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Thu Nov 20, 2008 2:47 pm

i thinging of installing a new stock beam, with dropped spindles in my 66 bug. The queation i have is I have a set of empi 8 spoke wheel and I know the offset is different with the wheels. What is the biggest tire that will be able to fit inthe wheel well with out having rubbing issues. The wheel are the real empi they are the ones made by american reacing or some company like that. I want to avoid a narrowed beam at this time do to money issues. So what do u all recommend.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:10 pm

For starters the wheels wont fit the wide 5 bolt patern thats on your 66.. Second those are the worst wheels for offset ever ther gonna rub like hell.. You could try 135s but i bet you still rub.. Your gonna have to whack like 3 in off that beam and get some wide 5 to 4 lug adpters..
Just my 2cnt.. get diff wheels

Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:22 pm

most new ball joint dropped spindles use later wheel bearings, so you can use four lug drums no prob. i would use some 135's and save up some dough for a narrowed beam. you wouldn't need anything over a 2" beam to make the eight spokes fit.

Thu Nov 20, 2008 3:34 pm

I forgot to say that im going to change the wheel studs to a 4 bolt pattern with dics brakes. I now the drop spindles kick the wheel out about an inch. Should i go with a narrower rim in the front I think the ones i have are 5.5. The way that I see it a complet narrowed beam will run like 500 to 600 bucks. The tires I have on the rims now are 195/60r15 and i have a feeling they are going to work. I cant tell the body is at the body shop while I rebuild the chasis. Basicly im trying to gain the look of the wheels sitting back in the wheelwells. So is narrowing the beam the only way to accomplish this

Thu Nov 20, 2008 7:52 pm

I have the same wheels and I'm using 185/60R15 on front and 205/65R15 on rear. But.......

If you are running any thing bigger it will stick out more.

I didn't like this so I narrowed the beam 80mm. 40mm each side.
Here is the post.......
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=280391&highlight=

This is it fully assembled......

Fri Nov 21, 2008 10:43 am

you NEED to narrow it at least 3-4.. 2 in is a waste of money and will prob not do anythig for empi 8s and disks with drops.. those wheels and disks and drops all kick your wheel out some esp the wheels they have a horible offset.. your gonna stick out and will not be able to go low cause the fenders willhit the top of the tire.. If you want any sort of tuck at all i would go 5 or 6.. 4 at the bare min.. Personaly i would shit can the 8s and get some other wheels and keep the wide 5 and go 5-6 with the beam
what look are you going for??