Exploria carries a large range of alloy wheels that are fully weight rated for all models of Transporters.
We have been supplying alloys specifically to suit VW commercial vehicles for as long as we can remember, so we know a thing or two about what fits, what doesn't, and what is legal and right.
If you shop about you will find a vast range of prices and availability of various wheels, but many aren’t suitable for VW Transporters, even though they say they are. The wheels we offer are only suitable for Transporters and we will only sell you wheels and tyres that are weight rated for your specific vehicle.
Our experiences have brought us to a select few American, Italian and German brands, which we actively push due to the quality, construction, warranty, support, design and no hassle products. We do, however supply some cheaper brands to remain price competitive and in line with most of our competition. As a company we would recommend the better quality wheels which, as expected, cost more but are worth it in the long run.
Take a look at our wheel range and see what you think... We hope you like what you see. If you don’t find what you want, give us a call because we can most likely source them for you.
Most vehicles we work with are factory highline models. These come from the 16” Clayton or 17” Davenport VW standard alloy wheels. Unfortunately they don't do much for the aesthetics of the vans, and upgrading to a bigger wheel is an easy choice for many.
What can seem confusing is what size to go for. If you spend time on the internet you will read a a huge range of opinions on what is the best fit and what gives the best ride. Most of this is subjective and there are many factors which can play a part in the individual experiences.
At Exploria we have tried them all; 18”, 19” and 20”. We stock a range of 20” alloys and some 17” with all terrain tyres, for the off-roaders among us.
On the larger wheel front we find 20” wheels fill the arch gap and look “right” on a Transporter. With a 275/40/20 tyre of the right shape you have a large amount of air and rubber under you, so get a very good standard of ride. The smaller 18” and 19” wheels run narrower tyres so, even though side walls can look taller, the over size can be smaller. Tyres can also be a lot harder to source.
With a new set of 20” wheels fitted, we will re-calibrate your speedo on your Transporter to ensure the speedo is correct on the fitment of your wheels, at no extra cost.
It’s important that your alloy wheels are correctly weight rated for the vehicle. Obviously, vans weigh more than most cars and more importantly, they have a greater carrying capacity (Max Load Weight). It’s this Max Load Weight per axle that your wheels need to be able to carry, for various reasons, but most importantly to be safe and road legal. Furthermore, it is not only the wheels that need to be weight rated, but your tyres too.
On a VW Transporter, the axle weights can be found on the engine bay bulkhead just above the air filter. The plate shows the VIN number, gross vehicle weight, and axle weights. There will be figure No. 1, which refers to the front axle weight, and No. 2 which refers to the rear axle weight. To do the calculation, take the highest axle weight (usually the rear) and divide it by 2.
If we look at the above image, we can see that the Vehicle is a T32 from the 3200kg payload.
Axle one is 1710 kg and Axle 2 is 1720 kg.
If we take the highest of the two axle weights, which is 1720 kg, and divide this by 2 for each wheel, we get 860kg.
Therefore we need a wheel rated to at least 860kg and also a tyre which is at least 860kg, which would be a load index of 103 or higher.
Beware of many alloy wheel distributors and shops selling alloy wheels that are not weighted properly for your vehicle, as they do not meet the weight rating requirements. It is also advised that if you have bought a vehicle with aftermarket wheels fitted already, to check the alloy wheels and tyres that may already be fitted to your existing vehicle.
DON'T GET CAUGHT OUT... Often, the phrase used is ‘suitable for Transporter fitment’, but what this is actually referring to is the hole pattern, offset and centre bore.
From our experience, it is always best to check the Max Load Weight of your chosen alloy wheels yourself. The weight rating is normally stamped on the back of the alloy wheel, and the tyres always display the max weight on the sidewall. Many retailers will avoid making you aware that your wheels and tyres may be insufficient for the vehicle.
This will be in the format of width/height of the sidewall/rim size/load and speed rating.
It is important your tyres match the size of your wheels, your vehicle, and have the correct load rating.
Exploria supplies and fits mainly 275/40/20 106Y tyres to suit the 20” wheels we sell and all Transporters, including T32 4motion vans, with the highest axle weights.
275 - This is the width in millimeters
40 - This is the height of the side wall or the aspect ratio. The important thing to be aware of here is this is a percentage of the width so, in our case, 40% of 275mm which is 110mm.
20 - Inner diameter of the tyre and diameter of the wheel.
106 - Load rating index. In this case 106 gives 950Kg
Y - speed rating - Y gives 186 mph
To be legal, safe and insured, your wheels and tyres must match the axle weights of your vehicle.
Most, but not all alloys have the weight rating stamped on the inside of the wheel, either on one of the spokes or edge of the inside rim. If they don’t have the weighting on them we recommend you contact the wheel manufacturer to obtain the load rating, ideally in the form of written documentation. You will usually find various other information embossed or printed on the inside of the wheel, which will relate to the manufacture, and approval stamps along with the hole pattern (PCD) / offset (ET) / Width of rim (J) and size of rim in inches.
PCD is the hole pattern, and on a Transporter is 5/120
The centre bore on a Transporter which is 65.1 which is the size of the centre of the wheel that sits on the hub.
A few reasons why it is so important to get it right:
Along with the weight rating issues discussed above, we would also recommend that you check with the supplier or converter on what warranties are available on the wheels. Many companies offer very poor warranties, especially on wheels with a cut faced, polished finish. If you are unfortunate enough to have a set of wheels that have began to corrode, you may find that the alloy wheel distributors and agents simply state that they were only covered by a 6 month warranty and that the corrosion has been caused by grit, or alternatively that the wheels were not designed to be used through the winter!
Not only is there a great difference in looks from a 16” to a 20” alloy wheel, but there is also a difference in the ride comfort and overall handling. Going bigger reduces the size of the tyre wall, which makes the ride harder. So bear this in mind when considering bigger alloy wheels. Also, large alloys tend to fill the wheel arch much better, but they can also look a little silly without going that extra mile to get the vehicle lowered.
If you find the information given above a bit of a minefield, feel free to give us a call for a bit of advice. At Exploria we offer a wide range of wheels in various sizes from 16 - 20”, all weight rated. Also, some wheels come with a minimum 2 year warranty unless otherwise stated, regardless of finish and seasonal use. We have both low cost Chinese replica style wheels, and higher priced, higher quality German and Italian wheels, backed up with excellent warranties. We also have the facilities and stock for you to drive in with your vehicle and see a few different wheels on your van, as quite often they can look completely different when fitted. Take a look at the photos below, which show the same van with standard steel rims, followed by 20” alloys and finally, lowered by 40mm with H&R springs.
We have a large range of wheels in stock and the best way to choose wheels from us is to come down and have a look at the wheels we have in our showroom. We are also able to go that one step further than many, and offer a fit before you buy service to check you are happy with the look of your chosen wheels on your vehicle before you leave us. You can even try multiple styles if you are finding it hard to choose.
Our wheel range is ever-changing but below are the main brands we carry in stock:
