TheSamba.com :: View topic - New wheels- need some help!

Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:25 am

So I just got some Mercedes wheels for my 83 Westy- they are the 8 hole alloys that came off a c220/230. I read on vanagon.com that they need to be spaced up front (5/16") and that I need longer studs up front and longer lug bolts in the rears. I also need to machine the lug holes for 14mm holes. I am trying to buy my tires at Costco and get the Michelin Hydroedge. Can (or do I trust) Costco to take care of all that, or should I get all the parts together on my own? I know a couple machine shops around, so I could take care of machining on my own. What about the longer studs and longer lug bolts- is that a major procedur in any way? Are those special order at all?

Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:41 am

Not a fan of the Hydroedge for use on a Vanagon!!!!

Wed Jun 29, 2005 8:47 am

Costco mounts tires and I think that is all they do. I am strongly leaning towards Conti Vanco tires for my next set. Look at the load indices!

Also, are you sure you mean 8 lug?

The best thing is to have the wheels machined at a machine shop.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:02 am

8 holes around the rim- 5 lugs. Sorry for the confusion.

So not a fan of the Hydroedge's huh? Yeah, I just looked up the load rating and they are only 1433 lbs rated. GoWesty raves about these tires though! What the hell. So what's the recommendation then?

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:11 am

So were you looking at the Vanco Contact or the Vanco 8?

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:23 am

Vanco 8

For my use I want to try a 195/14 or maybe the 205/14 because with 185/14 I am turning 4K PRM at 70mph. That's pretty buzzy....

For bigger wheels you may not have a fitment available. But, it is sure worth a lookie.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:37 am

What about the Michelin Aigilis?

Wed Jun 29, 2005 9:40 am

Those are good too. Go see http://www.vanagon.com for some more, a bit dated, info. Also, there must be about a 1000 posts on the subject here, too.

"Use the SEARCH, Luke."

Wed Jun 29, 2005 10:18 am

Agilis are good.
I personally chose Vanco 8. You need a tire that will support the weight, also that can be inflated to the recomended pressure. 48psi in the rear. My Vanco 8s will take up to 70 psi. will support 900 kg each.
My tire dealer would not even recomend the hydroedge for my Accord as the side wall was only a single ply and the Accord recomends at least a 2 ply. Vanagon owners need a 6 ply and some like an 8 ply.
Using the vanco 8 has trasformed my van into a whole new machine. handles like I have control, the previous owner put on shoddy tires so when I switched I felt a world of difference.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 3:31 pm

A 9/16" drill bit in a 1/2" drill will get the holes opened up fine.

The studs need to be longer and you should pop for a stud conversion on the front too. I didn't and now i have to carry a set of short bolts for when I mount the spare on the front!

Rear studs only require pulling the hub and hammering out the old and hammering in the new. Not tough if you have a hub puller, otherwise you may be able to get the hub off using the drum mounted backward and lots of grunting. Don't hammer on the drum as that is likely to crack it.

Mike!

Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:06 pm

:D What is the size and offset of the wheels? ET?? when you get lugs, do not use the ones at the local parts store.. On the front, use lug bolts made for a 4-lug bug. On the rear, get some lug bolts that are made for a stud conversion on a bug. bbuth are avalible from EMPI. The stock vanagon lugs have too big a seat to work in the MBZ wheels. check with www.volkscafe.com , they have longer studs that are a direct fit for the rear, but you will need to machine the front rotors for studs. If you want to go with the south african front disk kit, it is already set up with studs... :twisted: :twisted:

Wed Jun 29, 2005 4:47 pm

I knew someone years ago who had a bug . To make it look good they took the wheels off, turned them inside out and put them back on . They gained about 2 inches extra track , until the shaft and bearings gave out . Cost....he scrapped the bug .
Moral , not all wheels fit all cars . Putting car wheels on a van must cancel any insurance policy and can be very dangerous :oops: but its your life .

Wed Jun 29, 2005 5:44 pm

I think I'm comfortable treading in the many footsteps before me in putting Benz wheels on my van. Offset is the same- the most drastic thing is the longer studs and using a 5/16" spacer on the front. Knock on wood of course.

Wed Jun 29, 2005 6:16 pm

not sure if your costco has the same policy, but mine will only mount your factory size tires on factory wheels. to get around it people bring the wheels in sans car. just a heads up in case.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:24 am

Actually, I decided to get the Conti Vanco 8's. I found them for a better price than the michelins and better service.

Thu Jun 30, 2005 9:47 am

What size?

Stock is 185/14

I want to try 195 or even the 205s to lower the RPMs down.

What about that? What size?

Thu Jun 30, 2005 3:34 pm

195/70 R15

Fri Jul 01, 2005 4:14 pm

Yeah, and you have to buy 4 studded snows if you have a FWD vehicle... Honestly, I think lawyers and the people that sue at the drop of a hat are ruining this country.

Eric; You are telling me that the later 4-lug beetle bolts were 14mm with the smaller MB radius ball taper? News to me. Mighty good news. I know that early bugs used the 12mm bolts (I know because it took me a whole five minutes to figure out why a perfectly good bolt woldn't stay in the hole on my bus... years back, I swear!).

The stud conversion from EMPI you suggest is for press-in studs? And the nuts are the same 14mm with small ball taper?

Man, I wish I knew that earlier as I have spent HOURS on the internet to find some longer studs and they ended up too long!

Mike!

Fri Jul 01, 2005 5:24 pm

lilweasel wrote: So were you looking at the Vanco Contact or the Vanco 8?

I've been using the vanco contact for a bit now, and they are good performers. I had problems on I-5 when the freak snow/ice storm came in last year, but then lots of people were going off in the ditches. Good summer/pavement tires.

-D

Thu Nov 15, 2007 11:32 am

A local tire dealer just recommended some commercial highway vehicle tires from Maxxis, the UE-168(N) Bravo Series, which comes in all sorts of sizes.

What do y'all think?