Has anyone had any experience of using 16 x 6 inch or 7 x 16 inch steel and/or aluminium alloy wheels, from either a VW Sharan, SEAT Alhambra or Ford Galaxy, on a 1972~79 VW Type 2 Kombi?

What were the wheel offsets and counterbores and what if any NECESSARY modifications, were made to the vehicle and/or wheels?

I have a 1973 VW "1600" Type 2 Kombi Westfalia Continental campervan, whose late-1970s vintage Michelin XZX, 185 SR14 (i.e. 185/80 R14) Reinforced radial tyres, will probably need replacing, when I put the Kombi back on the road, so I want to see what 16 inch wheels & low-profile tyres, might be most appropriate.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet

bolt on options for kombi 5 112
are merc rims
with an et of 38 to 51 i think
or audi but the rims have to have the centres machined out a little
$20 a rim they usually charge for machining
terry

I am already aware of the possibility of using some Audi or Mercedes wheels, which share the 5 x 112 mm PCD, with the 1971~90 VW Type 2s.

Some Audis certainly use 14 x 1·5 mm fastening studs or bolts, but the wheels are not so readily available in my part of the World (i.e. South East Essex, England), tend to be rather expensive and are probably not as strong as the standard wheels of the Sharan, Alhambra & Galaxy MPVs, whose axle load limits, are almos identical to that of the 1968~79 VW Kombi.

I prefer to avoid modifying wheels in any way, especially if it requires specialised jigs and machining tools. The most I would be prepared to do, is to ream out bolt holes, from 12 mm to 14 mm and use alternative taper or hemisperical seating nuts, plus possibly longer 14 x 1·5 mm studs.

If it ever became necessary to replace a damaged wheel, it would need to be readily available, plus being possible to substitute it, with the minimum of fuss and bother.

Regards.

Nigel A. Skeet