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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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 Posted: Thu Sep 24, 2015 9:51 pm Post subject: Deep Smoothies German Center" Rims |
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Hi all
I have Chrome Rims with Smooth Hubcaps on my 73 Thing but now I want to change rims. I have been trying to decide what type of Rims I want when I came across and advertisement [in TheSamba] for "Deep Smoothies German Center" rims.
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1776900
I love the way they look on Bugs etc but I haven't a clue how they would look on a Thing. My question is Has anyone installed those Rims on their Thing? If so, would it be possible for you to post a Photo[s] of your Thing with a description of the Rims/Tire Size Combination you used? Also, I am interested in what others think about those rime?
Thank You in advance
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1987 Vanagon GL |
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mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 9:29 am Post subject: |
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Here's the wheel, dropped into an existing photo:
Hope that helps, Mondshine |
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Semper_Dad
Samba Member
Joined: May 14, 2005
Posts: 3509
Location: Indiana
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oasis
Samba Member
Joined: December 12, 2002
Posts: 2168
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:47 am Post subject: |
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The seller says he can do any backspace, so one just needs to know what to order. (I have no knowledge of or association with the seller.)
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Now: 2003 New Beetle Turbo S / 1990 Single Cab Transporter / 2014 Tiguan R-Line 4motion / 2013 Tiguan S / 2002 Golf GLS TDI
Past: 1974 Thing Acapulco / 2009 Eos Komfort / 1997 Jetta GT / 2002 Cabrio GLX / 2002 Passat GLS / 1971 Super Beetle / 1993 EuroVan MV Westfalia / 1981 Pickup LX / 1985 Vanagon / 1986 Jetta GLI |
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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:09 pm Post subject: Hey |
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The reason for this post was to see if anyone had these rims on their Thing. They look awesome on the American and imports but haven't seen any of Things.
In my mind I know how I want my Thing to look like with these rims but I don't have a clue about rim size, offset and tire size. Semper_Dad I do not know if offset would be an issue but it probably does. O well, I will keep on scouring the internet and see what I find.If I do find out anyone I will definitely post it here. Do the same folks OK?
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1987 Vanagon GL |
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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Fri Sep 25, 2015 10:10 pm Post subject: |
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| mondshine wrote: |
Here's the wheel, dropped into an existing photo:
How did u do that?
Hope that helps, Mondshine |
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1987 Vanagon GL |
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mondshine
Samba Member
Joined: October 27, 2006
Posts: 2769
Location: The World's Motor Capital
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| Posted: Sat Sep 26, 2015 5:07 am Post subject: |
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Maybe these images from the gallery will be helpful:
In the second illustration, the item #2; 5JK x 14 appears to be the stock 181 wheel.
Thanks to Captain Spalding for these illustrations.
If you chose to go with 15" wheels, your options for tires (and for disc brakes) will be expanded greatly.
Good luck, Mondshine |
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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Sun Sep 27, 2015 9:44 am Post subject: Thanx all |
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Moonshine
Hey thanx for the reply. I do appreciate the images you sent but to be honest let me say I have NO automotive talent. Trust me when I say that. What I need is for someone [expert] to tell me what size wheel to get, type of offset and tire size. When I was looking for wheels for my 87 Vanagon I "did" my homework on wheels and tires and thought I nailed it. Since I don't trust decisions I make when it comes to Cars etc. I sent my information to a friend who is a pro on Vanagons. Good thing I did. To save time. I had it wrong. Good thing I checked. I like those Deep Smoothie Rims and Baby Moons but I don't know what they look like on a Thing. I checked with the company that makes the rims and they don't have a photo or the specifics should I want to buy them. O well, again thanx for helping
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vwwestyman
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Joined: April 24, 2004
Posts: 5688
Location: Manhattan, Kansas, USA
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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 12:02 am Post subject: Hi |
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Westman
I am not sure. When I ask the person who sells them he want the info from me as to offsets etc. since they have a variety of wheel sizes I didn't have a clue. No I don't even know what the offset is for a regular tire and rim LOL ideally, I was hoping to see some photos of those rims on the thing and In a perfect VW world The owner would have all the information. I keep looking on the web for thing with the smoothie rims!!!!! For all I know they may look stupid on the thing.
