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The 73 Thing that I just bought came with 15 inch wheels. The spare tire has the correct non slotted wheel. The other four wheels on the car have slots all the way around. What are they from? Do they have a different Backset that may cause me trouble?

Give us more details. Things came stock with 14" non slotted wheels.
The slotted 14" wheels are type 2 bus wheels that have too shallow and offset for a Thing. Many Things have been switched to 15" wheels. Things and early bugs have a 5 x 205 bolt pattern. So you can bolt and early type one wheel to a Thing. I know that the later bug 4 x 130 bolt pattern has the ocrrect offset for a Thing because there are plenty of Things out there that have been converted to late model 4 bolt type one drums/rotors and use standard offset type one 4 x 130 wheels. Based on this I assume that your wheel are simpley early type one and whould be fine. But I would appreciate it if anyone who has a better knowledge of early bug stock offset to chime in and correct me if my facts are less than accurate. I have run stock type one rotors and wheels ( 4 x 130) on a Thing with no isses. But have never put stock 5 x 205 15 early type one wheels on a Thing. Folks? K-mann

Since I have the original Thing Brakes, the 5 lug bolt pattern should be the 5 X 205 type that you talk about.

Kubelmann, I've considered buying a set of 15" smoothies. Haven't done it yet.

For real Kubelwagen cred, you need 16" non-slotted wheels.

- Scott