Porsche 914 Wheels

[mountainkowboy]

So are 914 wheels any different than bug wheels? I mean is the offset any different?

[Marc]

914 Porsche rims are 5½" wide and ET40.
VW made both 4½" and 5½" wide "Sports" wheels in the `70s which have the same spoked center as the steel 914 rims; the slots are coined slightly differently at the edges but are very close to the Porsche (close enough that most people wouldn't notice).
5½" ET40 will NOT fit the front of a 1302 Super with stock-diameter coil springs (unless spacers are employed) - they require the 5½" ET26 or the 4½" ET34. With smaller-diameter springs, the 5½" ET34, 4½" ET41, or possibly even the Porsche 5½" ET40 should fit.

If you're thinking of the alloy "2-liter" Porsche rim, I don't know the offset (ET number) off the top of my head but it's probably close to the ET40 of the steel rims. There are aftermarket repops (EMPI) which may have less backspace than the genuine Porsche - I've seen the backspace of the EMPIs claimed as 3.7" and 4", while the stock Porsche is more like 4½" or 4¾".

This is the "Fuchs" 4-lug, I believe that the Mahles and Pedrinis had the same offset. http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticle ... _types.htm

I once had a set of the 914 steel rims on a Squareback, where they fit nicely with no spacers. I used aftermarket trim rings on them like this:



Attached file shows the four stock VW Sports wheels:

[Piledriver]

914 rims also include the "Mahles" and the Pedrinis, both are ET35-40 range in 5.5"
Smaller front springs and some bump stop shaving out back, and or spacers.
(at 50 feet it's hard to see the difference between the Mahles and Pedrinis)

Those and the stock 4.5s IIRC had a bit more offset that the std Bug version, probably same as supers.

The factory alloys are nice pressure die castings.

[Chris V]

A set of 5.5" wheels & tires we put together awhile back that I refinished...ET26 Sport Bug rims w/reverse centers, and the 914 ET40's. Ended up using ~8mm spacers on a stock-ish '69 to make the Sport Beetle rims effectively ET18...to essentially achieve what the tuner kids now called 'stanced' on back
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v212/ ... 010021.jpg

[mountainkowboy]

And there even 4 X 130 pattern.............HMMMMMMMM

[mountainkowboy]

This is the "Fuchs" 4-lug

I believe those are also ET40 wheels from what I can find. However Empi make a copy of that wheel in a 15x5.5-ET35, in either all chrome or the standard black/chrome. I'm REALLY kinda liking the "vintage" look of these on bugs that I've seen. (I've been trying to figure out what wheel to go with) The more I look at the Honda wheels that I have the less I like them, still in the air though.





A TOTAL 70's throwback with a modern flair......eh....eh...you feel me? Pop-outs, maybe a ragtop..........

[Marc]

ET35 is nearly the same as the ET34 Sports wheel used on the late Supers - depending upon the tire used, they may not give enough sidewall clearance to a stock-diameter spring on a 1302 without a ~¼" spacer. No sweat if you go with the Top Line springs though.