15" wheels, how common?

[bkreutz]

I've got 15" wheels on my 74 88, according to the build sheet I found under the passenger seat track, it came with them originally. Looking through the parts suppliers, parts catalog, and the workshop manual I never see a listing for 15" wheels. How common (or uncommon) was this option?

[scott]

i understand it was the norm for 88s exported to north america markets

[Jim-ME]

For most NA market 88s after the early 60s 15" wheels were the standard size. My origional 1966 had them and my current 1964 has them. A lot of owners have gone to 16" wheels because of the larger diameter tires that can be purchased. I run 33X9.50X15 BFGs and will continue to do so until I can't get that size any longer. At that time I will upgrade to 16" wheels.
Jim

[Lalo88DK]

15" wheels wasn't offered to the European market so here it's very uncommon. I think it was only offered to the NA market.

[Les Parker]

I think that 15" were also offered to the middle East countries, for use with the 15" sand tyres. I saw many in Cyprus and Isreal etc. with the 15" sand tyres fitted.

2c

[Bostonian1976]

For most NA market 88s after the early 60s 15" wheels were the standard size. My origional 1966 had them and my current 1964 has them. A lot of owners have gone to 16" wheels because of the larger diameter tires that can be purchased. I run 33X9.50X15 BFGs and will continue to do so until I can't get that size any longer. At that time I will upgrade to 16" wheels.
Jim

Hey Jim I thought it was the opposite - the 60's IIa's mostly came with 16's, but the late 60's and early 70's IIa's and III's came with 15's to make them feel more 'peppy' on takeoff. I think that's what I recall reading....someone correct me if I'm wrong.

[daveb]

Pretty sure the 15's began in the US with the headlights in the wings, i.e. late IIa and SIII, 1969-72. Seen earlier cars with em but figured they were retrofitted later.

[bkreutz]

The part that I find odd is that they're not listed in any manual or catalog. Even if they were a NA only option one would think that it would be somewhere. I plan to keep them on, if only for originality.

[daveb]

they are (or were) listed in the RN catalog. NLA for some years I believe.

The part that I find odd is that they're not listed in any manual or catalog. Even if they were a NA only option one would think that it would be somewhere. I plan to keep them on, if only for originality.

[yorker]

The part that I find odd is that they're not listed in any manual or catalog. Even if they were a NA only option one would think that it would be somewhere. I plan to keep them on, if only for originality.

They are in the old parts catalogs, I don't know when they first came about but they were in the '62 or '64 parts catalog IIRC. My 1965 88 had them on it originally and the wheels were actually date stamped for 1965 IIRC.

[bkreutz]

I don't have any "old" catalogs, what I do have is the Series III parts catalog dated 1988 and all it has listed are 16's (not trying to stir anything up, just a point of curiosity to me). I would think that if they were a factory option, a mention of them should be in there. (even if they were a NA option only) Apparently not.

[zony]

Well from my dim understanding... through 67 Series ran 16's... 67-68 or thereabouts saw 15's when the they were imported to the US, ostensibly to facilitate the move from "really bad" acceleration to "bad" acceleration... meaning that a VW bug would still be in sight by the time you hit 45.

Not sure if this changed with the SIII in 72, but I see nothing but 16's on SIII's for the most part. Like many, I prefer the look of 16's over the stock 15's and am happy to say that I found my set with new BFG's for a song.... but as a previous owner of a 66 VW bus... slow IS good!
Marc

[yorker]

If I can find that catalog I'll scan the wheel section- there were a few optional wheels that fell by the wayside over the years, and other parts that transitioned to newer part #s.