This may seem like a obvious question but how do you measure the size of the standard VW steel wheels.
I have looked at the VW Standard Wheel Information and I just want to make sure I have my facts right.
I'm replacing my current wheels with some Syncro 15" 6J steels on 205 tyres
I thought my wheels were 14" but the diameter is 15"
14x5.5J is stamped on the wheel, I know the 'J' number refers to width so I was confused to find 14 when the diameter is 15"
any advice or light shedding would be much appreciated
I think Ricicles is right, wheel measurements are taken from the inside faces where the tyre beads sit.
Go by what's stamped on them, (and if you measure your new 15s in the same way as you did your old 14s you'll see that they are also bigger across than you expect ) The width is also measured across the insid of the rims, without the tyres on.
There's quite a lot of useful stuff on here http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg2.html depending on how much you want or need to find out. I liked it because it explained it all very simply .......
Hope this helps a bit. Just in the process of doing the same myself, picking up some rims tomorrow, so be interested in how it all goes. What profile tyres you going for?
I picked up some 15" syncro steels from CJ @ syncrospares with 205 tyres on them
they are to go on my westy (not a syncro) to fill the gap between the arch and the current wheel a bit.
I have a steel I am not using and this is the exact same diameter as the steels I got but still say 14x5.5J which is confusing as the steels from CJ say 15 x 6J
I picked up some 15" syncro steels from CJ @ syncrospares with 205 tyres on them
they are to go on my westy (not a syncro) to fill the gap between the arch and the current wheel a bit.
I have a steel I am not using and this is the exact same diameter as the steels I got but still say 14x5.5J which is confusing as the steels from CJ say 15 x 6J
Perhaps the 14s have more of a flange on them or something (I just made that up but I love that word ) which gives them the look of the same overall diameter but in reality the tyre bead sits "higher" inside the edge of the rim
You're not the only one confused now, good luck sorting it out. I'll have fun with mine tomorrow and let you know how they compare
i have got 14" syncro rims on mine and in my opinion they are cooler than a penguin in winter. i love them as they are a bit different without 90 percent of people knowing, very subtle. they are 14" rims unlike the standard rims they are 6j not 5.5j the ofsett is 30 not 37 so the hub cap sits in a bit deeper if you know what i mean, and the rim sits half an inch further out filling the arches a fraction more. i am guesing you are using 205r14,s as these are van rated, i would like to fit some extra load tyres on mine, they look more like car tyres and i have been told available in more sizes. i am hoping 225/75/14 rears. anybody know?
I had the rims balanced and fitted today, off out for a quick run before checking the nuts and refitting the caps & rings,
will post some before & after photos at some stage.
As you said Ricicles i think they look great and i love the way they fill out the space compared to standard steels.
i may not be right but i do not think that vw ever made 15" steel rims for the t3. the other size for syncro rims is 16" however if you want 15" then have a look at the gowesty site they have made new 15" steel wheels. now i would like a set of them. they also do some big bore engines and i want one of those as well and some other stuff on thier site , not the raising kit though, thats wierd
andisnewsyncro wrote:They're looking good, really fill up the arches nicely.
I'd stick with them, personally I like the black finish, sets off the side stripes well.
The colour scheme of the discerning van owner
Andi
hi andi
im leaning towards the black myself, popped the caps & rings on (photo below0 but it doesnt look as meaty
I may get a set of old caps and spray them black and see what that looks like but I feel the chrome caps & rings take away from the syncro steels
) The width is also measured across the insid of the rims, without the tyres on.
) which gives them the look of the same overall diameter but in reality the tyre bead sits "higher" inside the edge of the rim 
and i want one of those as well and some other stuff on thier site 
