Tire Size Question for 1.8L 1975 Options

[Aayala]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could provide some feedback or recommendation on purchasing some tires and wheels for my 1975 1.8L 914.

I wanted to upgrade the wheels on my 914 to a 5 lug conversion to fit some Fuchs on it.

Question is...

1. Is it worth it to convert to the 5 lug and pretty simple to do?

2. I have someone selling their wheels and tires for a good price but the wheel sizes are 15x6 (front) and 15x8 (rear). Will this fit the stock 914 narrow body?? or will I have to for sure add fender flares to fit these?

thank you in advance!

[chmillman]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could provide some feedback or recommendation on purchasing some tires and wheels for my 1975 1.8L 914.

I wanted to upgrade the wheels on my 914 to a 5 lug conversion to fit some Fuchs on it.

Question is...

1. Is it worth it to convert to the 5 lug and pretty simple to do?

2. I have someone selling their wheels and tires for a good price but the wheel sizes are 15x6 (front) and 15x8 (rear). Will this fit the stock 914 narrow body?? or will I have to for sure add fender flares to fit these?

thank you in advance!

Maybe read this:
https://pmbperformance.com/pages/the-914-5-...dVUxsKNGjjNUPsR

I doubt the 15 x 8 rears on a narrow body. I have 7" Fuchs with 195/65's and they just fit. Some people seem to have managed with 205's. The max rim width for 205's seems to be 7.5"...

For a stock 1.8, I would think 6" on both ends with 185/70's or 195/65's would be a good combo. More width than that you don't need IMHO.

[brant]

after 4 decades of this question.

the 6inch wheels almost always fit
7inch wheels hit or miss... some people are able to fit them... 60% of the time they do not fit stock fenders.

16inch fuchs there is a better chance that 7s will fit as the offset is different from a 15 to a 16

regarding is it worth it?
up to you
it becomes an appearnace thing as both cars can handle well on 4 or 5 bolt..
and stickie-ness of tires makes more difference on handling than the 1/2 inch difference of 5.5 to 6's

so really its about what appearance you want as to whether the 5 bolt upgrade is worth it. Stock 4 bolt brakes with good pads can absolutely brake the car fine .

[TRP]

All you ever wanted to know about 914s and Fuchs wheels:
http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=321187



Happy reading. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif)

[Pyetookh]

I´d like to replace my 4 lugs baby Fuchs for something a bit wider.


Unfortunately I can´t find any wheels 6x15 or 7x15 at 4x130. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

Therefore I decided to go for conversion plates 22mm thick to go from 4x130 to 4x100.



And use Japan Racing JR3 7x15 4x100 ET25 White 67.1 wheels.


What do you think about such combo, please?


I may like to go on 205/60 R15 front and 225/50/15 rear. Or maybe 205/60/15 all 4 corners.
This will require wider fenders

Or maybe Japan Racing JR3 7x15 4x100 ET40 plus 22mm spacer and try to squeeze them into narrow body.

Any thoughts are welcome (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[chmillman]

Dunno, if it was me I guess I would go with the 5 lug conversion instead - check out the PMB info on that.

Otherwise, here is a link that purports to have a number of different style wheels wider than 5.5 in 4x130 bolt pattern:

https://braidusa.com/collections/street/str...+4-x-130+15-x-7

Looks like they’re made to order and wait time is at least two months though. Not cheap either, some of them are more expensive than 5-bolt Fuchs.

Less choice but maybe cheaper here:
https://www.performanceplustire.com/4x130_bolt_pattern

[mepstein]

Hello all,

I was wondering if anyone could provide some feedback or recommendation on purchasing some tires and wheels for my 1975 1.8L 914.

I wanted to upgrade the wheels on my 914 to a 5 lug conversion to fit some Fuchs on it.

Question is...

1. Is it worth it to convert to the 5 lug and pretty simple to do?

2. I have someone selling their wheels and tires for a good price but the wheel sizes are 15x6 (front) and 15x8 (rear). Will this fit the stock 914 narrow body?? or will I have to for sure add fender flares to fit these?

thank you in advance!

