BRM Staggered Set of 4
15x4.5 front, 15x5.5 rear, gloss black/polished
Set from$95595Shop set ▸
Ships free · US ground · or 4 payments of $238.99 with Shop Pay
Or: GT-8 polished wheel & tire set $2,116.95, ships free ▸
Washburn's Metal · Orange, CAIssue 01 · Fall 2026Air-Cooled VW & Porsche
The Wheel Book: Wheels for Air-Cooled VWs & Classic Porsches
Every wheel we stock for VW Bugs, Buses, Ghias and vintage Porsches: 15 styles from $147, including EMPI Fuchs-style 911, BRM, Sprintstar and Cosmo, in 4-lug (4x130), wide-five (5x205), Bay Bus 5x112 and Porsche 5x130, 15 to 17 inch.
15″ sets ship free
In This Issue
What Do You Drive?
Or pick your bolt pattern:
4x1304-LugBeetle 1968–79, Super Beetle 1971–79, Karmann Ghia 1967–74, Type 3 1966–73, Porsche 914 (4-cyl)▸5x205Wide-FiveBeetle through 1967, Ghia through 1966, Type 3 1961–65, Split Bus & 1968–70 Bay Bus, Thing 1973–74, Porsche 356 through 356B▸5x130PorschePorsche 356C/SC, 912, 911, 914-6 & 930, plus VWs converted with adapters▸5x112Bay BusVW Bay Window Bus 1971–79 (Type 2)▸
Not sure? Count the lugs, read the fitment guide, or call (657) 438-7002.
Buyer's Guide All 15 wheels, one page
No wheels match these filters. or call (657) 438-7002 and we'll find one.
911-Style Alloy5x1305x2055x112from $226.95
Vintage 1905x205from $238.95
914-Style Alloy4x130from $202.95
Sprintstar4x1305x205from $217.95
BRM4x1305x2055x112from $202.95
GT-84x130from $205.95
GT-55x205from $205.95
Torque Star5x1305x205from $225.95
GTV II Mag5x205from $294.95
Riviera4x130from $228.95
Cosmo & Gasser4x1305x2055x1305x112from $237.95
Dish4x1305x2055x112from $203.95
Raider5x205from $240.95
Off-Road & Bead-Lock5x205from $285.95
White Steel (Series 21/81)4x1305x205from $147.95
Best Sets by Bolt Pattern Four wheels, one box, one decision
Most wheel-only sets cost about 10% less than four singles, and every wheel-only set below ships free by US ground. Most also offer the matching lug kit as an option. Most wheel & tire packages ship free too; if an oversize item carries a shipping charge, you'll see it at checkout. Shop Pay installments are available on every set.
911-Style Set of 4, Wide-Five
Chrome or polished/black, 15in
Set from$1,07195Shop set ▸
Ships free · US ground · monthly payments with Shop Pay
Or: Chrome wheel & tire set $2,070.95, ships free ▸
911-Style Set of 4, Porsche Pattern
Chrome, polished or black/polished, 15in
Set from$81295Shop set ▸
Ships free · US ground · or 4 payments of $203.24 with Shop Pay
Bay Bus Set of 4
BRM, Gasser, Cosmo or Dish, 15in. EMPI publishes no load rating; call us for a loaded camper.
Set from$81795Shop set ▸
Ships free · US ground · or 4 payments of $204.49 with Shop Pay
Or: Chrome 17x7 set $1,569.95, ships free ▸Try It On Your Car
Upload a side photo of your car, pick a wheel, then drag and size it over each wheel. Your photo stays on your device; nothing is uploaded.
- Take a straight side-on photo in daylight.
- Pick a wheel style below.
- Drag the wheel onto your front wheel and size it so your tire shows around it, then tap “Add rear wheel”.
- Save the picture and send it to us if you want a second opinion.
Your photo appears here
Preview only. Not a fitment guarantee; check bolt pattern and offset or call us.
01
The German Classics 911-Style, Vintage 190 & 914-Style Wheels
Factory looks, faithfully replicated: the German wheels that defined the era.
The 911 look, cast so your Beetle could wear it.
