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

Thu Apr 11, 2024 5:10 am

VW 15x7 25ET Custom made. Im in Oz abd have fitted Goodride 205x65x15 sl369 all terrain tyres. I was running merc mags 16x7.5 but a pothole cracked one so decided to go back to steel and I like the way it performs now. Std motor bought this in 1994 the white panel I picked up in 2010 and love them both. The white one has 15x6.5 csa alloy mags and I run the same tyres on it they give me a little more traction the AT tyres off the tar need the extra bite on a 2wd.

Tue Apr 16, 2024 6:11 pm

Installed the Mobelwagen Interceptors today...really like the fit. Running Geolander 215 60r16. They were a bit wonky to balance...

Sat May 11, 2024 4:57 pm

cdussault wrote: Installed the Mobelwagen Interceptors today...really like the fit. Running Geolander 215 60r16. They were a bit wonky to balance...

I'm waiting to receive a set. Curious, what did you choose to do for a spare?

Wed May 15, 2024 10:53 am

supduck wrote: cdussault wrote: Installed the Mobelwagen Interceptors today...really like the fit. Running Geolander 215 60r16. They were a bit wonky to balance...

I'm waiting to receive a set. Curious, what did you choose to do for a spare?

I did not want to mount spare on back, so sought to fit in front location. So this tire/wheel package is 26" diameter. So to match I got the C195R-14 Hankook Vantra LT with a stock 14" wheel. This fit in stock clamshell with upper bars removed and matches size needed.

Thu Jun 06, 2024 6:21 am

1988 Vanagon Westfalia

Buggeee wrote: Because it is a used Vanagon, it came equipped with unsafe underrated passenger car tires. The wheels are cool though, I think they are from an Audi A8 and are 17 inches diameter and quite wide. I found some properly load-rated all terrain tires for it and had the local garage mount them up. I will have to have the wheel weights switched from rim mount to stick-on because they knock when the suspension is extended while cornering. It's a very close fit with these wheels even with spacers, which I have not measured. The van handles nicely with these.

Tue Jun 11, 2024 9:08 pm

decent price on some CLKs if your on the European side of the pond

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trk...p;_sacat=0

Fri Jun 14, 2024 4:56 pm

Scratching my head....

My van (new to me!) has wheels that I can't quite place/find...

I am happy with them, but I need to find an appropriate 5th wheel to mount as a spare.

My options as I see them are:
1. Find one to match (don't care too much about color, as I can refinish it to match/close enough to the black powder-coated set already on.)

2. Buy something else that will be a dedicated mounted spare.

Where I am confused, is that I cannot seem to find an exact match on the interwebs. If anyone knows exactly what it is, please let me know, and I can proceed with option #1.

My other point of confusion is around ET/offset. The current wheels are 7.5x16, with an ET 25. Not much out there that matches that. A few replica Mercedes wheels that don't match.
The other option is to get one of the wheels offered by lots of Vanagon aftermarket sites, which are all 7.5x16, but with an ET of 23. For example, the Mobelwagen Interceptor 512B. Using an online offset calculator, it looks like it would push it out +2mm. The current wheels (ET 25) are not installed with spacers, and there is clearance. (Have Burley Big Brakes up front).
So, would it be safe in the event of a problem, to run just one wheel with an ET 23 while the rest are ET 25? Would it be advisable to add a 2mm spacer to the existing wheels, bring them out to what is essentially ET 23 (as I understand it, but that is not solid), then remove the spacer if I need to swap with the spare?

Thanks in advance.

My current wheel, with inside markings.

ET25 to ET23 change...

The only other image of a Vanagon with the same (I think!) wheel, not powder-coated....not my van.

Fri Jun 14, 2024 6:26 pm

The difference between ET 23 and 25 isn't something I would worry about at all for using a spare.
Even to mix in with the others full time would be ok for me though I'd probably run it on the rear.
If you really wanted to you could just use a 2mm spacer on the opposite wheel while the 23 wheel was mounted.

Mark

Fri Jun 28, 2024 4:18 am

I agree with Mark. Put the ET23 on the rear.

The ET23 16x7.5 wheel has a backspacing of 5.16"
The ET25 16x7.5 wheel has a backspace of 5.23"

Looks like the spacers come in pairs only.

https://www.dinancars.com/products/wheels-accessories/spacers/parts/D210-2020

Fri Jun 28, 2024 5:53 am

monosmanos wrote:

Welcome! Great valve caps think alike.

Sun Jul 07, 2024 8:07 pm

Hi All

New to the vanagon here and my head hurts trying to figure out what size spacers, studs and lug bolts to get for some MB ET44 wheels I got from a friend.

