14x5.0J wheels to 15x5.5J wheels. Compatible tire suggestions?

[Windisch]

I currently have P185/75 R-14 tires mounted on standard 5 bolt Type 181 steel wheels. I'm switching the 14x5.0J wheels out for 15x5.5J (steel) wheels. My question is: what tires are suitable for the new wheels that won't require any major adjustments or alterations (I'm thinking about 205/65 R-15 tires, but don't want any rubbing or turn-radius rubbing, etc.). Any insights and/or shared wisdom would be much appreciated.
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1973 Standard Beetle, 1974 VW/Porsche 914-4, 1.8 liter
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Der Volkswagen ist ein Ausdruck der deutschen Kultur der Allrad Art ...

[The only irrefutable evidence we have that intelligent life truly exists elsewhere in the Universe is the fact that so far it has NOT contacted humanity...]

[KAmes]

205/75/15 on 15x5.5 rims works good on mine, no rubbing.

[Windisch]

[Windisch]

Nice looking Thing, by the way!
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle, 1974 VW/Porsche 914-4, 1.8 liter
----------------------
Der Volkswagen ist ein Ausdruck der deutschen Kultur der Allrad Art ...

[The only irrefutable evidence we have that intelligent life truly exists elsewhere in the Universe is the fact that so far it has NOT contacted humanity...]

[KAmes]

The 65s would be a little on the safer side and would probably still look substantial. Websites like tire rack list the overall tire hight, helps with visualizing and comparing.

[Windisch]

An update on this for anyone wondering about changing out the stock steel wheels ( 5-bolt 14 x 5.0J, taking 185/75R14 tires) for the wider (VW-type) steel wheel (5-bolt 15 x 5.5J) and changing tires, I elected to opt for the 15 x 5.5J wheel (standard VW steel type, typically made in China and available through several VW specialty outfits) shod with 195/65R15 tires. I am happy to report that there is no issue with rubbing or radius of turn on my stock Thing with the new set-up. Further, they are very closely matched in terms of rolling circumference and revs/min to the original set-up (as above).

As mentioned earlier in this thread, the tire-matching calculators found at sites such as 1010tires (http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Tire-Size-Calculator) are extremely helpful in making a wise decision about compatibility of non-standard Thing tires.

One consideration that most sellers don't cover is the important matter of offset, since offset can have a rather substantial effect on several parameters of proper wheel/tire functionality. The stock VW 5-bolt 14 x 5.0 Thing steel wheel has an offset of 32.5 mm. This is found on VW-made steel wheels between two of the bolt holes (i.e. ET32.5, the 'ET' signifying the German word 'Einpresstiefe', which means 'insert depth').

On the set of 4 'Made-in-China' steel VW-type 5 bolt 15 x 5.5J wheels there is no offset listed in that manner, so one needs to make a determination manually. For reference to how to do that, either check Captain Spalding's excellent Thing-specific diagram (https://www.thesamba.com/vw/gallery/pix/599756.jpg) or here: http://www.1010tires.com/Tools/Wheel-Offset-Calculator . I was able to determine that the offset of those Chinese 5-bolt 15 x 5.5J steel clones was just about that...32.5...or close enough to be considered congruent, for all practical purposes. Hence, everything checked out well in advance of any actual tire purchases, since you can't return tires once they are mounted (a rule in most shops, at least).

Others on the Thing forum (among them, KAmes) have stated that 205/75R15 tires work also well on the 5.5J steel wheels they've mounted on their Things, so there are several possibilities to consider that will work.

Careful use of the 1010tires calculator will assure perfect suitability, since all parameters of tire/wheel matches are considered and clearly given (i.e. height, wide, rolling circumference, speed/rpm, etc., etc.).

With the 5-bolt 15 x 5.5J wheels shod with 195/65R15 tires there's plenty of room & clearance in the wheel wells and they also look nice, as well.
_________________
1973 Standard Beetle, 1974 VW/Porsche 914-4, 1.8 liter
----------------------
Der Volkswagen ist ein Ausdruck der deutschen Kultur der Allrad Art ...

[The only irrefutable evidence we have that intelligent life truly exists elsewhere in the Universe is the fact that so far it has NOT contacted humanity...]