Are these fiat steelies already banded? They are off of my old car. They were spares.

They look like normal spare wheels with low width tyres on, not banded, you will not find any factory banded wheels. A banded wheel is very easy to spot, there are some for sale on here.

http://www.briskoda.net/forums/topic/235989-vw-banded-steelies-16x8-16x9-5x100/

I thought banded wheels were illegal.

What on earth are banded wheels ??

Banded steelies are wheels that have been cut around their rim and have had a band of metal welded in them make the rim wider.

HTH.

So why not just buy bigger wheels ?

So why not just buy bigger wheels ?

It's a VAG thing,

As in Volkswagen AG, just for clarity lol

I'll move this to general car

It's not about bigger wheels, it's about wider wheels and stretched rubber.

It's a VAG thing,

As in Volkswagen AG, just for clarity lol

Ok, Ok, I'm not that dumb,well maybe just a bit , I can tell the difference between a VW and a ........

It's not about bigger wheels, it's about wider wheels and stretched rubber.

I still don't see the point of it

Off the shelf you can't buy a 8 or 9 inch wide 14 inch wheel. So to get a really stretched look you get steels banded. It's not that new got some pics somewhere of my uncles mini in the early 80s on banded 10s was done then for a wider tyre not a stretched tyre

It's just a "look" there's nothing "to get" about them tbh.

Banded wheels are not illegal, just get the right thing or done by the right people.

george

eg

http://www.bandedste...com/Prices.html

http://www.mach5wheels.co.uk

http://www.rhinorays.co.uk

Edited 26 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

But I wonder what the insurance company would say if you told them?

If you drive a Modified from Standard Vehicle you obviously need to Insure & declare modifications accordingly.

(a declaration sheet & keeping reciepts is essential i would have thought.)

All modified parts will be manufactured or modified by somebody someplace, (Just as Standard parts will be.)

so it is best to be sure of the quality and their roadworthiness if for Road Use,

So Safety & suitable for purpose for track or off road & on road use.

The UK is full of companies and individuals building and modifying parts for Motorsport and Road use,

all of these must be meeting some sort of standard.

Many may be total rubbish and might end the user and the builder in big trouble if the worst ever happens.

Even more so if you are a DIY modifier i would have thought.

So buyer & modifier beware, but that applies to everything in life surely.

george

Edited 26 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

Whilst I'm not against the idea, I think they look quite good.

I wonder how strong they are, it's almost like cut and shut wheels !!

They are 'cut and shut wheels'.

But then there are 'cut and shut' cars that are quite legal, after having an IVA done.

Quality of craftmanship & safety is the important thing.

Somebody that builds something as their day job can be more than able to build something for a hobby.

I think you will find Emergency, Specialist & Utility Company vehicles etc on banded wheels.

Just a question of do you trust it the person doing the work,

and is the strength suitable for the purpose they are built for..

There have been banded wheels used all my life and from long before that.

There has also been loads of rubbish ones.

Usually you notice its a cr4p job thats been done the minute you have a tyre on and try to balance them.

george

Edited 26 April, 201214 yr by sk4gw

But I wonder what the insurance company would say if you told them?

I was looking into these and when I called up my insurance company, they said it was fine. I asked a few times and the response was that if they are road legal then they consider them to be okay as long as I let them know. They also said there'd be no increase in premium!

There's a link somewhere on Google - found it http://www.volkszone...t=424027&page=2 (post 12)- that suggests they are road legal, so therefore I assumed they were allowed.

I didn't go through with it though as my standard winter steels are heavy enough without having extra steel welded onto them. I love the look, but prefer the car to go round corners.

There was a feature on them in 'Practical Classics' magazine a couple of years ago, I think I've still got the magazien in question somewhere