Most people are unhappy when they try to fit 7’s on a stock body car. They rarely fit and tires need to be narrow. It’s a silly combo. Don’t use parts just because you get a good deal on them. You might not like the feel of big tires on a stock car. The car feels less nimble and it’s more work for the engine to accelerate. Throwing parts at these cars without knowing the big picture is the most expensive way to do it.

[Superhawk996]

Throwing parts at these cars without knowing the big picture is the most expensive way to do it.

Now there’s a quotable quote that is one for the ages that goes far beyond tires! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

I’ll be reusing that one in the future

[Superhawk996]

What do you think about such combo, please?

I may like to go on 205/60 R15 front and 225/50/15 rear.

Wheel spacers add significant scrub radius to the front wheel steering geometry increasing steering effort. This is in addition to any effort increase from increasing tire width.

It usually doesn’t work out to add the same width spacers at both front and rear. Changing front and rear unequally affects vehicle handling depending on which track width is wider front vs rear. Even if you can change front and rear equally, the change in track width still affects vehicle handling and suspension set up one way or another.

Wheel spacers increase stress and wear on wheel bearings.

I’m not really a fan of spacers especially just to accomplish lug pattern change but I’d bet you haven’t considered any of this.

The tire stagger that you are proposing will increase understeer. Is that really what you’re trying to accomplish with the change to the vehicle handling?

[mepstein]

Throwing parts at these cars without knowing the big picture is the most expensive way to do it.

Now there’s a quotable quote that is one for the ages that goes far beyond tires! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

I’ll be reusing that one in the future

Been there, done that, still doing it. One day I’ll learn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

[930cabman]

Throwing parts at these cars without knowing the big picture is the most expensive way to do it.

Now there’s a quotable quote that is one for the ages that goes far beyond tires! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)

I’ll be reusing that one in the future

Been there, done that, still doing it. One day I’ll learn. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/headbang.gif)

I'd like to think I might learn, but it may be something (defect) in our blood

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/lol-2.gif)

[Pyetookh]

Dunno, if it was me I guess I would go with the 5 lug conversion instead - check out the PMB info on that.

Otherwise, here is a link that purports to have a number of different style wheels wider than 5.5 in 4x130 bolt pattern:

https://braidusa.com/collections/street/str...+4-x-130+15-x-7

Looks like they’re made to order and wait time is at least two months though. Not cheap either, some of them are more expensive than 5-bolt Fuchs.

Less choice but maybe cheaper here:
https://www.performanceplustire.com/4x130_bolt_pattern

I really appreciate your comment and links but I´m Central Europe based. It´s a completely different story here. Parts are much more expensive and less available. Import from USA involves crazy delivery charges and import duty. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/hissyfit.gif)

[Pyetookh]

What do you think about such combo, please?

I may like to go on 205/60 R15 front and 225/50/15 rear.

Wheel spacers add significant scrub radius to the front wheel steering geometry increasing steering effort. This is in addition to any effort increase from increasing tire width.

It usually doesn’t work out to add the same width spacers at both front and rear. Changing front and rear unequally affects vehicle handling depending on which track width is wider front vs rear. Even if you can change front and rear equally, the change in track width still affects vehicle handling and suspension set up one way or another.

Wheel spacers increase stress and wear on wheel bearings.

I’m not really a fan of spacers especially just to accomplish lug pattern change but I’d bet you haven’t considered any of this.

The tire stagger that you are proposing will increase understeer. Is that really what you’re trying to accomplish with the change to the vehicle handling?

These are all good points.

But wider track and GT flares were manufactured by factory so I believe they had a good reason for it. It is also very common mod, It can´t be all wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

I also believe that you can compensate for conversion spacers thickness with higher wheel ET number,

[Superhawk996]

These are all good points.

But wider track and GT flares were manufactured by factory so I believe they had a good reason for it. It is also very common mod, It can´t be all wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

I also believe that you can compensate for conversion spacers thickness with higher wheel ET number,

Fair points as well.

To the first: what is good for racing isn’t always good for the street. If you know how to properly tune a vehicle suspension for your desired outcome you’re ahead of the game. If you’re blindly following what someone did 50 years ago you might end up less than pleased with the changes.

To the second - you are correct assuming you can find an offset increase equal to the spacer. But at the end of the day, you’ve added unsprung weight and inertia.

Not trying to deter you per se. Just make sure you understand what you’re doing and what the trade offs will be.

