TheSamba.com :: View topic - "What wheels fit?" The ultimate wheel post.

Thu Jan 30, 2014 5:53 pm

I guess I can still hope that they turn out to be 15x7 then...

I still don't understand all this, but I am glad there is somebody that does. Thanks again, Chris.

EDIT: the wheels turned out to be 15x 6 so i didn't buy them. Once i add sandblasting and powder coat, spacers, lugs, i may as well buy new ones..

Fri Jan 31, 2014 6:37 pm

Would there be any fitment issues with 17x7.5 et32 & 17x8 et37? Had someone offer me a set as payment for work.

Sat Feb 01, 2014 8:53 am

KDI_CUSTOMS wrote: Would there be any fitment issues with 17x7.5 et32 & 17x8 et37? Had someone offer me a set as payment for work.

Judging simply by the widths and offsets (ignoring any possible issues that could arise from the centerbore diameter, center cap fitment issues, lug and stud fitment issues), those wheels could be bolted on without the use of spacers. However, in order to achieve the best look, I would recommend running rear spacers to push the rears outward a bit.

Wed Feb 05, 2014 1:10 pm

Is there a big break kit that fit 15" Rhein south african rims?
-Keith

Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:46 am

This keeps coming back and they are starting to look more practicle!

http://www.expeditionportal.com/news/2837-tire-of-the-future-polaris-terrainarmor.html

Only time will tell but as a Syncro owner I have to say that I'm drooling a bit! :van_red:

Thu Feb 06, 2014 9:58 am

syncroluvr wrote: This keeps coming back and they are starting to look more practicle!

http://www.expeditionportal.com/news/2837-tire-of-the-future-polaris-terrainarmor.html

Only time will tell but as a Syncro owner I have to say that I'm drooling a bit! :van_red:

But how do you air it down? :lol:

Fri Feb 21, 2014 3:08 pm

These are Chrysler Pacifica Rims with 1.25 spacer/adapters. First let me say that I did not set out to put 19" rims on my Vanagon. I started looking for 16" like GoWesty article recommends. After pricing a few sets from the local shops, I ran across this kid that assured me these would be fine, just remeasure and redrill the lug holes and you sure couldn't beat the price. Now I can't attest to the state of my unhighness at the time........but when I got home, I was the proud owner of a set of 19" rims and tires for 300 dollars. A month or two later and with the help of a custom shop in California, 180.00, new tires: 400.00, I'm quite pleased with the result. The tires are 245/40.

Tue Feb 25, 2014 9:20 pm

I wondered if anyone has seen these before. The seller does not know the bolt pattern but I have this information from the back of the wheel per a picture sent to me 7jx16h2. So I know they are 7 wide and 16
In diameter.
No et that he knew but a 447 stamped in back
As well as a backward k followed by a 17

He bought them for his Volvo but did not fit. Do I guess that rules
These out as 5x108's

I keep finding out information. These are called Sport Edition Fox 5's

new pics for reference:

Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:33 pm

Anyone?

Thu Feb 27, 2014 1:47 pm

Neptuno -

As you stated, the wheel are 16x7. The H2 is the shape of the lip that holds the tire to the rim (not really important information to know). We still don't know the bolt pattern or the offset though. The 47 that is cast into the wheel could be the offset, but I highly doubt it. Most generic wheels like those usually have the bolt pattern stamped into the wheel somewhere, not cast in like you showed. This is because they use the same casting for each bolt pattern, but then they machine it to fit various applications within that bolt pattern. I would scrub the inside of the wheel nice and clean to see if you can spot this stamping. Otherwise, if you want to measure the overall width of the wheel EXACTLY ad then measure from the wheel/hub mating surface out to the inside edge of the wheel rim (using a straight edge across it), then I can tell you the offset.

The bolt pattern is usually not included in the information on the wheel. You can measure this by measuring between the lug holes. Start in the exact center of one lug hole, skip one hole and measure to the exact center of the next hole. Then add 5.5mm. This will give you the bolt pattern. You have to measure this exactly because the difference between 5x114.3 and 5x112 isn't much and it would be easy to mistake the two if the measurements aren't done carefully.

Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:28 pm

I was having dinner with some old high school buds last night and raised the subject of Mercedes wheels for my Westy.

One friend said Mercedes wheels had the same bolt pattern as Chevrolet 5-lug wheels, at least older Chevys. I'll have to check this out.

???

Thu Feb 27, 2014 3:32 pm

euro911 wrote: I was having dinner with some old high school buds last night and raised the subject of Mercedes wheels for my Westy.

One friend said Mercedes wheels had the same bolt pattern as Chevrolet 5-lug wheels, at least older Chevys. I'll have to check this out.

???

Your friend owes you dinner! Five lug Chevy's were either 5x100, 5x5 (127mm) or 5x4.75 (120.65mm). The Vanagon is 5x112.

Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:57 am

I'll be sure to let him know :P

Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:44 am

Picked these up thanks to some advice from T3 (thx Chris!), Ronal 15x6 rims off of an Audi 5000 (last install):

Not my pic, but picture is about accurate :) Need to do the center-bore, and voila - will use as winter rims+tires on my 2WD full westy.

Tue Mar 04, 2014 1:10 pm

luVWagn wrote: Picked these up thanks to some advice from T3 (thx Chris!), Ronal 15x6 rims off of an Audi 5000 (last install):

Not my pic, but picture is about accurate :) Need to do the center-bore, and voila - will use as winter rims+tires on my 2WD full westy.

I don't think so, Tim... those are four bolt wheels!

Tue Mar 04, 2014 2:17 pm

Jake de Villiers wrote: luVWagn wrote: Picked these up thanks to some advice from T3 (thx Chris!), Ronal 15x6 rims off of an Audi 5000 (last install):

Not my pic, but picture is about accurate :) Need to do the center-bore, and voila - will use as winter rims+tires on my 2WD full westy.

I don't think so, Tim... those are four bolt wheels!
Sorry, stole the wrong pic :) Yes, the ones I got are 5x112, this is the only picture that looked similar enough. ***EDIT: Corrected***

Brian.

Fri Mar 07, 2014 5:29 am

Wheel cool:

Sat Mar 08, 2014 6:08 am

Nice! Are those T3technique center caps?

Just gotta scrape off the old wheel weight residue :wink:

Sun Mar 09, 2014 7:51 am

SteveVanB wrote: Nice! Are those T3technique center caps?

Just gotta scrape off the old wheel weight residue :wink:

I got those a long time ago from a Vanagon list member who was prototyping some. Chris from T3Technique machined them down to clearance grease caps.

I love those wheels - lightweight and strong! With 215/65 tires the combination is 6lbs per wheel lighter than stock steelies with 195R14 Kumho RA08. I'm now running 225/60 16 tires.

Sun Mar 09, 2014 4:15 pm

I've searched, and apologize if this info is floating out there already, but I couldn't find it.

Can someone point me to a good, cheap 15x7 or 15x6.5 wheel (steel preferably) that will work as a spare for my Syncro? I've got a set of four South African Carat 2 wheels that will be going on soon with 215/75-15 Yokohama's, and would like to have a size-matching spare. Don't really care about the appearance, just as long as it fits well with minimal modification.

Looks like Van-Cafe is out of stock on the Mefro wheels, and Gowesty doesn't seem to have them anymore? If it matters, I'm also planning on a big brake kit down the road, and have read that some of the 15" steelies interfere.