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Wed Nov 05, 2008 6:48 pm

Hi all from Fort Worth. Not new to vws but I am new to the 2 latest additions to my flock. Any ways I have a 72 fasty that is excessivly lowered and I need to know what size tires to run on my new empi 8 spokes. I have 205/55now and they rub. Anyone else have this problem?

Wed Nov 05, 2008 6:53 pm

Lots of people doing this. If you do a search you will find your answer on tire size. Pretty much nothing will stop it from rubbing though since the offset is wrong for a T3.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 8:57 pm

Yep. Chris is right. The eight spokes have horrible offsets for T3's. Your best bets are: Fuchs, 2 liters or gasburners.

I'm now running 145's on 4.5" Fuchs, down three inners up front and it STILL rubs.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:28 pm

on my 69 square i,m running 145-65 in the front and out back 205-65 and i got the stock rims on i tired riveras but they rubbed. any body have any ideas on what oother rims to use.

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:33 pm

localboy wrote: Your best bets are: Fuchs, 2 liters or gasburners.

:?

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:55 pm

what about brm 4 lug wouldn't they also fit

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:56 pm

i've got 185/55/15 up front on my square on baby gas burners. bottom beam mounts about 2" off the ground and NO RUBBING at all. the 185/55/15 is almost the same overall diameter as a 135(to lazy to dig out my tire spec sheet) but with a nice wide footprint.

and yes the empis have a horrible offset for type3...ken....

Wed Nov 05, 2008 9:57 pm

jeff1969 wrote: what about brm 4 lug wouldn't they also fit

they'll fit but the offset isn't as good as the other listed wheels. 4.5 sprints will fit ok to if you choose your tires carefully...ken....

Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:00 pm

luckystiff wrote: jeff1969 wrote: what about brm 4 lug wouldn't they also fit

they'll fit but the offset isn't as good as the other listed wheels. 4.5 sprints will fit ok to if you choose your tires carefully...ken.... But unfortunately, 5.5 sprint stars rub. :cry:

8 spokes work fine as long as you're stock height. :D

Wed Nov 05, 2008 10:06 pm

luckystiff wrote: i've got 185/55/15 up front on my square on baby gas burners. bottom beam mounts about 2" off the ground and NO RUBBING at all. the 185/55/15 is almost the same overall diameter as a 135(to lazy to dig out my tire spec sheet) but with a nice wide footprint.

See now I don't see how the hell that's possible. I had 195/50s and they rubbed. The 145's are taller so they're actually worse as they rub a larger area of the fender. I like the taller sidewall though.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:52 am

localboy wrote: Yep. Chris is right. The eight spokes have horrible offsets for T3's. Your best bets are: Fuchs, 2 liters or gasburners.

I'm now running 145's on 4.5" Fuchs, down three inners up front and it STILL rubs.

and don't forget Superior Formula Vee's -- aka turtlebacks... awesome offset for a Type 3!

Thu Nov 06, 2008 10:04 am

I am running Empi 8 spokes. 135's front, 165's back. Front lowered 2 notches, back is stock. No rubbing up front. At all.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:09 am

blankmange wrote: localboy wrote: Yep. Chris is right. The eight spokes have horrible offsets for T3's. Your best bets are: Fuchs, 2 liters or gasburners.

I'm now running 145's on 4.5" Fuchs, down three inners up front and it STILL rubs.

and don't forget Superior Formula Vee's -- aka turtlebacks... awesome offset for a Type 3! .

Yep.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:25 pm

65 Notch, 175/55 R15s on repop Rader wheels, 2 notches down and no rubbing.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 3:37 pm

My son is running 195-50-15's on the front of his 65 Roadster, with polished Rocket brand 8 spokes, and down at least 3 splines. He gets a rub at full lock, but it's only slight, and that's with 2 people in the car. In the rear, he's currently running 195-60-15's (with the same rims on the rear), and did the John J. method of getting a little more clearance for the outer edge. His car is also down a spline and a half in the rear (played with both ends of the torsion bar), and is a swing axle car. I hope this helps.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 4:07 pm

Murdlem wrote: I am running Empi 8 spokes. 135's front, 165's back. Front lowered 2 notches, back is stock. No rubbing up front. At all.
Do you have a pic of the 135 on the 8 spoke? Seems it would be too wide for that tire.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 6:13 pm

David11 wrote: Murdlem wrote: I am running Empi 8 spokes. 135's front, 165's back. Front lowered 2 notches, back is stock. No rubbing up front. At all.
Do you have a pic of the 135 on the 8 spoke? Seems it would be too wide for that tire.

Not anything up close right now, but they are on my car, a few shots in the gallery.

Thu Nov 06, 2008 11:22 pm

localboy wrote: luckystiff wrote: i've got 185/55/15 up front on my square on baby gas burners. bottom beam mounts about 2" off the ground and NO RUBBING at all. the 185/55/15 is almost the same overall diameter as a 135(to lazy to dig out my tire spec sheet) but with a nice wide footprint.

See now I don't see how the hell that's possible. I had 195/50s and they rubbed. The 145's are taller so they're actually worse as they rub a larger area of the fender. I like the taller sidewall though.

maybe it's the little more stretch of the tire since you you had 195 on 4.5 and i've got 185 on 5.5. the car had marathons with 145s on them when i got it and rubbed a good bit. swapped to the baby burners and 185/55s and i can't remember it rubbing any since... heres a pic for reference

Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:07 am

jeff1969 wrote: on my 69 square i,m running 145-65 in the front and out back 205-65 and i got the stock rims on i tired riveras but they rubbed. any body have any ideas on what oother rims to use.

yeah I've got riveras and they rub quite a bit. Too bad too, I like them a lot.

Fri Nov 07, 2008 1:10 am

localboy wrote: Yep. Chris is right. The eight spokes have horrible offsets for T3's. Your best bets are: Fuchs, 2 liters or gasburners.

I'm now running 145's on 4.5" Fuchs, down three inners up front and it STILL rubs.

what about phone dials?