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TXVR6
02-13-2010, 11:23 PM
Hello,
I've got a set of Mahle rims on my 914. I currently have a set of skinny metric tires on there. I'm worried about internal rot as the tires are now about 9 years old. I'd like to put a standard sized set of tires on the car. I have no idea what will fit. I use the car as an occasional driver so I don't need anything aggressive. I'd just like something with a little more bite than whats on there now.

Would something like 195/50/15 work?

http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/3080/914right1.jpg

Thanks for your help!
Robby
02-14-2010, 09:14 AM
205/50/15 should work... Much bigger and you have to roll your fenders and if that is the car you own, you better not. Too nice.
JKH
02-14-2010, 11:10 AM
I'd like to put a standard sized set of tires on the car
195/65 I put 185/65 on mine and wished I had put the 195/65
dug
02-14-2010, 01:49 PM
195/50 tires have a very small diameter and your speedo will be way off.
205/50 and 195/60 have about the same diameter, and are a little shorter than stock, but not as short as 195/50. This gives better acceleration and the speedo is off only about 10% (reads fast).
195/65 is actually the same diameter as stock which is 25".

I prefer 205/50s myself.

cheers,
dug
Robby
02-14-2010, 03:32 PM
Dug is right. Error is just about exactly 10%
JKH
02-14-2010, 04:01 PM
Here is 205/60 on mahles
TXVR6
02-14-2010, 09:34 PM
205/50/15 should work... Much bigger and you have to roll your fenders and if that is the car you own, you better not. Too nice.

Yes sir its mine. I bought it back in 2000.

http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/2731/914interior1.jpg
http://img40.imageshack.us/img40/8145/914roofon21plateblur.jpg

I neglected it a bit for a the last couple of years. Recently had some work done to get it back on the road again. Now I need to get tires on it before something bad happens.
TXVR6
02-14-2010, 09:36 PM
Thanks for the info. That's exactly what I was looking for. Now I'll just need to decide what tire to put on. :)
TXVR6
03-01-2010, 02:29 PM
http://img176.imageshack.us/img176/2817/20100223125548.jpg

woohoo! I didn't think it was possible for the ride of the 914 to actually improve but there is a noticeable improvement.

You can see what the guy is doing in the picture, and probably guess what the result was.

I didn't catch that he was removing the center capt by pounding them from the inside. I always hover around at a respectful distance to prevent stuff like that from happening but this time I was distracted by a phone call and by then the damage was done. :( Fortunately they are not expensive or difficult to replace.

Thanks for the information.
JKH
03-02-2010, 12:37 AM
Fortunately they are not expensive or difficult to replace.
If you find a bunch of new ones cheap I will take a set.
9144me
03-02-2010, 03:17 PM
The original center caps are no longer available and none of the mail order places have any in stock. New originals are very difficult to find. Auto Atlanta is selling an aftermarket center cap for the 914 alloy wheel that I think are the closest design to the originals that I've seen yet. The part number is R91436130303 and the last time I checked they were $31.50 each.
TXVR6
03-02-2010, 03:56 PM
The original center caps are no longer available and none of the mail order places have any in stock. New originals are very difficult to find. Auto Atlanta is selling an aftermarket center cap for the 914 alloy wheel that I think are the closest design to the originals that I've seen yet. The part number is R91436130303 and the last time I checked they were $31.50 each.

I was looking at those this morning. Is it just me or do they look chromed? The ones on my car are a matte finish not shiny like that. I think I paid 12-14 for them when I bought them before but it was back when I got the car in 2000.

:confused:
JKH
03-02-2010, 05:45 PM
set of four aluminum (original are stainless) 89.00
http://www.thesamba.com/vw/classifieds/detail.php?id=104165
dug
03-03-2010, 03:01 AM
How is it that people fail to think that pounding on these without a correctly sized drift won't damage them? "I know, I'll use the pointy end of a screwdriver?!" It never ceases to amaze me.

I haven't seen any of the aftermarket parts in person. Anyone actually bought a set? Do they hold up at all, or are they even easier to damage than the originals?

Fortunately, I like the no center cap look myself:)

dug
9144me
03-03-2010, 10:52 PM
And here is a photo of an original one. As you can see, the one on Samba is very close to this design.
TXVR6
03-04-2010, 07:27 AM
How is it that people fail to think that pounding on these without a correctly sized drift won't damage them? "I know, I'll use the pointy end of a screwdriver?!" It never ceases to amaze me.

Yeah I know. What's really bad is I knew better and should have been paying attention. The reason I had to buy them the last time was the caps that came with the wheels were also disfigured in the same way.

Oh well it's not the end of the world. I'll pick up a set from Auto Atlanta and try to remember next time.

I'm driving the car nearly as a daily now so I doubt it will be another 10 years before I need tires. :cool:
JKH
03-04-2010, 09:47 PM
the link will save you 30 bucks