will 205/50/15 on 15 x 5.5 fit?

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Just wondering if anyone knows if 205/50/15s will fit on a stock steel wheel...

[skline]

I run Mahle's with 205's I dont think there would be a problem.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

They fit on the wheel, no problem.

On some 914s, they won't clear the rear fender on one side. On most they will. The only way to know for sure is to try.

Note that Bug wheels have a very different backspacing and you cannot fit anything wider than 165s without hitting the rear fenders.

--DD

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Dave, do you know how to calculate backspacing? I know they arent the stock steel wheels

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Put the wheel on the ground, with the "face" of the wheel down. Put a board or piece of angle iron or something else that is straight and long enough across the back of the wheel. Measure the distance down from this straightedge to the surface that goes against the hub when the wheel is mounted.

If you have about 4 3/4" to 5" worth, it ought to work. If you only have 3 1/2" or so, then stick with 165s.

--DD

[red-beard]

50's are going to screw up the speedo readings. 205 65's give you the closest OD.

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I can already tell by looking that there is about 4 inch difference in the steel wheels to the Fuchs

[peter carroll]

Thats good if the difference is in the back.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

No, it isn't.... The stock four-bolt Fuchs have very close to the perfect backspacing to fit as wide a tire as possible. Changing much from that at all will reduce the width of the tire you can fit under stock fenders.

--DD

[HMeeder]

Jared;

If you are talking about the 914 stock steel wheels, I have 205/50/15s on mine (for my track tires.) They fit with about a fingers width of clearance on the rear. Like Dave says, there are inconsistencies from car to car (depending on whether Klaus had a 2 bier or 3 bier lunch that day.)

Under severe cornering loads the inner sidewall does rub a tiny bit and has polished a clean crescent on the inner well. I would suggest finding a vendor with a scrap tire of that size (many tire places have single used tires that some people will purchase as spares) and have them throw it on the rim. Try it on both sides for clearance. If the guy really wants to sell you a set of tires, he'd prolly be willing to do it.