Date: Tue, 11 Dec 2001 17:12:29 EST
Reply-To: Merrag@AOL.COM
Sender: Vanagon Mailing List <vanagon@gerry.vanagon.com>
From: Raul Cisneros <Merrag@AOL.COM>
Subject: Alloy wheels at gowesty and EV wheels--ET depends on width
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In a message dated 12/11/01 11:49:57 AM, derekdrew@rcn.com writes:
<< So, in short, I would avoid the gowesty wheels pending exploration of
whether the ET turns out to be near 30 and the KG ratings turn out to be near
900. And don't put that number in their head before finding out what number
*they* offer as these things have a smudge factor. >>
<< That's because all bearings are set up for a certain ET, and if you go
very far away from the factory ET you will see premature bearing
failures. The difference between the factory ET30 and this wheel's ET53
is large. Michael Sullivan's research (see his Web site), suggests that
if the ET is to stray, it should stray into the 20s, not up into the 30s,
40s, and 50s, and our European T3 experts seem to agree, typically
choosing to go into the 20s (e.g., ET25) when they do stray from ET30.>>
ET or offset is dependant on the width of the wheel. The wider the wheel, the
lower the offset number-given in milimeters. A correct offset, with offset
being the distance from exact center of the wheel to mounting surface-where
the wheel makes contact with the hub on your bus, will always try to place
wheel center line in the same general place in regards to your wheel
bearings, distance your given tires will be from your suspension on the
inside and distance your given tires will be from your sliding door when ope
ned.
For factory 5.5 inch wide wheels, VW specs et36;
For factory 6 inch wide wheels, VW specs et 30 (the 6mm differance places the
slightly wider wheel back within the same general center line of the 5.5
wheel)
For factory 6.5 wheels like the SA wheels, the et is also 30, why its the
same as the 6 inch wide, I don’t know, but I would think they should really
be more like et27 or 28.
For a 7 inch wide wheel, the offset should be et24 or 25.
For 8 inch wide wheels like Ronal R9‘s in 16x8, the et is 11. These will
probably work best for those Double/Single cabs out there because the sliding
door will probably rub on most tires used on a rim this wide.
Variances of offset plus or minus about 5mm will probably not have any
disceranable effect, but I think trying to stay within the stock guideline is
a target, go wider rather than narrower, and variances of 30mm without the
use of spacers is not good. This reduces track by more than an two inches
(about 1 1/8 on either side) and will probably wear your bearings in new and
unusual ways. The EV wheels may fit and work but it is not optimum.
Raul Cisneros
87 Syncro Westy
90 Westy GL
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