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ghiafreek Samba Member

Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 958 Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:10 am Post subject: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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I'm interested to know if there is a list anywhere for aftermarket wheels that have same ET and backspacing as original 4x130 wheels, preferably for late ghia. I think stock wheels are 4.5in. Maybe not exact specs but how about closest to em?
This is because I'm wanting to lower my '72 with drop spindles and keep stock beam.
thanks |
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EVfun  Samba Member

Joined: April 01, 2012 Posts: 6341 Location: Seattle
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:34 am Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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I think the Ghia stock wheels have a more positive ET than Bug wheels, even though they look the same. Also, most aftermarket wheels are wider, usually 5.5 inch, though if the ET (center line point) is about the same as the stock wheel they are likely to fit.
My wheel notes say the Beetle wheel is 4.5 inch wide with an ET+34 and the Ghia wheel is 4.5 inches wide with an ET+46. Many 4 lug aftermarket wheels have a 5.5 inch width and a backspace of 4.6 inches. That would be roughly an ET+34. If you look over a stock wheel carefully you can usually find the specs stamped into it.
Converting width and backspace into an ET so you know where the center of the tire will be is pretty easy:
Add 1 inch to the stated width. Divide the width in half. This is the wheel center line distance from the outside of the rim lip. The wheel backspace minus the center line distance is the ET in inches. You can multiply that by 25.4 to convert to millimeters. _________________
| Wildthings wrote: |
| As a general rule, cheap parts are the most expensive parts you can buy. |
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ghiafreek Samba Member

Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 958 Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 8:58 am Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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| Great info. Thank you. Just trying closest aftermarket wheel to size of og so I can lower without narrowing bram as I know stock wheels fit with that set up. |
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pondoras box Samba Member

Joined: March 22, 2004 Posts: 1888 Location: Warren, PA
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 9:15 am Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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You need to find original Porsche 2.0 liter wheels, sometimes called baby Fuch. A whole set should be about a grand, only 200 more than aftermarket. They are from a Porsche 914.
Not the aftermarket versions the back spacing is different and will push the wheel too far out for non narrowed beam. I don’t know anything about the fake Pedrini wheels AKA baby gas burners. _________________ Looking for anything from Hal Casey Motors out of Hamburg New York, from license plate surrounds to matchbooks.
1961 23 Window (Bobo)
1965 11 Window (Zelda). https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=563183
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1957 Oval ragtop
1960 hardtop
1964 hardtop
1965 hardtop (Arschloch)
1973 standard bug (Dirty Gertie)
https://www.thesamba.com/vw/forum/viewtopic.php?t=804912
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ghiafreek Samba Member

Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 958 Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 2:31 pm Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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I'm on it.
thanks |
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ghiafreek Samba Member

Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 958 Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:29 pm Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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| Is that gonna be 4.5in or 5.5in wide? |
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Glenn  Mr. 010

Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 80342 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Mon Nov 24, 2025 7:44 pm Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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| pondoras box wrote: |
You need to find original Porsche 2.0 liter wheels, sometimes called baby Fuch. A whole set should be about a grand, only 200 more than aftermarket. They are from a Porsche 914.
Not the aftermarket versions the back spacing is different and will push the wheel too far out for non narrowed beam. I don’t know anything about the fake Pedrini wheels AKA baby gas burners. |
"Baby Gas Burners" are Mahle,
These are Pedrini
These are Fuchs
All REAL 914 wheels are 5.5x15 ET42 _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
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ghiafreek Samba Member

Joined: December 19, 2002 Posts: 958 Location: San Antonio, Tx
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2025 6:35 am Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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| So, Pedrini wheels have same specs as baby fuchs. I really like them. |
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Glenn  Mr. 010

Joined: December 25, 2001 Posts: 80342 Location: Sneaking up behind you
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Posted: Tue Nov 25, 2025 7:25 am Post subject: Re: Aftermarket wheels with stock specs 4x143 |
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| ghiafreek wrote: |
| So, Pedrini wheels have same specs as baby fuchs. I really like them. |
Yes _________________ Glenn
74 Beetle Specs | 74 Beetle Restoration | 2180cc Engine
"You may not get what you pay for, but you always pay for what you get"
Member #1009
#BlueSquare
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