US Dollars
Classic VW Wheel Fitment
Bolt pattern, backspacing and the fender gap math that tells you which narrowed beam fits your wheel. Process — not parts — determines fitment.
Three ways to run the wheel you want
Bolt pattern and backspacing
Close your eyes and picture the ultimate wheel for your car. You'll need its bolt pattern first. Here's how to measure one:
Next you need the wheel's offset, or backspacing. Here's how to measure the backspacing you need:
Backspacing vs. front offset
Take the popular 17″ diameter, 7″ wide wheel with 4.50″ of backspacing. Backspacing is the distance from the back face of the wheel (where it touches the drum or rotor) to the back edge of the wheel. Subtract it from the width and what's left, 2.50″, sits toward the outside of the car. That's the front offset.
| 17x7 example | Measurement |
|---|---|
| Backspacing | 4.50″ |
| Front offset (7″ − 4.50″) | 2.50″ |
That wheel needs at least 2.50″ between the rotor and the inner fender lip. Measure 2.00″ on your car and the wheel sticks out 1/2″ per side. It won't fit as-is, but a 2″ narrowed beam pulls it in and tucks it 1/2″ under each fender. What is a narrowed beam?
Find the narrowed beam you need
Use one set of letters all the way through:
Our '58 Beetle on 17x7s
A 17x7 wheel with 5.00″ of backspacing on a '58 Beetle with a 2″ fender gap, getting drop spindles and disc brakes. Will it fit?
| Step | Value |
|---|---|
| Actual wheel width (B) | 7.50″ |
| Backspacing (C) | 5.00″ |
| Front offset (B − C) | 2.50″ |
| Fender gap (A) | 2.00″ |
| Track adders (3/8″ + 3/8″) | 0.75″ |
| Usable gap (A − D) | 1.25″ |
| Narrowed beam needed ((2.50 − 1.25) × 2) | 2.50″ |
Project 73 Super Beetle
Our Project 73 Super Beetle had 3″ of front spacing and 5.25″ of backspacing in the rear with stock fenders. We fitted 17x7 wheels with 2″ of front spacing, and they fit like a glove.
The four levers
Any combination of these may be needed to fit your dream wheel: