Steel Wheel Question

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Does anyone know if the stock steel wheels were specific to the 914, or if they are the same as the Super Beetle wheels? I had heard the offset was different on the stock wheels.

I'm kinda debating taking my car completely back to stock and using the original wheels. Any idea what a set of those wheels would go for nowadays?

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

They don't cost much. Mike Willis up in Sac'to used to tell me they weren't even worth the cost of shipping. Try any of the places with used Porsche parts, they'll probably let the steelies go cheap.

Bug wheels (SB, Ghia, etc.) all have the wrong offset for the 914.

--DD

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

I just think it might be cool to score a pair, strip them, re-paint them aluminum, and mount period correct tires.

[Conrad W Peden]

I got mine for $30 CDN a wheel, thats about $23.50 US.

They were in really good condition too.

[maf 914]

I like the early steel wheels with the oval holes around the perimeter. It's a classic look. The later steel wheels, with the rectangular holes and raised cross-ribs in the center, don't look as good to me. I had these later wheels on my 76 originally.

Mike

[mikester]

I believe you should look for an "ET40" marking on them - that marking is also on the newer "mag-look" style.

I thought yours had the hubcaps on them - those are the real thing no? The chrome steels with the hub caps do look very classic. That's my second choice next to the 4-lug fuchs. I'd also check out the VW mags and see who is selling those wheels and then call em up just to see if they have what you're looking for. They will have them new if they do and that's better than used wheels. Then again, these cost so little used you can risk spending $25 on a wheel that's got run out.

Honestly I looked for a while and never got a satisfactory answer on how to identify real early steel wheels. Everything I saw had a 4.5" width and not a 5.5" width which I believe is what we want. Search past threads for info...

[Jared at Pelican Parts]

Mine are made by Western Wheel, Chrome 15 x 5.5 with the stock hubcap. They look good, but arent original.

[Scrappy]

Originally posted by mikester
Honestly I looked for a while and never got a satisfactory answer on how to identify real early steel wheels. Everything I saw had a 4.5" width and not a 5.5" width which I believe is what we want. Search past threads for info...

Real Steel Wheels are

RUSTY

like the rest of the car.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

BTW, the original standard wheels were 4.5" wide. There were 5.5" steelies that were optional, but most dealers installed them or alloys for extra dealer profit. The 4.5s were in theory a cost-cutting measure.

--DD

[HMeeder]

I believe Dave is right about the early wheels being 4.5" The later "VW Super Beetle" style are 5.5" and have the correct offset so you can mount wider tires (up to 205s.)

[stock steve]

Originally posted by mikester
I believe you should look for an "ET40" marking on them - that marking is also on the newer "mag-look" style.

Do both the 4.5" width and 5.5" width have ET40?

And if so, does anyone know of any decent restorable 5.5s @ ET40 (assuming the 914-original 5.5" wide steel "hubcap" wheels are ET40)?

Thanks,

Stock Steve
Stony Creek, CT