#01The Look For AllBest Seller
EMPI 911-Style Alloy
Real Fuchs were forged for Porsche's 5x130 hubs, and old ones are getting pricey. EMPI's 911-style alloy is a cast tribute to that 1960s cloverleaf. It comes in the Porsche pattern and also in Wide-Five and Bay Bus 5x112, so a '67 Bug or a '71–79 Bay Window Bus can wear the look too. Same silhouette, smaller bill.
Specs
- Bolt
- 5x1305x2055x112
- Sizes
- 15x4.5 · 15x5.5 · 15x6 · 17x7
- Finish
- Chrome · Polished · Black/Polished
- Best for
- Cal-Look and Euro-look Beetles and Ghias, Bay Window Buses, and 356A/B and 911 owners who drive daily.
Shop by pattern: 5x130 · 5x205 · 5x112
Pro tip Lug seats differ by bolt pattern: the 5x205 and 5x130 versions are ball seat (use the 20 mm M12x1.5 bolts on wide-five); for 5x112, ask us. For a stagger, run 15x4.5 up front with 15x5.5 or 15x6 out back on 5x130, or 15x4.5 with 15x5.5 on Wide-Five.
19 options: singles, sets of 4, wheel & tire packages, complete bundles
02
Cal-Look & Drag Strip Sprintstar, BRM, GT-8 & More
Skinny fronts, fat rears and the spokes that defined Southern California in the '70s.
Skinny fronts, fat rears. That's the whole recipe.
#04Cal-Look Icon
EMPI Sprintstar
The original Sprint Star was a steel wheel, fitted to EMPI's GTV special-edition Beetles. Originals are scarce and valuable today, so EMPI now casts it in aluminum: eight spokes on 4-lug, five on Wide-Five. Its classic setting is skinny in front, wide out back, and low in the nose.
Specs
- Bolt
- 4x1305x205
- Sizes
- 15x5 · 15x8
- Finish
- Gloss Black/Polished · Chrome
- Best for
- Cal-Look Beetles, Super Beetles, Ghias and Type 3s, on 4-lug or Wide-Five.
Shop by pattern: 4x130 · 5x205
Pro tip 60-degree tapered seat on the reproductions, so don't reuse factory ball-seat lugs. The classic stagger is 15x5 in front and 15x8 at the rear.
8 options: singles, sets of 4, wheel & tire packages
#05
#06Eight Is Great
EMPI GT-8
Eight curved spokes on a 4-lug hub.
Specs
- Bolt
- 4x130
- Sizes
- 15x5.5
- Finish
- Gloss Black/Polished Lip · Chrome · Polished · Silver/Polished Lip
Shop by pattern: 4x130
6 options: singles, sets of 4, wheel & tire packages
#07
#08
#09
#1003
Mags & Modern Cosmo, Gasser, Dish & 17-Inch Raider
Porsche-era looks, slot-mags and 17-inch stance for the street.
Cosmo or Gasser: one of the two in every air-cooled bolt pattern.
#11Porsche-Era LooksAll 4 Patterns
EMPI Cosmo & Gasser
The Cosmo is a Cosmic-style design inspired by 1970s aftermarket wheels: raised spokes with holes between them, a period Porsche-era look that VW owners adopted early. The Gasser is a separate EMPI style in gloss black with a machined face, built for 5x130 and the Bay Bus.
Specs
- Bolt
- 4x1305x2055x1305x112
- Sizes
- 15x5.5
- Finish
- Gloss Black/Polished
- Best for
- 4-lug, Wide-Five and Bay Bus VWs (Cosmo); adapter-equipped 5x130 VWs and the Bay Bus (Gasser).
Shop by pattern: 4x130 · 5x205 · 5x130 · 5x112
Pro tip Seat type changes with pattern: 4x130 Cosmo takes 60-degree M14x1.5 bolts, 5x205 Cosmo takes 60-degree M12x1.5 bolts, the 5x130 Gasser takes M14 ball-seat nuts, and 5x112 Cosmo and Gasser wheels need EMPI's small-diameter 60-degree nuts (00-9547-0). Order lugs for your exact part number.
