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I thought someone here got a set of the new Fiat 500 steel wheels in 15 inch to try on their Haflinger - any feedback on them?

I picked up a brand new set of 155/85-R15 Vredestein Snow+ tires and want to try them out. Just under 24 inches in diameter. There is a local CL ad for 4 fiat steel rims that are 15x5.5 with an ET of 35 I might go pick up to use - just wondered if anyone else has tried them out yet. I think these might be aftermarket and not OEM ones however.

Probably was me - my buddy was to supply me some but we never got around to doing it.
I have 3 12" sets, a 13" and a 14" set - so 15" was more of a fun project that ended up getting lost on the to-do list
Hope you check it them out and can report back!

That was me. I picked up a set with brand new winter tires. They are substantially lighter and taller, no rubbing, high top speed. I have had no issue with them what so ever.

You will need to ream out the inside of the center hole slightly

and if you look in the back ground, you can see the stock tires, and the width of a second set of Fiat rims i have.

THose look the same - what size tires are those? They look like the typical 185/55-R15 used on the Fiat 500s. So those are about 25 inches tall?

Im sorry Haf-e, i ignored the details when i saw the photo. My rims are 14" rims, not 15. I'll take a look at the tire size next time im home.

Well - It looks like all of the rims I can find in 15 or even 14 inch are too wide for the tires I want to use - I need something more in the 4 inch width and not 5.5" wide.

Any ideas of where to look? The temporary spare rims have way too much offset it seems. There are narrow rims for 4x100 (Honda etc.) available - but not in a 4x98 pattern.

I have not seen anything that thin. Maybe trailer tires?

The rim manufacturer "http://www.oponeo.co.uk/steel-wheels/4x98" lists various sizes, but nothing narrower that 5.5 in a 15inch. I suppose you could have your existing rims cut and welded back together as a 4 inch width. The opposite of "banding" !!

John

Thanks for the link - looks like it will be hard to find a rim in the 4 inch width - even though lots of vehicles used to be made with wheels that narrow.

Cutting them and rewelding is an option - especially since it will be used only at low speeds an not much on the road. Can't think of any friends in have with a lathe big enough to do the cut-off unfortunately - that would give the best edge for an accurate repositioning.

Haf-e wrote: I need something more in the 4 inch width and not 5.5" wide.

Any ideas of where to look? The temporary spare rims have way too much offset it seems. There are narrow rims for 4x100 (Honda etc.) available - but not in a 4x98 pattern.

You can purchase the 14" spacesaver spare wheel that typically comes with small Fiats, it's 3.5 " wide and is ideal for a 155 section tyre. These are shown on mine in the pic below..

The fiat 500 sold here in the USA do not come with spare tires (at least I was told that) - just a cheap little compressor and a bottle of goo... so compact spares for them are hard to find (you can order them apparently for $$$). Also, all the US models come with 15 inch wheels - not 14's.

What size rims are those? 13? 14? 15?

Thanks,

These are 13"; I never realised that you were in the US and didn't have access to the same models that we have in Europe, which is unfortunate.

Not that it's probably much use to you, but here's a link to a typical advert.

Cheers

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Fiat-Panda-Sp ... Swo4pYak3D

10 pounds!
Love it!!

Thanks -

Both Fiat and Mini only sell "higher priced" models of their cars here - no fiats with the 2 cylinder multi-air engine or minis with the 1 liter engine. All seem to have 16 inch wheels or larger on them - usually with runflats too. Unfortunate - but I guess its the only way to compete with the asian imports that are cheap here.