"What wheels fit?" The ultimate wheel post.

[The Salt]

Hahaha... Nice! I like it!
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88 Wolfsburg Edition Weekender

[Christopher Schimke]

deusexmaxima, Those Mercedes wheels are most likely the 17x8 ET38 versions. I would suggest 10mm spacers, Small ball seat lugs and you will need longer rear wheel studs. You will also have to drill out the lug holes.

The biggest concern with these wheels is the concave faces. Because the faces dish inward so much, it will be impossible to run the stock Mercedes center caps.
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"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]

[Badstep]

has anyone tried to mod and run a mazda rim on a vanagon? the bolt pattern seems to be corect (I cant find actual markings) the center hole would need modification and an ofset spacer required I think if any one knows please get back on this subject Thanks in advance!

[deusexmaxima]

[Christopher Schimke]

Badstep, Mazdas are 5x4½, Vanagons are 5x112. It's not going to work without adapters.
_________________
"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]

[Christopher Schimke]

[Kopasz]

[deusexmaxima]

I like some Audi rims too. Its seems as though the Audi rims generally are more work to get to fit to the Vanagon than Benz rims. I have concentrated my rim search to Benz rims for that reason.

[deusexmaxima]

I forgot to ask if these rims will need to have the center hole bored out?

[Kopasz]

hey guys,

I have some 17x8s waiting to go on, but I can't afford the tires at this point. I am having slippage problems with my current stock 14" steelies and Hankooks, so I did a quick search for new rims and found a great deal on alloy 15" Audis ($75 for four!!!)

I am kind of in a time crunch here and can't seem to find the information I am looking for. Maybe you could help me out:

Audi wheels (look kind of like a Benz AMG)
15x7.5
ET35

what sort of spacers will I need? If any?

thanks,
Adam
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adam

'87 Wolfsburg Weekender, Bostig Zetec

The rehabilitation of my Van can be found here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5949024#5949024

[levi]

It might seem cheap, but you'll have to pay some extras to use them.
The center bore will need to be machined, that could be an extra 80 or more.
I think you may need to change out your lug bolts and studs.
Then the lug holes need to be drilled out to 14mm.
And a 5mm spacer will bring you back to the standard 30et.
That stuff could add 300 or more to your cost.
Not saying you shouldn't do it, just that sometimes what looks cheap, doesn't work out that way.
_________________
One of these days I'm gonna settle down,
but till I do I won't be hangin round.
Going down that long lonesome highway,
gonna see life my way

https://youtu.be/cSrL0BXsO40

[Kopasz]

Thanks Levi. That's exactly the feedback I was looking for. I appreciate the heads up on the extra cost. I think I'll go for it anyway. I'll let you guys know how I decide.

Thanks again!
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adam

'87 Wolfsburg Weekender, Bostig Zetec

The rehabilitation of my Van can be found here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5949024#5949024

[Kopasz]

Here are the exact rims that I was talking about in my previous post. Levi was right on. I did not buy them yesterday, but I may today after talking to a local machinist around the corner. I also spoke to a local Vanagon wheels expert and he said I may end up spending the same amount of money to get the these Audis to fit as I would my 17" OZs. i kind of like the idea of having a second set of alloys for winter driving however, so I may just pick these Audis up anyway and store them until next winter.

[Kopasz]

alright, so I need a little help here with what tires to get for my 17x8 rims (ET35). Loogy and I have emailed back and forth a little and last i recall we were pretty dead set on 225/50 or 225/55. I think this was because of clearance at the rear for the sliding door, as I was going to run 7mm spacers in the back.

However, a 245/45 tire would be a better fit in terms of circumference and I like the idea of a wider tire than the 225s would give me on the 8" rims. but then i guess i won't really have room for the spacers in the rear.

So, any ideas out there? should I go with different size wheels front and rea? Or will that give me headaches if in the future? (ie: tire rotation, getting new tires, etc.)

thanks
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adam

'87 Wolfsburg Weekender, Bostig Zetec

The rehabilitation of my Van can be found here: http://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?p=5949024#5949024

[deusexmaxima]

How bout a 235 45 tire? Its the same diameter as a 205 70 14.

[nomados]

It depends on whether you have a local tire guy you want to support or not.
I have a great tire guy in my town, and while I'm still hunting for wheels close to me I was originally looking for bi-rotational tire/ symmetrical wheel packages, etc. but one day he said, "hey, what we do for the other camber guys is just remount, rebalance, etc. No biggy." He's very reasonable, so a light bulb kinda got switched off there for me. No worries, and supporting your local tire gig can be a good thing.
This epiphany actually made me WANT some offset MB AMG freakshow widest I can fit rears.
Snowtires in spring ain't sexy, even in Canada, so the search continues.

And to that poster a few up who has an alloy set just for winter, you are dangling a cold wet drink in front of a thirsty man.

EDIT: woops, same guy! Sorry about that.
Listen, never mind what I said. Send 1 set of those alloys to me. I don't care which. Never mind winter, it'll never come again. I'll pay.
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'86 Westy auto
'84 Westy 4 spd previous
'75 wing, watercooled boxer 4 motorcycle.

[deusexmaxima]

I think 17" Boxster rims may be best:

[levi]

[Kopasz]

these are nice, and have become somewhat classic for the Vanagon, but I definitely prefer the rims in your previous post. Portland CL has a nice set of Mercedes 16" five spokes for sale....

[Kopasz]