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Tue Oct 11, 2011 11:45 am

Hey everyone I am in a dilemma. I can get a deal on 4 15x6 Porsche Phone Dial wheels with a 52.3 ET. Also 2 15x7 Porsche Phone Dial wheels with a 23.3 ET. I rebuilding my 1970 standard beetle with CB performance Disc brakes on all 4 corners with the Porsche pattern rotors. I plan on running a 195/60/r15 on the rear and the 175/55/r15 up front. The front will also have a 4 inch narrowed/adjustable stock beam. I think the 15x6 will be okay up front but will the 15x7's with the 23.3 ET stick out pass the fender in the rear. I would like to have that "staggered" look but if not then I will have to run the 15x6 all the way around. Please help me!!! Thanks!!!

Tue Oct 11, 2011 12:19 pm

Buy cheap used pairs of tires to get it rolling/driving. The first tires you buy won't be "perfect" for your car!

Fri Oct 14, 2011 12:15 pm

You need to do the math. Measure measure and then measure.
The rears need to be high offset 52.3mm to fit under the fenders.
The fronts with a 4" narrowed need to be 6" and 36mm offset if you want them to look the same as the rear. You may have to run spacers with that narrow front end, or you may have the turning radius of a semi. BTDT

Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:30 pm

I'd be more concerned about the front. I have a '67 with a 2" beam and a set of 15x6 with the 52.3 offset, and I think I am gonna have to use spacers. If your anywhere near so cal you can borrow mine, they are just sitting right now, to mock them up real quick.

Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:46 pm

my 15x7 et52.3 fronts are running a 25mm spacer on a 2" narrowed beam so I have some turning radius but I will leave the spacers with my 15x6 et36 and be able to park in the garage and make u-turns on the street.

This is how it stands right now 15x7et52 all the way around
The rear fenders are not stock though and neither is the rear end

Fri Oct 14, 2011 4:50 pm

W1K1 wrote: my 15x7 et52.3 fronts are running a 25mm spacer on a 2" narrowed beam so I have some turning radius but I will leave the spacers with my 15x6 et36 and be able to park in the garage and make u-turns on the street.

This is how it stands right now 15x7et52 all the way around
The rear fenders are not stock though and neither is the rear end

Nice looking car right there

Sat Oct 15, 2011 7:21 am

As 5lug said, good looking car! What are the tire sizes on that beauty?

Sun Oct 16, 2011 7:16 am

The tires are 185/60-15 front and 225/60-15 rear

Al you had a big influence on the powerplant in the car, we talked at the airspeed breakfast back in 06 i think it was. That's the reason i am running KRoc heads and dells, and Darren helped spec out the engine to go with the heads.

Tue Nov 01, 2011 2:44 pm

W1K1 wrote: my 15x7 et52.3 fronts are running a 25mm spacer on a 2" narrowed beam so I have some turning radius but I will leave the spacers with my 15x6 et36 and be able to park in the garage and make u-turns on the street.

This is how it stands right now 15x7et52 all the way around
The rear fenders are not stock though and neither is the rear end

are you running discs up front? i have a 64 vert and a set of phone dials. the fronts are 15x6 +52.3 and i will be running discs and drop spindles. i have been wondering whether i should narrow the front beam two inches to make up the added width of the drop spindles and discs or stay stock width.

Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:22 pm

If you work it out, with the 52.3 15x6s most of the extra 2 inches is inward. There is only .4 or so of an inch going outwar. I would narrow it if you have the means, but nothing above 2 inches. I have a 2.5 narrowed beam, and discs, and I will be using spacers.

Tue Nov 01, 2011 3:58 pm

Quote: are you running discs up front?

I am running the early single pot 944 brakes from VDub Engineering on the front and 944 trailing arms/brakes in the rear.

. Quote: the fronts are 15x6 +52.3 and i will be running discs and drop spindles. i have been wondering whether i should narrow the front beam two inches to make up the added width of the drop spindles and discs or stay stock width.

those 15x6 with the 52.3 offset push everything inside so you may have to run spacers to get any kind of turning radius.
The 15x6 et36 that I have look exactly like the 15x7 et52 on the outside but with the extra inch thinner on the inside

Tue Nov 01, 2011 7:12 pm

skabonner wrote: If you work it out, with the 52.3 15x6s most of the extra 2 inches is inward. There is only .4 or so of an inch going outwar. I would narrow it if you have the means, but nothing above 2 inches. I have a 2.5 narrowed beam, and discs, and I will be using spacers.

i dont see the point of narrowing if i will need spacers. a friend of mine is going to put adjusters in a beam i have and can narrow it at the same time. just hate to do it if it will be an issue but then i hate not doing it if it will work. o well, maybe i can mock something up.

Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:12 pm

It's best if you can mock it up with the wheels and the car.
The big offset is the killer on those wheels, you will have to check to see if they clear the suspension and you can turn lock to lock without touching stuff. So you may need spacers just to clear the suspension whether it has a narrowed beam or not.

Wed Nov 02, 2011 2:27 pm

W1K1 wrote: It's best if you can mock it up with the wheels and the car.
The big offset is the killer on those wheels, you will have to check to see if they clear the suspension and you can turn lock to lock without touching stuff. So you may need spacers just to clear the suspension whether it has a narrowed beam or not.

these have a half inch less backspacing than your 15x7 52.3. Your running a 25mm spacer which is 1", which puts your wheel right back to a stock width beam, since a 2" narrowed beam is 1" per side. so if you are clearing with that setup, i should be able to run a stock beam and still sit 1/2" more inside the fender lip than your setup.

Wed Nov 02, 2011 3:04 pm

Quote: so if you are clearing with that setup, i should be able to run a stock beam and still sit 1/2" more inside the fender lip than your setup.
Theres the rub :roll: :wink:
I have longer bolts in my steering box to restrict the lock to lock turning on mine with the spacers and 7" wheels on. Otherwise I would be rubbing on the body/suspension with the inside of the tire.
I can't do a u-turn on a regular 2 lane road or get in the garage in one shot anymore.
Thats why i bought the 6x15et36mm so I can leave the spacer and gain 1" on the inside of each wheel .

So you may have the space with the stock width beam and no spacers if that 1.5" is clear of the suspension and the body.

I'm sure part of my clearance problem is the sway bar/trailing arm in front , which is going to be the same distance from the wheel hub to end of the beam whether it is narrowed or not.