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17x5.5 wheels on a beetle
Chop Top VW - November 30th, 2010 at 06:54 PM

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 - November 30th, 2010 at 07:25 PM

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 :)


Chop Top VW - November 30th, 2010 at 07:53 PM

im getting them custom made (billet wheels)


STIDUB - November 30th, 2010 at 08:37 PM

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...


vwo60 - December 1st, 2010 at 10:30 AM

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 - December 1st, 2010 at 10:41 AM

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


waveman1500 - December 1st, 2010 at 10:41 AM

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.


waveman1500 - December 1st, 2010 at 10:47 AM

Quote:
Originally posted by barls
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.


1303Steve - December 1st, 2010 at 10:55 AM

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 - December 1st, 2010 at 11:35 AM

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.