Ultimate Wheel Post - Part Two

[crazyvwvanman]

No 215 tire clearance problem on a Syncro, plenty of room. No spacers needed, just bolt them on.

Even a 2wd can run 215/65/16 tires without spacers with ET37 with 6" - 7" width wheels. Slight grinding of the very edge of the upper arm is helpful. That is what I do on 2wd vans for ET37 as long as the 16" rims are 7" or less.

Mark

[T3 Pilot]

Thanks crazyvwvanman,

That is what I found, my goal was to mount a 16" wheel with a 215 series tire and no spacers on a 2wd. The MB wheels that I installed are 7" wide

I will be installing slightly taller 215/60 R16 tires for the added gearing advantage, but I was concerned about the suspension clearance potential and had the 215/55 tires sitting around.

Basically then, as long as the tire sidewall clears that critical Upper control arm by a couple of mm then the 215 series mounted on a 16"x7" ET 37 wheel fits on a 2wd Vanagon without spacers.

I am still wondering if the sidewall clearance could become an issue with various tire styles for example raised lettering on the inner sidewall touching the upper control arm. I suppose that is why you referred to the slight grinding of the UCA.
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1988 Vanagon

The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel......

[Christopher Schimke]

[T3 Pilot]

Thanks Christopher,

That really makes things crystal clear. These days I have the spare time to experiment with wheels and tires so playing with different tire sizes and types has become an expanding part of the Vanagon hobby/addiction. I can see where a Van driver that needs it to "just work" would benefit from the greater clearances and options that your advice would allow for.

Fahrvergnügen

Hat Tip to Crazyvwvanman too.
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1988 Vanagon

The most important part in every vehicle is the nut behind the wheel......

[izzydog]

[Christopher Schimke]

[rubbachicken]

the center bores need to be machined, even on a syncro, the lip on the bearing housing, that the rotor sits on protrudes, with a spacer you will not need to modify the wheels.

[izzydog]

Rubbachicken - are you saying that these wheels will fit with no center bore machining if I use a spacer? Wouldn't that mean that I'd have to use longer studs?

[HackAl]

Anyone know which other vehicles the 14" OEM wheel fit, if any?

Is there a market for them outside of the Vanagon community?
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Edit: a search for "5.5Jx14 ET35" "5x112" only turns up Vanagon.

This trailer wheel is the closest I get: https://www.alibaba.com/product-detail/trailer-wheel-5-5Jx14-5x112_465178079.html

Thanks.
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91 Westy.

Ever consider temporarily trading your van? Join the list.

[Zeitgeist 13]

Years ago I owned a '73 Mercedes 220D onto which I swapped the wheels from my first Vanagon, an '82 diesel ASI camper. Here's a '62 190D with a Carat rim just for shits n' giggles. The lug bolts would need to be sourced for a safe install.

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Casey--

'89 Bluestar ALH w/12mm Waldo pump, PP764 and GT2052
'01 Weekender --> full camper
y u rune klassik?

[OddN]

Old Mercedeses are the only cars I can think of as well. Old enough to have 14 inch wheels as standard. Like W114, W115, W116, W123 and some early W126. If they originally had this wheel:

The Vanagon wheels should fit, given the correct lug bolts are sourced of course.
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1991 VW Multivan syncro 1,9 TD

[Vanderbuilt]

I found these on CL for $150. Considering them for my '80 air cooled Westy. Anything I should be aware of? Seems like a good deal. They're 16x7's, ET45. Assume I'll need 15mm spacers. Not sure about lugs. Any good tire recommendations for as close to stock diameter as possible?

Thanks.

[Christopher Schimke]

[Vanderbuilt]

Thanks Chris. He says these already have opened center bores which is one of the reasons I'm considering them. Save a little money. As far as tires, do you have any recommendations for close to stock? With 15mm spaces I shouldn't have any issues with UCA clearance? Also, good idea on the magnets. I'm sure I'll come up with something for the caps no matter what.

[makina]

I need help asap please, I have a 1984 gl I found the perfect rim design that I want, just want to know if I can make this possible so the rims I found are BBS from a BMW 5X120 I usually read through a bunch of these thread a will back I'm afraid there going to sell. Any help is greatly appreciated thanks

[campism]

5x120 BCD will not fit without adaptors. Vanagon is 5x112.
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'87 Westy in Wolfram Grey Metallic

[bajaleo]

A question for Chris,

I agree with an earlier post of yours, where you say that you like the look of 19's on a Vanagon.

In my frequent search of Craigslist, the 19 inch MB or Audi/VW wheels are all a minimum of 8-1/2" wide.

Is 8-1/2" REALLY not possible, or are there ways to make them fit?

BTW, I'm personally running SA hubs on the front.
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Leo in San Juan Capistrano
1984 Wolfie Westy, Subaru EJ22 powered.

[bettingonvans]

I found some ET47 VW steel wheels locally which are center bored for a Vanagon's grease cap. It seems to me a 15mm thick DR type spacer from H&R should let me use these. Can anyone confirm this for my '90 GL?

The reason I'm a bit confused is that those DR spacers look like they have a center boss. It's my understanding that Vanagon wheels are centered by the lugs - so why the boss? Could the spacer be flat with no boss?

[Christopher Schimke]

[Christopher Schimke]