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Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:00 pm

I just got a set of EMPI 8 Spoke wheels for my '74 Super and wanted to know what the best tire size I should use. Any recommendations?

Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:09 pm

depends on what look your going for and if your lowering or not.

stock size 165-R15's will fit( for stock height) as will many other lower/wider profile sizes.
but the spaceing in the wheel arch between the tire and the fender look wierd unless you lower the car

Thu Feb 05, 2004 3:14 pm

I'm running 195/60-15s on 5.5x15 alloys.

Thu Feb 05, 2004 6:03 pm

I'm running 195-65R-15's all the way around my Bug on Riviera rims. I'm happy with them. The don't look bizarre, they handle well when it's dry, and they're still narrow enough to do very well in the snow.

JSH

Fri Feb 06, 2004 5:23 am

here are the following low profile tires that will fit a 15 x 5.5" rim....
(this is taken from a Tire Suppliers website)

Specs are as follows: (Tire Size, Tire Height, Width of tire and rim sizes the tire will fit on.

175/55/15

Height - 22.25"
Width - 6.75"
Rims - 5.5" to 6.5"

185/55/15

Height - 23.0"
Width - 7.3"
Rims - 5" to 6.5"

195/50/15

Height - 22.7"
Width - 7.7"
Rims - 5.5" to 7"

195/60/15

Height - 24.2"
Width - 7.7"
Rims - 5.5" to 7"

Fri Feb 06, 2004 7:13 pm

Thanks for the info vujade. Can you tell me the specs for the stock 165R15 tires?

Sat Feb 07, 2004 11:45 pm

I just did the EMpi 8 spokes with Toyo Proxes TPT.
Front-195/60 15
Rear-205/65 15

Very happy with em.

Kevin

Fri Mar 29, 2013 2:52 pm

Just looked at what was on the bug before and they are p205 65r15 kind of a tall tire ? Or is it me? Whats the widest that can be used on the empi 5 spoke rims The measurement of the empi rims is 6.5 wide 16 3/8 tall ? I was gonna get 195/60R15 bfgoodrich ta rwl

Tue Nov 05, 2013 9:55 pm

Anybody running empi 8's with a dropped front?

I have cb spindles 2.5".

Was thinking 175/55's fronts and maybe 205 or 195 65's rear. Don't know if it would be much diff for the rear.

If anybody can confirm that would help. :)

I'm rubbing with the tires/rims I have now...

Wed Nov 06, 2013 11:48 am

If you want to run stock circumference, the following sizes are your options, all within the allowed deviation in wheel diameter:

165/82
175/70
195/65
205/60 (Should have 6" rim)

The first two are the VW recommended sizes from way back when, although 165/82 is a bit tall and 175/70 is a bit short. 195/65 are probably the easiest to get, as they fit all newer Golf and Passats as well as hundreds of other cars. My favorite is 175/70 which can only be sourced from Vredestein these days.

Wed Nov 06, 2013 2:12 pm

Those sizes will not fit my front is dropped 2.5"

Wed Nov 06, 2013 3:19 pm

the empi 8 spokers have a small offset that pushes them out towards the fenders...even without a drop they put the tires close to the front fenders.

Wed Nov 06, 2013 10:19 pm

And cb pushes it out too. I hope a 175/55 won't rub. 165's are impossible to find