Overhaulin'

Can you help me figure out a way to fit vw beetle tires and OEM wheels on my 2003 Volkswagen Passat GL?

I got a great deal on some OEM alloy wheels and tires which came from a Volkswagen Beetle. I looked on Discount Tires website and it said the tire type ( 225/45R17) would fit on my 2003 Volkswagon Passat GL as an oversized option. Well, I went to put the wheels and tires on my car and the spaces do not line up with where the bolts go. I am replacing the original tires which came with steel hubcaps and were sized195/65R15. Can someone help me figure out if there is a way to modify the car to make these fit? Or am I S.O.L? Thanks so much!

Public Comments

1. You can't. The alloys off the beetle have a different offset than the Passat. However, the tires will fit.
2. You don't need to modify the car. What you need to do is send them back. They gave you the wrong size bolt pattern. What VW needs is a 5x100 bolt pattern. The up size on the tires is correct. Call them and let them know they don't fit on the car and they will give you a return authorization # and then you can get the correct ones. Hope that helps you out.
3. if returning or exchanging the wheels is not an option, and you REALLY want these wheels on your car then you could try adapters. Check them out here http://www.adaptitusa.com/index.asp The people at this company are very helpful and professional! Good luck!!
4. the beetle lug pattern is 5/100 to where the passat is 5/112.Also the offset on the beetle is 38 and the offset on the passat is 45. The offset is how far out the wheel will stick out from the fenders.So basicly you are s.o.l because there really is know safe way to modify a beetle wheel to fit onto a passat.But if you kind find wheels from a 06 jetta,gti or newer that you like they will fit on your passat,because the lug pattern and the offset is the same.