Totally agree Jafir. The tire cost isn't a real issue. I've just fitted 4x 255 55 R19 107Y Continental Contact tires on offer for £455 including fitting and balancing. I do 90% of mileage on tarmac and autoroute and of that 20% towing a 3.5 ton trailer so grip and handling is by far the priority. The wheels are RRS OEM genuine LR with the same offset as the original 18" D2 wheels. I don't need or use wheel spacers as they aren't necessary for my use. My only outlay was for new wheel nuts and the hub packer rings, £50 in all. I considered the noise issue and it is imperceptible by comparison to the 18" D2 wheels. I have to admit the handling on the Goodyear F1 tires was incredible, like a go-kart. The new tires are not quite the same grip level though particularly in the wet. Still I am pushing on in years and should really be driving a Yaris or similar . If I go offroad I have an old 1995 2.8TD Pajero with 85K low miles and with 265 70 R15 AT General Grabber tyres and fitted with long travel gas electric suspension etc which is very suited to 'mud plugging' and rough terrain treatment, it'll go anywhere - a real tough beasty.

 

I find this hard to believe at least here in the states. Ive seen tons of threads, lots of people bitching and complaining about the factory equipped larger 19+ wheels. Alot of them asking how to modify D2 18" wheels so they can downgrade to a more comfortable, more affordable tire..... seems alot of those people do not realize that there is a rare 18" factory wheel for the LR3.

I wont say Lr3's with 18" wheels dont exist here in the states but seeing how Im looking to buy one in a year Ive been looking extensively online for one, and every one of them had at least 19" wheels installed.

I remember how many people where telling me about all the benefits I would get if I downgraded my D2's 18" wheels to 16"s..... I did that and now it seems you guys are claiming the opposite for the LR3. Very confusing indeed. But to each his own.

 

I see it's been a few years since this thread was active, and perhaps there is a more recent thread, but I didn't find one in my search of DII forums. I've got a 2003 DII that I'm upgrading for offroad. New front/rear bumpers, rock slider/running boards, OME lift and bigger tires. I'm going to stay with 16 or 17 wheels. My issue is the limited selection of 5x120 wheels, so I'm considering a wheel adapter to open up for a better selection of 16/17 wheels. I was going to go with spacers anyway, so I'm not really concerned about using an adapter that is also a spacer. Any concerns about using wheel adapters to convert from the 5x120 to a bolt pattern with better wheel selection?

 

Nothing wrong at all as long as you get name brand parts. Chinese adapters are known to break. However, you will find more wheel options of you look for 5x4.75 pattern rims. S10s and some chevy cars used that pattern.

 

Thanks Alex. I've decided to keep it simple and just go with the satin black steel wheels. If I'm unhappy, I'll either powder coat my factory wheels, or look at the adapter option. Appreciate the response.