I have a 69 bug and intend to lower it eventually but not until after i buy wheels and tyres. I will be buying EMP! 8 spokes 15 X 5.5 and am now wondering what tyres i should purchase.
I am considering falkens as they are a reasonable tyre. The rims will be fine for 195 but i am not sure if i should get V55, V60 or V65.
The other issue is do i get 195 for the rear and 165 for the front so I wont have any issues when i lower the front?
Any advice would be much appreciated
68AutoBug ·
Hi
I have 165 x 80 x 15 on the front...
and the same on the rear... on 6 inch wide wheels...
I used to have 205 x 65 x 15 on the rear...
My front end is lowered...
as far as it can go without rubbing on the guard lip when turning. when it was really low, the ride was very harsh too..
Rear hasn't been lowered...
165 x 80 x 15 tyres are 645mm diameter approx
205 x 70 x 15 tyres are 668 mm diameter approx
205 x 65 x 15 tyres are 647mm diameter approx
I did find the sizes and diameters etc for different brands of tyres but can't find where i wrote it down...
I was looking to see what tyres to put on the rear so My engine isn't revving as hard...
I am thinking of 205 x 70 x 15 which are 668mm diameter..
I've searched for the info... but can;t find it...
saw it recently when not looking for it..lol
check out cars with very low front ends and very small tyres...
and whether you like the look... and rough ride...
If You live in the city and don't have rough roads...
a small narrow tyre will be OK....
I personally don't like that idea... and don't like the look..
remembering that most of braking is with the front wheels...
cheers
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
thanks for the info yes i think i need to some research. you didn't use to have a hot VW with a brother from Scone? I remember around 30 years ago two brothers from Scone had hot vw's. I met them through a friend in South west Rocks?
Joel ·
calculators like this are really handy for working out and comparing sizes
I may have used something like that to get My info...
as I had tyre and brand sizes..
as some brands are very different to others in sizes... Diameter
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
Joel,
Thats awesome I will measure my current diameter as the calculator doesnt have a 69 VW
Joel ·
stock vw tyres are 165/80 R15" seeing as 155 R15 arent around anymore
68AutoBug ·
Yes, Michelin can be bought as a vintage tyre
155 x 15 ... and now very expensive...
vintage = double the price.. lol
LEE
[165 x 15 were the normal size for type 3s]
Paulc1964au ·
what is the standard diameter for beetles?
Paulc1964au ·
Joel wrote:stock vw tyres are 165/80 R15" seeing as 155 R15 arent around anymore
based on that size looks like i need a 195 by 65 R
vassy66T1 ·
Hey Paulc
195 by 65 is a good tyre size from my experience. A good compromise for a beetle between ride and handling and has fit the beetles I have had (super and non). On my '66 I did have to run 185 by 65 on the front with the chrome mangels though.
Uber Kafer ·
thinking further when you lower it Paul, there are implications depending on which method you use to lower.
If you go with beam adjusters your front track will remain the same - it wont widen the wheelbase. If you go dropped spindles, which from my experience gives the nicer ride, the wheel base will widen by about 1/2 inch each side. So a tyre width which is ok now will possibly rub when you drop the front, then you will be looking for wider front fenders or a narrowed beam. My advice, if you go for dropped spindles, get a narrowed beam and do it all in one hit.
So, try and work out which method you will use to lower. Then re-ask the original question about tyre sizes.
Paulc1964au ·
I am looking at a new beam as i have been told it provides the best ride so i will get the wheels first most likelt 195/65 then get the car lowered to a point that it doesnt rub the front, does this seem feasable?
SuperOwen ·
It really depends on how low you go, what beam width etc. Find a car you like the look of in terms of height and wheel combo and use that as a starting point. Everyone has a different definition of low as well....
I used to run a 185/65 on jap rims around 6 inch with cb drop spindles only. Looked ok with no real clearance issues.
Paulc1964au ·
Thanks for the advice Owen, i think i will take a camera, pen, pad and tape measure to the VW Nationals in may and have a good look. The wheels I ordered from rod Penrose won't be here for a few months anyway.
