Finally new rims & Tires

[robphelan]

Well, finally decided on getting a new set of wheels. It's not easy finding 914 rims in San Antonio, so I went with VW EMPIs - 5.5". I think they look really cool. It transformed the entire look of the car.
The only problem was with the tires. I bought 4 205/60/R15. Well, as I later read on our illustrious BB, most 914s don't have the same clearance at all 4 corners.
After mounting the tires, my rear passenger tire was rubbing the fender (I wondered what that burning rubber smell was)... I replaced that one with a 195/60 & it fit fine. I'm debating on switching the other rear wheel to a 195.. I think I'm going to wait for awhile since I don't drive it more that 5 or so miles a week - until I get the interior finished.

sorry.. the images are kinda big.

[Dave at Pelican Parts]

Switch it. In fact, I would recommend switching all four tires to 195s. Having mis-matched tires left-to-right is just plain bad. Having mis-matched ones front to rear isn't so bad, but isn't a really great thing in a balanced car like a 914.

--DD

[sammyg2]

How hard was it rubbing? Are your fenders pulled at all?
On the three 914s I have owned, I was able to grab the rear fenders with my hands (wearing gloves) and pull on the fender enough to give the tires around 3/8" of an inch more side clearance. That was without pulling real hard. It didn't really change the fender enough to notice, just gave it more room. Many owners have used a wooden dowel and rolled the fender lip under a little, but that has a chance of cracking paint.
The wheels you have look nice, but I think they have less offset than the fuchs, so they stick out a little more. This makes it even more necessary to pull the fenders specially with 205s on the rear.
BTW, very nice car. Everyone knows that Yellow Porsches are faster :-)

[norustscott]

Switch it soon...with different diameter tires on the rear your Differential is working overtime...the greater the delta in size the more it works...

[Pritchard]

I like the look of those rims. How much would a set of 4 rims cost? Not too many people around here willing to part with Porsche rims at a price that I am willing to pay.

Thanks

Pritchard

[robphelan]

Luckily, I only drove it about 6 miles before I noticed the rubbing. All the damage was done to the tire - not much to the fender.. There's even a little bit of rubber stuck to the inside of the fender still waiting to be removed. I didn't want to take a chance with rounding out the fenders with dowels or a bat.. not enough experience with body work...

I bought them at a local VW shop (Bug-E-Warehouse) for $96/each. The BF Goodrich tires I bought at SAM's for about $57/each.

[Joe Bob]

Your biggest problem is that those wheels are made for VWs, like the Rivieras. The offset is different from the steel wheels or the Fuchs/Mahles/Pedrinis that came with the car....

The offset pushes the wheel face out and you can only get 195s under the wheel wells as opposed to 205 with the right offset. You can roll the fenders....paint might crack, or you can live with 195s or get the right wheels....

[kenschipper]

What model BF Goodrich did you get. I'm looking at 195's with similar rims.

[robphelan]

I believe they were the advantage T/A tires.

[Eat-um-up]

I spent just a little more on tires ($80 a tire ).. but i got some Bridgestone BT 70's on mine.. 195's.. thier on my riviaras and they made a wonderful differnce in handling from those 165 r15's

[JRust]

I bought EMPI'S too! I unfortunately bought 15x6 & can only fit 165/15's. Talk about dissappointment! I thought about pulling the fender alot when I was switching tires (we went through 4 sets berfore settling on the 165's. Even then I needed to shave the inner lip about a 1/4 inch to make them fit. I love the look of them but will probably be in the market for some used Fuchs. That or I'm gonna go full boar for flairs. My biggest problem is I just painted it. Should of figured all this out 1st. Good luck! Any solution you find post it please!!!