Aussieveedubbers 路 Tech Talk

Wheel size, legal or not?

https://forums.aussieveedubbers.com/threads/67345/wheel-size-legal-or-not

Mick058 路

i have a set of fuchs on the rear 16x8 on a 58 beetle...are these legal or too wide?

Are there any in's and out's about wheel size and getting them engineered?

Craig Torrens 路

I think you will find that they are tooooooooo wide馃憤 I have a feeling that you can only go 1 1/2 inches wider than standard......................but I pulled that from my arse so maybe its wrong !!!!

Mick058 路

hmmm...F/S 8inch wide fuchs, set of 2??? HA!

No 'sports' option on a 58 right...

Standard was 5inch?

modulus 路

Depends where you are (which you haven't told us). In Victoria, 25mm greater than maximum specified is the limit. In Iceland, you may have other options.

Of course, when you get the mods. engineered, anything goes subject to convincing the engineer.

hth

bond 路

should you sell the 16x8s - put me as first option.

nick

Mick058 路

Nick, you just like my wheels don't you??? i Could trade you for a set of 6inch (2 off)...i hand polished those ones from original black!!!!

Hmmm, its a 68 chassis, that may help the argument with the engineer?

Im in NSW BTW.

Is there any down-side to wider wheels???

The Bigfella 路

My car (54 on IRS) originally had 8" rims on the back - Empi's with wider rims and the fronts are 7"- but it wasn't engineered. It was fine, but I've gone down to 6 and 7 Fuchs with the re-buid. Original wheels were 4.5".

Have a play with this calculator:

http://www.rims-n-tires.com/rt_specs.jsp

edited to add - I was playing around with that calculator and some old 4 stud wheels - as near as I can see it the stock wheel was 4.5" with an ET of 50. Anyone got better info than than?

My front track increases by 1" with the Fuchs - which is legal - and I have no clearance issues - although it looks like it is getting close to the pan on full lock (must put some tyres on the front wheels - 195/50/16?). The rears have 205/50/16. Rear track with rear disk conversion and these wheels is stock - but the supplier never did come up with a handbrake cable bracket. I've got some 316SS angle bracket that has a date with an angle grinder soon.

Bizarre 路

Go to http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au and search for "VSI09 Rev4 Nov 2003"

Tells you all about it

Mick058 路

Cheers Bizarre, that was useful.

I'm running a 'AT' Superbeetle 71 Gearbox, what was the widest optional wheel for that model beetle??

Bizarre 路

I "believe" the sports wheel is 5.5"

Some conjecture if it was ever offered here

The Bigfella 路

I "believe" the sports wheel is 5.5"

Some conjecture if it was ever offered here
It must have been - surely they wouldn't have sold those heavy VW-powered air compressors with 4.5" wheels eh?

It was that NSW RTA rule that convinced me to go for an IRS pan rather than a converted swing axle pan - the weight for an oval on my rego papers is only 710kg - but IIRC the 1500 semi-auto comes in at 820kg - allowing an EJ20T and 7" rims.

Mick058 路

hmmm, i'll see what the enginner says. May have to trade a set of 8's for 7's.

Craig Torrens 路

Bizarre wrote:I "believe" the sports wheel is 5.5"

Some conjecture if it was ever offered here
Yes they were...............this was confirmed by VW when a 'sad and sorry' motor racer protested me at Newcastle Hillclimb...............................CAMS had to check with VW and the protest was thrown out !

So my 7 inch steelies are legal !!

1303Steve 路

Hi

The rules are going to change, but for now for vehicles which were not built to comply with ADR 24 (prior to 1973 for passenger cars)

Tare weight (finished car) Maximum rim width
Up to 800kg 153mm (6 inches)
801 - 1000 kg 178mm (7 inches)
1001 - 1200 kg 204mm (8 inches)
1201 - 1400 kg 229mm (9 inches)
1401 & over kg 254mm (10 inches)

Note: 25mm increase in wheel track limit also applies

Steve

Mick058 路

so i'm currently stuffed 馃槧

So what are good wheel choices. Swirls are 7inch all round aren't they? can you get them in 6inch front? Probably have loads of clearance issues...hmmm...possibly lots to ponder.

Bizarre 路

16" Boxsters are 6" and 7"
Cheap and fit without spacers

Mick058 路

Are they easy to find in 16? Is that stock, or are they mainly 17inch? No mods ay?

