[mokoosh]

Sorry if this has been covered, but did you know there were at least three versions of the classic MK1 steel wheel?

I knew there were 4.5" and 5" width versions both ET 45.

13x4.5J ET45

5Jx13H2 ET45

Now I have discovered that the spare from my 1982 Jetta is actually 5.5 inch width with ET 38.

5 1/2Jx13H2 ET38

I would love to find three more 5 1/2s. Does anyone have more information about the story behind the different width 13" steel wheels?

 

[dubdaze68]

My guess is later production and improvement of tires in that time period.

 

[VDub2625]

According to the '82 brochures, Jetta had 5.5", Rabbit L/LS had 4.5", and Rabbit S had 5".

Pickup had 4.5" and Scirocco had 5".

 

[rabbitnothopper]

now find 5 jettas and take their spare tires! ....

i knew the black spare in rabbits was thinner, didnt realize there was a 5.5
from now on every jetta scrapper i see im going to dig in the trunk carpet to see whats in there


the black spare depended on year i guess. my 78 had a full silver spare, my 81 had a black one that was thinner.

 

[VDub2625]

now find 5 jettas and take their spare tires! ....

Those aren't spares, those are regular wheel sizes!

Also, I only looked at '82, I think they change sometimes depending on year also.

 

[Butcher]

Back in the day, spares were full size tires, so it is still a spare.

Many newer cars have those space saver spare tires, pretty much worthless but it does get you back on the road. Those are called spare tires too.

Some newer cars have no spare tires, they usually have run flats or a compressor. There will be a time when people will wonder what a spare tire is.

I suspect that knowing what a spare tire is will determine your age.

 

[rabbitnothopper]

well no, the black spare was a standard vw steel wheel, it was thinner and obviously painted black inside and out
these days its just on a stack of other wheels without tires
if normal stock wheels are 4.5inch, it must be a 4inch wheel. i dont have access to it currently but im looking through my old photos...

--edit
yep here we go

http://imgur.com/BS3U4P7

http://imgur.com/NOF0md8

http://imgur.com/0XGBLC3

appears to be factory paint
and yes i remember when i painted my 4 wheels i compared it to the spare and determined its a 4inch wheel

 

[doog]

Did any of the US cars have the silver/black painted steelies?

 

[mokoosh]

Did any of the US cars have the silver/black painted steelies? View attachment 174670

I saw a beautiful, early 80s Convertible Rabbit that sold on BaT a year or two ago that had wheels like that. Don't know if they were original or not, but it was a ridiculously low mileage car, as I recall.

I think they look beautiful like that, but am too lazy to do two tones for my steel wheels.

 

[deathhare.]

Did any of the US cars have the silver/black painted steelies? View attachment 174670

You mean the US built ones or the US market ones?
The car you posted in a US market car but not US built. I dont think any of the US built ones had those two-tone wheels.