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gator70 Samba Member
Joined: April 02, 2007 Posts: 63 Location: Santa Cruz
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:12 pm Post subject: 16 inch wheel conversions |
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I have followed many of the 16 inch wheel conversions. I understand about the desired offsets, and the 14 mm holes for the studs. I understand the nut seat issues. What I have not understood is what spacers are required.
I just purchased 16 X 7 VW after market wheels with a ET38. I have a 1989 syncro.
What tire should I use?
Will I need spacers?
The center hole is big enough at over 62 mm. The seats are the tapered ones. The stud holes are 14 mm.
Thanks for the advice. |
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riceye Samba Member

Joined: March 09, 2006 Posts: 1700 Location: Caledonia, WI
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 3:49 pm Post subject: |
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Here are the tires I used on GoWesty! 16" wheels:
Fuzion HRI
Size: 225/60 HR16
UTQG: 98H SL 400 A A
Max load: 1653 lbs.
Max pressure: 44 psi
Tread depth: 11/32"
Weight: 27 lbs.
Rim width: 6-8"
Measured rim width: 6.5"
Section width: 9"
Tread width: 7.8"
Diameter: 26.6"
Revs per mile: 783
Price: $58 with road hazard
Compared to a recommended tire:
Yokohama Y356
Size: 185/ R14
Load rating: C
Max load: 1600 lbs.
Max pressure: 50 psi
Tread depth: 11/32"
Weight: 23 lbs.
Rim width range: 5-6"
Measured rim width: 5.5"
Section width: 7.3"
Tread width: 5.3"
Diameter: 25.7"
Revs per mile: 808
Price: $65 with road hazard
My speedo now reads 3 mph low at 70 mph, and the sliding door clears by 1/4 - 3/8".
I crossed the Albemarle Sound on North Carolina hwy 64 last Friday on the way to Cape Hatteras Nat'l Seashore. The crosswinds were a steady 35 - 40 mph. These bridges rise to at least 40 feet above the water. Both hands on the wheel, for sure, but no white knuckles!
Slainte,
Ric _________________ '87 Westy Weekender - daily driver on salt-free roads
There's gonna be some changes made.
“I find that things usually go well right up until the moment they don't.” - Ahwahnee
"Quality isn't method. It's the goal toward which the method is aimed." - Socrates, later quoted by R.M. Pirsig |
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Christopher Schimke Samba Member

Joined: August 03, 2005 Posts: 5526 Location: PNW
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Posted: Thu May 24, 2007 4:56 pm Post subject: |
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Do you have the wheels in hand? If so, install one on the front. Do you have enough clearance (2mm is a safe minimum)? Now look up the section width of the tire you plan on running. Figure out how much the tire will bulge from the rim. For example, your wheels are speced at 7" wide but if you measure the actual width, it will be closer to 8" wide. So, lets say your tire has a section width of 9". Subtract your tire section width from your actual wheel width (one inch). Now devide that in half (half of one inch). So now you know that your tire will bulge one half inch past the rim. Look at your suspension with the wheel mounted. Do you have enough clearance for that added half inch of tire? If need to, make a cardboard cutout of the tire profile. Then place it in the wheel and look for any clearance issues.
I'm pretty darn sure that a 38mm offset will work on the front and rear of a Syncro with no problems (no spacers) but best check it out first to be sure. _________________ "Sometimes you have to build a box to think outside of." - Bruce (not Springsteen)
*Custom wheel hardware for Audi/VW, Porsche and Mercedes wheels - Urethane Suspension Bushings*
T3Technique.com or contact me at contact@t3technique.com |
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Gauche1968 Samba Member
Joined: April 13, 2006 Posts: 1561
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Posted: Fri May 25, 2007 6:19 pm Post subject: |
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I crossed the Albemarle Sound on North Carolina hwy 64 last Friday on the way to Cape Hatteras Nat'l Seashore. The crosswinds were a steady 35 - 40 mph. These bridges rise to at least 40 feet above the water. Both hands on the wheel, for sure, but no white knuckles!
Slainte,
Ric[/quote]
I remember driving over that bridge at night in a driving rainstorm in a 1992 Jetta. It felt as if I was driving over the open ocean. Absolutely terrifying!  |
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goffoz Samba Member
Joined: May 09, 2007 Posts: 1486
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Posted: Sun May 27, 2007 11:25 pm Post subject: |
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I have a stock 86 syncro GL....soon to be subified
I run cooper discovery's at 225x75x16's outside dia is 28.5
on mercedes CLK 16x7 alloys with et 37
no spacers....
so far no rubbing issues or any interference problems
I know two people with the same set up....and they get out in the rough stuff ....no problems
Last edited by goffoz on Fri May 16, 2008 7:52 am; edited 1 time in total |
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16CVs Samba Member

Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4238 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 11:38 pm Post subject: Atiwe |
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Is anyone out there running the 'Atiwe" 16 " alloys. These seem to be a Tristar option only.
I have only sen them on a Tristar brochure. They are 16 x 7 . And have a keyhole type of slot in them.
I would guess they would take 215/70's or better. Any comments will be appreciated.
Stacy |
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Jon_slider Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 7:39 am Post subject: |
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> What tire should I use?
if you go with a BFG AT KO in 215x70/16 with has 743 rotations per mile, your gearing will be 10% taller than stock.
I do not recommend taller gearing than that unless you are prepared to regear your transmission.
so look for tires that have no less than 743 rotations per mile.
the claimed dimension in inches is not accurate for comparison as the stated dimension is NOT the rolling diameter.
if you go with a BFG AT KO in 225x70/16 your gearing will be 12% taller than stock, and that tire has 730 rotations per mile
if you go with a BFG AT KO in 235x70/16 your gearing will be 15% tall as that tire has just 715 rotations.. I do not recommend this tire, it is likely to rub. |
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16CVs Samba Member

Joined: February 22, 2004 Posts: 4238 Location: Redwood City, California
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Posted: Sun May 18, 2008 11:26 pm Post subject: 16 keyhole |
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So would a 215 65r16 keep my gearing stock ? This thing is adog to get rolling sometimes as it is. |
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Jon_slider Samba Member

Joined: April 11, 2007 Posts: 5091 Location: Santa Cruz, Crowdifornia
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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Here is the tire I would put on a Syncro with stock gearing:
BFGoodrich AT KO in 215/70RR16, rotations per mile: 743
this tire produces gearing that is taller than stock by 10%
> would a 215 65r16 keep my gearing stock ?
There is no 16" tire that will keep your gearing stock.
You need to know rotations per mile to calculate effect on gearing..
for example
Fuzion HRI in 225/60 HR16, rotations per mile: 783
this tire produces gearing that is taller than stock by 5%
BFGoodrich AT KO in 225/70RR16, rotations per mile: 730
this tire produces gearing that is taller than stock by 12%
Cooper discovery's at 225x75x16's, rotations per mile: 708
this tire produces gearing that is taller than stock by 16%
the gearing calculation is:
stock rotations of 819 divided by
rotations of tire you want to consider,
minus 1 = percentage
so for the BFGoodrich AT KO in 215/70RR16, with 743 rotations per mile:
819/743-1=10% |
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kanito Samba Member
Joined: May 03, 2010 Posts: 1 Location: PUERTO RICO
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 7:37 pm Post subject: |
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I happen to come by a set of 16 "borbett type E rims. . No mods nesesery except for a bit of grinding of the front upper
'knuckle". they look great. i"ll post pics soon |
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VWhead Samba Member