From what I see, I need 10mm spacers in the front and 15mm in the rear. I will also need 27mm small ball lug bolts and 55mm studs for the rear. Correct?
The current tires are underrated but I am looing at these https://www.omni-united.com/radar-us/us-renegade-a-t5. Feedback appreciated

Thanks!

Mon Jul 08, 2024 8:11 am

Contact Christopher at;
https://t3technique.com/

Give him all the details of what you have.
You may also need longer studs/bolts.

Thu Jul 25, 2024 6:47 am

Ronal R9 Penta set in OH. Not cheap.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/917502536473640

Wed Aug 14, 2024 7:26 pm

I picked up 4 dirty CLK wheels 16x7 ET37

I would like your opinions on the viability of this set.

1. Lug holes were already drilled out to fit an Audi at some point. My caliper measured around 14.2 mm. Is 14.2 mm considered acceptable?

2. There are slight bends that could likely be ignored or straightened.

3. They are somewhat pitted. I cleaned them up with soapy water and a green Scotch Brite because they were nasty.

4. Now for the worst wheel:
Wallowed out lug holes 15mm+

Bad holes and a crack=junk I assume.

My factory 14" alloys have 6yr old proper 205 70 14 Maxxis UD-168N tires with lots of life so I'm in no hurry to sort this out. Long term goal is 16" wheels. Are these wheels a path worth perusing or should I spring for some R9s?

Wed Aug 21, 2024 11:06 am

Hey there, someone gave me some Porsche wheels that I’d like to put on my ‘90 GL. The rims are 6.5x17 ET 55 on the front and 8x17 ET40 on the rear. The bolt pattern is 5x130. What kind of adapters etc. would I need to make that work?
Thanks so much!

Tue Aug 27, 2024 8:55 am

Multivanagon wrote: I picked up 4 dirty CLK wheels 16x7 ET37

I would like your opinions on the viability of this set.

1. Lug holes were already drilled out to fit an Audi at some point. My caliper measured around 14.2 mm. Is 14.2 mm considered acceptable?

2. There are slight bends that could likely be ignored or straightened.

3. They are somewhat pitted. I cleaned them up with soapy water and a green Scotch Brite because they were nasty.

4. Now for the worst wheel:
Wallowed out lug holes 15mm+

Bad holes and a crack=junk I assume.

My factory 14" alloys have 6yr old proper 205 70 14 Maxxis UD-168N tires with lots of life so I'm in no hurry to sort this out. Long term goal is 16" wheels. Are these wheels a path worth perusing or should I spring for some R9s?

Toss that cracked one. Not worth the risk or cost to fix. Otherwise these are nice. Mount a wheel on your front and rotate/turn the steering see how it goes. You might need spacers-check with Christopher at T3 technique. He's super knowledgeable. Cheers.

Tue Aug 27, 2024 6:55 pm

Thanks for your input calsurf. Agreed, the bad wheel is junk and I'll have to find one more wheel. Maybe that Mercedes wheel/Vanagon hoarder in N.E. Iowa has one. :P I'm only into these for $130 including removal and disposal of the crap tires.

I see the recommended lug hole size is actually 37/64 or 14.68mm so the 14.2mm holes are fine and will need to be drilled out.

16x7 – ET30 through ET35 is Christopher's recommended offset. Others have run these without spacers. I'll definitely consult T3 Technique for hardware when the time comes.

Sat Sep 07, 2024 2:45 pm

Anyone have experience with 19x8 et42 wheels? Found a cool set on marketplace that I’m considering.
Van is 88 Wolfsburg with stock springs

Thu Oct 10, 2024 11:19 am

[quote="cdussault"]Installed the Mobelwagen Interceptors today...really like the fit. Running Geolander 215 60r16. They were a bit wonky to balance...

I'm looking at this exact combo for my 2wd 2.1 auto tintop. So far, are you feeling OK about the 95H rating? I know it's still unclear whether the Geolandars need the 9% reduction since they are marketed as SUV tires but not labeled LT.

Is your van auto or MT?

Tue Oct 15, 2024 5:19 pm

monosmanos wrote: Scratching my head....

My van (new to me!) has wheels that I can't quite place/find...

I am happy with them, but I need to find an appropriate 5th wheel to mount as a spare.

My options as I see them are:
1. Find one to match (don't care too much about color, as I can refinish it to match/close enough to the black powder-coated set already on.)

2. Buy something else that will be a dedicated mounted spare.

Where I am confused, is that I cannot seem to find an exact match on the interwebs. If anyone knows exactly what it is, please let me know, and I can proceed with option #1.

Those are from Mercedes w211. Or are clones of them. I have the same set (on my Mercedes, not on the Vanagon).

Edit: it is apparently called the "Rucha" wheel.