Fitting Non standard wheels- Photos/other info

That's rubbish.

You need the correct size, performance rating and load index.

 

I may be able to acquire some 15X7 wheels. Have doctored up a photo of what they would look like on Heidi. Am interested in thoughts/opinions on these. I quite like the look of them but have yet to trial fit for offset etc.

 

Hey Paul , very muscular for a German fraulein...but they look good. Low proflile tyres can add to a steroidy effect. John Doherty in Adelaide

 

Hi guys. Just a quick question . I have 14s on my 74 Bay. What size rims would I have to get to give my Kombi the effect of a 5th gear on the highway? I'm thinking 16 or 17 ... Does it really make a difference ? Cheers ...John.

 

John wheel size alone is irrelevant. You need to take wheel and tyre size into account. Stock bay tyres are 185 R14 which give you a rolling circumference of close to 2050mm. Increase your rolling circumference and you will decrease engine revs. Hers a tyre calculator which will assist. http://www.alloywheels.com/Tyre_Calculator

 

I'm running 17's with 50 series tyres and that equates to nearly the same rolling diameter as standard so I can't see you getting a 5th gear out of just changing the wheels.

 

No I agree 5th gear will be a stretch but decreasing revs is very possible. Even by keeping standard 14" wheels and using a 205 80 R15 will decrease revs by approx 5% or around 200RPM at 100kph.

 

That's a novel idea, putting 15" tyres on 14" wheels!:lol:

(Sorry I just couldn't help myself)

 

You know what I meant. :lol:

 

here are my wheels, 18'' x 8.5 AMG mag
tyres 235/40/18

 

Encountering pot holes, bumps or "speed humps" could be rather uncomfortable and damaging, with that wheel & tyre combination!

 

yeah, its not the comfiest ride, especially when i lower it
but its not that bad that i cant stand it or anything

 

Think I may have been parked next to you at the Bus Stop photo shoot in Nerang? These wheels looked good on your ute, I wish I had taken better notice. Did you need to get the centres machined and longer studs/different wheelnuts to fit these? Thanks, Paul

 

Thanks for the response Bert, these wheels aren't too far from me so might as well check them out. Offset may be the clincher on my Bay, the I think these are offset about 25. Cheers, Paul

 

well guys you can only go up two inches in rim diameter and circumerfrence can be no more than 13mm larger than standard origional tyre. so if your looking merc and you have 14" wheels you probably want 16" x 7" x 37mm offset and 5 x 112 stud pattern with a 14mm bolt hole. You will be best off with extended studs on the rear axle and standard merc bolts will fit the front. 14mm.

 

Here we go again, the wheel/tyre urban myths are coming out of the woodwork!

From "Vehicle Standards Information No. 9" (RTA NSW)

"Wheels up to 26mm wider than the largest optional wheel recommended by the vehicle manufacturer can be fitted."

"The outside diameter of the wheel tyre combination must be no more than 15mm over the largest wheel tyre combination specified for the vehicle."


(Now somebody tell me that you must have light truck tyres on a Kombi or it will cause global warming or whatever!)