TheSamba.com :: View topic - 195/60R-15 on a KG

Fri Oct 05, 2007 8:52 pm

I'm sure this gets asked all the time, but can I fit 5.5" EMPI 8 spoke wheels with 195/60R-15 tires under my stockish '73 Ghia? It looks to be a perfect bolt-up for Bugs (Hot VW's Totally tech issue from a few years ago did it). I have about 2" between the top of the tires and the fender lip at all four corners, but will rubbing be an issue when I turn? Below are pictures of the stock tires (ugly as hell) in the fender wells for reference.

Drivers Front
Passengers Front
Passengers Rear
Drivers Rear

Sat Oct 06, 2007 6:58 am

185/65/15 would probably be a better fit. They are about the exact
same height as a 195/60/15, but a 1/2" narrower.

Its going to be a tight fit regardless of what size tire you use seeing
as Aftermarket Empi's dont have the best offset :wink:

Sat Oct 06, 2007 8:40 am

Is there a wheel with better offset but similar looks?

Fri Oct 12, 2007 7:09 pm

I have 195/60s on the rear of my 58 Ghia but had to shave my rear wheel arches to fit. I have 185/60s on the front and have no issues. I am running BRMs on my car and I think they have a better offset than 8 spokes.

Sat Oct 13, 2007 3:14 pm

I'm running original Porsche 2.0 914 Fuchs with 195/60/15 Goodyear Triple Tread. They have around a 40mm offset and have 1/2" clearance between sidewall and rear fenders. The offset is what makes the difference.

Good luck,

Kelly

Sat Oct 13, 2007 4:38 pm

Cohibra45 wrote: I'm running original Porsche 2.0 914 Fuchs with 195/60/15 Goodyear Triple Tread. They have around a 40mm offset and have 1/2" clearance between sidewall and rear fenders. The offset is what makes the difference.

Good luck,

Kelly

Do you have any pictures and what year car ?

Sun Oct 14, 2007 8:31 am

No pictures of my car (1970 vert), but the person I bought them off of has some here:

http://community.webshots.com/album/129696189DjGtNy?start=12

Check out his customers Ghia and other cars.

Take care and good luck,

Kelly

BTW, here is his website: http://www.magrowheels.com/

Wed Oct 17, 2007 2:51 am

Would it be possible to use spacers in order to change the offset of the empi wheels?

Wed Oct 17, 2007 3:34 am

agquarters wrote: Would it be possible to use spacers in order to change the offset of the empi wheels?

That is defeating the purpose, as you would be pushing the rims

further out, closer to your fender lips. There is a thread here somewhere

that explains all this, but I can't seem to find it.

Wed Oct 17, 2007 5:55 am

The bottom line:

If you use Empi 8 spokes, you will be very limited in what tire size you can use. Most people find that the 165 is the most that the rears will fit on a Ghia. That is why most are frustrated and keep trying to fit the proverbial round peg in a square hole... :shock:

That is why I went with the Porsche 2.0 Fuchs. Even the Eagle replica Fuchs are not as much offset as the original Porsche wheels. Why do you think that Porsche/VW used these? The amount of offset is the limiting determiner for wheel choice. I guess you could cut down the torsion bars and shorten the trailing arms, but I think it would be easier to just buy the right wheels the first time!!!

Check out this site for '8' spoke wheels: http://www.minilitewheels.us/
You might even get the right offset you will need.

If you look under the rear wheel well of a Ghia, there seems to be a lot of room for a much larger tire than 165 and there is. You just have to find the right wheel backspacing...Just be careful and I am sure you will end up with what you want.

Also, check out these wheels: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=2555661&highlight=#2555661

I really like these, but they are extremely hard to find!!! :(

Here is where I purchased my wheels. http://www.magrowheels.com/ He is very good and has a ton of photos of customers cars with his wheels.

I think realistically that 205 is the largest most will be able to fit under the rear of a Ghia. I have seen 215 and know that one or two have shoe horned 225 but that is with special wheels and other mods.

Good luck and take care;

Kelly