Just wondering if anyone has had much experience with getting stock 15' smoothies widened and re hooped to a 17? Like who can do it, or what outer rim works?
Seen a couple of photos but not much info
Cheers
bussboy ·
First problem is you cant rehoop 15 inch to 17 inch There are numerous manafacturers of hoops in standard sizes but what you want is not a standard size. You can rehoop a 17 inch rim with a wider hoop if standard size. What width are you looking forand what PCD.
helbus ·
Maybe a 16 inch rim can be rehooped with a stepped 17 inch rim? Do a search for Ajax wheels. If you contact them, they WILL be able to give you an answer.
modnrod ·
I've fitted 16" rims to a 14" centre before, why not 17s to 15s? I thought you could get stepped rims as said above.
However, an easier option MAY be to get some 17" steelies from a late Toyota/Nissan/VW whatever, then have the bolt centre plate modified instead, custom ET/PCD etc.
aircooledjake ·
bussboy wrote:First problem is you cant rehoop 15 inch to 17 inch There are numerous manafacturers of hoops in standard sizes but what you want is not a standard size. You can rehoop a 17 inch rim with a wider hoop if standard size. What width are you looking forand what PCD.
derek from the dub lab had a few pics of a beetle that 15's modded to 17's so i know it can be done just no info on it as he didnt do it...
wanting 5x205 but not into airkewld rims really...way over priced...plus steelies would be mad
helbus wrote:Maybe a 16 inch rim can be rehooped with a stepped 17 inch rim? Do a search for Ajax wheels. If you contact them, they WILL be able to give you an answer.
modnrod wrote:I've fitted 16" rims to a 14" centre before, why not 17s to 15s? I thought you could get stepped rims as said above.
However, an easier option MAY be to get some 17" steelies from a late Toyota/Nissan/VW whatever, then have the bolt centre plate modified instead, custom ET/PCD etc.
thanks for that guys, didnt know they were called step rims, that might help me out.... trying to keep with the old 5x205 stud pattern and shape... modnrod would you have any pictures or know were abouts you got your outers from?
Joel ·
It would far easier and less hassle to just get a set of off the shelf 17"smoothies from Airkewld
aircooledjake ·
Joel wrote:It would far easier and less hassle to just get a set of off the shelf 17"smoothies from Airkewld
they are way over priced imo, and you cant do your own offsets.. i thank that rehopping would end up cheaper if it can be done. i know its been done in america
modnrod ·
I got my 16" outer rims from Summerfield Engineering here in WestOz, but he has basically retired and only works from his shed nowadays.
The people who weld up steel rims for trailers/caravans and/or trucks have those parts contacts though possibly?
vw54 ·
i wouldnt like to flatten the center to fit the 17 rim as it would weaken it
You may find a deep well rim or may be weld a strip to the center
I think either process would be more expensive than the Off the shelf items
aircooledjake ·
modnrod wrote:I got my 16" outer rims from Summerfield Engineering here in WestOz, but he has basically retired and only works from his shed nowadays.
The people who weld up steel rims for trailers/caravans and/or trucks have those parts contacts though possibly?
thats cool, thanks....just have to keep the search up
aircooledjake ·
vw54 wrote:i wouldnt like to flatten the center to fit the 17 rim as it would weaken it
You may find a deep well rim or may be weld a strip to the center
I think either process would be more expensive than the Off the shelf items
no you defiantely dont flatten it, you need an outer that steps out so it goes to 17....ill find a couple of photos of it done in 'merica
aircooledjake ·
here is a few
they look pretty sweet
modnrod ·
aircooledjake wrote:
they look pretty sweet
I agree. I woosed out and went for boring 15s steelies, the 17s are cool.
bussboy ·
If you have a close look at the wheels on the beetle they have an adaptor ring between the hoop and the centre, anything is possible if you have the dollars.
aircooledjake ·
bussboy wrote:If you have a close look at the wheels on the beetle they have an adaptor ring between the hoop and the centre, anything is possible if you have the dollars.
How do you mean sorry?? They look proper with the tyres off
Joel ·
He is talking about the spacer you can see that has been fitted to take up the gap left when running a 15" center in a 17" band, I'd be surprised if that would be legal in Aus.