I'm a little confused about the beam or lugs. If I use a new beam with drop spindles the ride is unchanged compared to using adjusting lugs, is this correct or am i totally confused lol
SuperOwen ·
The drop spindles simply relocate the stub axle 2.5 inches higher, lowering the car 2.5 inches. The angle of the trailing arms etc stays the same, so in simple terms your car will be 2.5 inches lower with stock suspension. Using adjusters on their own means the angle of the trailing arms is heavily changed from stock and the ride ends up stiff and you need shorter shocks etc etc. Ultimate setup is both so you have nice ride and some adjustability as well. Rod will know how much track the various brands of drop spindles he sells add, the CB ones I used years ago didn't add much.
If you use drop spindles you can just bolt them on the car, no need to change the beam unless you need it narrowed or adjustable or its really farked for some reason. Budget for some new balljoints, wheel bearings and tie rod ends when you do the job as well, unless you know definetly their all in good condition.
Hope that helps a bit.
Paulc1964au ·
Thanks Owen I think I will just do the drop spindles rather than the whole beam as I dont want to lower the car a great deal so if i can get away with the spindles rather than the beam i will go with that.
If I go with the Falken ZE912 tyre I can get a 195/V65 for the rear and 175/V65 for the front
I guess 205 on the rear maybe be pushing it with width lol
SuperOwen ·
Sounds like a good combo, just bear in mind the smaller diameter front tyres will mean your speedo over reads. Just means less chance of getting booked!!
Paulc1964au ·
thanks at this stage the front tyres will have the same overall diamaeter of the current tyres
ian.mezz ·
ahhh I ve been there and done that,I took my wheels to a Tyre place and they tried some old tyres on my wheel to see what fittrd best on my bug.
68AutoBug ·
Paulc1964au wrote:thanks at this stage the front tyres
will have the same overall diameter of the current tyres
YES dropped spindles are the way to go...
You don't lose Your ride comfort then....
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
So would most of you agree with drop spindles and maybe 165 to 175 V85 on the front and 195 V65 on the rear?
Paulc1964au ·
Here is the look I am trying to achieve
Paulc1964au ·
Does anybody run smaller profile on the fronts of their beetle?
I know it will effect the speedo but they do look good. I was thinking 195 X V65 on the rear and 165 X V60 on the fronts?
jacky_moo ·
Im running 235/65R14 on the rear and 215/60R14 on the front
on pig, lowered and has the fiberglass kit... dont have any issues with scrubbing tyres etc
Paulc1964au ·
jacky_moo wrote:Im running 235/65R14 on the rear and 215/60R14 on the front
on pig, lowered and has the fiberglass kit... dont have any issues with scrubbing tyres etc
what about speedo accuracy? I assume you just dont worry about it 🙂
jacky_moo ·
yeah i never actually pay that much attention to it as i dont drive pig that much but next time i will take the gps with me and cross check the speedo readings.... have not yet gotten a speeding ticket so cant be off that much!
Paulc1964au ·
If your front wheels are smaller than standard the speedo will show you doing faster than you actually are so you will never be booked for speeding 🙂
tmerivale ·
have a look here http://www.antiquetyres.com.au/tyre-brands/michelin?page=1
i found some michelin tyres that i think might be worth a look at if your interested in original tyres. have a browse through the ite, they have lots of different tyres for everyones needs 🙂
oh and in regards to never getting done for speeding when using smaller wheels, not to many people would get upset with a beetle driving slower than the speed limit, its not like its a ferrari or a lambo where they have a fast look, everyone would just think that its slow so its ok lol
ian.mezz ·
😂🤪😂🤪🤪😂🙅🤪😂😊😊
205/65 rear 195/60 /15on front
205/60 rear and 195/50/15
68AutoBug ·
Paulc1964au wrote:Here is the look I am trying to achieve
Hi
You will find the front tyres rubbing with Your front suspension down that low..
but smaller tyres will do the job... but will still look smaller...
with 165 x 85 x 15 on the front, You won't have to lower the front so far down...
and your speedo will be close to the mark..
If You don't have any large speed bumps or rough roads, You can go lower than My beetle's front..
when i had it lower...
turning and hitting a bump... would cause My tyres to rub on the guard lip ...
