Matt clashed.

 

Looks great! How long did you have it before deciding?

 

It’s a year, to be fair I wasn’t sure of the look I wanted (these are the 8th set of wheels I’ve had on now) 😳🤦🏼‍♂️
I used to be indecisive, now I’m not sure 🤔🤣😜

 

I'm in the market for some wheels myself. Would you mind listing the 8 sets?

Thanks!

 

Original 5098’s with Goodyear Wrangler Adventurer’s Then 20” Rhino with Goodyear Wrangler Duratrac’s Then another set of 5098’s followed by a set of 20” Projex Design SXR with BF Goodrich 22” Urban Sawlblade’s with Yokohama Adven Sport’s Then a set of Gloss Black 5098’s with BFG Goodrich

20” Vulkan Forged with BFG’s again

20” Vulkan Forged with BFG’s again

Finally, Riviera R198’s with Yokohama Geolander’s (much quieter/smoother and more comfortable than the BFG’s)

Finally, Riviera R198’s with Yokohama Geolander’s (much quieter/smoother and more comfortable than the BFG’s)

 

^^^^^^^WOW! Very nice. You have another Defender in wheels there (or a Bronco at least.) Thanks for posting.

 

What rims are in the upper right photo? Those would be my preferred choice of the bunch. Not a fan of satin wrap however — don’t understand why anyone spends extra $$ to look like primer finish.

 

The idea of the wrap is for purpose not looks - It protects the Lao t from tree scrub damage when off roaring (there’s only so many times you can mop them out) 🫣
Those wheels are Redbourne Alston’s - very tough, and adequate load rating for the D300HSE 🙏🏼

 

@Ludders54 - GREAT photos and thanks for sending. For the benefit of the community, can you send a ranking of the sets & what you like/didn't about each one? I'm sure others want to know your insights. I, for one, do and I love my wheelset right now!

 

Grouse, of course……they are my own thoughts/impressions, and for the purpose of the kind of usage Huntsman endures, and have no bearing on the wheel manufacturers 😉

First set - 5098’s They are too flat faced and as such they scratch far too easily, even on low level scrub…..also, nearly every other Defender has them….and I like to be different 🤷🏼‍♂️😂

Redbourne Alstons - great, tough wheel, but jeez…..they do like to collect mud, and don’t like to have it removed easily neither! 🥵

Projex Design - fantastic, in-house designed wheel, very tough and an ample load rating (D300 HSE X-Dynamic rear axle requires 900kg’s) loved these wheels, but I found that with conventional wheel brushes (Auto Finesse/Carbon Collective etc.) they did scratch the surface so I’d end up having to mop and polish the awkward surfaces of the wheels with cutting compound! …it was as if the powder coating was too soft a compound?

Powder coated 5098’s……very similar issues with the above where they scratched so easily…….pretty much every occasion off-road would need smart repairing (localised repairs) to remedy ……you’d have thought I’d have learnt my lesson……but I have a bad memory! 😝

22” Urban Sawblade’s - I had these as a temporary stop gap when I disposed of the powder coated 5098’s, they were purchased as a road wheel and not for off-road expeditions. However, I was disappointed as to the tyre choice/availability at the time (COVID-19 period) and although they were much quieter, smoother than the Goodyear’s and BFG’s, but again, realised that as my tyre guy kept swapping them for my off-road wheels when going through the countryside, soon realised that they were an impulse purchase and not practical for my purpose.

Vulkan Automotive 20” Forged Satin Black - Superb wheels, very strong 1050kg load rating and perfect for off-road adventures! It was only after I’d had the sides wrapped in Satin Black that Huntsman didn’t look, in my eyes, the way I wanted it to and as such started looking at alternatives. When Vulkan came along with the Riviera R198’s in 20” option, it was perfect for what I wanted and the look I have been after………for the time being anyhow! 😳😝🥵

Just as a sub note……my experience of Goodyear Wrangler tyres has been awful (split 4 different sidewalls when driving off-road on both Duratrac’s and Adventurers) and LR have shrugged their shoulders in response to my opinions. Although Goodyear fit Kevlar technology in all Wrangler sidewalls, they don’t in the sizes fitted to Defenders, and as such have a feeble sidewall that is susceptible to perforation.

BFG’s - I’ve now had a total of 6 sets if these now, on both the original Defenders I’ve owned, and the new ones I’ve had and I’ve always been more than impressed with their durability and technology! However, my impressions of the Yokohama Geolander’s is a fantastic impressions upon the BFG’s.

They are far quieter, smoother and more comfortable than the KO2’s, improved fuel economy, and although they’ve not experienced much off-road driving yet, the independent online reviews are impressive in relation to the kO2’s!

Sorry to go on

Andy