Joined: September 27, 2009 Posts: 337 Location: Pacific Grove,CA
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Posted: Thu Jun 10, 2010 9:29 pm Post subject: |
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I still have stock gears with 225 75 16's and have no power problems what so ever and still able to crawl in granny gear.Keep in mind there's a 1.8T under the hood. _________________ 81' Single Cab Syncro 1.8T GMW
88' 2wd Westy 1.8T GMW
www.gmwerks.com
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hiram6 Samba Member
Joined: September 29, 2006 Posts: 1880 Location: Beautiful South
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Posted: Fri Jun 11, 2010 7:48 am Post subject: |
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I'll chime in here with a tire that never seems to get a mention, but I think it is the ideal Vanagon 16 inch tire unless you have to deal with wintry conditions.
On my Westy with 16 inch CLK wheels, I have a set of Falkens, model ZE-912, with a load index of 99. Size is 215/60-16. My revs per mile are 808.
Great road manners, super solid and stable compared to my previous tire/wheel combination. Good wet or dry performance, can't comment on their winter performance since my van sits out that kind of weather. _________________ 1985 Westy, 1.9L automatic (Daisy)
1996 Mazda Miata
1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.9 Limited
You can't lie around on the beach and drink rum all day.................unless you start first thing in the morning. |
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jfroldan Samba Member
Joined: May 25, 2011 Posts: 14 Location: Canada
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:09 am Post subject: BBS Audi mesh wheels |
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Hi,
I have an extra set of BBS Audi mesh wheels in size 16x7 et35
Do I need spacers for my 87 syncro?
I was planning on using the Geolandar AT-S in 215-60(or 65)-16
Stock gears, stock engine...
thanks
JF |
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syncrodoka Samba Member

Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12300 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 8:13 am Post subject: |
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Audi rims typically have a center hole not big enough to slide over the rear axle stub and the front grease cap. I don't know about the BBS rims but it is something to investigate now. |
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danfromsyr Samba Member

Joined: March 01, 2004 Posts: 15350 Location: Syracuse, NY
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:33 am Post subject: |
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a syncro doens't have a front grease cap
they will quite likely fit
but be mindful of the Ball seat size in the lug nut.. Audi uses small ball seats.
see Loogy for proper lug nuts _________________
Abscate wrote: |
These are the reasons we have words like “wanker” |
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syncrodoka Samba Member

Joined: December 27, 2005 Posts: 12300 Location: Santa Cruz, CA
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 9:40 am Post subject: |
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Yeah, I glazed over the fact that it is going onto a syncro.
Test fitting onto the rear drum would take much less than a half hour and the OP would know if the rim is a option. |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7187 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:37 pm Post subject: |
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syncrodoka wrote: |
Yeah, I glazed over the fact that it is going onto a syncro.
Test fitting onto the rear drum would take much less than a half hour and the OP would know if the rim is a option. |
Hi!
that's many times I see "OP" used for describing the owner I guess.
What does it stands for?
Thanks _________________ Silicone Steering Boots and 930 Cv boots for sale in the classifieds.
Syncro transmission upgrade parts in the Classifieds.
Subaru EJ22+UN1 5 speed transmission
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=416343
Syncro http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=4...num+gadget |
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I am Wildcat Samba Member

Joined: February 03, 2011 Posts: 318 Location: SF Bay Area
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Posted: Wed May 25, 2011 1:44 pm Post subject: |
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ALIKA T3 wrote: |
syncrodoka wrote: |
Yeah, I glazed over the fact that it is going onto a syncro.
Test fitting onto the rear drum would take much less than a half hour and the OP would know if the rim is a option. |
Hi!
that's many times I see "OP" used for describing the owner I guess.
What does it stands for?
Thanks |
Original Poster > the guy/girl that started the thread _________________ No more van. Wildcat has a new home.
1997 Land Rover Defender 90
2005 MB SL55 AMG
2014 Tesla Model S P85+ |
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ALIKA T3 Samba Member

Joined: July 30, 2009 Posts: 7187 Location: Honolulu,Hawaii and France
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