LEE
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
thansk lee, once I get my wheels i will take it to a tyre place and work out whats best then take the car to Raw auto Werks to work out how low i can go, I dont want to go too low just enough that the front end isnt pointing into the sky like it currently does lol
mattie ·
165/65 nankangs are the bomb for what your after they have a nice appearance very soft compound so they grip well look good and have alot of clearance.
They`re just like smart car tyre`s but a little wider and safer.
Matt
Paulc1964au ·
thanks Matt will have a look at them
Paulc1964au ·
Anybody have those V-Force Spyders on their cars, they sure look like a nice wheel
zayus ·
Paul,
The best size tyre for a 5.5 inch rim is a 175 or 185.
Continental make a 175/65, that would make a good front tyre. Lower profile, less chance of rubbing the guard.
Most tyre brands make a 185/65. Plenty of contact patch, and not too big for the 5.5 Empi rim.
Diameter - tyre sizes
155/15/80 - 629mm - almost factory
175/15/65 - 608mm - good clearence, when the front is lowered, inaccurate speedo.
185/15/65 - 622mm - perfect rear tyre on a 5.5 inch Empi.
Have fun! 🙂
Paulc1964au ·
ian.mezz wrote:😂🤪😂🤪🤪😂🙅🤪😂😊😊
205/65 rear 195/60 /15on front
205/60 rear and 195/50/15
love the look are you using drop spindles or an adjustable beam ?
Paulc1964au ·
zayus wrote:Paul,
The best size tyre for a 5.5 inch rim is a 175 or 185.
Continental make a 175/65, that would make a good front tyre. Lower profile, less chance of rubbing the guard.
Most tyre brands make a 185/65. Plenty of contact patch, and not too big for the 5.5 Empi rim.
Diameter - tyre sizes
155/15/80 - 629mm - almost factory
175/15/65 - 608mm - good clearence, when the front is lowered, inaccurate speedo.
185/15/65 - 622mm - perfect rear tyre on a 5.5 inch Empi.
Have fun! 🙂
thanks for the suggestion the more i look into it the more i think ill go with 195/65 on the rear and 175/60 on the front
Paulc1964au ·
Certainly look like going with drop spindles rather than a new beam, just have to wait for the wheels to arrive although I'm told they wont be here until Mid july
The tyres will most likely be Falken ZE912 front 175/60 and rear 195/65
Wouldnt mind 205/65 but I think the tyre would be too close to the guard and maybe illegal
Paulc1964au ·
68AutoBug wrote:Hi
I have 165 x 80 x 15 on the front...
and the same on the rear... on 6 inch wide wheels...
I used to have 205 x 65 x 15 on the rear...
My front end is lowered...
as far as it can go without rubbing on the guard lip when turning. when it was really low, the ride was very harsh too..
Rear hasn't been lowered...
165 x 80 x 15 tyres are 645mm diameter approx
205 x 70 x 15 tyres are 668 mm diameter approx
205 x 65 x 15 tyres are 647mm diameter approx
I did find the sizes and diameters etc for different brands of tyres but can't find where i wrote it down...
I was looking to see what tyres to put on the rear so My engine isn't revving as hard...
I am thinking of 205 x 70 x 15 which are 668mm diameter..
I've searched for the info... but can;t find it...
saw it recently when not looking for it..lol
check out cars with very low front ends and very small tyres...
and whether you like the look... and rough ride...
If You live in the city and don't have rough roads...
a small narrow tyre will be OK....
I personally don't like that idea... and don't like the look..
remembering that most of braking is with the front wheels...
cheers
LEE
Lee where did you get your wheels from they look really nice. I am in two minds whether I should go with the Empi 8 spokes or whether i should stay with a more traditional style of wheel
Paulc1964au ·
Ok went down to Blast from the past and met up with rod Penrose, we were discussing wheels and tyres (I am buying the EMPI 8 from Rod) I told him I was thinking of putting 175 V60 on the fronts and he wasnt sure if they would fit on 5 and a half inch wheels.
Has anyone tried 175 on those wheels or should i go for 185, of course the problem is the wider the tyres the greater chance of rubbing on the guards when i install the drop spindles
SuperOwen ·
Get the 185's. more tyre choices i think and will be fine with drop spindles. Height has as much to do with rubbibg as the width. I ran 65s from memory on drop spindles only and a 6 inch jap rim.
