74 beetle wheel / tire width maximum

shayno Learner Dubber

7 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 16 Oct 2008, 11:31 pm

#675194

what is the maximum rear width tyre / rim combination that will fit on a 74 super beetle.

with a large guess and some minor rear suspension mods and gaurds rolled, I figure I might fit a 215 or 225 tyre on there.

any ideas? or suggestions?

vw54 Administrator Always Waiting 4 Friday

16,723 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 5:42 am

#675204

it will be a 6 inch rim but you may get the wider tyres on there

I read it on FACEBOOK so it must be true

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=91278&page=1#pid848630

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http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=4832&page=1#pid452603

http://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=60650&page=1#pid574409

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 7:14 am

#675218

I run a 225 x 16 x 50series with 50ET on a 7" rim no worries

You "may" have to turn one of the spring plate bolts round so as the head is on the outside - not the nut and threaded bolt

Fronts are 205 x 15 x 55 series with 40ET on a 6" rim
You would need thin spring struts for this

The wheels are standard 1997 Porsche boxster rims with no spacers

Futue te ipsum!!!

BiX Veteran Volks Folk

2,499 posts · joined Sep 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 8:42 am

#675223

I run on the rear, 7x 15 inch steel wheels. Offset custom to keep them inside as much as possible. With them i run a semi slick 205.... which in reality is more like a 215.

Front 195/55/15, with a 10mm guard spacer on 6 inch rims and std struts.

all above iwth non rolled guards, but with fixed spring plate bot as mentioned above...

I have no sympathy for my car, only the wallet that pays for it!
Go hard or go home!!!!

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 17 Oct 2008, 8:43 am

#675224

shayno wrote:what is the maximum rear width tyre / rim combination that will fit on a 74 super beetle.

with a large guess and some minor rear suspension mods and gaurds rolled, I figure I might fit a 215 or 225 tyre on there.

any ideas? or suggestions?

do you mean wheels that physically fit... or legally?

Pay your debts, CxxT

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 8:49 am

#675225

Hi

I'm not sure about WA, but in NSW you can only run a wheel 1.5 inch wider that the widest factory wheel, the sports wheel was 5.5 inch, so legally a 7 inch is it, but Ive seen wider squeezed in.

Steve

Sides Veteran Volks Folk

2,220 posts · joined May 2007 · 17 Oct 2008, 9:01 am

#675226

If you're talking legally you've also got offset to consider.... in QLD you can increase the "track width" by a maximum of 26mm, and you can't decrease it at all . They define "track width" as distance measured between the center of the tyres immediately below the axle (which apparently is technically termed "tread width" - go figure).

Standard VW steel wheels were (I think) ET34.... so running either ET40 or ET50 would technically be a no-no since they'd decrease your track by 12mm and 32mm respectively.

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Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 11:33 am

#675242

The 74 came stock with ET 41 on a 4 1/2" rim

The sports wheel option was a 5 1/2" with an ET of 26

The wheels i have mentioned actually decrease the track by 18mm in the front by and by 5mm on the rear

compared to the 4 1/2" 41ET the front extends by 10mm and the rear by 33mm

So compared to the 4 1/2 on the front i have extended by 10mm and the 5 1/2 on the back i have extended by 5mm

They are a good fit i reckon for Supers

Futue te ipsum!!!

shayno Learner Dubber

7 posts · joined Oct 2008 · 17 Oct 2008, 3:43 pm

#675275

obviously I need to look in to what "is" allowed, legally speaking.

maybe have it registered with stock wheels.

I was thinking maybe 17" or 18" diameter and a 7-8" width.

Bizarre Moderator The artist formerly known as blue74l

12,789 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 17 Oct 2008, 3:54 pm

#675277

There is also the rolling diameter rules.
18" you will end up with a 25 series profile or something stupid

17" is probably the limit as i think that uses 45 series.

You just need to find the right wheel with the right offset so as the car WILL be legal when its engineered

Dont just buy any wheel cause you like the price or the colour or..............

Buy the right wheel because it works

Futue te ipsum!!!

VWCOOL 23 Windows of Awesome

5,158 posts · joined Jun 2003 · 17 Oct 2008, 4:49 pm

#675285

shayno wrote:obviously I need to look in to what "is" allowed, legally speaking.

maybe have it registered with stock wheels.

I was thinking maybe 17" or 18" diameter and a 7-8" width.

Without engioneers report etc your car will be liable to defect and uninsurable. It shpuld be easy to find out what is okay in WA with a couple of phone calls

Pay your debts, CxxT

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 17 Oct 2008, 5:51 pm

#675298

if u stick with stock struts and springs the only width rims that will stay under the gaurd and have no clearnace issues are 5.5" but the offset has to be right
anything 6" or wider will stick out past the gaurd
especially on a 2bolt super which is what urs is

widest ive ever fitted on mine were 18" rims with 225/40 tyres on but u will need custom struts for that to work
but once u go that big ride qaulity suffers as u feel every little fault in the road
i ended up with 215/35s on the 18s and they were like rubber bands, no cushion effect at all
but atleast it cornered like it was on rails