17” Alloys

[Steve.B]

Actually quality alloys are more resistant to deformation than steel And so can probably take harder hits without damage than steel. The downside is when you find the limit of alloy is they are more likely to deform or break in ways that make them unrepairable, whereas steel may be able to be beaten back into usable shape.

Forged alloy rims are very light, very strong, very rare, and very expensive.

 

[AnD3rew]

Forged alloy rims are very light, very strong, very rare, and very expensive.

Forged even better, but quality cast are fine and still more deformation resistant than steel

 

[Logsplitter]

I don’t know about other alloys but I damaged one of my defender alloys trying to change a tyre with tyre levers. After that I changed to heavy duty steel wheels for piece of mind.

 

[grenadierboy]

Forged alloy rims are very light, very strong, very rare, and very expensive.

Like the original Fuchs aluminum wheels designed by Otto Fuchs for the 1966 model Porsche 911.

 

[Cheshire cat]

After playing around on the configurator I switch from steel to 17” alloy.

 

[emax]

Actually quality alloys are more resistant to deformation than steel

Do you have a source for this statement?

Except from aluminium rim manufacturers, of course.

 

[Shaky]

Just for you

My Trialmaster will definitely look something like this when I get it into a sweet state, hopefully take me a few months to finish it. Hoping to get it on the front cover of Maxpower magazine.

If you don’t want to see a Grenadier looking very similar to this one by July in the UK or Europe then best buy a blindfold.

It’s already been reported on here that one of the “creators” of these works of art is already sniffing around an IG agent.

They can have my number. It’s theirs for a straight £20K more than I paid for it an hour before.

 

[jamesfielding]

I've ordered a Fieldmaster edition with 17" alloys and the standard Bridgestone tyre. But I've decided I like the looks of the 18" alloys with the BF Goodrich. I went on to the configurator to change them since I'm still awaiting my contract. When I did so it bumped up the overall car price to what I assume is the new price, way above my original deal. Thankfully I didn't confirm the upgrade. Has this happened to anyone else and does a late change scupper the original deal? I guess it's something I should take up with the dealer but the dealers seem to be struggling just now with delivery inquiries. I would have thought that without a production date as yet, a wheel change would be straightforward. It's a wheel change for goodness sake!

Just had a quick look on the current configurator and it adds £1000 when upgrading from the 17" alloys to 18" alloys, which makes me tempted to upgrade, especially if it will be cheaper due to the order being pre prise rise.

 

[joejet]

Just had a quick look on the current configurator and it adds £1000 when upgrading from the 17" alloys to 18" alloys, which makes me tempted to upgrade, especially if it will be cheaper due to the order being pre prise rise.

I had the 18" alloys and switched to the 17" for 2 reasons 1. better ride the bigger rubber part the smother it is and also look at 18" tyres compared to 17" there is so much more choice in the 17" tyre size if i ever do get to to my drive to Singapore trip (wanted to do if for 20 years now (before the kids)) then 17" availability overseas is also a factor.

 

[chriscroft]

Like the original Fuchs aluminum wheels designed by Otto Fuchs for the 1966 model Porsche 911.

Me too, I went for the Sela Green Grenadier because it's pretty similar to Porsche's "Irish green" my number 1 car colour of all time; and actually the favorite colour for the Porche family's 911 car collection, as I understand it. Love it, particularly on a period 911 with Fuchs wheels.

 

[Tazzieman]

Wheel debates go round and round like oil debates.
Make up your own mind based on expected use.
Just a ref from an experienced guy here:

Steel or Alloy Rims for your 4X4 - What should you choose?

Advice

unsealed4x4.com.au

 

[grenadierboy]

Me too, I went for the Sela Green Grenadier because it's pretty similar to Porsche's "Irish green" my number 1 car colour of all time; and actually the favorite colour for the Porche family's 911 car collection, as I understand it. Love it, particularly on a period 911 with Fuchs wheels.

Correct.
Green was sort of the "family" colour and a favorite of both Ferry Porsche (356) and his son, Butzi Porsche (911).

Both, as well as their sisters, had various versions of the 911 in various shades of green throughout the 1960's, 70's & 80's

 

[AnD3rew]

Wheel debates go round and round like oil debates.
Make up your own mind based on expected use.
Just a ref from an experienced guy here:

Steel or Alloy Rims for your 4X4 - What should you choose?

Advice

unsealed4x4.com.au

This is good.

 

[chriscroft]

I recall reading/watching somewhere I think it was an Australian Article; when matching tyres with wheels for serious overlanding; the tyre dia should be at least twice the wheel dia; so a 34" tyre matches to 17" wheel. And so 20" wheels have no place unless you are going for monster rubber.

 

[chriscroft]

In fact, that could be why Ineos have put a speed limit of 99mph on the Grenadiers; because the brakes are sized to stop the vehicle from max speed to zero without fade over a cycle.
Landrover end up with 18" & 20" wheels on their powerful defenders to fit the brakes in; as the kinetic energy you need to dissipate as you slow down through heat via braking is a function of speed and mass. Limit the speed, limit the brake size you need for a given mass.
LR needs large brakes, and Ineos wanted to be able to run 17" wheels and therefore brakes, so they needed to limit their speeds. Just a theory based on.... not a lot.

 

[globalgregors]

I recall reading/watching somewhere I think it was an Australian Article; when matching tyres with wheels for serious overlanding; the tyre dia should be at least twice the wheel dia; so a 34" tyre matches to 17" wheel. And so 20" wheels have no place unless you are going for monster rubber.

In true Australian style, that is ignoring the weight of the vehicle. It is our proud tradition here to stuff vehicles to the gills before heading out back.
Less static weight = reduced tyre loading... less contact patch required for equivalent 'flotation' in soft conditions - so I wouldn't think of the above as universally applicable.
For reference, "serious overlanding" in Oz typically refers to a vehicle ~3,500 - 4000kg (eg desert tourer Hilux or LC with GVM upgrade).

 

[globalgregors]

In fact, that could be why Ineos have put a speed limit of 99mph on the Grenadiers; because the brakes are sized to stop the vehicle from max speed to zero without fade over a cycle.
Landrover end up with 18" & 20" wheels on their powerful defenders to fit the brakes in; as the kinetic energy you need to dissipate as you slow down through heat via braking is a function of speed and mass. Limit the speed, limit the brake size you need for a given mass.
LR needs large brakes, and Ineos wanted to be able to run 17" wheels and therefore brakes, so they needed to limit their speeds. Just a theory based on.... not a lot.

That could be. The max speed might also be based on tyre load ratings... the tyres have been selected to accomodate operation at GVM and the 8-10ply construction required has a trade off with heat dissipation (depending on operating pressure, ambient temperature).
I gather the reason for the large brakes on the LR is also to maximise the permitted unbraked tow weight - a key buyer value in the segment.
One suspects someone ran the math comparing the number of additional vehicles sold due to a 17" wheel versus the increment due to +500-750kg max unbraked trailer and the latter won.

 

[Steve.B]

In fact, that could be why Ineos have put a speed limit of 99mph on the Grenadiers; because the brakes are sized to stop the vehicle from max speed to zero without fade over a cycle.
Landrover end up with 18" & 20" wheels on their powerful defenders to fit the brakes in; as the kinetic energy you need to dissipate as you slow down through heat via braking is a function of speed and mass. Limit the speed, limit the brake size you need for a given mass.
LR needs large brakes, and Ineos wanted to be able to run 17" wheels and therefore brakes, so they needed to limit their speeds. Just a theory based on.... not a lot.

KO2 265/70r17 tyres are speed rated to 160kph or 100mph.
All quality off road rubber is speed limited, so a sensible choice by Ineos.
100mph is plenty fast enough for a brick.

 

[chriscroft]

KO2 265/70r17 tyres are speed rated to 160kph or 100mph.
All quality off road rubber is speed limited, so a sensible choice by Ineos.
100mph is plenty fast enough for a brick.

The BFG are S rated in the UK 112mph, for that size; don't know if it's different across the world. There are plenty of MUD tyres that are Q rated at 99mph, but that wouldn't make any difference in many markets; as you can often fit specialist tyres with a lower speed rating than the vehicle, such as winter tyres; mud tyres etc.
Defenders(amongst others) with higher maximum speeds will happily run Q Mud tyres in many markets.
And again unbraked trailer size in Europe is always 750kg; although across the world this varies massively I guess, and of course, many markets have those electrical modules. The Grenadiers Gross Train weight is 7000kg's that's 3500kg vehicle + 3500kg towed (with brakes) which is pretty good by most standards I think,
State side the aftermarket people sell smaller brake kits to allow smaller than 20" wheel fittings to the more powerful Defenders, I believe.
Defender small brake kit takes the minium wheel size from 20" to 18" for a 400bhp defender.
So for now I'm sticking with my wheel size/Brake size theory (for now ) as a main driver for the 99mph speed limit; which I agree is plenty fast enough.

 

[bigleonski]

All a bit academic really isn’t it.
Overtaking something quickly on the highway to about 140k/hr before backing off to 110-120km/h or so is about all I’ll ever ask it to do.