Paulc1964au ·
186 / 60 should be fine for the front then? i know the speedo will be out by i can live with that
Pumba ·
You do know drop spindles are wider than normal spindles ???
Paulc1964au ·
yes i do and if they dont fit with the drop spindles then we will have to get a narrowed and adjustable beam it just means more $$$$ I may have to consider selling the wife she has a few k's left in her lol
Paulc1964au ·
The question is do I install the drop spindles first then match the tyres or do i buy the tyres first?
SuperOwen ·
Get the drop spindles fitted, It will be drivable with your stock wheels. You will have some idea on what you have to work with then, or can try someone elses wheels etc.
Pumba ·
Paul i have empi 8 spokes on my 69 and they do sit out close to the gaurd,if you want you can cruize down one weekend and put my wheels on your car and see how you like them👍 cheers shane.
Paulc1964au ·
thanks for the offer but im not game on driving that distance while i have the existing tyres, were you at Berry yesterday?
Paulc1964au ·
vwmad wrote:Paul i have empi 8 spokes on my 69 and they do sit out close to the gaurd,if you want you can cruize down one weekend and put my wheels on your car and see how you like them👍 cheers shane.
What size tyres do you have? Is the car lowered if so how?
Pumba ·
Yes i was at the show but i didnt have a car there, im running 185 65 15 on the front and its lowered a little cheers shane.
Paulc1964au ·
looks great im going for 185/60 on the front i think
Pumba ·
They would work well,i only whent for this size because thats all they had in stock at the time,i only have adjusters at the moment and thats as low it will go they have been put in wrong??? im going to do my own beam and narrow it a little and put adjusters in🙂
Paulc1964au ·
vwmad wrote:They would work well,i only whent for this size because thats all they had in stock at the time,i only have adjusters at the moment and thats as low it will go they have been put in wrong??? im going to do my own beam and narrow it a little and put adjusters in🙂
Shane,
The car looks pretty good, mine is screaming to have the front lowered as I am not fond of the standard look where the front is higher than the rear. I am leaning more to get the drop spindles installed before the wheels and tyres that way i can mix and match the front tyres for the best result
tom325 ·
Standard height at the rear and 2.5 dropped spindles at the front. I was running 165's on standard rims and they rubbed while turning with passengers in the car. Changed them to 135's at the front, maybe a little bit too narrow for my liking. Next time Ill get 145's. I noticed about a 10% change in the speedo going to the smaller front tyres. This photo is with the 165's. Of coarse, if you are using empi's then perhaps the offset is also different from standard rims? Also once you start going wider you get more choices of sidewall profile to allow you to fit wider tyres. Have fun shopping!
65 bug swing rear short axles K & l front narrowed 20mm
Porsche Fuchs Origionals all round 6 x 15
Rear tyre 195 x 60 x 15
Front tyre 185 x 55 x 15
Paulc1964au ·
tom325 wrote:Standard height at the rear and 2.5 dropped spindles at the front. I was running 165's on standard rims and they rubbed while turning with passengers in the car. Changed them to 135's at the front, maybe a little bit too narrow for my liking. Next time Ill get 145's. I noticed about a 10% change in the speedo going to the smaller front tyres. This photo is with the 165's. Of coarse, if you are using empi's then perhaps the offset is also different from standard rims? Also once you start going wider you get more choices of sidewall profile to allow you to fit wider tyres. Have fun shopping!
thanks for the info, like the cars profile, hmmm i guess there is a chance i will also need a narrowed beam?
Paulc1964au ·
vw54 wrote:65 bug swing rear short axles K & l front narrowed 20mm
Porsche Fuchs Origionals all round 6 x 15
Rear tyre 195 x 60 x 15
Front tyre 185 x 55 x 15
Any pics?
Paulc1964au ·
After seeing this car (Does anybody here own it?) I am glad I have ordered the EMPI 8 spoke polished. This dub had V65 at the rear and V55 at the front whereas I am going for V65 at rear and V60 at the front.
