Hi all,

recently purchased the ET GL, which comes stock with 15" rims and tires. I have relatively new winter tires off of my Beetle (just sold) and want to know whether I can mount them on my ET. The problem is the tires are 16" (205 55 R16).

Admittedly I'm confused about the different bolt pattern configurations and want to ensure I purchase the right size. Apart from 16" and 5-bolt, what size should I be looking for?

Thanks,

Rob

 

The Touring has a 5 on 114.3 mm (5 on 4.5") bolt pattern. The Beetle has 5 on 100mm (5 on 4") bolt pattern so the wheels will not fit.

What size are the snow tires? The factory 15" Touring wheels come with 195/65-15 tires. Correct 16" snow tires would be:
- 195/60-16 (best choice, almost identical to stock)
- 205/60-16 (second best choice, slightly taller and wider than stock)
- 205/55-16 (thirs best choice, slightly shorter and wider than stock)

 

I don't think you meant to suggest or imply mounting a 16" tire on a 15" rim. If radar_ca needs to buy new snow tires, he might as well buy 195/65-15 or a compatable 15" tire to match the rims.

 

No, I didn't. Obviously 16" tires won't fit on a 15 wheel. And he's not buying new tires, he already has 16" snow tires. Rob wanted to know if the VW Beetle wheels they were mounted on would fit the Touring, and if not, he wanted to know the bolt pattern of the Touring so he can buy the correct 16" wheels for the Touring.

Rob, I just realized you did post the tire size you have. The 205/55-16 size will fit if you can get 16" wheels with the correct bolt pattern. However, it's not the best size in my opinion. Since you have to buy new wheels anyway, I'd suggest selling the wheels and tires you have now and using that money to purchase a new set of tires and wheels that fit your car. That gets you new wheels and tires for probably less money.

 

Thank you very much for your information and suggestion.

As you rightly summarized, I either need to buy 16" rims of the right bolt pattern, or sell my 16" tires and buying correct 15" tires, which I can either mount to my existing Touring steel rims or buy both as a set for winter use only.

Rob