Choosing wheels and tyres for the T3 Syncro
4 de diciembre de 2016
Among my various areas of research, there is one that requires special attention: the choice of T3 Syncro rims and tyres.
This is a rather complicated issue as there are many factors involved: rim width equivalents for tyres, rim offset (ET), tyre equivalents for the dimensions listed in the technical specifications, gear ratios following an increase in wheel diameter…
There are many equations to work out, but to make progress, decisions need to be made in these areas:
- Choosing the rims.
There is a wide variety of rims available: steel-spoked (the most basic), steel, aluminium, magnesium… - Wheel size.
The standard T3 Syncro comes fitted with 14-inch wheels. A few units also left the factory with 16-inch wheels. So the range here goes from keeping those 14-inch wheels to going up to 16 inches. - Wheel offset (ET).
On the T3 Syncro, the ideal or standard offset is, if I’m not mistaken, ET30. If we go for a higher value, it might rub against the brake caliper. If we go for a lower value, it might stick out too far = MOT problems. We’re therefore talking about the offset of the rim – either outwards or inwards. - Rim width.
Not all tyres (in terms of width) fit on all rims. The thing is that here in Europe, rims are specified in inches whilst tyres are measured in millimetres. There are websites that provide the equivalents. - Wheel bolt pattern.
The bolt pattern is 5×112, so you’ll need to stick to that measurement unless you fit adaptors, but that just adds to the hassle. - Tyre type.
This is where aesthetics come into play, as well as practical considerations. Let me explain. I’ll probably be doing 60–70 per cent on-road driving and 40–30 per cent off-road. Therefore, the tyres should be road tyres rather than the knobbly ones more suited to off-road use. But of course, we’re talking about a T3 Syncro with 4×4 drive, and tyres of this type are what these beasts are made for. They use more fuel and are noisier, but aesthetically they’re the right fit. Road tyres, all-terrain tyres and something a bit more extreme, such as Mud Terrain tyres, are the options. - Tyre dimensions.
We’re talking about both tyre width and tread depth. The wider the tyre, the more fuel it consumes because it has a larger contact patch. As for tread depth, the deeper it is, the taller the tyre and, consequently, the more off-road-oriented it will be.
My choice of T3 Syncro wheels and tyres
Wheels
The rims I’ve chosen are:
View this post on Instagram
– Mercedes-Benz steel wheels without
hubcaps, painted black – 15-inch, 7″ wide and ET37
– 5×112 bolt pattern, the same as on the Volkswagen T3.
Cooper Discoverer AT3 tyres for the T3 Syncro
As for the tyres, I’ve been doing some research and I’m going to go for all-terrain tyres in size 215/80/R15.
Most people here reckon that the BF Goodrich All Terrain tyres work very well, but they’re only available in 215/75/R15 and are quite expensive (around 135 euros). There are alternatives, and the one I’ve liked best is the Cooper Discoverer AT3 tyre, which is available in 215/80/R15 and costs around 100 euros. I’ve included a couple of links below to a comparison and a test of durability and performance on different surfaces.
This T3 Syncro wheel and tyre configuration means I have to follow a specific process to have the wheels type-approved for the T3 Syncro, as the wheels I want to fit differ in size from those specified in the technical specifications.