All in all its the rake i like
68AutoBug ·
Paulc1964au wrote:Ok went down to Blast from the past and met up with rod Penrose, we were discussing wheels and tyres (I am buying the EMPI 8 from Rod) I told him I was thinking of putting 175 V60 on the fronts and he wasnt sure if they would fit on 5 and a half inch wheels.
Has anyone tried 175 on those wheels or should i go for 185, of course the problem is the wider the tyres the greater chance of rubbing on the guards when i install the drop spindles
Hi
I believe 165s are wide enough for the front of a lowered beetle...
185s are a very wide front tyre.. IMHO..
although You are going lower profile....
I did have 185s on My 6 inch chromed rims when I got them
had nothing but rubbing problems...
cheers
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
I think the problem i have is the empi8 spokes only come in 5 1/2 inch, whats the least size tyres i can put on them?
bnicho ·
You should be able to run a 165R15 on a 5.5 inch rim. If I recall correctly, the max rim you can safely put a 165 on is a six inch rim.
I've ran 165/70R13 on 5.5 inch rims for years (not on a VW though)
Cheers,
Paulc1964au ·
bnicho wrote:You should be able to run a 165R15 on a 5.5 inch rim. If I recall correctly, the max rim you can safely put a 165 on is a six inch rim.
I've ran 165/70R13 on 5.5 inch rims for years (not on a VW though)
Cheers,
thats great news as i dont want to car to look chunky, thanks for the info
Paulc1964au ·
The challenge now is too find a brand of tyre that meets both front and rear specs
The Falken series has a 15 X 195 X V65 and a 15 X 175 X V60 but no 15 X165 X V60.
I checked Michellin and they dont have anything close, not sure of any other brand I will keep searching
modulus ·
Hi Paul,
What basis are you using for your decision-making process? Are you looking for best ride, best handling/braking, economy, or some particular fashionable look that you want to achieve?
If you can sort that out, you will quickly find an optimal solution and make it work, much faster than just random number generating.
hth
DubCrazy ·
71 with ajusters fitted to beam with 195/65/15 on rear and 185/15/15's on front. Lowered as much as possible with out rubbing (about 2 mm of front guards) but bloody stiff as on front, rear was standard height with stiffer dampers.
I loved the raked look, can't see it really on the grass(at one of the bujams) but it was great. The biggest down side apart from the stiffness of the front was if pushed during cornering the front coped brilliantly the back struggled and would want to break free. it wasn't built for corners speed so i wasn't to worried.
Have to say tho it wouldn't be anygood here on QLD's roads as i it wouldn't get up 90% of the driveways 🤓
steff..............................
Paulc1964au ·
modulus wrote:Hi Paul,
What basis are you using for your decision-making process? Are you looking for best ride, best handling/braking, economy, or some particular fashionable look that you want to achieve?
If you can sort that out, you will quickly find an optimal solution and make it work, much faster than just random number generating.
hth
I am really looking for that raked look with the front end slightly lower than the rear. I really dont want a narrowed beam and at this stage installing drop spindles hence not too wide tyres on the front. If I can stay with 165 it should keep the steering light and not rub on the guards with the drop spindles
Paulc1964au ·
DubCrazy wrote:71 with ajusters fitted to beam with 195/65/15 on rear and 185/15/15's on front. Lowered as much as possible with out rubbing (about 2 mm of front guards) but bloody stiff as on front, rear was standard height with stiffer dampers.
I loved the raked look, can't see it really on the grass(at one of the bujams) but it was great. The biggest down side apart from the stiffness of the front was if pushed during cornering the front coped brilliantly the back struggled and would want to break free. it wasn't built for corners speed so i wasn't to worried.
Have to say tho it wouldn't be anygood here on QLD's roads as i it wouldn't get up 90% of the driveways 🤓
steff..............................
That the look i like, yours looks great, what size is your front tyre V65 or V60?
DubCrazy ·
ooops put 15 15 lol.... it was a 60 on the front, you can see the rake a bit better in these two pics.
steff...............