5 options: singles, sets of 4, related EMPI wheels
04
Off-Road & Baja Bead-Locks & Steel for Bugs, Buggies & Things
Forged aluminum, bead-locks and wide white steel built for the dirt.
#14Baja Ready
Off-Road & Bead-Lock
Baja Bugs came from late-1960s Southern California. Gary Emory is credited with the first, around 1968, and Dave Deal raced one in that year's Mexican 1000. Race-Trim, now part of the EMPI family, makes these forged aluminum off-road wheels and bead-locks, with narrow fronts, wide rears and air pressures low enough for sand.
Specs
- Bolt
- 5x205
- Sizes
- 15x4 · 15x6.5 · 15x7 · 16x4
- Finish
- Forged Aluminum
- Best for
- Baja Bugs, dune buggies, sand rails and Things on Wide-Five hubs.
Shop by pattern: 5x205
Pro tip Ball-seat lugs, not 60-degree. The 15x4 bead-lock is a front wheel; torque ring bolts in a star pattern and recheck after the first few hours.
From$28595each
Shop ▸
1 option: singles
The Spec Sheet Every wheel style, bolt pattern & size
| Style | 4x130 | 5x205 | 5x130 | 5x112 | Sizes | From |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| The German Classics | ||||||
| 911-Style AlloyEMPI | – | 15x4.5 · 15x5.5 · 15x6 · 17x7 | $226.95 | |||
| Vintage 190Mobelwagen | – | – | – | 15x4.5 · 15x5.5 | $238.95 | |
| 914-Style AlloyEMPI | – | – | – | 15x5.5 | $202.95 | |
| Cal-Look & Drag Strip | ||||||
| SprintstarEMPI | – | – | 15x5 · 15x8 | $217.95 | ||
| BRMEMPI | – | 15x4.5 · 15x5 · 15x5.5 · 15x6.5 | $202.95 | |||
| GT-8EMPI | – | – | – | 15x5.5 | $205.95 | |
| GT-5EMPI | – | – | – | 15x5.5 | $205.95 | |
| Torque StarEMPI | – | – | 15x4.5 · 15x5 · 15x6 | $225.95 | ||
| GTV II MagEMPI | – | – | – | 15x5 · 15x6.5 | $294.95 | |
| RivieraEMPI | – | – | – | 15x5.5 | $228.95 | |
| Mags & Modern | ||||||
| Cosmo & GasserEMPI | 15x5.5 | $237.95 | ||||
| DishEMPI | – | 15x5.5 | $203.95 | |||
| RaiderEMPI | – | – | – | 15x5 · 17x7 | $240.95 | |
| Off-Road & Baja | ||||||
| Off-Road & Bead-LockRace-Trim | – | – | – | 15x4 · 15x6.5 · 15x7 · 16x4 | $285.95 | |
| White Steel (Series 21/81)EMPI | – | – | 15x5 · 15x6 · 15x7 · 15x8 · 15x10 | $147.95 | ||
Wheel Book FAQ
Bolt patterns by year, offset, the '67 Beetle question and 5x130 conversions are answered in our VW wheel fitment guide.
Are EMPI 911-style wheels any good?
They're our best-selling wheel style. They come in chrome, polished and black/polished, in 15x4.5 to 15x6 (5x130, 5x205 and 5x112) and 17x7 in 5x130. Lug seat depends on the bolt pattern: ball seat on 5x205 and 5x130; on 5x112, ask us. Order the lug hardware listed for yours.
Sprintstar or BRM: which suits my Bug?
Both are Cal-Look classics in gloss black with polished faces. The Sprintstar is 8-spoke on 4-lug (4x130) and 5-spoke on wide-five, and comes in a 15x8 rear for a big stagger. The BRM is a 5-spoke British racing design in 15x4.5 to 15x6.5, and it's also made in 5x112 for the Bay Bus.
What wheels are Cal-Look?
Cal-Look is the 1970s Southern California Beetle style: lowered front, skinny fronts and wider rears. The classic wheels are the EMPI Sprintstar and the BRM, typically 15x4.5 or 15x5 up front and 15x5.5 to 15x8 at the rear. The GT-8 and Torque Star belong to the look too.
What staggered sizes do people run on a Beetle?
