Another tire question

[village idiot]

Hi all! I just picked up a set of 16x6" and 16x7" Fuchs for my 74 914 and I plan to run 205/50-16 front and 225/50-16 rear tires. Does anyone see any potential problems with this combo?

For reference here's a pic of the rear of my car with my custom made 16x9.5" Fuchs with 245/45-16 tires borrowed from my 78 SC-RS project.



Note that at some point one of the previous owners modded the rear quarter panels. Probably to clear larger tires.

Thanks in advance,
Tom

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Looks kind of like SC flares on that 914. Yes, it can be done... No idea what size tires will fit decently under those particular fenders. Measure what you have, and see how much more room you need than what you have. At a guess, the 225s on 7s will be about 2.5"-3" narrower than what you have, though it depends a whole lot on the exact tires in each case. Figure half of that distance to each side of the rim (unless you know the differences in offset or backspacing), and then figure something like 1/4" extra room on each side for tire deflection and such. And you may need more than that 1/4"...

You're almost completely certain to get 205s on 7s under the rear fenders. They don't work on most 914s with stock rear fenders, unless some "heroics" are done, but those fenders look wider than stock. Maybe 215s will work, maybe even 225s. But it would be a very very good idea to measure first, before you buy the wheels and tires....

--DD

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

But it would be a very very good idea to measure first, before you buy the wheels and tires....

--DD

Thanks Dave!
Already have the wheels(couldn't pass up a deal, 4 for $250) I guess I'll rob the RS project of it's front tires and see how they fit.

[village idiot]

Got some pics today after I bought some tires. Everything fits rather nicely and there's plenty of clearance!

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Very nice! Are those the 225s?

--DD

[village idiot]

Originally Posted by Dave at Pelican Parts

Very nice! Are those the 225s?

--DD

Yup! 225/50-16's no issues to speak of and I may even try spacing the fronts out a bit (1"). Today I think I'll remove the bumperettes to clean up both ends of the car.

I also have a ducktail on the way. Then I'll leave it alone for awhile until my SC to RS conversion is near completion. Then who knows??

The SC will eventually receive a larger engine and the 3.0 will find it's way into the 914