Paulc1964au ·
thanks thats exactly the look I'm looking for. i have spent the last hour looking at different brand tyre sizes and the closest I can get by sticking to one tyre is the Falken ZE912
195 x 65 x 15 for the rear
175 x 60 x 15 for the front
I'd prefer 165 x 60 x 15 for the front but i just cant find one that also has a 195 x 65 x 15
68AutoBug ·
Paulc1964au wrote:The challenge now is too find a brand of tyre that meets both front and rear specs
The Falken series has a 15 X 195 X V65 and a 15 X 175 X V60 but no 15 X165 X V60.
I checked Michellin and they dont have anything close, not sure of any other brand I will keep searching
Hi Paul
Why do You want the same profile on the rear???
I don't think it would make any difference, especially on how You want it to look... IMHO..
I had 205s on the rear [not low profile]
and 185s on the front [not low profile]
165 80 15 are a bit too big on front... [645mm diameter]
when I had the front suspension lowered
the ride was rough as...
and the tyres would rub on the front guard lip..
I would rather have 155s.. they are still available in the USA.. Michelins etc..
I now have it so it doesn't rub unless I hit a big bump when turned slightly..
but somehow.... the ride is MUCH much better...
I may have adjusted the top torsion bar more than the lower one ??
I also have gone back to oil shocks...
slightly shorter than the standard ones I had on...
which were too long with the front lowered..
I was looking at;
205 x 60 x 15 for the rear = 627mm diameter
205 x 70 x 15 yoko a drive = 668mm diameter
LEE
-
Paulc1964au ·
Lee, not sure what you mean i am going for a lower profile on front but will stick to V65 on the rear which is about the same as standard so as not too effect the revs on the car
68AutoBug ·
Hi Paul,
205 x 70 x 15 tyres will reduce Your engine revs
which is what I would like...
as My semi auto diff is 4.375 to one...
same as 1200 manuals
other manuals are 4.125 to one
and the L bug or 1303 is 3.88 to one...
so You save money on petrol by having larger diameter tyres..
and You engine is happier too.. revving less..
I know You are primarily looking at stance...
and the front tyres not rubbing...
cheers
LEE
PS: Many beetle owners instal 1303 or L beetle gearboxes so their engine doesn't rev so much... at 100 or 110KMH..etc
Joel ·
theres only about 50rpm difference at 100km/h between a 3.88 Lbug box and an Sbug/1500 4.125
Lbugs have a taller 4th because of the shorter diff
just allows for better accleration but good cruising speed
you dont wanna slow the revs too much from stock otherwise you end up with heat issues cos the engines loaded up more and the fans spinning slower
stock gearing was setup for a balance of economy and power
bnicho ·
My L is running new (but fairly crap) SONAR brand 165/80R15 tyres.
When my speedo reads 100km/h I am actualy doing 98 on the GPS. I'm pleased with how accurate the speedo is!
Paulc1964au ·
I did a comparison with the existing tyres and wheels and V65 x 15 inch is the same in diameter hence i am sticking with the same diameter tyreson the rear and slightl ysmaller on the front
AUSSIE_MICK ·
Hi Paul
If you are still unsure as to what size wheels to use come over to my palce and try my wheels on, i have two different lots you can try.
Mick
Paulc1964au ·
Thnaks for the offer Mick but are they 5 or 4 stud? mine are 4 stud
AUSSIE_MICK ·
5 stud mate!
Jack Schit ·
Paulc1964au wrote:I did a comparison with the existing tyres and wheels and V65 x 15 inch is the same in diameter hence i am sticking with the same diameter tyreson the rear and slightl ysmaller on the front
Congrats on your decision. Now stop procrastinating and just do it. 👍
Paulc1964au ·
[qu[/quote]
Congrats on your decision. Now stop procrastinating and just do it. 👍 [/quote]
LOl I am not procrastinating I am waiting on the wheels to arrive which wont be until july.
Paulc1964au ·
Picked up my wheels from rod Penrose yesterday (thanks Rod for the great deal)
I am now thinking of 195 / 65 for the rear and 175/65 for the front or 165/65 if i can get them. Will take a photo of the American Eagle 8 spokes and post
Good luck with deciding the tyres.. I still struggle to choose and never really go through with any of them...
