THE PORTAL HUB - Pinzgauers, Haflingers, Volvo 303s and more!

Here's how I went about replacing the skinny stock Haflinger wheels and tires with wider Fiat wheels with Michelins. Fiat is the only company I know of that shares the 4 X 98 bolt pattern and has nice wheels, but unfortunately uses 12 MM lugs. The Haflinger uses 10 MM.


First, find a set of Fiat wheels on Craigslist, these were in Seattle. Search for X/19 wheels.


Get the wheels sandblasted.


Powder coat with RAL 6014. I did this at home.


Have lug nuts made. There is no lug nut available in a 10 X 1.5 that will fit the Fiat wheel, no one makes them. The stock acorn nuts will not work safely, regardless of what you might hear from 'experts'. I made an AutoCAD drawing of this lug nut, contact me off line if you would like a copy in .PDF.


Get some good tires. Off road tires aren't made in 13", so I settled for all-weather Michelins. I can always mount the stock wheels and tires any time I want to.


Ready to go! I can't say how they ride, as I have an inner tie rod removed and won't have a replacement until tomorrow.


Overall view. Not much I can add to this photo.


Here's a spare set of wheels I also found on Craigslist, in case I ever get bored with the current set. I will powder coat these the color of the body.

The Haflinger uses the 4x98mm bolt pattern. It is the same bolt pattern as used on a variety of vehicles in the past. Most common is the Fiat, but others such as Abarth, some Alfa Romeos, and other rarities used the same bolt pattern. I have 12, 13, and 14 inch wheels for my Haflingers. The problem is in finding tires that will not rub. There are very few tires with good tread for off-roading that will fit and yet not rub when traversing uneven ground. Many people opt for snow/ice tires for better tread, but the sacrifice is in tire life in warm climates. Alternatively, skidsteer tires can be had that will fit the 12 inch rims--these have great chevron tread for offroading--but they are not DOT-certified and can't legally be used on road. I have some standard tires on 12 inch rims for road travel, snow/ice Nokian Hakkepelita tires on 13 inch rims for routine use, and skidsteer tires on 12 inch rims for pure offroading. I have not found a good tire for the 14 inch rims for offroading--there are many good tires that fit the rims, but they are too tall.

Cheers,
Greg

I didn't look closely at first at your overall picture of the Haflinger--it is funny that you opted to do several things the same way I did. We have the same overall color and the same desert camouflage top. Are those also round Unimog mirrors? Your Haflinger looks great.

Cheers,
Greg

Yes, those are Unimog mirrors that I bought years ago and never used. As for the color, seats, and top, I just copied the way I did my 710M, which is just a larger version. If our Haflingers are similar it is coincidence.

What is that particular color of "sand"

Thanks,
Robert

Here is the paint code.

..... The stock acorn nuts will not work safely, regardless of what you might hear from 'experts'. .......

I just saw that comment... pretty reckless of Rick...

There are 2 styles of rims used by Fiat..Steel rims that the Haffy lug nuts fit. and the later "up model" alloy rims that require these custom "shoulder" lug nuts .

Be sure of the type of rims you are using and don't think they are all the same

A daft question as I Liked this thread.

The larger 12mm lugs cannot be fitted to the Haf hubs?

fiats ... another of my interests.

the wheels for the spider 2000 and the 124 series all share the 98mm bolt pattern and some wheels did come in a 14 inch size. fiat afficiandos say they all have similar back spacing ... can't say as i've ever tested them all on my X1/9.

regardless, fiat wheels are somewhat readily available.
fiatplus.com
and
midwest-bayless.com

both have pretty good selections that are both inexpensive and mondo-costly.
years ago, I had a spider 2000 that had these (http://www.fiatplus.com/turbo-alloy-roa ... 79426.html) wheels on it. they were one of the more common versions ... 14" dia, 6" width.