Standard wheel and tyre specs

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 10 Nov 2010, 8:21 pm

#812199

I'm trying to work out what the standard wheel and tyre specs are for my 76 beetle so I can work back try and figure out what I can fit on it when I upgrade......one day.

From what I can figure out standard wheels are 15 x 4.5 inch wheels with 165/75 tyres. Can anyone confirm if this is correct?

Also can anyone enlighten me as to the offset of standard wheels?

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 10 Nov 2010, 9:14 pm

#812207

72 or 73 was when they went from 4" to 4.5" with bugs

the 4.5" ones were et41 and the early 4" were et38 or et34

Type3s had et46, these are good for that bit extra clearance on lowered cars

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Nov 2010, 11:23 pm

#812233

Hi

As Joel said your car has 4.5 inch rims standard, the current regulations say that cars built after 1/1/73 with an unladen weight between 801 kgs and 1200 kgs can only go to a 1.5 inch wider wheel, so you can only run 6 inch wheels.

I'm not sure about 76 Beetles but some "factory sports" wheels were wider.

Steve

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 10 Nov 2010, 11:41 pm

#812234

1303Steve wrote:Hi

As Joel said your car has 4.5 inch rims standard, the current regulations say that cars built after 1/1/73 with an unladen weight between 801 kgs and 1200 kgs can only go to a 1.5 inch wider wheel, so you can only run 6 inch wheels.

I'm not sure about 76 Beetles but some "factory sports" wheels were wider.

Steve

Interestingly I was reading thos reg's tonight as well. Does this mean Joel's car is a bit "naughty" running 7's?

I also just dug out the factory handbook which says the standard wheels are 15x4.5s

I don't think finding 17x6's is going to be easy/possible

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 10 Nov 2010, 11:59 pm

#812236

Hi

There was a sports wheel used on Joels model that was wider to start with, 5.5 inch I believe.

Steve

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 11 Nov 2010, 7:43 am

#812246

It's abit of a grey area.
I had a chat with my engineer about it when he certified my car

His opinion was its probably nothing to be too worried about, although had my 18x7.5s still been on then that would be a different story.

Like Steve said the stock sportsbug 1303 rims were 15x5.5, they were optional extras in some countries.....just not Aus,
GT beetles which were standards came with them too

I think even my tyre placard inside the glovebox lid has them listed

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 11 Nov 2010, 9:20 am

#812261

I think my tyre placard only has 15x4.5's listed. Sounds like I better find an engineer to speak to before I buy wheels.
If I can only go to a 6 inch wide wheel, looks like I will be stuck with 15x6's.

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 11 Nov 2010, 10:45 am

#812269

Hi

There is a real disadvantage for cars made after 1/1/73, previous models had a width specified as per the modified unladen weight, e.g. 801 - 1000 kgs you can use a 7 inch wheel.

All this might change in the future with new RTA laws, who knows.

The 73 Beetle I'm building at the moment is on a 72 pan, the pan determines actual year model, my car should weigh in at over 1001 ks so I can run a 8 inch wheel.

You could change your pan to an earlier one but that is a radical move.

I think the GT Beetles with sports wheels were still only 4.5x15

Steve

cam070 Custom Title Time!

1,332 posts · joined Jul 2009 · 11 Nov 2010, 11:44 am

#812271

yes changing RTA reg's another nightmare. With the hoon laws they are proposing, soon we may all be stuck with factory wheels and bog stock cars.

What we need is a NSW Automotive engineer on here who can answer our questions for us. is there such a person? A sympathetic VW engineer would also be helpful!