Do 17's fit with low profile? Or is that a bigger job...Thinking about changing breaks for engineering aswell, so im open to options.

Mick058 路

sorry 'brakes' not 'breaks'

Mick058 路

Bizarre, do you have these on your ride? Got any pixs?

1303Steve 路

Hi

No your not stuffed, you need to be cunning, your car to run has to weigh 1001 kgs when its finished, not hard with some stereo gear, bigger motor, suspension upgrades etc wink wink, old flywheels and brake drums.

Steve

Mick058 路

I was actually wondering what it would weigh in at. My Rotary bug came in at 940 or 960, but a light car is a quickier car.

Unless your hitting about some 'hidden' extras while on the scales...

1303Steve 路

You read my mind

The Bigfella 路

Nah - they work off their list of weights I believe. Anyone got a rego slip for a 1970ish IRS Beetle? I'd love to know what they list the Tare Weight as. Like I said it's 710 for a 54 Beetle.

Mick058 路

last time i engineered i had to get the car weighed before the engineer did the slip and inspection.

The Bigfella 路

Likewise - but I'm willing to bet the Tare Weight is still what they go off. If I were the engineer, I'd want to know if you'd lightened it at all.

Mick058 路

arh, far enough. I think im starting to talk myself into a set of turbo twist cup 3 wheels. Not sure if its worth all the effort, will probably need to narrow the front beam. not sure if they'll suit either...

1303Steve 路

Hi

Its definitely the finished weight of the car wheel size.

The factory weight come in on the engine size. So if your 54 is 710 kgs youl could run,
710 x 3 = 2130cc NA or
710 x 2.5 = 1775cc forced induction

Steve

The Bigfella 路

Yeah - that's why it will now be registered as a '70 rather than as a '54.

Mick058 路

So rego's will go off the chassis more so then the shell? Which i guess makes sense...

Its a 68 chassis, but 71 gearbox...

The Bigfella 路

Yeah - rego is always the VIN. Some exceptions out there - I've got a '47 Knucklehead Harley frame which has no number - they just used the engine number. I must get an engine for that some day eh?

Mick058 路

ha, fair enough. Better get onto the engineer bout wheels then

The Bigfella 路

Did you come up with an engineer recommendation? I used a guy at Hornsby once - but not on VWs and he was OK Morry Akbarian I think? This lists them all. I went to another guy first who was woeful - had absolutely no idea, wanted me to change the sunvisors, mirrors etc. He reckoned the sunvisors had to be changed because they had mirrors in them. I've had 3 Mercs and 2 Bimmers - all with mirrors in them. Damn things are almost certainly plastic too.

Morry is listed here:

http://www.rta.nsw.gov.au/registration/downloads/vsi/vsi_15_-_engineering_signatories_nov_2007.pdf

Mick058 路

cheers big fella, ill check him out. What car did you use him on?

The Bigfella 路

A couple of Mercedes.

Joel 路

bloody hell the RTA dont make it easy...
past expierince has taught me register the car stock first then do all the mods
ive been running 18x8 rims on and off again for years
ive been thro 2 pink slips with different guys with them no probs yet
but im told that im sposed to have an engineer cert for my blower, rims, and front seats
next thing theyll be on my case for the steering wheel, adjustable struts bla bla bla

dunno how all these rat owners get on considering ur supposed to have 100mm ground clearance
mine wasnt even close to being as low as some of them and my sway bar was only 47mm off the black stuff

big fella, ive got a 70 1500 IRS/BJ bug thats 780KG according to the old papers
but that was probably weighed after the rotary was put in

The Bigfella 路

Hmmm 780 kg is too light for a WRX engine. Needs to be 800kg.

Joel 路

fill the tyres with water instead of air 馃槀
hey works for tractors

The Bigfella 路

There's several tonnes of lead ingots on the boat. A couple of ingots under the seat ......

1303Steve 路

Hi

The pink slips guys should know better but they don't know all the rules. I saw an old Land Cruiser the other day with about 6 driving lights mounted on his roof, driving lights can't be mounted above the centre line of the headlights, how many 4wds do you see like that. Or new cars totally riced out that don't need an inspection for 3 years.

I'm sure that Mike said he was running a 1500 beetle pan, I think a 1500 Beetle is 820 kgs, so 820 Kg x 2.5 = 2050cc

Steve