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ernieballbass
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006
Posts: 191
Location: Orlando, Fl
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 8:18 am Post subject: |
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if i didn't already have the BRMs, i would totally get a set of these wheels. i think they look great.
as far as dimensions are concerned, what do you want them to look like? stock or super wide? are you lowered?
i'm actually contemplating getting a tool like this:
https://www.ecstuning.com/ES2770120/?gclid=CNWdwKiGn8gCFQyPHwodxLsD1Q
it would be great to know exactly what fits and what doesnt fit.
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What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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Nikkoleto
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2004
Posts: 333
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 11:25 am Post subject: Hi |
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ernieballbass
That is a fantastic tool. I didn't know they had something like that. At the moment my Thing is NOT lowered. I always thought I should keep it standard because I like the look but then sometimes I think I want to lower it only an inch or two. Even If I wanted to I can't find anyone local to do it. With those smoothie wheels I am not sure I even want them because I have never seen good photos of them on a thing. I don't have that talent to look at something and visualize what it will look like. Did you see a photo of my 73? If so what do you think?
Later
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ernieballbass
Samba Member
Joined: June 14, 2006
Posts: 191
Location: Orlando, Fl
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| Posted: Wed Sep 30, 2015 6:36 pm Post subject: Re: Hi |
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| Nikkoleto wrote: |
ernieballbass
That is a fantastic tool. I didn't know they had something like that. At the moment my Thing is NOT lowered. I always thought I should keep it standard because I like the look but then sometimes I think I want to lower it only an inch or two. Even If I wanted to I can't find anyone local to do it. With those smoothie wheels I am not sure I even want them because I have never seen good photos of them on a thing. I don't have that talent to look at something and visualize what it will look like. Did you see a photo of my 73? If so what do you think?
Later |
ya i've seen a couple of photos of your yellow 181. i think it's very cool the way it sits, but i understand the desire to change things.
there are multiple threads about lowering the front by swapping out trailing arms and spindles and such. i'm a fan of reversible modifications. if budget were no concern, i would just get and entire bug beam spindle-to-spindle. then take off the thing beam and store it for that one day you change your mind and want to go back to stock lol. you'll drop the front about 2 inches.
the rears are a little more complicated. i lowered the trailing arms 2 clicks and the ride was awful haha. i ended up buying drop plates from atomwerks in an effort to restore some of the stock cushiness. i also had to notch the trailing arms themselves. that said, i haven't been able to test it (see my thread...). again, keep the stock spring plates just in case 
if you do drop it, that changes a lot of things as far as wheel fitment goes. i regret not buying that tool before i bought my BRMs. the back wheels fit fine, but i had to buy spacers to clear the trailing arms in the front.
what's nice about the wheels you like is that you have infinite possibilities as far as size/offset/backspace is concerned. i think 17s are probably the biggest i would go (15s the smallest).
hope this helps.
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What I lack in brains, I make up for with good intentions. |
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Captain Spalding
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Joined: February 19, 2005
Posts: 2519
Location: . . . in denial.
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| Posted: Tue Oct 06, 2015 10:22 am Post subject: |
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Sorry I'm late to the party.
While it may be true that the vendor can produce a rim with any backspace you want, that doesn't mean that the backspace you want, which gives that "deep smoothie" look, will work on the Thing. At 4-3/8", the backspace of a stock Thing wheel is among the largest of all VW wheels.
If you have a wheel made with a backspace that positions the wheel in the wheel well similarly to the stock wheel (which you definitely should, IMO) what you are going to end up with is a wheel that doesn't have that deep dish look, but instead looks like a 15" version of the stock 14" wheel. (That's not an altogether bad thing, considering there is a much greater selection of tires in 15") If you go for the deep smoothie look, that's going to push the tires outboard, likely resulting in rubbing on the fenders.
The stock wheel is 5 inches wide with a backspace of 4-3/8". The narrowest wheel the vendor offers is 6 inches, so you should spec a backspace of 4-7/8". |
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