Paulc1964au ·
Thanks I ended up going with Falken tyres rear 195/65 and fronts 175/65 will post some pics after i have them installed on Saturday
Paulc1964au ·
Had the wheels and tyres fitted today they look awesome. I am glad with the tyre selection and sizes, the only issue I have is the rear right suspension has sagged and is only just clear of the tyre. Rosie will be going to RAW this week for the drop spindles and have the rear suspension adjusted.
68AutoBug ·
I have lowered the front with adjusters..
the front was too low and too hard to start with so I adjusted the top adjuster more which put the front up more so the tyres didn;t rub on the guards when turning and hitting a bump at the same time..
the front is also now much softer.... Great...
I also tried gas shocks on the front but they were much too hard
and now have shorter oil shocks....
gas pressurised shocks will push the front up too...
where gas shocks don't push it up...
just sit there... lol
LEE
68AutoBug ·
Your car looks great....
apart from the front being way too high...lol
EXCELLENT
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
68AutoBug wrote:Your car looks great....
apart from the front being way too high...lol
EXCELLENT
LEE
I agree but it wont be like that for long 🙂
Paulc1964au ·
Just an update, Rosie is back at RAW getting gas shocks installed on the front, hopefully to raise the front slightly or at least stopping the front from sagging.
I had three adults on the car and two kids and the front tyres scrubbed badly. Adam will check the camber as well if the tyres are still too close i may have to narrow the beam.
68AutoBug ·
narrowing the beam is a major cost...
You should be able to adjust the front adjusters whenever You want to...
up or down...
also camber adjusters are available...
I took my spare wheel and tools out the front of My 68 beetle and the front is nice and high... no rubbing lol
and remember the new mini has no spare... [so I read]
Lee
68AutoBug ·
Paulc1964au wrote:Just an update, Rosie is back at RAW getting gas shocks installed on the front, hopefully to raise the front slightly or at least stopping the front from sagging.
I had three adults on the car and two kids and the front tyres scrubbed badly. Adam will check the camber as well if the tyres are still too close i may have to narrow the beam.
I'll be interested Paul on how Your gas shocks go...
I have also thought of using Gas shocks to pump the front up
as they are pressurised..
I have a pair here I may give another try...
LEE
Paulc1964au ·
Lee,
Had the boys at RAW install the gas shocks, it lifted the front by around 12mm and they adjusted the camber. The tyres seem much better and with Adam and Mick in the car it only rubbed if they were breaking heavy so im really pleased.
As for the stiffness of gas shocks i didnt notice any difference
vwo60 ·
I don't understand how a porported manufacturer of after market vw wheels can sell a wheel that rubs on the front mudguard with a 175 tyre fitted, there is something wrong here, narrowing the beam to overcome the problem is basic bad engineering, i have 6' x 16' rims on the front of my convertable fitted with 195/50/16, ET of 50mm and does not rub on the guards, a small amount of lock was lost but a simple ajustment to the stops handled this small issue.
Paulc1964au ·
I think the drop spindles move the wheels out by 12mm so thats is one reason.
Joel ·
vwo60 wrote:I don't understand how a porported manufacturer of after market vw wheels can sell a wheel that rubs on the front mudguard with a 175 tyre fitted, there is something wrong here, narrowing the beam to overcome the problem is basic bad engineering, i have 6' x 16' rims on the front of my convertable fitted with 195/50/16, ET of 50mm and does not rub on the guards, a small amount of lock was lost but a simple ajustment to the stops handled this small issue.
This is Empi your talking about remember, quality control has been a foreign concept ever since it ended up in the peoples republic.
Every Mistake Passes Inspection says it all
The offset on the original 2 piece empi 8s was perfectly suited, just got lost in translation somewhere
Paulc1964au ·
Strange enough these are made by American Eagle and are stamped "made in America"
Joel ·
theres that many variations of them out there that probably all have different offsets
there was another lot made by rocket industries which I think were the worst, really bad on a 2 bolt Lbug, looked like a monster truck
vwo60 ·
Dropped ball joint dropped spindles on my car did not increase the track at all, on the link pin front end they do by about 20mm so in this case they should have no influence. what are the ET of these wheels, there is a calculator i put in another post in this section for checking the offset changes that you can use before you buy a wheel. have you though about returning them. http://aussieveedubbers.com/viewtopic.php?tid=85365&page=2