TheSamba.com :: View topic - Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143

Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:10 am

I'm interested to know if there is a list anywhere for aftermarket wheels that have same ET and backspacing as original 4x130 wheels, preferably for late ghia. I think stock wheels are 4.5in. Maybe not exact specs but how about closest to em?
This is because I'm wanting to lower my '72 with drop spindles and keep stock beam.

thanks

Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:34 am

I think the Ghia stock wheels have a more positive ET than Bug wheels, even though they look the same. Also, most aftermarket wheels are wider, usually 5.5 inch, though if the ET (center line point) is about the same as the stock wheel they are likely to fit.

My wheel notes say the Beetle wheel is 4.5 inch wide with an ET+34 and the Ghia wheel is 4.5 inches wide with an ET+46. Many 4 lug aftermarket wheels have a 5.5 inch width and a backspace of 4.6 inches. That would be roughly an ET+34. If you look over a stock wheel carefully you can usually find the specs stamped into it.

Converting width and backspace into an ET so you know where the center of the tire will be is pretty easy:

Add 1 inch to the stated width. Divide the width in half. This is the wheel center line distance from the outside of the rim lip. The wheel backspace minus the center line distance is the ET in inches. You can multiply that by 25.4 to convert to millimeters.

Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:58 am

Great info. Thank you. Just trying closest aftermarket wheel to size of og so I can lower without narrowing bram as I know stock wheels fit with that set up.

Mon Nov 24, 2025 9:15 am

You need to find original Porsche 2.0 liter wheels, sometimes called baby Fuch. A whole set should be about a grand, only 200 more than aftermarket. They are from a Porsche 914.

Not the aftermarket versions the back spacing is different and will push the wheel too far out for non narrowed beam. I don’t know anything about the fake Pedrini wheels AKA baby gas burners.

Mon Nov 24, 2025 2:31 pm

I'm on it.
thanks

Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:29 pm

Is that gonna be 4.5in or 5.5in wide?

Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:44 pm

pondoras box wrote: You need to find original Porsche 2.0 liter wheels, sometimes called baby Fuch. A whole set should be about a grand, only 200 more than aftermarket. They are from a Porsche 914.

Not the aftermarket versions the back spacing is different and will push the wheel too far out for non narrowed beam. I don’t know anything about the fake Pedrini wheels AKA baby gas burners.
"Baby Gas Burners" are Mahle,

These are Pedrini

These are Fuchs

All REAL 914 wheels are 5.5x15 ET42

Tue Nov 25, 2025 6:35 am

So, Pedrini wheels have same specs as baby fuchs. I really like them.

Tue Nov 25, 2025 7:25 am

ghiafreek wrote: So, Pedrini wheels have same specs as baby fuchs. I really like them.
Yes