wheel width

I have a flared speedster (CMC) and would like to know how wide of a wheel can actually fit?
I have found a 4 piece of three piece gotti wheels (15x8 on 130mm)
They came off a 911.
I currently have a 1974 VW chassis (IRS)
Please help if possible. These are a great deal and I don't want to loose them if they can work.

Thanks,
John

I went with 245/35/17's all around. I think with careful planning you could squeeze 255's under there.

Jerome

Thanks Jerome.
I took a look at your speedster. nice.
Did you make those spacers or send them out for machining. Cost?
I am still trying to decide on these wheels.

John
AKA -- "johns 356c red and white"

I have a machinist buddy who works for beer. We have about 20 man hours in them. 20 hours X $60/hr = $1100 + material

Jerome

You can buy wheel spacers for most patterns. For Porsche patterns, look at tweeks. For VW patterns, look at CB or Aircooled. I run 16" Fuch 7" rear and 6" front on the rear with 225 16 50s and 205 16 50s on the front. I could run wider on the front, but think it is more balanced with the 205s front and 225s rear. I am not sure that I could get 245 16s on my car, even with the spacers.

(Message Edited 5/16/2003 2:32:18 PM)

I'm curious about the use wide wheels and tires. Above and beyond the fact that they greatly increase usprung weight beyond the design limitations of the original suspension components and probably have a negative effect on handling, is the reason for their use purely cosmetic?

My comment about negative effect on handling is based on the fact that heavy, extra wide front wheels in particular will probably cause additional steering effort, accellerated wear on brake components and wheel bearings, etc.

I also have a flared body, my tires are 205 all around, great execution, great look, Ron you are probably right

SEE ( STABILIZING BAR FOR VS )

john check out my pictures with a 205

I for one like slightly wider than stock rims and tires on these cars, but I am not a traditionalist. (My '78 IM came with 4.5" rims & 165 tires!)

How in the world can any lightweight car with fairly serious horsepower effectively put that power to the ground without a healthy rubber footprint? And if pushing your car's performance window with all that horsepower, and you have upgraded brakes too, more rubber helps you stop.

The main reason I like bigger tires is I like the look.

George, I'm confused about your comments. Are you saying that any tire size over 165 will exceed design limitations? If so, why were you running 195's on your old car? For looks? I wouldn't imagin that your car would have handled better with the stock 165's than with the 195's. It seems more likely to me that the engine you were running would have exceeded the design limitations of the tires.

When it comes to unspring weight, isn't it the job of the shocks to deal with that? I seems to me that if you upgrade to modern shocks you are improving the design and extending its limitations with repect to dealing with unspring weight. I understand that increasing unsprung weight is not a good thing, but this is not a concern unique to the VW/Speedster suspension.

Hey Jerome,
20 hrs. X $60 / hr = 1200!
Please post a message when the beer truck arrives. I think the members of the board would like to help you drink the beer.
John H.

Ron, I had 195/65x15 tires with 5.5x15 wheels on my "D" and frankly, the tires were too large. My new Speedster will be running 185/60x15 or 185/65x15 tires on 10.lb. 5.5x15 aluminum rims. A 215 or 225 size tire and wide rim increase weight by a lot - weigh them and see.

The shock absorbers job is not to contend with unsprung weight but rather to dampen sudden up/down wheel movements.

George, with all due respect, I must disagree with you with regard to un-sprung weight and whether the shock must/can deal with it. The more the un-sprung weight the more work it is for the shock to dampen the motion of the suspension. More modern shocks can do a better job of that than the ones designed 50 years ago.

Also, believe me I do understand that wider tires are going to weight more, that

As stated earlier I like the look of the slightly wider rims and tires as compared to stock, and even if what George suggests is the handling gospel, and it may well be, but it isn't like when I head out to get another six-pack of ice-cold Pabst Blue Ribbon beer I will be driving at race track speeds, even if I could.

I will sacrifice a bit of unsprung weight for the look I want. I also note that when I turned to Sir Henry of IM for advice he suggested his modified seven-inch rims for the rear.

I like them for cosmetics and handling.

Also, 16 x 6 & 7 Fuch wheels are quite a bit lighter than the original narrow steel wheels. Add the high performance low profile and I'd bet the tire weight is pretty comprable. Now take into consideration that they are spaced wider, so sure there is some leverage difference. But our roads are more smooth, and our cars are a little lighter so I don't think I'm really stretching the design limits too badly. I do check the bearings much more often, but have not even had to pull the cap and tighten the front wheel bearing yet. We'll see.

But they do look good on these wide bodies. More meat on the road too.

Jack, 6x16 and 7x16 forged Fuchs wheels are actually fairly heavy. Put one on a scale and you may be surprised. Mahle cast magnesium "gas burners" are 9.9 lbs. each, and Bivens aluminum 356A/B wheels are 10 lbs.

Where can I find pictures of the wheels you're talking about, George? I really like the looks of the black Fuchs w/ polished surround. Does anyone make a lighter look-alike?

Thanks.

Bruce, Fuchs replica wheels are cast, not forged, so they are a little lighter but also not as strong. I assume you mean the 5-spoke Fuchs like the ones that were on my 1973 1/2 Targa - black spokes with polished rims? These are often for sale on Ebay.

I've not put the 16" Fuchs on a scale, but I have lifted them and compared to the original VW steel wheels I'd bet they are close, or lighter. Certainly within specs. Now I don't know about the Mahel Mag wheels, but I'd think they would be favorable over steel wheels with chrome caps. Don't forget you even save a little in the mag lug nuts over steel. These lighter 50 series radials are probably as light as the old 70 series bia ply tires.

Bottom line, I'm not thinking that we are pushing the design envelop of the bearings with Fuch wheels and wider tires. I have no specs, just a sense.

Bruce, if you want some Fuch wheels in beautiful condition check out: www.wheelenhancement.com/main.htm
Ron

Thanks everyone for your responses.
I am noticing after reading these reply's that it will probably just come down to personal preference.
I did buy these Gotti wheels. The deal was such that it cost less than $50 bucks a wheel (including shipping)for a very nice Porsche style wheel that weighs substantially less than the stock steel wide fives that I have now.
I haven't decided which wheel I will use yet because the car has a ways to go but I now have an option....I respect everyones opinions and disagreements. It is what makes each of us and our cars different.
I can say that I will be selling one of these sets of wheels in the future so I will post later. The stock chrome 5.5's are new never used.

Thanks again