Cheap 914 autocross wheels

[srb7f]

I'm looking for a set of cheap autocross rims. I have an extra set of Riviera wheels, but have heard that it's not a good idea to autocross with these wheels. Is there any truth to this? If so, what is the cheapest set of rims I could buy to get the job done and what should I expect to pay for them?

A 205/50/15 is the largest tire you can run with stock fenders, correct? Any help is greatly appreciated. Steve

[sean_V8_914]

I bought my track car from a guy that was an instructor in teh San Fran area PCA. he ran Sumitomo race tires on Rivieras. I have heard that Rivys are bad for this but he did it and so will I

[itsa914]

I am just using a set of 74 steel rims on my 70. I am running Falken Azenis 205 50 15. A PO rolled the fender lips so they fit just fine.

- Garold

[campbellcj]

IMHO, spring for the factory Fuchs. They are the lightest, strongest and best-looking choice for the money.

For autocross use, a 205/50R15 tire will give you some gearing advantage and also happens to be a pretty popular size since it's used on a variety of spec-racers and import street-sport cars.

You used to be able to get 205/60 DOT-R compound tires, which suited our cars' factory gearing better, but they are NLA.

[Bleyseng]

find a set of Mahles to use. The 205 will fit on the 5.5 rims but its not the best, sixes work better. Some have the steel wheels rewelded to six wide but they do crack.
Steelies are heavy too and so I prefer to use a alloy rim to keep weight down.
What tires are you planning on running?

Geoff

[Zeke]

For wheels, maybe you better jump on this.

[HMeeder]

Sean;

Most Rivieras are offset for use on VWs. You happen to have a set that were manufactured for use on the 914. I haven't seen too many like yours. I had a car with Rivs, but the widest I could go without having to roll the fenders was 165/60/15. like Dave says, there is a great amount of variety from car to car. There was a guy in AX last year who ran 205s on his Rivs, but he rolled the fenders and raised the rear about an inch to keep them from rubbing. I hate that 'stinkbug' look. It may work for a '70 Nova, but the 914 should be hunkered down, ready for the next corner!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Rivs do work, if they're the right offset for a 914. Check the backspacing (the distance between the inner edge of the wheel and the plane where the wheel sits on the hub), it should be close to 5". If it's more like 2" or 3", you have Bug wheels. You won't fit more than 165s most likely with those.

Rivs are not the strongest wheels in the world. I've seen quite a few of them with cracks. If you run them, check them before and after every event.

The stock Fuchs wheels are the lightest and strongest of the wheels that fit our cars--at least, that I know of so far. They're 1 lb lighter than the Mahles (~13 lbs. vs. ~14 for the Mahles), but those are also fine. Did we mention that light is good?

The cheapest autoX rims you can get would be steelies. Because the 914 steel wheels fit, and they're frequently almost free. They're also heavy, but they're quite strong and will bend rather than cracking.

--DD

[srb7f]

Milt- I just checked out the ad in the recycler, and those tires are 14"x 7" wheels---will those fit under a stock fender? Steve

[sean_V8_914]

Thanks guys. I did not know that these Rivis were "special" offset. Just for BBS value, I will go measure them

[sean_V8_914]

Rivieras measure 4.7"
Phone dials 5"
Fuchs 4.8"

[srb7f]

What type of wheels are my Rivieras then 914 or bug? I just measured the offset by setting a bar of metal along the back of the rim and measuring down to the face that bolts to the disc and it's just under 4", yet I have 195/60/15s street tires on the car with what looks like more than 5mm on each side so that I could stuff a 205 on there (should I mount up autocross tires on the extra rivs). What's the deal with this?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Just under 4"? Sounds more like a 914 offset than a Bug offset--especially because you can fit 195s and it looks like you have room for more. But it's odd that a wheel with 4" backspacing looks like it will fit 205s. Perhaps your fenders were rolled or pulled out? Or perhaps you have a lot of negative camber? That helps fit the top of the tires under the outer fender better.

Remember that the tires and suspension will give a little and move around when you load and unload the suspension. So you need to have some room between the tire and fender. I usually tell people to leave about a quarter-inch, but how much you really need depends on how much everything gives.

--DD

[Will98D]

One of the 914 books I have in storage lists the right backspacing, but I believe the bug wheels are about 3-3/4 to 4, and the 914 are 4-1/2 to 4-3/4.