Wheels and Tires, Let's get this discussion centralized Options

[Pat Garvey]

I would venture to say that if that 914 had paint-to-match the bodywork wheels when it was delivered new, the dealer, more than likely, was responsible. When I acquired my '70/4 in 1975, I knew of an Irish Green 914 that had yellow painted steelies. I knew for a fact that the owner had painted them that color (perhaps he really wanted a Lotus (IMG:style_emoticons/default/biggrin.gif) ), and back then, I thought it looked pretty neat (that '70s show/Disco era sort of thing). Now if I saw it... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/blink.gif)

Paul

Ewww! That's FUGLY! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/barf.gif)

[black73]

Is the spare Red???

Ferg

I remembered the spare was behind the garage, so I dug it out and sanded a spot to see...




It's possible this was not originally the spare, since it has a Kelly Springfield tire on it, but that would mean the spare is one of the other red wheels.

[Ferg]

Interesting...

Sand a spot on the back... I would think that a dealer would only paint the front of the rim.

Ferg

[black73]

Interesting...

Sand a spot on the back... I would think that a dealer would only paint the front of the rim.

Ferg

No red on the back... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Ferg]

Interesting...

Sand a spot on the back... I would think that a dealer would only paint the front of the rim.

Ferg

No red on the back... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

Like others, I would think it was dealer done then...

Ferg (IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)

[TROJANMAN]

This is a fascinating conversation........

[Pat Garvey]

First off, I'll use my "ignorance is bliss" byline here. I know little about 914 Fuchs wheels, other than wishing I could put some on my 72.

But.....I'm noticing more and more late 914's on eBay with Fuchs on all four corners, but a steelie spare.

Did they come this way? Or, was a set of Fuchs supposed to be a set of five?
Pat

[jonferns]

My car happens to have a set of 5 2.0 fuchs.

[TROJANMAN]

First off, I'll use my "ignorance is bliss" byline here. I know little about 914 Fuchs wheels, other than wishing I could put some on my 72.

But.....I'm noticing more and more late 914's on eBay with Fuchs on all four corners, but a steelie spare.

Did they come this way? Or, was a set of Fuchs supposed to be a set of five?
Pat

The dealers would often take the spare Fuchs out of cars to create a set of four, for cars that had steelies. Then they would throw the steelie in as a spare. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

[Pat Garvey]

First off, I'll use my "ignorance is bliss" byline here. I know little about 914 Fuchs wheels, other than wishing I could put some on my 72.

But.....I'm noticing more and more late 914's on eBay with Fuchs on all four corners, but a steelie spare.

Did they come this way? Or, was a set of Fuchs supposed to be a set of five?
Pat

The dealers would often take the spare Fuchs out of cars to create a set of four, for cars that had steelies. Then they would throw the steelie in as a spare. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/wink.gif)

Sonsabitches!

Think they'd get away with that today?
Pat

[McMark]

I wonder if the very few cars that came with factory painted bumpers also had painted wheels... (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif) I'm not ready to write off the painted wheels as dealer 'trickery'.

[Porsche Rescue]

I don't think so. I remember seeing many painted-bumper cars at the dealer in 1970. They all had silver painted wheels.

[TheMirror]

Cheers all -

OK, so I'm a front-engined water cooler Porsche guy (968), but I'm having a great time researching the 914 series right now for a big spec database I'm putting together.

Far more wheel options came with these cars than I had originally thought. I wonder if this thread could use a comprehensive list as to exactly what was available in what year?

So far I have -

1970 - 4.5" Painted steel
1971 - 4.5" Painted steel, 5.5" Chrome steel, 5.5" Pedrini
1972 - 4.5" Painted steel, 5.5" Chrome steel, 5.5" Pedrini
1973 - 5.5" Painted steel (new style), 5.5" forged Fuchs, 5.5" Mahle
1974 - 5.5" Painted steel (new style), 5.5" forged Fuchs, 5.5" Mahle
1975 - 5.5" Painted steel (new style), 5.5" forged Fuchs, 5.5" Mahle
1976 - 5.5" Painted steel (new style), 5.5" forged Fuchs, 5.5" Mahle

Not sure exactly how and when the Pedrini's or the Mahles fit into this mix, although this article from Pelican sheds some new light on it:
http://www.pelicanparts.com/techarticles/9...wheel_types.htm
Looks like PR below clears up the question of 8 spoke Mahles being available vs. the 10 spoke gas burners which were for 6 cyl. cars only. Article confirms that.

Does that list look right?

Cheers,
-Mirror

[Porsche Rescue]

You have a lot more work to do. The Pedrini wheel was the first factory alloy, 1971. There were no factory option wheels in '70 (edit: for the four) unless the Pedrini came late that year. I bought a new '70 with chromes but they were aftermarket dealer option and no alloys were available. I am sure the Mahle came sometime after the Pedrini. They were eight spoke, gas burners were 5 lug for 914-6 and 911 only.

[TheMirror]

You have a lot more work to do. The Pedrini wheel was the first factory alloy, 1971. There were no factory option wheels in '70 unless the Pedrini came late that year. I bought a new '70 with chromes but they were aftermarket dealer option and no alloys were available. I am sure the Mahle came sometime after the Pedrini. They were eight spoke, gas burners were 5 lug for 914-6 and 911 only.

Thanks for that info!
-Mirror

[Johny Blackstain]

You have a lot more work to do. The Pedrini wheel was the first factory alloy, 1971. There were no factory option wheels in '70 unless the Pedrini came late that year. I bought a new '70 with chromes but they were aftermarket dealer option and no alloys were available. I am sure the Mahle came sometime after the Pedrini. They were eight spoke, gas burners were 5 lug for 914-6 and 911 only.

The six had wheel options in 1970- came w/ steelies or Fuchs & the Mahle 5 lug gas burners were optional. The Mahle is still one of the lightest wheels ever produced, @ 9.2lbs each.

[Pat Garvey]

It should also be noted that painted 5.5" steelies were a part of the appearance group on the early fours, though, in the case of the VERY EARLY fours, this may or may not have been the case.
Pat

[tod914]

Great tire discussion guys. Thanks for sharing your years of experience. I was wondering what to do. Seems like James has me convinced to go with the 165hr 15 Vredestein. Zone 1 comming up in May, hopefully will have all the suspension stuff done by then. My spare is a continenal tt 714 radial, original to the car.

[Pat Garvey]

Great tire discussion guys. Thanks for sharing your years of experience. I was wondering what to do. Seems like James has me convinced to go with the 165hr 15 Vredestein. Zone 1 comming up in May, hopefully will have all the suspension stuff done by then. My spare is a continenal tt 714 radial, original to the car.

Tod,
Vredesteins were never original to US 914s. You may want to give this some more thought.
Pat

[Porsche Rescue]

I continue to believe that the best option for a concours car is the 165 Michelin xzx, available from Coker Tire. They are very spendy.
I know others argue that you must have an H rated tire. While H tires may have been OE for some years, and for sure on the six, I know that the S rated xzx was OE in '76 as I once owned one with its original tires.
And Michelin was OE, even in '70. The tire sticker on the '70 I own now calls for 155 SR 15 as it has 4.5" wheels. Vredenstein is period correct and size correct but, as Pat says, was never OE.