Club 80-90 Forums

I'm looking at options for changing the wheels on my T25

At the moment it's lowered a bit at the front but rear sits at standard ride height and it is running stock steel wheels.



I have a set of standard rims spare and am thinking of getting them banded - 2" on the rear and 1" on the front. That will make the rims about 7" wide on the back and 6" wide on the front I think - I'm told rims that size will need 195 tyres on the front and 215's on the back. Has anyone actually done this on their van? Just wondered what the pro's and con's are - but don't want to start the old are banded wheels legal or illegal row

More interested to know how it will drive and if anyone has done it what do they think - worth the aggro or just buy some aftermarket wheels

Why not just get some wheels of the size you want? It's going to be cheaper and a lot easier to explain to your insurance company.

Off the top of my head I'm thinking Mercedes steels....

andisnewsyncro wrote:Why not just get some wheels of the size you want? It's going to be cheaper and a lot easier to explain to your insurance company.

Off the top of my head I'm thinking Mercedes steels....

could do but want to retain the VW hub caps and not sure about the offset on Merc steels, plus I like the look of banded wheels

Banded steels look well smart. I say go for it and get some moon hub caps. Banded steels will do em for £100 a wheel I think.

£100 a wheel !!

andisnewsyncro wrote:£100 a wheel !!

That seems quite strong, sure I've seen wheel banding at about £50 per wheel on another forum (Retro Rides)

I just thought that £100 a corner would buy some really nice, proper wheels

From what I have read on other VW forums, banded steels are ok for the smaller cars and yes they are about 50 quid - ish per wheel.

Now the wheels for a van are quite different, in as much as they have to be rated for the van (much stronger) you will struggle to get banded wheels done to those specs and if you do you will have to pay for that privilege. Plus as stated you will have to inform the insurance company and they may not like it at all.

far better to find a nice looking alloy for that price.

Yes I understand you like the look of the steels with the hubcaps..... is this for shows or for general driving? If it's for general driving, then get alloys!

Failing that, why not just use the wheels you have, nowt wrong with the look or stance, standard is the new 'scene'

I think the £100 is for a refurb as well.

If you go down the alloy route then people will all moan saying the off set is wrong and spacers/adaptors are dangerous and wreck your bearings. Basically you can only have naff looking standard alloys or nothing.

I would do what you want mate and I am sure you will make it work.

billybigspud wrote: If you go down the alloy route then people will all moan saying the off set is wrong and spacers/adaptors are dangerous and wreck your bearings.

No they won't; at least they won't if you do it properly. If you go down the Banded route - they may well, however, say bad things (and for good reasons - you're driving 2 tonnes of van on the public highway and most likely uninsured!)

I would do what you want mate and I am sure you will make it work.

You do what you want, as billybigspud recommends.... Why not? No point in taking any notice of people with a bit of experience & knowlege in these areas

It may well "work", but when it doesn't....... I guess that's another story.

Be careful and be safe. You've got a decent van which you can have fun driving, camping etc. Don't blow everything to try and look "cool".

could get a set of syncro steels, they are 6" wide. I'm sure some merc steels come in 7"? if they do, just tack some clips on for the VW hubcaps.
As for getting moaned at for alloys, thats when people fit wheels designed for beetles

lloydy wrote:could get a set of syncro steels, they are 6" wide. I'm sure some merc steels come in 7"? if they do, just tack some clips on for the VW hubcaps.
As for getting moaned at for alloys, thats when people fit wheels designed for beetles

Top Advice, Merc steels come in all sorts of widths, 6, 6.5, 7, 7.5.....

It was obvious from the OP's 1st reply that they wanted banded though I think; so we're probably just "preaching to the won't be convinced"