You lucky bugger.

 

Hi Bettsy
About the 9 May we will be starting the big circle with our van from Bowral NSW going north to Wyndham WA by about the 2 June then 2 months working way down the west coast and the Bight. Was going the other way but a friend is going counter cloackwise.
I aquired an 255x55x18 as my spare and build a wooden cover over it and my small chain saw. 18 is my standard wheel size.
Maybe we might meet on the road somewhere. Email me is my times sort of match yours.

 

Here, use this TYRESAVE: Tyre Size Calculator

 

Hi Bettsy,

Glad that you are about to embark on a great expedition. Sorry to say that I think 45 profile tyres on 20inch rims look great and are OK around town, but are not something I would recommend for an expedition like yours - even with air suspension. I'd suggest 18 inch rims with 55 or 60 profile tyres are a much better option for long distance touring and towing, especially if you are expecting to encounter some dirt roads.

Having 20 inch rims with a 19 inch spare is also not recommended - even if you match the rolling diameter with a suitable profile tyre. It will do as a 'stop gap' but the pundits will say you then should not exceed 80kph - much akin to using the space saver spare.

For a trip like yours, I'd suggest trying to source 6 x 18 inch wheels so you have 2 matched spares - there are many places around this large country of ours where a replacement tyre may take a week or longer to arrive at the local tyre fitter. During that time, having a second spare will give you some peace of mind.

 

Nice work,
Far more detailed than my response, but the message is the same. Lol .

FWIW I can seea 20inch Treg rim on gumtree at the moment.

 

I would be very cautious using a different rim and tyre combo on one wheel. All reports on CT here are that you should not even use dissimilar tyres on similar rim due to small differences in rolling diameter. As you have mentioned its your spare then you could use it, but you must stay below he 80 kph limit, same as your lame blow up spare.

 

This is how it works out....

 

Hedditch, the tire selection calculator looks like a very good tool. Is it freely available or a private one? Cheers Paul.

 

You MUST NOT exceed 50mph/80 kph under any circumstances if you use an odd wheel even if if looks like the circumference might be the same. You risk damaging the very expensive gearbox.

Ideally, as above, you need 5 IDENTICAL wheels/tyres [same make, same model, same tread pattern, same size] with no more than 2mm tread depth difference between tyres on the same axle and no more than 3mmtread depth difference between front and rear axles.

 

Hey Bettsy,

I'm no expert at all but from what people are saying here it sounds like a no go and you might not rest easy if you proceed.

For what it's worth, what about grabbing 6 of those steel Sunraysia rims. You know the ugly white ones (or black actually might look better) that have the little triangles holes cut in them? They're as cheap as chips from memory as people used to always put them on their land cruiser Utes etc.

Anyway, it's just a thought and might be a cheap option for you.

Copwahn

 

Did a quick google and here's what I mean. A picture speaks a thousand words.

 

Hi All

Thanks for the feedback. Looks like I won't run with the 19 inch as a spare, so will consider some of the other options suggested, cheers

Bettsy

 

Sunraysia rims will NOT fit a Touareg which has a non-compatible stud pattern (PCD 5 x 130) and offset.

Stick to VW OEM rims.

 

Sunraysia rims will NOT fit a Touareg which has a non-compatible stud pattern (PCD 5 x 130) and offset. Stick to VW OEM rims.

You can specify the stud pattern. You can buy new "blanks".

 

was load rating considered ??

 

My 2c, you are going a long way, 18, 19 and 20in that fit the treg out of the major cities are hard to find. The LC200 has 18in but they don't fit the treg. I would stick with a common brand and size like Cooper AT3 265 65 r17 these are stock on many Toyota's and and available everywhere. They are also cost effective at about $250 each vs $500+ for 20in. I would put the 20's in the shed and find some 17's. Sell the 17's after the trip this will probably cost you less than running the 20's. Replacing a 20 in the middle of nowhere is not going to be cost effective as it is recommended that the each axel has the same tyres and size even more so when towing. Hence if you destroy one of the 20's you may have to replace two tyres this has happened to other forum members.

On the up side the 17th are less bumpy.

 

For off-roading, I would recommend 17s and the same size spare. Without the same sized tires, on paved roads (tarmac, I think you call it) you will bind up the drivetrain and risk destroying your transfer case, a CV joint or a driveshaft. None of those choices would be fun.

 

My 20" tyres just sit in my shed. The car lives on the 17" rims running Pirelli Scorpions, and I would be hard pressed to change it.

 

Same, 20s in the shed and my car lives on my 18 inch Pirelli Scorpions.

 

17s really are the best way forward for all sorts of reasons as above and possibly easier to find secondhand as people want to change them for 20s and 22s for some reason!

 

The classifieds in Oz are full of 17 and 18 inch rims to suit, everyone wants low profile 19 and 20 inch wheels.... good deals to be had on VW rims if you want a 17 inch setup.

 

Bettsy,

Worth a look... http://www.clubtouareg.com/forums/f67/set-4-x-18-inch-genuine-rims-for-sale-nsw-235537.html

 

Great set, great price, but he still needs the 5th....

 

I look on gumtree.com.au for spare Treg rims as often as I can, frequently sets of four are available for sub $200 a rim, I am just curious if any others around NSW or nearby are in the market for a cheap 17 VW rim as the 5th spare, I would grab all 4 so long as I could get rid of two or three.

 

The Mrs won't be happy with the extra "junk", I can hear it now.
I think it will be a case of better to apologise after the crime than ask permission before.....

 

Betsy
After putting a rock straight thru the tread of my 21"scorpions out at Lawn Hill NP in Western Qld I can tell you its no fun towing a van on an 18"space saver for 600km much of it on dirt. And that not to forget the 10 days to get a replacement. First purchase after getting back was 5 18" Porsche rims fitted with Wranglers. Now they don't stay on all year they just get bolted on when we do our extended touring in winter.

Enjoy your lap there are some great places out there.

 

Griffo, just out of interest.... what tyre pressure do you run your 21nch wheels at? Cheers Paul.

 

30Kpa when towing and 25Kpa otherwise. The tyre pressure monitor gets upset if I deviate much from that.

 

Don't you mean 300Kpa and 250Kpa?

regards
Drag

 

17 inch rims available in Sydney.

I just picked up 4 off 17 inch VW original Treg rims on gumtree. I am planning to sell 2 or 3. I think the model is Makula, but I will confirm all the required info and then put an add in the "for sale" section, but if anyone is interested in the interim you can send me a PM.

 

Duh Yeah.

 

Ive got a genuine brand new 18in rim with tyre 4 sale 600ono i'm in perth

255/55r18

 

Hi

To update, after much searching for a single 20 inch spare (genuine Touareg/Q7/Cayenne), and difficulty in getting just one (VW dealer in Canberra quoted me $2,500 for a single rim..............), I have just purchased a genuine set of 5 x 18inch Cayenne wheels at an excellent price with identical specs to the 18's fitted to current models.

This will give me greater peace of mind travelling with the 18's, with a matching full size spare, rather than the 20's, which I will refit on return. Now to get tyres, pretty sure I will get Cooper HT Plus 255/55/18 which have a 109 load rating.

Cheers, Bettsy