Remember in America anything pretty well goes
bussboy ·
Just to clear up a misconception, stepped hoops (AKA mexican rims) are available for some 14inch centres to 15 inch, not all wheel sizes, as wheel manafacturers made wheels with different size centres, there use to be available hoops for 15 inch to 16 inch but as far as I know not available anymore.
So not all sizes have a plus 1 interchange, wide 5 beetle centres are 312 o/d ,bus rims are 320 o/d. Not all hoop sizes come in all widths 312 narrowest is 6 inch and 320 is 4.5inch. In Victoria there is only so much you can do to steel wheels and be legal, also if wheels are modified illegally as such then insurance will bounce you if something goes wrong.
psimitar ·
Try looking at 4x4 steel rims. There may be some that use 17inch steels. Then it's just a case of finding one with a 1inch step that the centre welds too.
The concept is very basic but finding the parts if the hard part 🙁
bussboy wrote:Just to clear up a misconception, stepped hoops (AKA mexican rims) are available for some 14inch centres to 15 inch, not all wheel sizes, as wheel manafacturers made wheels with different size centres, there use to be available hoops for 15 inch to 16 inch but as far as I know not available anymore.
So not all sizes have a plus 1 interchange, wide 5 beetle centres are 312 o/d ,bus rims are 320 o/d. Not all hoop sizes come in all widths 312 narrowest is 6 inch and 320 is 4.5inch. In Victoria there is only so much you can do to steel wheels and be legal, also if wheels are modified illegally as such then insurance will bounce you if something goes wrong.
thanks thats interesting.. is the o/d in mm in guessing? most things are illegal here, you learn to get by 😉
psimitar wrote:Try looking at 4x4 steel rims. There may be some that use 17inch steels. Then it's just a case of finding one with a 1inch step that the centre welds too.
The concept is very basic but finding the parts if the hard part 🙁
had a look at them, not much that works at all, they do more rod stuff
have been onto the guy that had the wheel on the samba and hes going to send me through some photos... he said that they used old dodge rims or ford ones... hes going to send some to show where to cut and the likes, should be interesting
aircooledjake ·
this would have to be one of the coolest sets yet ive seen, very unique.. its cool how you can use the 15in trims cause they are still stockies..
lohoon ·
The airkewld ones are really heavy for alloy rims too.
psimitar ·
lohoon wrote:The airkewld ones are really heavy for alloy rims too.
That's cos cast alloy has to be so thick to have the strength of a steel wheel. Forged alloys would be lighter.
I mean, if there was enough call for a 17inch smoothie then any rim manufacturer could roll a rim to weld the wide 5 centre too. Good old supply and demand 🙂
Special Air Service ·
machine the original hoop off the old centre, leaving the finish OD whatever is required to match the 17"hoop ID?
would require a weld on the back & the front of the rim though?
Again.......... what is legal comes to mind.......
psimitar ·
Special Air Service wrote:machine the original hoop off the old centre, leaving the finish OD whatever is required to match the 17"hoop ID?
would require a weld on the back & the front of the rim though?
Again.......... what is legal comes to mind.......
So long as the welding is done by someone who knows how to weld steel that thick and rotate the rim to stop the centre moving outta true from heat distortion then it ain't so bad.
Only needs seam welding on the inside of the rim too. I've known guys do there own rims with less run out than a OEM rim 🙂
bussboy ·
was there an answer to this?
aircooledjake ·
Been told that you need to use some old charger steel rims and cut the vw rim 1/4 inch back from where welded and then the new rim where diameter matches....weld together... But no pics unfortunately
vwo60 ·
Try these guys in Brisbane, they have been around for years and made wheels for everything and are certified to do so, Airkewld wheels are heavy because they have a steel rim with a very thick aluminium centre, not really a good design.
Wilson Wheel Work & Repair
200 Abbotsford Road
Bowen Hills, QLD 4006, Australia
Phone: 732523891
psimitar ·
Those black steels at the top of the thread looks like a 15 inch wheel has been turned down till it's rim fits inside the larger hoop. In this case you rely entirely on the seam weld with no additional support from how a centre normally fits too the hoop/rim.
Boozo ·
whole lot of awesome on that previous page
vassy66T1 ·
What you are looking for are known (in Australia anyhow) as dropped centre bands
I know they go from 14" to 15" as that is what is on my single cab.
These guys on the Gold Coast are very helpful