Winter project

Hi

My MK3 has old original rims that are rusted and ugly.
My plan is to replace these with new stainless or aluminum rims
I want 18 "rear and 19" front.
I've never done this before but would like to try ..
Have you out there any advice for me, or maybe a manual that can help me.
I have seen some small videos on YouTube, that's all.
When I choose 18 "on the rear wheel, should I then choose a slightly wider rim as well?
As you understand. It needed a lot of good advice for this to go well ..

Vidar

Nothing pays back more than removing spun and unprung mass so shop for lighter Al rims than the Excell's and pay more for that lasting benefit. Youtube spoke instructions for basics and realize the Norton front disc rim may be the worst there is to get right so get the two rows of off rotor side almost fully true and tensioned before touching the brake side spokes to pull rim into correct final position. More important to get side to side run out to minimal than centering rim on axle, if must compromise, as road loads on tire offcenter from axle constantly, not my opinion but wisdom gleaned by experts long before me. I used wire end to monitor axle centering but a micrometer down too .00Xth's for the vertical truing. Also experts say get the spokes rather tighter than any expected impact loads. A hammer strike on spoke nipple end while torque nipple can shock slack out of rest of spokes and allow a bit more tension w/o smearing nipple or wrench flats. Once wheel ~ perfect I go back round & round in cycles with micrometer getting each row sounding similar while compensating for the wavy shape rims gets between each spoke if checking that close.

vidar hjelm johansen said:

Hi
I want 18 "rear and 19" front.

When I choose 18 "on the rear wheel, should I then choose a slightly wider rim as well?
Vidar

Click to expand...

I laced an 18" WM3 on the rear of my '74 many years ago, primarily due to the lack of useful rear tires in 19". With the better selection of tires nowadays, I wish I still had the 19" on the rear, if only for originality's sake.

Curious as to what's driving you to convert to the 18". Are you anticipating carrying extra weight? It's okay if it's just for the look of a fatter back tire. The main concern is that the rolling diameter remains close to the same front to rear. Generally speaking, as you reduce rim diameter, you need to increase cross-sectional width to keep the outside circumference around the same.

Here's a couple of threads along the same topic:
wm3-wm4-t20345.html?hilit=wm3
tire-choices-t17909.html?hilit=wm3

Nathan

Hi

The reason why I wanted 18 "was the look
A little fatter tires would look better. Thats all.

Vidar