Slammed Thing tire size

Bashr52 · Posted: Sun Jan 27, 2013 3:08 pm Post subject: Slammed Thing tire size

It's time to buy tires for my Thing. Rear is lowered one outer spline, front has been converted to Ghia spindles with adjusters, I can drop the beam to almost touching to floor. The plan is to run it low, but not so low its not driveable, or scrapes on every bump in the road Laughing

. I need suggestions on a tire size that will work without any rubbing issues. Since the car has been converted to Ghia discs in the front, I converted the rear to 4 lug discs to match. Plan for now is to run the detailed 8 spokes I currently have.

An input on what is working for other?

waxhead · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 3:00 pm Post subject:

I've talked to the owner of this one and I am in the process of doing the same to my Thing. 15x6 Porsche cookie cutters.

Front:
Adjustable bug beam with ghia discs. Tires are 175/55/15 but he suggested going with 155/60/15 or 145/65/15 with a narrowed beam.

Image may have been reduced in size. Click image to view fullscreen.

Rear
Turned two inner clicks. With 185/65/15 tire there is about two inches before it hits the top of the fender.

_________________
Mike B.

Bashr52 · Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:58 pm Post subject:

Shit I wish I had checked this first! I just ordered 185/60-15's for the front, and 205/65-15 for the rear. Worst case i just wont be able to slam the front end to the ground, but that's not really the look I was going for.

GodJockey · Posted: Tue Feb 05, 2013 8:24 am Post subject:

Bashr52, did you get your tires yet to see how they'll fit?

I have a set of 16" Boxster rims - does anyone think I can run thier stock sizes of 205/55/16 up front on a 2" narrowed bug beam and 225/50/16 with a 944 conversion in the rear?

I'm not going for the slammed look.

Bashr52 · Posted: Thu Feb 07, 2013 10:28 am Post subject:

Tires are in. I was hoping to get them mounted and the pan back under the body this weekend, but due to the impending snow storm here, it may be a while now Evil or Very Mad

.

205's will likely be close up front, even with a 2" beam. Not sure 225's will fit in the rear without rubbing...

GodJockey · Posted: Fri Feb 08, 2013 7:16 am Post subject:

I thinking I'm going to attempt 225/50-16 for the rear and 205/45-16 up front.

As for rubbing in the rear I know emersonbiggins has 17 x 7.5" with 235/45s on his stock height Thing. Maybe I'll shoot him a PM.

GodJockey · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 6:11 am Post subject:

Bashr have you gotten your tires put on yet, I'm curious to see how they look.

Bashr52 · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 7:24 am Post subject:

Yes they are on. Car is up on stands still with no fenders, so not sure how the final stance will be and if there are any rubbing issues.

Here's an older pic from when I first put them on.

Low181 · Posted: Thu Mar 28, 2013 2:17 pm Post subject: Re: Slammed Thing tire size

Bashr52 · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 5:50 am Post subject:

Thanks for the info Dakota.

I kept the stock front end, but switched to Ghia spindles and added adjusters. The beam is almost on the ground with the pan unloaded. Here's a pic from when I first finished the pan.

Low181 · Posted: Fri Mar 29, 2013 6:00 am Post subject:

That looks good! Your ride should have a killer rake to it. I wanted to go lower, but I already get hung up in my driveway. I haven't taken it to the streets yet. But my other vehicle already gets hung up everywhere else in town. My frame head is little under four inches off the ground. Twisted Evil

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[o\|_|_|/o] - 1974 VW Thing - Slammed!

GodJockey · Posted: Sat Mar 30, 2013 1:11 am Post subject:

Bashr, that should look just about right once you get it all put together!

Low181, I really like your stance. I decided on 225/50/16 for the rear and 195/45/16 for the front. I ordred them but got an email back stating I could wait 6-8weeks till the fronts are back in stock ugh!
Anyway here's a pic of my chassis sitting for some tires.

Please excuse the mess, I was digging through old stuff to get rid of.

Low181 · Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:32 pm Post subject:

Bashr, be careful lowering the rear. My 181 is turned two splines, and I had it rested on the spring plates. I raised it up and cut them to relieve the load, now it's resting on my bump stops. They separate and then crash again on a good size bump. I think that right there is a great stopping point. I just checked about cutting my bump stop mounts out, well let's just say if I did that, my fender bolts will wear my tire out. And I know for sure you will have to have shocks. My tires, even being as short as they are, rubbed every second of my fender out on it's maiden voyage to Subway LOL!. So, us fellow 181 freaks seem to have limitations. Sad

GodJockey, thank you for the compliment. I wish my pan was clean!

Here you go. I know it isn't the best looking car. But, here's inspiration to get you two finished!

_________________
[o\|_|_|/o] - 1974 VW Thing - Slammed!

GodJockey · Posted: Sun Mar 31, 2013 9:43 pm Post subject:

181freak, I was just looking at your new pics actually. What part of the fender were you rubbing, was it the width or total length of the tire that was the problem? my 225/50/16 is just a hair shorter but obviously a good deal wider, so now I'm wondering what to do here...

Bashr52 · Posted: Mon Apr 01, 2013 4:32 am Post subject:

Low,

It's been so long now I cannot remember if I went 1 or 2 outer splines! I am not worried about rubbing issues however, as I did flip my arms and the tires sit flat again once the pan was loaded with the body weight.

Low181 · Posted: Thu Apr 04, 2013 2:02 pm Post subject:

GodJockey, my tire was rubbing the underside of the top of my fender. So, I got some Monroe Gas-matic shocks and it solved that. I didn't think it would rub like that, because they are only 145/65s(smart car tires). Very short tires. Although, I do have a type one ball joint beam and arms. And also drop spindles. So altogether it put it down there.

Bashr, yeah, I probably should have did what you did. But, I just notched my spring plates instead. I didn't have to take it back apart that way. Lol. Bad thing is is that I had to notched them almost halfway through the height of them.
_________________
[o\|_|_|/o] - 1974 VW Thing - Slammed!

VDUBONDUBS · Samba Member Joined: February 28, 2009 Posts: 55

So....I thought this thread was a good candidate for my inquiry.....so I'm gonna slam my 73 on brms.....was going to build an adjustable beam with bug dropped spindles.....but was curious as to whether I should narrow it and how much?

Low181 · Posted: Thu Apr 11, 2013 2:48 pm Post subject:

@VDUBONDUBS, With my setup, I didn't have to narrow the beam at all. I have no problems with it stock width either. But, if you do go narrowing the beam, take it out of the center instead of the ends. I had a friend that cut the ends, well, lets just say there is a taper on the ends of ball joint beams for the arms. It didn't work out for him. Also, if you go with adjusters, it will push your caster towards the headlight bucket. Drop spindles wont.

Sorry man, I posted this reply on the other topic too.
_________________
[o\|_|_|/o] - 1974 VW Thing - Slammed!

VDUBONDUBS · Samba Member Joined: February 28, 2009 Posts: 55

Bashr52 · Posted: Fri Apr 12, 2013 4:19 am Post subject:


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