TheSamba.com :: View topic - "What wheels fit?" The ultimate wheel post.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:40 pm

albiwan wrote: Question remaining is whether the wheel at 16.7.5 with a 34mm offset would bolt up or would require spacers, assuming I bought the rims from him and replaced the tires with appropriately sized tires.

You would still need at least a 5mm spacer on the front. At that effective offset (29mm), I would run a 215 tire. A 225 might work out okay but you will really have to check the tire to upper control arm clearance.

Tue Aug 26, 2008 12:46 pm

Thanks. Guess I'm going to have to keep looking (he thinks the tires are worth a bunch of $....)

Wed Aug 27, 2008 8:57 am

Has anyone ever seen this type of wheels before And would they fit an 85 Vanagon?
This is the info I have on them:
16x7.5 mille miglia evo 5
offset is 35
5x112

What else Should I be asking?

Wed Aug 27, 2008 1:14 pm

^

For use on a 2wd, those wheels would need a 5mm or thicker spacer (on the front at least) depending on how wide of a tire you planned to run. You would also have to verify that the centerbore was large enough to clear the front grease caps. Measurements of the thickness of the lug seat area would have to be taken to know if you would need longer wheel studs.

No spacers would be required on a Syncro, but the wheel studs length may still be an issue.

Centercaps may also be an issue with the 2wds front and both Syncro and 2wd rear.

Thu Aug 28, 2008 11:12 am

i am looking at some s class mercedes rims - the size reads 16" x 7.5 with an ET 51 - can these work on my 1987 westy? thanks in advance - joe

Thu Aug 28, 2008 12:39 pm

marleyjoeb wrote: i am looking at some s class mercedes rims - the size reads 16" x 7.5 with an ET 51 - can these work on my 1987 westy? thanks in advance - joe

A 16x7.5 ET51 can definately be installed on your Vanagon. I would run a 22mm adapter instead of spacers and long studs/bolts. Depending on the wheel, you may need to drill out the lug holes and use small ball seat lugs.

Mon Sep 01, 2008 1:02 pm

Just got a set of extra '05 Audi A4 rims (17x8 with 235/45 tires) I need help will they fit my '87 Vanagon GL??. I haven't tried mounting them yet will I need spacers etc..? Anyone else has these rims on their Vanagons?

Any advise is greatly appreciated thanks!

Tue Sep 02, 2008 12:37 pm

Not that they don't exist, but I can't find any information on those wheels in the 17x8" size. The only factory wheels that I know about in that style are 17x7.5" with a 45mm offset. Just making sure that your wheels are actually 17x8". Do you know the offset?

Tue Sep 02, 2008 9:26 pm

I don't like chrome, but these might be just right for somebody out there:

http://sfbay.craigslist.org/pen/pts/823871955.html

16" 5 x 112, ET 35 "lorinser"

Thu Sep 04, 2008 10:38 am

I'm installing Rhein wheels in my 1990 Westy. Any recommendations for tire sizes? I was thinking M. Hydroedge 215/65/15 but the local store is out of stock. However, they have the same tires on 215/70/15. Anybody knows if going from 65 to 70 will mean that the tire will rub the steering arm or other components?

Rhein owners, what tire size do you have installed?

thanks!

Thu Sep 04, 2008 12:52 pm

I put 215/75/15 Hankooks on the Rheins on our 87 a few months ago and have been liking them. No clearance or rubbing issues. Trip meter is off by about 6%, speedo doesn't seem to far off, and I haven't minded the change in gear ratio with a stock 2.1.

Wed Sep 10, 2008 3:32 am

16x8" ET35 Audi BBS.
Front 15mm spacers and rear 20mm spacers.
Picture was taken before lowering :lol:

This photo is taken just after dropping 8)

Wed Sep 10, 2008 12:41 pm

After days of reading, I understand that the Mercedes CLK 16x7, ET 37 will work without spacers or replacing lugs and bolts. Only have to drill holes from 12 to 14mm.

Two questions:
1. I wanted to put BFG AT 215/70/R16 on the wheels, does any body have issues with rubbing or sliding door not opening. I read one post where they were using Cooper Discoverer size 225/75/R16 so I am assuming it will work.

2. Has anybody figured out how to install the center dust cap with a replacement VW logo instead of the Mercedes?

Mon Sep 15, 2008 2:46 pm

In search of a poor man's overdrive to go with a Subaru 2.5L, and after studying this thread and so many more I am dreaming rims at night, I would appreciate anyone checking my thoughts here.

