EMPI 8 SPOKE TIRE SIZE help

EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM · Post by **EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM** » Mon Nov 28, 2005 6:56 pm

Hello my fellow bug fan . I have a 67 beetle that is in need of rims and tires i just modified the entire suspension all new joint with disk brake set up all the way arourd and drop spindles about 2.5 drop . My current stock rims rub on the front 165-85-15 with stock 4x130 bolt patter. My only choice that ic that i have are empi rims not much selection . I want to go wide on the front with low profile what tire combo would be adequate for the empi 8 spoke 15x5.5 ? i leaning towards 215-55-15 for the rear tires. any suggestion would greatly be appreciated.

Sixty3GL · Post by **Sixty3GL** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 9:33 pm

215's are IMO too wide for a 5.5" rim. 195's are hard to mount on empi rims. 205's might fit, but I'd go with 195/55/15 or a 60 series in the rear and 195/50/15 on the front. If your beam isn't narrowed then you won't get low w/o rubbing.

barls · Post by **barls** » Tue Nov 29, 2005 10:38 pm

i run 205/60 on the same rim no problems but am looking at going to 215/65 or 70 on the rear to lower the revs at 110km/hr

EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM · Post by **EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM** » Wed Nov 30, 2005 7:17 pm

Sixty3GL wrote:215's are IMO too wide for a 5.5" rim. 195's are hard to mount on empi rims. 205's might fit, but I'd go with 195/55/15 or a 60 series in the rear and 195/50/15 on the front. If your beam isn't narrowed then you won't get low w/o rubbing.

Ive heard ups and and downs on 195/50/15 on some others it rubs and other doesnt? on the front i mean The ones that rub are they droped ? cause mines rub on the inner lip of the fender but iam sure its cause of the profile ? should i be worried about steering rubing with that size tire ?

vujade · Post by **vujade** » Thu Dec 01, 2005 6:30 am

EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM wrote:
Sixty3GL wrote:215's are IMO too wide for a 5.5" rim. 195's are hard to mount on empi rims. 205's might fit, but I'd go with 195/55/15 or a 60 series in the rear and 195/50/15 on the front. If your beam isn't narrowed then you won't get low w/o rubbing.
Ive heard ups and and downs on 195/50/15 on some others it rubs and other doesnt? on the front i mean The ones that rub are they droped ? cause mines rub on the inner lip of the fender but iam sure its cause of the profile ? should i be worried about steering rubing with that size tire ?

on the front i would use a 175/55/15 or 175/65/15 depending on how
tall you want it...these fit a 5.5" rim perfect. they do not stick over the
sides of the rim and bulge out.

175/55 is 22.75" tall
175/65 is 24" tall

You could even use them on the rear as well unless you want to go
wider. Then I would use either a 185/55/15 or a 195/60/15 or even
a 195/65/15 if you want to be closer to the OG diameter of the stock
165.

Mudder · Post by **Mudder** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 10:17 am

Some other wheel options include all the Porsche 4 bolt alloys. Mahle, Pedrini, Riviera, etc. They're found pretty easy at 15 by 5.5.

BRM's are another good looking option that can be had with 5.5 and 6" widths.

Sixty3GL · Post by **Sixty3GL** » Wed Dec 07, 2005 10:32 pm

EZ-PEFORMANCE.COM wrote:
Sixty3GL wrote:215's are IMO too wide for a 5.5" rim. 195's are hard to mount on empi rims. 205's might fit, but I'd go with 195/55/15 or a 60 series in the rear and 195/50/15 on the front. If your beam isn't narrowed then you won't get low w/o rubbing.
Ive heard ups and and downs on 195/50/15 on some others it rubs and other doesnt? on the front i mean The ones that rub are they droped ? cause mines rub on the inner lip of the fender but iam sure its cause of the profile ? should i be worried about steering rubing with that size tire ?

First get a narrowed beam, 3" is good, 4" will work too. You could run 175/55's, that would look really good on a 5.5" rim with a 4" narrowed beam and dropped spindles. You could also run the 195/50's.