The Basics
- All inner/outer lips/barrels are raw steel. Polished, chromed, or painted finishes are unavailable at Airkewld, only powder coated.
- All centers are powder coated in a color of your choice. A chart of colors can be found here.
- The center section is machined out of a forged Billet 16" center that will incorporate a "cogged" rear bolt pattern to bind the steel wheel to the billet center.
- Unless the PRO's install tires, all wheels leave our facility details torqued and ready for the tire. Due to the volatility of the tire market, matching tread pattern tires will be expertly mounted, balanced, and with new valve stems. Wheel and tire packages will be detailed to perfection before packaging.
What's recommended?
Let's talk about what lips work with what and what the PRO's recommend. These are recommendations and not guarantees. You must check the vehicle for fitment before ordering to ensure fitment is ideal for your ride.
Front
1949 through 1977 Beetles and Karmann Ghias will need a 4-inch narrowed beam to tuck these wheels with drop spindles and disc brakes with 5.125-inch back-spaced wheels.
Rear
1949 through 1965 Beetles and Karmann Ghias, outfitted with short axles, will not have to change anything in the rear and will run the 4.625-inch back spacing wheels to create the staggered look.
1966 through 1968, Beetles will need to run the 5.125-inch backspacing models if the vehicle currently runs long axles in the rear. If you want to run the staggered look in the rear, you can run a 1.250-inch wider fender or change the axles to OEM short axles from 1949-1965. Karmann Ghias can only run the 5.125-inch rear wheels.
Due to the IRS configuration, from 1969 through 1977, Beetles must run the 5.125-inch back-spaced wheels. If you want to run the staggered look in the rear, you can run an 1.250 inch wider fenders.
Type 2 Bus Applications
1955 through 1970, Type 2 Buses need 5.125-inch back spacing wheels. Rear applications must be identical unless you have installed a straight axle configuration in the rear. Then you can run the 4.625-inch back-spaced wheels.
Porsche 356 Applications
You can run the 5.125-inch fronts and 4.625-inch rear without issues on the 356s up to 63.
Type 3 Applications
If outfitted with long axles or IRS, you will need 5.125-inch back spacing wheels, front or rear. You can run the 4.625-inch back-spaced wheels if you convert to a short axle.
Kewl Features
- DOT certified
- You can use OEM Factory hubcaps with the 17" Smoothies.
- Included with each wheel are the Hubcap clips/fasteners.
FAQ
- Do you offer to chrome of these wheels? No. There are no chrome shops in Arizona any longer.
- Do you offer different widths in these wheels? No. We only have 7" wide hoops.
- What is the weight of each of these wheels? 37lbs
- Can you polish the hoops/barrels? No, they are steel and need paint, powder coat, or chrome.
- What lugs do I need to run? 60-degree cone seat. We have a guide on lugs here.
- What tires do you recommend? 205/40r17 up front and 215/45r17 in the rear.
- Do you sell hubcaps? No. But here are some options.
From jBugs -
Factory Wide 5 caps (cheap) -
Factory Wide 5 caps (better) -
Large VW Emblem caps (cheap) -
Smooth caps (cheap) -
Wolfsburg Crest caps (cheap) From Wolfsburg West -
Wolfsburg West Chrome caps (BEST) -
Wolfsburg West Grey caps (cool) From thesamba -
KDF Caps (cheap) -
Porsche Crest Caps (Nice)