Tires

shamandog · 08-05-2003, 06:50 PM

Hello:

I have a 1974 914 2.0 L. It is in need of new tires. I am certain this question has been answered before but....
What is the widest tire I can use? It has 15 inch wheels and no fender flares. Right now the tires are 165. I was told once that the widest you could use are 195's.

Thanks for your help

Richard

Tidybuoy · 08-05-2003, 08:49 PM

I have P205 50 15's with no tire rubbing problems at all. However, I am told that certain rims will cause certain tires to rub. I don't have stock rims, I have western wheels that are 15 x 5.5

mikester · 02:41 AM

Western wheels? Got a pic?

It really depends on the wheels, I think the steel wheels let you run basically what you have - 165s. The 2.0L alloys and Mahles though could let you run up to 205s in the rear and probably 195s in the front depending on your clearance (it's a little different for each car). Rolling the rear fenders helps and if done right you can't even tell it's been done. I run 185s with the Mahles and I ran them on the 2.0L alloys as well. Seemed to be the perfect size for me.

M. Hendrix · 08-06-2003, 05:25 AM

With a tad bit of pulling, and tugging, you can get 205/65s under there, perfect rolling diameter.

M

Alfred1 · 08-06-2003, 06:30 AM

I believe these are Western wheels. I have the same ones on my car.

Alfred

skline · skline's Garage

I have the Mahle wheels and I run 205-60-15 all the way around.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

Real 914 wheels (steel or alloy) will let you run 195/XX-15 tires. (65 profile if you want to stay close to stock gearing and speedometer/odometer readings.) The only possible rubbing issues will be up front, on the inner fender well just aft of the shock tower. The tires will usually rub a little at full steering lock. Most people just accept that as the price of using wider tires.

Many, but not all, 914s can fit 205s on stock 914 wheels under stock fenders. There is a little rub up front as mentioned with the 195s, but the real issue is in the back of the car, with the outer fender wall near the fender lip. On some cars, 205s will rub there on one side of the car. 205/60-15 is a good size that is close to the diameter of the original tires.

VW Bug wheels will only let you fit 165s. They move the tires out further in the fenders, and pretty much anything wider than 165 will rub one outer fender lip or another.

--DD

Will98D · 08-06-2003, 07:35 AM

What is the backspacing on those 15x5.5 Westerns? I just got a set on a junker I bought and am wondering whether to market them to the VW-only crowd or both VW and 914.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

What size tire is on them? Does it rub? If the answers are "something larger than 165" and "no", that tells you that the wheels are 914 wheels and not Bug wheels.

914 wheels have a bit less than 5" of backspacing. Bug wheels have considerably less.

--DD

p914 · 08-06-2003, 08:31 AM

I run the 2.0 fuchs wheels and easily fit the 205 60 15 on front and rear. The offset is the important factor.

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-06-2003, 08:49 AM

Dave, so what you are saying is that the stock 914 wheels with the hubcaps can only run 165's?

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

No, I'm saying that Bug wheels can only run 165s. Stock 914 steel wheels should be able to fit 195s or possibly even 205s.

--DD

Jared at Pelican Parts · 08-06-2003, 02:48 PM

well what i understood was that the stock 914 wheels with the hubcaps WERE Bug wheels.

Alfred1 · 08-06-2003, 03:20 PM

A few weeks ago, someone posted a link to an excellent web site that had photos of all (or most) of the four-bolt wheels that will fit our cars. My 'puter crashed about a week ago and I lost all of my bookmarks ... can someone please post the link again?

Thanks,
Alfred

M. Hendrix · 08-06-2003, 03:21 PM

No, the back spacing is different.

M

mikester · 08-07-2003, 08:23 AM

What I read last night in my 914 restoration book was that the stock steel wheels were right off the VW shelf, both versions. Which means they would not have the back spacing of the alloys. I'll get the exact details tonight.

Dave at Pelican Parts · Dave at Pelican Parts's Garage

That is not precisely correct. They were off the VW shelf, but they were not the standard Bug offset. I have read somewhere that the wheels were the same offset as those used on the "Sun Bug", but I cannot find confirmation of that. I suspect that they were an offset made for some specific VW, but it ain't the Bug.

The 914 steel wheels have about 4 5/8" backspacing. The Bug wheels have much less in general.

--DD

shamandog · 08-07-2003, 12:34 PM

Thanks for all of your help. I have the same wheels as member p914. He has a link to his car in his post on this tread. I just got a set of 195/65's. The fit fine--And WOW! What a great ride.

Thanks again

Richard

M. Hendrix · 08-07-2003, 01:05 PM

http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_wheel_types/914_wheel_types.htm

That Alf?

M

Alfred1 · 08-07-2003, 03:18 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by M. Hendrix
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/914_wheel_types/914_wheel_types.htm

That Alf?

M

That's a good one too, thanks. I was actually thinking about the "4 Lug Wheels" link at the bottom of this page http://mywebpages.comcast.net/nicanor/Main2.htm . It's down now but it was ok a couple of hours ago. BTW, you sound like my brother.

Alfred