will these tires rub?

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 4:47 pm

I'm running a 73 superbeetle in HS in solo2. With the 5.5 steelies, will 205/50/15 rub on the struts? I've got the aftermarket 5.5 chrome wheels and have access to the sports bug wheels et26. Does anyone know for sure? I am running stock height struts. Thanks

gcorrado · Post by **gcorrado** » Tue Jan 10, 2006 11:35 pm

sorry, don't know for sure.

Post by **Marc** » Wed Jan 11, 2006 7:02 am

There were two styles of Super front suspension used in `73. There's less clearance on the early 1302 setup (bolt-in balljoint) than there is on the late 1303 (pressed-in balljoint). The ET26 rims were made to allow 175/70s to clear the 1302 suspension, later cars got ET34 - the ET26 rims will give an extra 5/16" clearance on a 1303 which you'd probably need for 205s...never tried it, don't know for sure. If it's 1302 and the backspace is more than ~4¼" on those chrome rims they aren't going to work without spacers.
IMO you're better off with a 195 on 5½" rims, the 205 has more sidewall squirm in hard cornering.

gcorrado · Post by **gcorrado** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 12:45 am

Marc, you have probably forgotten more about VWs than I could ever hope you learn.

Post by **Marc** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 8:10 am

That's why I'm here - I need to download what I still remember before it's all gone

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Thu Jan 12, 2006 4:55 pm

The wayI understand it is a little different.I do understand about the different ball joints, most likely a chassis number would nail that down for the change. But the wheel thing I heard totally different. According to numerous threads on Superbeetlesonly.com the ET26 wheel was only available on the Sports bug, the 73 only option. The ET34 wheel came on 914s. If you can prove that ET 34 wheels or ET26 wheels came on ANY other model, year, or option package, please let me know so I don't have to replicate the sports bug just to run the 5.5 wheels in stock class for solo2. And I'm talking about from the factory, not as a dealer bolt on. Has to be from the factory to be legal. Thanks, greg

Post by **Marc** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 8:11 am

Show them the specs in the Bentley manual, see if they'll buy that. The inflation-pressure decal in the glovebox (used on all models) should show both the 165 and 175/70 tire sizes, the latter implying wider rims - I know that's weak evidence, but it could help support your case.
5½" VW rims came in ET26 and ET34; 914/4 Porsche had the ET40, VW ET41 were 4½".
131 601 025 (ET26) was the Lemmertz GT rim used on the Sports bugs between VIN 1332000001 and 1333021911; the 4½" rim during this period was 111 605 025F (ET34 std wheel w/hubcap) or 111 605 025J (ET34 Lemmertz).
From VIN 1342000001 on the 5½" rim was 131 601 025A (ET34) and the 4½" was 111 601 025G (ET41 std wheel w/hubcap) or 111 605 025K (ET41 Lemmertz).
Quite a few special edition cars got Lemmertz rims (the 4½" version became standard in the last years of production) - unfortunately I don't know which ones besides the Sports may have had 5½"...according to this site, the `73 "Yellow & Black Racer" and `74 1303 "Big Beetle" had 'em, there could be more:
http://www.sebeetles.com/contents.htm
1333003665 was the last VIN for the 1302-style front struts; the ET26 rim was no longer needed for clearance after that but wasn't replaced by the ET34 until the beginning of the `74 model year.
I've read of exceptions to the above, but suspect that those cars may have had the tires/rims switched by the dealer - or maybe they had some leftovers at the end of the model year which got used up after the "official" switch.

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Fri Jan 13, 2006 4:37 pm

Thanks for the numbers! According to the SCCA I have to be able to back it up with factory literature supporting my claim if I should be protested. I know for sure that the 73 sports bug had them, and I have a 73 super with the early bolt on ball joint. When it comes to the rim numbers which one has which offset? The sports bug I saw with ET26 wheels looked like they added the width to the outside of the rim. When I speak of offset I measure from the mounting face of the center to the edge of the rim. Got any numbers for them? I'd help alot. Or maybe I should just use the steelies and go with the 195/50 and be done with it. Thanks marc. Greg

Guest · Post by **Guest** » Sun Jan 15, 2006 5:50 pm

I think you will find the selection of R compound tires in 195-50-15 is very limited if not non-existent.

Kelly

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Sat Feb 04, 2006 9:55 am

Glad I stuck with the 195's! I got Hankook ventus212, a new autocross tire. I got two fitted this morning and they are huge! Very short but way wide. I doubt that the 205's ina 50 series would have fit on the rim. The 195 was close enough. Cheers, greg

ericsbracer · Post by **ericsbracer** » Tue Feb 07, 2006 12:44 pm

205/50x15's will rub if you are running stock springs... it's close, but they will. You can use the Sport+ or any tapered spring and that will cure the rub problem. The bigger problem with that size tire on Chromies is fender clearance. I had to run about 2 inches of bump stops (rubber donuts) on the strut to keep the fender from coming down on the tire.

Here's a pretty good picutre of what 205's are like..

http://www.superbeetlesonly.com/forum/i ... si&img=708

Chris V · Post by **Chris V** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 10:14 am

To the best of my knowledge the 5.5" wheels came in ET26 and ET40 and the 4.5" wheels came in ET34 and ET41...

...so to say I don't believe there is a 5.5" ET34.

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Sun Feb 12, 2006 4:24 pm

I'm in stock class, so no aftermarket springs or lowering. 195's on the chromies it is! They're about2.5 inches lower all around so that helps too.

Post by **Marc** » Mon Feb 13, 2006 5:58 am

Chris V wrote:...so to say I don't believe there is a 5.5" ET34.

Chris was raised to be a skeptic - he's never seen one personally and won't take my (or Bentley's) word for it... I'll have to go out and find one to show him.
Years ago I ran a repair shop next door to a VW wrecking yard, and on their racks were 5½" Lemmertz rims in ET26 & 34 from bugs as well as ET40 and 41 from 914/4s.
Basically, the ET26 was the 5½" rim for cars which had an ET34 4½" standard, and the ET34 5½" was used on cars that had the ET41 4½" standard.

volkswagen50 · Post by **volkswagen50** » Thu Mar 09, 2006 4:48 pm

I scored a set of Sportsbug wheels on the samba. 165 for a set of 4, blasted to bare metal. Comparing them to the aftermarket steelies they have the same offset. Greg