widening steelies

[Gipson]

any one here have any experience with widening steels
ie cost per corner, many places about able to do them?
best steelies to use? im guessing fourteen or thirteens are used?

edit* some of you wheel lovers chime in if possible what are the best size tyres for getting this sort of stretch
aiming for a look much like this




Dan

[paulie71]

I know they used to do it quite a bit with old beetle rims back in the 80's and 90's but haven't heard of it since then. Have a chat with a local shop that still plays with beetles, they might know if it is still done.

Only issue is if it has been outlawed or public liability made it unviable.

[Water Boy]

Select your own width and offset. Get some standard centres (13,14 or 15) and take thme to a wheels works. They will replace the standerd hoop with one of your desired width.

[Gipson]

cheers mate, so standard golf rims will be fine. I'm an offset novice to be honest any ideas what you think I should go for?
paulie funny you say that, was a yellow beetle with widened steels down at the dock we were working at today that cemented the idea for me, ive found a place that repairs steel wheels in perth so im sure they will be able to or know of somewhere

obviously running stretched tyres like this isnt overly safe? just how dangerous is it?

[MiKe1_golf]

I've looked into it a bit, expect to pay up to $ 150 per corner. Unpainted. I got the impression from calling around that not many places are interested in taking on the job. Try hot rod suppliers/workshops it's pretty common to widen steelies on drag cars and hot rods etc. Get mk3 steelies. 14x7.5 +15 is what I was going for. Search vwvortex there's a bit off offset info on there that will be handy.

[Jarred]

they look like 13x8 with ET0. imo. doesn't look good imo, but it's your choice.

have a search on the forum too, the topic of widened steelies has come up a couple of times, and there's also plenty of info on offsets too.

[roccodingo]

Summerfield engineering in Kenwick use to do steel rim work, dunno if there still in biz tho...

found it...9459 1078.

[Gipson]

cheers grant will give them a buzz tomorrow!
comoeon jarred i cant help but love it haha something about a wide steel wheel with a whitewall wrapped round it thats so simple but so so effective

[Gipson]

thanks mike also, only trouble with the mk3 rims are they have the holes round them dont they? was after more of the closed off look like original vw rims or just steels like spacesavers. painting shouldnt be a problem oldbossman has a bunch of the exact colour im after left over from spraying his car. will mow his lawns or something in return haha

[JDVW]

corrado winter wheels look awsome widened!

[Jarred]

cheers grant will give them a buzz tomorrow!
comoeon jarred i cant help but love it haha something about a wide steel wheel with a whitewall wrapped round it thats so simple but so so effective

Oh don't worry man, I love widened steelies. its just the offsets make it look silly imo, cause the wheels and tyres aren't even remotely under teh gaurds.

You have to be sooooooooper (or super) low to pull off 13's too. Look at steve's mk 1 cab thread, and you'll know what I mean.

[Water Boy]

Becareful when widening the standard 13" centres. The actual centre is smaller than the after market ROH hoop.



Mk1 standard centre cut out for reference.

[evorobin]

The barrels come in either 8 or 10" so obviously with a mk1 you want 8 with a higher front offset. I've yet to hear of someone getting it done for less than $160 / wheel.

[Whubbsie]

Becareful when widening the standard 13" centres. The actual centre is smaller than the after market ROH hoop.



Mk1 standard centre cut out for reference.

is there a work around for that.

[Water Boy]

ROH hoops come in 12,13,14,15,16 and 17.

Widths of 4,5,6,7,7.5,8,9,9.5,10,12 and 13.

Whubbies you can build up the centre with weld and then have it machines on a lathe.