wtb: Sport Wheels 5.5"

[owdlvr]

Looking for sport wheels, in the 5.5" wide variety. Looks like these:



Note they were available in 4.5 and 5.5 varieties, I'm looking for the 5.5's.

-Dave

[beetlemandan]

the deep dish sportbeetle ones, with the extra inch on the outside? or the 914 style that have the extra inch on the inside?

[pittwagen]

In addition to the round VW logo, round month/year of manufacture stamp (mine show 3/73) and the 51/2Jx15 size, genuine sports bug wheels will have the offset shown - ET26.  Each wheel also has a letter T stamped separately in another quadrant of the wheel center face.

[owdlvr]

Looks like I've scored a set, thanks guys!

-Dave

[beetlemandan]

i spent 10 years looking for a set only to find them holding up a baywindow and bent to hell, and you find them in 3 days? damn internet...

[pittwagen]

Just something that the last post triggered in the memory bank. 

Owdlvr, you may find the outer edges of the sports bug rims to be somewhat soft.  Just make sure your tire person is extra careful when using the big bar to pull the lower bead of the tire over the upper bead edge.  The place I had my new front tires installed a couple of years ago was using older equipment and they came close to bending the lip of the rim.  Maybe not being careful!! Good thing I was standing there and watching. 

This may not be an issue with newer equipment or a competent installer but you may want to mention it to your tire person.  I've never had this problem before or since.  I intend to be super careful when I replace the rears.

FYI.

[owdlvr]

Thanks for the tip!

I am my tire installer, so that's definitely good to know.

Hmmm, if the lip is soft I might not be able to use them for my original purpose...ah well, they can be the "street" wheels I suppose.

-Dave