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Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:00 pm

Hello,

If I am looking for the correct 15" 5 x 205 rims, I discover that types 1-4 all have 5 x 205 rims in 15" diameter.

I discovered some things:

With Type 1, the tire valve hole does not line up with a lug nut hole

With Type 2 the tire valve does line up!

With type 3 I am in a quandary, don't know how to differentiate the early Type 3 rims from the Type 1 rims 5 x 205s

With Type 4, the tire valve hole is similar to T1 but the rim offset is greater (46mm)

I can't use the "slotted" vs " smoothie" idea because it seems Types 1,2,3 ALL have slotted and smoothie style rims

So, can someone help me?

I could buy the Type 3 rims I need but don't want to spend money on parts I can't use.

BTW does anyone know the offsets for the various T1-4 rims in 5 x 205 format? It's in Samba but only for the four-bolt rims.

BTW something like this would make a great chart. I have seen partial charts, but as you can tell, there's no one place to go, to check this out.

Thanks,

Strelnik

Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:16 pm

What do you mean by the "correct" rims? Solid disc (aka smoothies, I hate that term as smoothies are either a drink or rims on a '40 Ford) and vented (slotted) disc are the correct wheels for most 1967 and earlier VW's. Solid disc was correct up to 1965 then vented disc rims were supplied by VW on all Type 1's. Buses were different of course.

Btw, the center of the wheel with the lug holes is called the disc and the outer edge where the tire mounts is the rim. Discs and rims are usually riveted or welded together forming the wheel as it were...

Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:25 pm

strelnik wrote: Hello,

If I am looking for the correct 15" 5 x 205 rims, I discover that types 1-4 all have 5 x 205 rims in 15" diameter.

I don't know where you got this info but it is wrong

type 1 have 15" 5x205 from early 50's until '67 then they went to 4 lug

type 2 have 16" 5x205 from '49 to mid-'55 15" 5x205 mid '55 until '63 then they went to 14" 5x205 until '68/'69 then they went to a 5 lug with small bolt pattern

type 3 have 15" 5x205 only until '67-ish then they went to 4 lug

type 4? never seen a real type 4 car with 5 lug rims all the ones I have seen have been 4 lug
if you are calling the late bays type 4 then they are really type 2 with a type 4 style engine

Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:31 pm

Type III 5 x 205 smoothies can't use early caps either, no clips.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 12:39 pm

What does the OP mean by correct?

What kind of VW? What model? What year? Is he/she trying to select wheels for?

Hard to offer any help here.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:36 pm

slo356 wrote: What does the OP mean by correct?

What kind of VW? What model? What year? Is he/she trying to select wheels for?

Hard to offer any help here.

Then let's make it easy.

1. How does one differentiate whether a 15" 5 x 205mm wheel is original to a

Type 1, a Type 2, or a Type 3.

Imagine you have a pile of rims in front of you. How to decide which car they belong to?

Or, imagine someone offers a " wide 5 15" rim" for sale. With a photo.

How to tell if it fits

a Beetle/Type 1?

a bus / Type 2?

An early Type 3?

Thank you

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:40 pm

joe56vw wrote: strelnik wrote: Hello,

If I am looking for the correct 15" 5 x 205 rims, I discover that types 1-4 all have 5 x 205 rims in 15" diameter.

I don't know where you got this info but it is wrong

type 1 have 15" 5x205 from early 50's until '67 then they went to 4 lug

type 2 have 16" 5x205 from '49 to mid-'55 15" 5x205 mid '55 until '63 then they went to 14" 5x205 until '68/'69 then they went to a 5 lug with small bolt pattern

type 3 have 15" 5x205 only until '67-ish then they went to 4 lug

type 4? never seen a real type 4 car with 5 lug rims all the ones I have seen have been 4 lug
if you are calling the late bays type 4 then they are really type 2 with a type 4 style engine

Thanks for the clarification. Let me ask these questions:

1. Types 1,2,3 ALL used 5 x 205 mm wheels at some point. How do you tell them apart for purposes of use?
2. Do they have different backspace and offset?
3. If so, how much?
4. Where do I find that info?

My intent ultimately is to identify the versions of the 5x205 so that I don't spend 50.00 having one shipped from Iowa and discovering it doesn't fit.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:47 pm

:popcorn:

Very Interesting..

Thu Apr 10, 2014 1:49 pm

type 1 rims early 50's to '65

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1611508

type 1 '66-'67 rims look like this not sure if all type 3 are like this or not

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1537197

type 2 15" rims mid-'55 to '63

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1607895

type 2 14" rims '64 to '68/'69

http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=1622732

Thu Apr 10, 2014 2:52 pm

1966 1967 Type 1 15 x 4 inch 5x205 wheels have the slots and do not use hub cap clips. They have 3 nubs to hold the unique cap.

Type 3 "smooth" wheels use nubs similar but not the same as 66/67 Type 1.

??Are all 14/15 inch Transporter wheels "Crows Foot Designed"?

Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:03 pm

VOLKSWAGNUT wrote:

??Are all 14/15 inch Transporter wheels "Crows Foot Designed"?

these are bus 15" only non crows feet rims^^^

bus 14" rims do not have such a big gap in the center section and outer rim you can barely see the gap in them

crows feet rims have a pressing in them where the lug holes is that look like a birds footprint

Thu Apr 10, 2014 3:12 pm

Like so...

But he's more interested in Type I's...

Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:22 pm

VeeDubDoug wrote: Like so...

But he's more interested in Type I's...

I'm interested in telling all standard/non after market 5 x 205 rims apart from each other.

So far this is all I know for certain:

On Type 1 rims, the valve stem hole is NEVER lined up with a lug bolt hole.
On Type 1 66-67, no hubcap clips due to bumps used with hubcaps unique to those years
On Type 2 rims the valve stem is always lined up with a lug bolt hole

Current knowledge gaps:

Still don't know the backspace and offset of the Type 1 rims
Still don't know the backspace and offset of Type 2 rims
Still don't know how to identifying characteristics of the Type 3 rims
Still don't know the backspace and offset of Type 3 rims
Still don't know which types of rims used smoothies or other non-standard designations.

OK guys there's 5 specific questions.

Can someone answer any/all of them?

Notice these questions for the most part require short answers like: 35 mm

Thank you in advance.

Thu Apr 10, 2014 6:34 pm

Look this over http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=3659109&highlight=#3659109

Thu Apr 10, 2014 8:25 pm

After all this I bet he ends up screwing on a set of empi 5 spokes!

This would be a LOT easier if you just told us what your car was and we could tell you what to look for instead of educating you on every wheel package that ever rolled out the factory door.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:03 am

VeeDubDoug wrote:
But he's more interested in Type I's...

But judging by the very first post seems to have no clue in the difference...
Thats why the post was started..

Ok..I suppose I misused the crows foot term....

What I meant was.. aren't Bus 5 x 205 wheels (14"/15") constructed with the semi attached center?
Not solid..not smooth but with "legs"?

It could be a good resource for the novice and all.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:04 am

drscope wrote: After all this I bet he ends up screwing on a set of empi 5 spokes!

This would be a LOT easier if you just told us what your car was and we could tell you what to look for instead of educating you on every wheel package that ever rolled out the factory door.

First, to answer your question in TWO parts, since there are TWO cars involved. Please read the whole thing before responding.

My car#1 is an 1950 11BN Traction Avant using 5 x 175mm wheels and 165 x 400mm Michelin X radial tires designed in the 1930s.

I have machined adaptor plates to convert the car to use a 5 x 205 mm 15" wheels so I can use 165-80-15 tires on them.

I am looking to see which type of wheel offers the most compatible backspace and offset.

2. At the same time, I am re-building a vandalized 1973 Type 181 that I am contemplating putting 15" wheels on since the earlier ones did come that way. Need to know which 15" wheels are compatible with the unmodified Thing as well.

Finally, what wrong with educating EVERYONE on the type of wheels which came off the factory floor?

I mean, how hard is it for people who ALREADY HAVE this information to give Everett the data to place a sticky that shows the basic info for all 5 x 205 wheels that ever rolled out the factory door? That's what helps people, when a site does this.

Ok, take your best shot now.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:21 am

If you explained your situation in your original post, the people who have this information may be more willing to spend their time and effort sharing it with you. But when you ignore the question of what your car is, when people try to help you, it makes some people wonder why they should spend their time educating someone on a subject when that person won’t really explain why they need the education.

So look at it from the side of those folks reading your post. Ask the right questions and give some details with what the situation is and people will better able to actually help you.

Lots of guys come on here and ask questions without correct terminology, or without giving history or details on their car. The result is they get many different answers from many different people and none of them actually address the real issue because no one knows for sure what the real issue is.

If you come to me for help and let me know what the situation is then I can give you assistance that I feel best helps your situation. But if you don’t paint the whole picture I’m just making a guess.

Bottom line I’m just trying to help you understand how to get the help you are looking for.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:29 am

strelnik wrote:
Finally, what wrong with educating EVERYONE on the type of wheels which came off the factory floor?

Ok, take your best shot now.

:snipersmile:

You are coming off a bit... .. Porsche like... :lol:
Thats a light hearted joke... :wink:

Most of us are here down to earth....simple Vw owners..builders... drivers.

It "could" be a good resource.. for 15" 5x 205 wheels..
It would be a great resource to have all sizes and types too..

I would maybe suggest .. you may want to consider adding 15" 5x205 Porsche wheels into the mix as well.... 8-[

So all you really want here... is people with "known" wheels to post the specs they find for you.

Im not sure about the whole valve stem position.. I could see it changing position from factory to factory worker to worker..
I've never been that anal to even care about stem position on the wheels... :-k except when mounting white letters..
But.. maybe its a good way to ID them....with caps off of course.

Fri Apr 11, 2014 6:57 am

strelnik wrote: slo356 wrote: What does the OP mean by correct?

What kind of VW? What model? What year? Is he/she trying to select wheels for?

Hard to offer any help here.

Then let's make it easy.

1. How does one differentiate whether a 15" 5 x 205mm wheel is original to a

Type 1, a Type 2, or a Type 3.

Imagine you have a pile of rims in front of you. How to decide which car they belong to?

Or, imagine someone offers a " wide 5 15" rim" for sale. With a photo.

How to tell if it fits

a Beetle/Type 1?

a bus / Type 2?

An early Type 3?

Thank you
since you are ashamed to let year of car out the bag = look on rim center near lug bolt holes. it will have month and year stamped find a 4/65 or 5/65 or 6/65 for a 5/65 beetle for instance / example. then you will know you have correct wheel for whatever year beetle/bus/t3 you have. putting 11/65 on a car built in may 65 would not be correct.