Common Beetle and Ghia staggers are 15x4.5 front / 15x5.5 rear (BRM), 15x5 / 15x6.5 (BRM or GTV II on 5x205) and 15x5 / 15x8 (Sprintstar). Typical tires on 15x5.5 are 165 front and 185/65R15 or 195/65R15 rear. On a Bus we recommend a square set, the same width all round.
Which wheels fit a 1971–79 VW Bus?
A 5x112 wheel with Bus offset. Here that means the EMPI 911-Style Alloy, BRM, Cosmo, Gasser and Dish in 5x112, or the Bay Bus set of 4. The 1971–79 Bus has M14x1.5 studs. The BRM, Cosmo, Gasser and Dish need EMPI's small-diameter 60° lug nuts (00-9547-0); for the 911-Style in 5x112, ask us which nuts before you order. EMPI does not publish a load rating for these wheels, so run Load Range C/D tires and call us before ordering for a loaded camper. 1968–70 Bay Buses are still 5x205 with M14 bolts, like the 1950–67 Split Bus; call us for those too.
What's the difference between the EMPI Cosmo and Gasser?
The Cosmo is a Cosmic-style design inspired by 1970s aftermarket wheels, with raised spokes and holes between them. EMPI makes it in 4x130, 5x205 and 5x112 (the 5x130 Cosmo is sold out right now). The Gasser is a separate EMPI style, made in 5x130 and 5x112 only. If you're searching for 'cosmic wheels', the Cosmo is the one.
Which wheels keep a stock look on a vintage Beetle or 356?
The Mobelwagen Vintage 190 gives a vintage slotted look in cast aluminum, in 15x4.5 and 15x5.5 wide-five, including listings for the Porsche 356A/356B (1956–63). For buggies and Bajas, EMPI's white steel wheels come in 4-lug (Series 21) and wide-five 5x205 (Series 81) in a range of widths.
Do alloy wheels need different lug bolts?
Usually. Stock VW steel wheels use ball (radius) seat bolts. Most EMPI alloys (BRM, Sprintstar, GT-5, GT-8, GTV II, Raider, Riviera, 914-Style) use 60° cone seat bolts, while the Vintage 190 and Race-Trim use ball seat. The EMPI 911-Style is ball seat on 5x205 and 5x130 (ask us about 5x112), so use the hardware listed for yours. Wide-five Beetles, Ghias, Type 3s and the 1973–74 Thing use M12x1.5 bolts; 4-lug cars and the 1950–70 Bus use M14x1.5 bolts; the 1971–79 Bus uses M14x1.5 nuts on studs. EMPI 5x130 wheels (911-Style, Torque Star II, Gasser) take M14x1.5 ball-seat nuts; factory Porsche alloys use their own nuts. Never mix seats, and re-torque after the first drive.
Do you have 17-inch wheels for an air-cooled VW?
Yes: the EMPI 911-Style 17x7 in 5x130 (single, plus a 17-inch set of 4), the Raider 17x7 (5x205), and a chrome 17x7 in 5x112, sold as a Bay Bus set of 4 or singly. Expect low-profile tires and check fender clearance, especially at the rear.
Fitment Hotline
Borderline fitment? Offsets, brake clearance, staggered setups, 4-lug to 5x130 conversions. We'd rather talk you out of the wrong wheel than sell it to you.
(657) 438-7002Weekdays 8am–5pm Pacific · 811 W. Barkley Ave., Orange, CA 92868 · @washburnsmetal
The Wheel Book is published by Washburn's Metal, Orange, CA. Prices and stock update live from our store and may change. Free US ground shipping on orders $250+, including 15" wheel-only sets. A few oversize items, such as some wheel & tire packages and 17" sets, carry a shipping charge (Lower 48); it's shown at checkout.
Porsche, 911, 356, 912, 914 and 930 are trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. FUCHS and Fuchsfelge are trademarks of OTTO FUCHS KG. Other names are trademarks of their owners and are used only to identify fitment and products. Washburn's Metal is an independent retailer, not affiliated with or endorsed by Porsche AG or OTTO FUCHS. EMPI 911-Style wheels are aftermarket reproductions, not made by Fuchs.