I am building a 914/6 conversion with the steel fender flares from AA. I am looking for 16” Fuchs for this project. I know that normally they had 7” in the front and 8” in the rear.

My question is can I run 8 inch wide 16” wheels both in the front and the back and is there a reason that I shouldn’t do this?

Jeff B
Canton, Ohio

QUOTE (jkb944t @ Jun 7 2005, 10:07 AM)

I know that normally they had 7” in the front and 8” in the rear.

that was one of the options. but did you also know that the GTs that ran that combination used 1" spacers front and rear to move the wheels out to the fender lip?

8" all around will work, you might need spacers, depending on the offset of the wheels you're using.

another common combination on the GTs was 8" in the front and 9" in the rear.
they ran 245/45 x 15 on the 8" and 285/40 x 15 on the 9".

they also had 9" and 11" STEEL flares that allowed them to run 285/40 x 15 in the front and 345/35 x 15 in the rear.

lots of possibilities, biggest problem these days is finding tires wider than 245 for 15" or 16" wheels. no one makes the 285s anymore in thoses sizes ...

Andy

I know a 914-6 runing standard front flares running 255's on 17's on 9inch rims in the front. They clear fine.

I would say your spacing is very important, but I know you can fit some pretty meaty tires under flares.

QUOTE (Root_Werks @ Jun 7 2005, 10:35 AM)

but I know you can fit some pretty meaty tires under flares.

i have the 8"/9" GT flares and i run 9" goodyear slicks on the track.
9" being the treadwidth. the actual tires are just a bit over 10" in width.
the rear is a tight fit (had to shave the inside fender lip completely down) and the front rubs a bit on the inside on full lock (need longer studs so i can run 1/4" spacers) ...

Andy

I run 15x8 (no spacers) on the front and either 16x8 or 15x9 in the rear. I need tn to shave the rear flares for the 9s. I have a set of 16x7 that will soon go on evilBay if your interested.

T.C.

Picture is with the 8 & 9s

QUOTE (carr914 @ Jun 7 2005, 03:25 PM)

I run 15x8 (no spacers) on the front and either 16x8 or 15x9 in the rear. I need tn to shave the rear flares for the 9s. I have a set of 16x7 that will soon go on evilBay if your interested. T.C. Picture is with the 8 & 9s

What size tires are you running on the 15x9's ?

I do not think there is such a thing as normal when talking about 914s with flairs.

We have steel flairs on a 914. I had them installed back in 1984 and do not have any idea how the body shop determined how to install them, but:

We are currently running 9x16 fuch reproductions on all four corners, with 245-45 16s that are Kumos. We have had 255-45s on the wheels and on the car but they would rub on the inner fenders at full lock.

This past winter we installed a front end (the entire assembly) out of an 87 930 turbo, in order to get the bigger brakes and "newer" steel in the a arms etc. also saved a pound or two with the aluminum "axle". The front track ended up about two inches wider, and so all of the spacers had to come out, and now I think 255s would fit again. In the rear I have 3/4" of spacers on each side, and the 245s do not rub (close but do not) and the fender lips are not "rolled in".

I think you can go pretty big with wheels and I personally like the same size tire on all four corners (better braking?) and I can rotate the tires around.

Good luck with your flairs and wheels. Arrow tire and wheel has some really nice Fuch repros available in 7 and 8 x 16 size. Rumor is that they may be getting 9 inch wheels someday.

QUOTE (jkb944t @ Jun 7 2005, 09:07 AM)

I am building a 914/6 conversion with the steel fender flares from AA. I am looking for 16” Fuchs for this project. I know that normally they had 7” in the front and 8” in the rear. My question is can I run 8 inch wide 16” wheels both in the front and the back and is there a reason that I shouldn’t do this? Jeff B Canton, Ohio

I had that same question. I'm running 7's on the front and 8's on the rear and both with spacers, so I was wondering if I could run 8's on the front without spacers and then I could rotate my tires...that would be nice.

QUOTE (Lyressa Roberts @ Jun 7 2005, 07:14 PM)

I was wondering if I could run 8's on the front without spacers and then I could rotate my tires...

yupp, sure can ...

I'm with carr914 and Johnman or flesburg (or whoever you are... welcome "newbie")

I really don't see how 9's would work without pulling or shaving the flares. It's amazing how many variations one can come up with though. Here's what I have:

74 914
Factory Steel Flares
7x15" up front with enough room to drive a truck through there so LR... yes, as Sir Andreas says.
8x15" rear and barely enough room to squeeze a finger in.

That being said, the metal on the rear of a 914 can move a bit just by tugging on it. Who know what you can come up with. I knew -6/GT's had some front spacers but I've never heard of the rears... learn something new every day.

QUOTE (Eric_Shea @ Jun 7 2005, 09:40 PM)

I really don't see how 9's would work without pulling or shaving the flares. It's amazing how many variations one can come up with though.

the flares come with a fairly large "lip" on the inside. all you need to do is either roll it (on steel flares) or shave it (on FG flares) ...

as i said, i'm running 10+" wide slicks in the rear under stock 9" GT flares and they don't rub.
tight fit, but no rub ...

Andy

I've got factory steel flares on Elvira. Her shoes are 225-50-16 on 8" Fuchs on all 4 corners. Short spacers are used just to better fill out the wheel wells. The next set of tires I buy will be 245's for all the way around. I believe they will fit fine without needing to roll the fender lips.

Will 245-50's fit on a 7x 16 Fuch?

First, it's "Fuchs" with an S at the end.

Secondly, 225 on a 7" is already pushing it, i would not run a 245 on a 7" rim ...
Andy

This question is always a good excuse to post a picture. Here's 15x8 w225's on all four corners with 1/4 inch spacers

Click to view attachment

Here it is with 7x16 w225's. rears are 911 offset and fronts are 951 offset with the same 1/4 inch spacers

Click to view attachment

951 7's and 911 7's have the same 23.3mm offset. 951's have "sunken" lug bolt holes, as it were and the smaller lip.. making them look like 911 6"s

So would 18x8's like the front turbo wheels on the 996 fit all the way around?

Edit they are 8j18 et50 so I guess 50 mm offset?

I think the offset is 55mm on those wheels so you would need something like 45mm spacers to fill flares and something less for the narrow body. Some one in the know please respond if i am wrong.

Cheers

I have 7x16 on front with 225/50 and spacers off a 944 and 8x16 with 245/50 on the rear. I didn't have the front spacers yet when the avitar pic was taken. filled out nicely.

So you all are saying once you add flares you NEED spacers?

sorry. i was wrong on the tire size. i have front 7x16 with 225/45 and 74mm studs
+ 21mm 944 spacers. rear 8x16 with 245/45

Post some pics of your car please !!!! I just got my 1973 914 about a week ago and will be putting flares on 16" fuchs.