17x5.5 wheels on a beetle

Chop Top VW Slammed & Awesome Dubber

91 posts · joined May 2010 · 30 Nov 2010, 6:54 pm

#814961

Hi Everyone,
Has anyone ever fitted 17x5.5 wheels to a beetle, woukld they fit ok and what size tyres would fit.
the beetle is 1964 body with 2.5 inch lowered spindel

thanks

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 30 Nov 2010, 7:25 pm

#814963

first i want you to show me where your getting 17x5.5" wheels from!

then
http://www.1010tires.com/TireSizeCalculator.asp
punch in your current size tyre then work from there, i cant say ive seen much in the way of skinny 17" rubber

also useful...

http://www.willtheyfit.com - for a rough idea what your wheels/tyre combo will look

and

http://www.1010tires.com/WheelOffsetCalculator.asp useful for offset changes, stock is approx +36
hope that helps

and mods PLEASE STICKY THESE LINKS WHEEL/TYRE COMBO QUESTIONS COME UP WAAAAYYY TOO MUCH!!!!!!!!!!!

thankyou 🙂

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

Chop Top VW Slammed & Awesome Dubber

91 posts · joined May 2010 · 30 Nov 2010, 7:53 pm

#814971

im getting them custom made (billet wheels)

STIDUB Over it.

1,497 posts · joined Jun 2008 · 30 Nov 2010, 8:37 pm

#814983

and tyres? narrowest 17s excluding space saver rubber i see is 205/40... that may end up looking quite strange, might be worthwhile going 6.5 wide at least...

Volkswagen Drivers Club of Queensland - member 🙂

STIDUB - yep its still a work in progress

Vwdcq club car racing/ and crashing while my bug isn't finished.

The above are personal views, no more, no less

vwo60 Veteran Volks Folk

2,036 posts · joined Feb 2007 · 1 Dec 2010, 10:30 am

#815061

A 205 should fit a 7" rim, you will still end up with the same tyre width with the 5.5" rim, good chance of having it come of the rim.

barls Administrator Causer of Chaos and Mayhem

9,473 posts · joined Jun 2004 · 1 Dec 2010, 10:41 am

#815062

i use to run 205s on my 15 x5.5 with no problems

“We all pay for life with death, so everything in between should be free.” Bill Hicks
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waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 1 Dec 2010, 10:41 am

#815064

I'd agree with STIDUB, make sure that you can use a readily available tyre size. Custom-made wheels are fine, but you can't get your tyres custom made every time you need a new set! I haven't found or heard of any 17" tyres narrower than 205mm section width, which ideally needs a 7" wide rim. On 5.5" rims they may not fit correctly.

1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

waveman1500 Also rides a Honda

1,346 posts · joined Dec 2009 · 1 Dec 2010, 10:47 am

#815065

barls wrote:i use to run 205s on my 15 x5.5 with no problems

But what was the aspect ratio? With a 15" rim you will have a much taller sidewall, which allows for a much wider range of rim widths to fit. With a full inch out of the sidewall height, a 17" rim will be much more picky about what rim width it will fit on in my opinion.

1972 VW S-Bug - For Sale!
1968-onwards Beetle panels and glass for sale

1303Steve Scirocco Rare

8,650 posts · joined Aug 2002 · 1 Dec 2010, 10:55 am

#815066

Hi

Tyres will be the issue. I was pricing some rear tyres for my sons Skyline, popular car sizes are cheaper. 225/45x17 $95 each or 255/40x17 $145 each.

Steve

Joel Now containing 100\% E-Wang

9,368 posts · joined Feb 2006 · 1 Dec 2010, 11:35 am

#815075

Agreed, stretching the tyres outwards is bad enough without going the opposite way.

Dunno what these custom made rims are gonna cost you but you may find they're one expensive defect.