[930cabman]

I generally use stock sizes ( or slightly larger), adding width/grip does add stress on the chassis

[Pyetookh]

These are all good points.

But wider track and GT flares were manufactured by factory so I believe they had a good reason for it. It is also very common mod, It can´t be all wrong. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/stirthepot.gif)

I also believe that you can compensate for conversion spacers thickness with higher wheel ET number,

Fair points as well.

To the first: what is good for racing isn’t always good for the street. If you know how to properly tune a vehicle suspension for your desired outcome you’re ahead of the game. If you’re blindly following what someone did 50 years ago you might end up less than pleased with the changes.

To the second - you are correct assuming you can find an offset increase equal to the spacer. But at the end of the day, you’ve added unsprung weight and inertia.

Not trying to deter you per se. Just make sure you understand what you’re doing and what the trade offs will be.

Truth is that I don´t know what I´m doing and that´s why I joined this thread to learn a bit more from more experienced members. My car is non-runner and I haven´t ever driven P914.
On the other hand we have more options than factory some 55 years ago so there may be some options how to make these cars to look and handle a bit better.

Ultimately this is a sports car and I have lots of winding roads nearby so original skinny 155 tires are no option for me despite being outcome of Porsche engineers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)
I will not compete with my car but really like enthusiastic driving.

My car will also get Inner longitudal stifner kit (BTW. Can anyone provide a drawing of the parts, please? Shipping these from US to Europe will cost more that the value of the parts plus custom duty (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ar15.gif) )

I think I will go for 22mm conversion spacers, 15x7 ET40 wheels, 205/60 tires and will make my fenders to fit. There are even more tire options in 195/60.

Do you think this is acceptable compromise? (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)

[chmillman]

Ultimately this is a sports car and I have lots of winding roads nearby so original skinny 155 tires are no option for me despite being outcome of Porsche engineers (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif)
I will not compete with my car but really like enthusiastic

As you might imagine, there are also a lot of windy roads here in the Alps… My car already had a good 5 bolt conversion when I acquired it, and is equipped with 7x15 Fuchs on both ends - stock ET and no spacers. I am running the narrowest tires allowed on 7’s, 195/65-15’s. They just clear in the rear, the fender lip has been rolled however.

The setup is a trade-off. I love the look of the Fuchs and the stance with the wider wheels, but I agree that at least the wider tires on the front make the steering harder and the car feels less nimble than what I remember from my ‘teener back in the 80’s that had 185/70’s on 5.5 Mahle wheels.

I drive fairly spiritedly but within reason with the 914 on our curvy roads here (much less reasonably on the motorcycle) and I have not yet found a need for more grip. My motor is a stock D-Jet 2.0, IIRC you are maybe putting in something more powerful, so YMMV - literally.

[Pyetookh]

As you might imagine, there are also a lot of windy roads here in the Alps… My car already had a good 5 bolt conversion when I acquired it, and is equipped with 7x15 Fuchs on both ends - stock ET and no spacers. I am running the narrowest tires allowed on 7’s, 195/65-15’s. They just clear in the rear, the fender lip has been rolled however.

The setup is a trade-off. I love the look of the Fuchs and the stance with the wider wheels, but I agree that at least the wider tires on the front make the steering harder and the car feels less nimble than what I remember from my ‘teener back in the 80’s that had 185/70’s on 5.5 Mahle wheels.

I drive fairly spiritedly but within reason with the 914 on our curvy roads here (much less reasonably on the motorcycle) and I have not yet found a need for more grip. My motor is a stock D-Jet 2.0, IIRC you are maybe putting in something more powerful, so YMMV - literally.

I bet you have some winding roads in Swiss! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/cheer.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/evilgrin.gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/pray.gif)
.. and I´m keen and fast motorcyclist too (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)

I got your point and will think about this a bit more.

BTW. What is stock ET on your 7x15 Fuchs, please? Do you know?

Thank you

[chmillman]

23.3 is what is stamped on the inside…

[Pyetookh]

23.3 is what is stamped on the inside…

So in theory I would need 15x7 ET45 rims to be within 1 milimetre of your setup with my 22mm wide conversion spacers. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) Do I understand it right?

The spacers I´d like to buy are made from duraluminium so not so much unsprung weight...