"What wheels fit?" The ultimate wheel post.

[Jake de Villiers]

[takeiteasy]

[nesurfer99]

Anyone have ideas on a cheap spare that I can use with my Gowesty 16" alloy rims (16x7.5, et38)?

I have installed the bigger brakes in the front as well (making it difficult or impossible to run a smaller size spare).

I know I could simply buy another wheel from gw, but looking for a cheaper option.

Thanks!
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89 Carat on the road and collecting (s)miles

[Christopher Schimke]

[nesurfer99]

That's awesome.

What about this - an actual Mercedes spare? Do you think it would fit and work as a spare?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/MERCEDES-OEM-W208-EMERGENC...mp;vxp=mtr[/url]
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89 Carat on the road and collecting (s)miles

[Christopher Schimke]

[nesurfer99]

Yes, it is 2wd tintop. I did order the 2wd version of these wheels and did not install a spacer. This is what the GW order history shows:

GVW-WTP-1623-DEF: 16" Alloy Wheel & Tire Package [2WD & 4WD] (Model: 2WD Vanagon - nuts & bolts)
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89 Carat on the road and collecting (s)miles

[elizer]

I was wondering if these would fit a syncro
https://detroitwheelandtire.com/hol-69789-sss-a.html

16x7 et37

guessing it will have to get center bore englarged?

[Christopher Schimke]

[Can1]

I found that it is really hard to find 16" wheels, but when you look at 17 the market opens up quite a bit.

I found these:
http://www.kijiji.ca/v-tires-rims/city-of-toronto/mercedes-benz-17inch-rims/1250476184

They are off a 2001 E430. They are 37ET and 7.5J.

I think I can drill out to the bolt holes to fit 14mm bolts and just use a 5mm spacer. That would put me at a 32ET.

What do you guys think?

[Christopher Schimke]

[Can1]

Thanks for the reply,
I'm checking out your site and may send you an email.

Do you think your center caps will fit those wheels?

[Blue Diver]

I'm running an MB E300 stagnated set (17x7.5 f/ 17x8.5 r) on my 90 GL. Front stud conversion and spacers, rear studs and spacers from t3. Mounted 225/50r17 front, 245/45r17 rear. Great handling, much better at freeway speed, pretty good on junk roads too. Plus, looks way better then the stock donuts.
Stock suspension.
Brake rebuild front and rear. Stainless lines. R1 drilled and slotted rotors up front. Huge difference, even comfortable in the crazy honolulu traffic in the rain. Most of the performance of the big brake kit, a third of the price.
Christopher at t3 is solid. I work on aircraft and his stuff is truly aviation grade engineering and quality.

[KMT]

I am looking at these Vintage Remotec wheels for my 2wd 1989 Bluestar. They are a staggered set 16X8 and 16X9. I am awaiting on the offsets from the owner. I hope I can make these work!

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Jamie Auch
The Kooky MathTeacher

'68 Panel
'78 Champagne Edition Westfalia
'89 Blue Star
‘90 Hightop TDI Vanagon
'90 AFN TDI Leisuredrive hightop
http://www.highcountrybusfestival.com
Pisgah Bus Rally

[Christopher Schimke]

KMY, while they are not impossible to fit, 16x8s are not a great fit on the front of a 2wd. The problem is that in order to gain enough clearance between the inner rim lip and the suspension, you have to push the wheels quite a ways outboard. Again, nothing is impossible, but they aren't really ideal.
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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]

[KMT]

[Christopher Schimke]

[matt242]

S.O.S.! My head is spinning. Visited 6 tire shops today, after reading many threads for a week. Everyone says something different. Bought a 1990 Vanagon camper and need to replace the 205 / 70R14 tires. I'm told to get LT / heavy sidewalls; minimum 1580 lb per tire; C or D or higher; load index of 97. The only tires I found today was a Yokohama Y356 195/75 14, or the Nankang 195 / R14 C, but the specs of both vary significantly depending on which shop I ask!!! AND, Westy experts seem to stress changing the wheels to 15" which is fine if it's really safer (or there just aren't tires anymore for 14" wheels). But 2 highly rated shops said NO, and couldn't guarantee a proper fit!! And finally, these alternative tires require a different PSI than my owners manual stresses. So many variables to try to conform too / find.

Yikes. I had no idea replacing the Vanagon tires / wheels would be such a headache. How to prioritize what I must have? I likely will not drive in snow or off-road, at least much, if that helps. Thanks for any and all advice from northern California.

[bobbyblack]

[bajaleo]

I'm trying to understand exactly which wheels will fit van. I really like the look of bigger wheels.

During my occasional search of Craigslist for Mercedes wheels for my '84 2wd Vanagon, I see some interesting 18x8's that might look pretty good.

Most of what I've read here tells me I'll need spacers, but Tim3 (thanks Tim3) has these wheels mounted and says no spacers are needed. Is it because of the offset of his particular wheels?

Also, when I look at the fitment diagram kindly provided by T3 (thanks T3), it appears that 18" wheels actually clear better, as the rim of the wheel is above the upright (assuming the diagram is correct).

Would 19x8's in the correct offset also fit w/o spacers?

I really have no problem using spacers, it's just that if I happen to find wheels in the correct offset, can I get by without them?



Super Lightweight Mille Miglia MM11-3 (AKA Carrera Lightweight 5 Spoke 996 Replicas)
18x8 ET35 (No Spacers needed)
225/40/18 Front (Wheel has 2-3mm clearance from upper ball joint mount)
235/40/18 Back (Tire has 8-10mm clearance from rear arm)

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Leo in San Juan Capistrano
1984 Wolfie Westy, Subaru EJ22 powered.