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dillon70
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008
Posts: 234
Location: Ventura, Ca.
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 Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 5:40 pm Post subject: Rim and Tire question |
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I want to put some Mercedes rims with tires on my 1990 Vanagon. What size offset should I be looking for with a 16, 17 or 18 inch rim? How wide should I go 7 or will 8 fit?
I have read several articles, but I aint no rocket scientist, a little help please........ |
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levi
Samba Member
Joined: February 11, 2005
Posts: 5522
Location: Las Vegas
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dillon70
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008
Posts: 234
Location: Ventura, Ca.
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:33 pm Post subject: |
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It was too much info. I would just like to know which mercedes rims fit without issues and spacers.... Bolt ons..
Thanks Greg |
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Bruce Wayne
Samba Member
Joined: May 15, 2007
Posts: 1210
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:35 pm Post subject: |
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| dillon70 wrote: |
| I would just like to know which mercedes rims fit without issues and spacers.... Bolt ons.. |
me too. |
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allsierra123
Samba Member
Joined: August 19, 2006
Posts: 1462
Location: Tecate, Baja California MX
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 6:53 pm Post subject: |
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your gonna have to research it. Its all there in those threads. Maybe someone could edit a that thread to include direct bolt on swaps in the beginning maybe it would be less confusing I dont know I stick with vw wheels.
_________________
95 GMC Yukon 6.5 TD 2 Door Tow pig/ Daily driver.
91 Vanagon GL. 1.9TD Conversion Sold
81 Vw rabbit 1.6 Diesel. Sold |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 7:45 pm Post subject: |
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The ONLY Mercedes truly bolt-on, no modifications to the vehicle, wheel is the '98-'00 forged CLK320 wheel as shown in this picture. This wheel is a 16x7 with a 37mm offset.
The only modification necessary to the wheels is drilling the lug holes to 37/64". You will have to run custom lugs because the stock Vanagon lugs don't fit the lug seats properly. Without spacers, the stock Mercedes center caps will not fit on the rear of a Syncro and the front/rear of a 2wd.
Tire choice is super critical when running these wheels without spacers. A 215 (with a maximum of an 8.8" cross section according to MrPolak) is the absolute widest tire you can run without having upper control arm clearance issues on a 2wd. A Syncro can get away with a 225.
What makes this wheel different from other Mercedes 16x7 ET37 wheels is the fact that they have a much thinner cross section where the lugs pass through the wheel. This allows the use of the stock rear wheel studs. All other Mercedes wheels would require longer rear wheel studs.
_________________
"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 [email protected] |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:13 pm Post subject: |
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In the future please use the tire stickie.
Your just adding more info. to the archives to sift through. |
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dillon70
Samba Member
Joined: October 20, 2008
Posts: 234
Location: Ventura, Ca.
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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| Sorry, posted under sticky for what wheels fit. Check out the picture. |
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VisPacem
Samba Member
Joined: July 15, 2007
Posts: 1143
Location: Las Vegas
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| Posted: Sat May 02, 2009 9:46 pm Post subject: Re: Rim and Tire question |
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| dillon70 wrote: |
I want to put some Mercedes rims with tires on my 1990 Vanagon. What size offset should I be looking for with a 16, 17 or 18 inch rim? How wide should I go 7 or will 8 fit?
I have read several articles, but I aint no rocket scientist, a little help please........ |
I have Mercedes wheels, 15x7. offset 25. The vox populi here along with the choirs of experts predicted instant painful death, loss of citizenship, heavy taxation and shameful disease. 
Over a year now and still spinning happily.
You can check out the wheels sold by the usual suspects, GW, Small Car, Van Cafe and the other chaps. Some of them are mercedes wheels with the politically correct offset.
Good luck.
_________________
LG aka VisPacemPB, *The* party Pooper
No Regrets (Nothing to do with Vanagons) |
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Christopher Schimke
Samba Member
Joined: August 03, 2005
Posts: 5390
Location: PNW
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| Posted: Sun May 03, 2009 7:22 am Post subject: Re: Rim and Tire question |
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| VisPacem wrote: |
I have Mercedes wheels, 15x7. offset 25. The vox populi here along with the choirs of experts predicted instant painful death, loss of citizenship, heavy taxation and shameful disease.
Over a year now and still spinning happily.
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No, no, no, that is not what has been preached. What has been preached is that there is an ideal. The further you get away from ideal, the greater the chance for issues. The other thing that has been preached is that if you have the choice, why not make it as "right" as possible? That's all, no death, no massive destruction.
_________________
"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 [email protected] |
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Famous 01
Samba Member
Joined: May 19, 2007
Posts: 81
Location: Concord, NC
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| Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 6:38 am Post subject: |
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I am running 16" X 7" ET37 Mercedes rims with 215/60/16 Bridgestone Potenzas from Sams Club. 95 load rating. 1/4 inch spacers on the front wheels. You have to drill mounting holes on the rims and change to longer ball-end studs but they fit just fine. The ride is a little harsher than the standard tires, though.
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/514369.jpg
-Kent |
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mightyart
Samba Member
Joined: March 24, 2004
Posts: 6188
Location: Portland, Oregon
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| Posted: Mon May 04, 2009 7:10 am Post subject: |
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Dillon is making you guys look bad.
Use the tire sticky.
If we get to much more wheel and tire stuff, that nobody wants to wade through, I may start moving the custom stuff to the wheel and tire forum (which I should have been doing anyways).
sticky. |
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