TheSamba.com :: View topic - stock wheels for 74 super with wide fenders

Mon Jan 16, 2012 5:10 pm

I have a 74 super that has two inch wider front and 3 inch wider rear fenders. I want to use the stock wheels and hub caps but need wider ones to fll in the fenders. Anyone know if I can buy wider 4 lug stock wheels or is having them widened the best idea. Also, what size/offset is the best to have them fill in the wheelwells. The front is lowered 2 1/2 inches and the back is about even with the front.

Mon Jan 16, 2012 10:43 pm

hunt the classifides for wider wheels or have them made. how much wwider...? hard to say for shure...maybe around 2 and 3 inches ?

Mon Jan 16, 2012 11:30 pm

I think best is up to you to decide. You have a lot of extra room to play with. If you have a spare stock rim around, go mount it to your car, w/o the tire, and measure how much you can expand. I'd than get custom rims made, with your stock centers.

If it were me though, I would keep the same backspace, and increase the width 2" in the front and 3" in the rear, and than fit tires that are wide enough to match and tall enough to be stock. I'd want all of the extra rim to be outward, to improve handling. I think the important thing in your case is to keep the same backspace, so you don't have clearance issues.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 1:54 pm

It doesn't improve handling all that much but it does make the steering alot heavier and puts more strain on the drive line.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 2:58 pm

I don't think that this much of an increase would put too much strain on car, just keep the tire width down to a reasonable size.

Tue Jan 17, 2012 6:20 pm

one thing I do remember now that I think of it, I had a ghia with 13x8 front and 13x12 rears. the steering box did get worn out prematurely.

one day I noticed, I had alot of play in the steering wheel...like from 10:00-2:00 o'clock free play. driving down a straight freeway was like bumping it back and forth from wandering right and left.

I have no idea how long the wheels were on the ghia before I bought it. it shure looked cool, and to a 17 year old kid it was awesome, but...not really that great handling.

I'm not saying don't do it, but it does make sense that more meat makes more wear on the steering gears.