According to www.lakeshorewheelandtire.com , some 2001-2005 Passats were sold with 15x6, 5x112, ET38 steel rims. I need steel. All this says they should work on our '84 Westy with 215/75R15 100/D load tires without anything but boring out the front rims to fit over the caps. Am I missing something here and if so set me straight. I appreciate your time, trouble and help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark

PS - Want a cool tool? Try www.1010tires.com and look at their tire spec calculator, right down to revolutions per mile for any size you put in. Told me that 175/75R15s would yield an extra 16 miles a tankful of gas.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:16 pm

snowjobb wrote: After days of reading, I understand that the Mercedes CLK 16x7, ET 37 will work without spacers or replacing lugs and bolts. Only have to drill holes from 12 to 14mm.

I would really suggest running at least a 5mm spacer on the front just to give a little room between the tire and the upper control arm. You will also need to run small ball seat lugs. The stock Vanagon lugs are too large to seat properly.

snowjobb wrote: Two questions:
1. I wanted to put BFG AT 215/70/R16 on the wheels, does any body have issues with rubbing or sliding door not opening. I read one post where they were using Cooper Discoverer size 225/75/R16 so I am assuming it will work.

You won't have any sliding door issues.

Mon Sep 15, 2008 9:23 pm

[quote="pdunn13445"]According to www.lakeshorewheelandtire.com , some 2001-2005 Passats were sold with 15x6, 5x112, ET38 steel rims. I need steel. All this says they should work on our '84 Westy with 215/75R15 100/D load tires without anything but boring out the front rims to fit over the caps. Am I missing something here and if so set me straight. I appreciate your time, trouble and help!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Mark
quote]

They are actually a 37mm offset wheels. Either way, they would probably work as long as the tire doesn't bulge too much. I'm not sure if a 215 will provide enough clearance between the tire and the upper control arm. You could always give it a shot and if you need to, you could add front spacers.

Those wheels are designed to use 22mm ball seat lugs. Vanagon lugs are 24/26mm and may not seat properly.

Tue Sep 16, 2008 7:07 pm

This is my previous camper, an '85 Wolfsburg Edition Westy. There are just your average 22'' sweet mothers-of-bling. A few mods here and there make them fit. :roll:

Fri Sep 19, 2008 9:41 am

I found a set of these

Stock 99 Audi A4 Sport wheels 5x112 16 x 7 a little work on my part how could i pass four 60$ If they don't work out resell....

A little photoshop fun

sean

Sat Sep 20, 2008 9:46 am

Got these on thursday, fit fine and no rubbing no spacers.but i think i am going to go with a larger profile.

currently 17*7.5 ET 25 215/40/17

would like to try either 225/45/17 or 215/50/17

before

After (iphone pic)

[/b]

Sat Sep 27, 2008 11:14 am

First off...thanks to Loogy for all his help and patience. There is no way I would've gotten this done without this thread and his expertise. Next, I am really happy with this wheel/tire combo. It worked out perfectly...the ride and performance is awesome and they look exactly the way I'd hoped.

These are audi/vw 16" "Swing" wheels. They come in only one size in the US and were originally sold on Audi A4's and Passats.
- Wheel size: 16x7 5X112mm ET45
- Spacer size: 15mm (from Loogy)
- New rear studs: 52mm (Sway-a-Way part #SAW-8052)
- New rear "small ball seat nuts" (from Loogy)
- New 40mm front bolts (from Loogy)
- Centerbore: needed to be expanded from 59mm to 66.6+mm. I did this with a router to save money (was quoted $50/each to have these machined locally). Router approach not really reccommended. Dangerous experience and choppy results. Needed to rebalance wheels.
- Center caps: I kept the audi caps because I like the silver more than the B&W VW version. I did have to grind off the ends of the clips that hold them in because they were hitting the grease cap. I also had to grind off a couple of millimeters off the speedo cable on the driver's side grease cap to so that it would fit under the center cap. I would consider using a slightly larger spacer to correct for this. Grease caps just barely fit under these center caps.
- Tires: 215/60R16 Yokohama Geolander AT-S. Treadwear: 500, Load: 1521 lbs., max pressure: 51 psi, diameter: 26.1", revs per mile: 796
I couldn't be happier with these tires. I wanted something aggressive, but didn't want to go much over stock diameter. The ride is really so much better. I though because they were on road/off-road, and slightly lower profile, that they would ride kind of hard and be louder. Not the case at all...its actually a softer, more pleasant ride than my previous 205/70R14s.

Hope this helps...good luck!