Anyone have 19" rims?

[HardDrive]

I can across some rims for my Boxster that I think look pretty tight. But I have never had a car with 19" wheels before.

2 questions:

1) Durability. This car will not be on the track, but here are times when I am going 85+ over rough pavement on I-5. Are they safe? I realize that largely depends on the manufacture, but are 19s of any type going to be prone to damage?

2) Handling. 35 series tires......yikes. Are those going to have a very sharp edge? I gotta imagine they stick like glue, but when they let go, they let go fast. Any advice most welcome.

Any advice on aftermarket rims in general?

I have an artic silver boxster, so the photo below is pretty much what they would look like.

[svandamme]

Originally posted by HardDrive

1) Durability. This car will not be on the track, but here are times when I am going 85+ over rough pavement on I-5. Are they safe? I realize that largely depends on the manufacture, but are 19s of any type going to be prone to damage?

if well inflated, they should take it
won't be comfortable, but should be safe

unless you run into a pothole with sharp edges, but then a normal tire might just as well croak...

Originally posted by HardDrive

2) Handling. 35 series tires......yikes. Are those going to have a very sharp edge? I gotta imagine they stick like glue, but when they let go, they let go fast. Any advice most welcome.

they should let go later, yes
fast, don't think so, i'de think you'de get plenty of squeal to warn you of it...

i'de find a big empty parking lot, with tarmac and give it a try...

also, the wide tire will also grip faster again then a narrow tire, making it less of a problem... and it's a Boxster, great weight balance, if the rears do loose grip, just ease of the throttle and the back end will step back in line with hardly any effort... unlike what a 911 would do to you

biggest problem i would come up with is wet conditions...
then the picture changes, and wide definitely becomes a handfull... they will let go sooner then anything else, and will recover slower then anything else...and straight highway speed = aquaplaning waiting to happen... specially if you got tarmac with truck trails in em , that act like gutters right where your wheels would be...

[911boost]

I don't have 19's, but I do have 18's with a 35 series tire and some of the things I have noticed:

-the ride is rougher
-the wider tires really follow any groves or vairations in the pavement
-the ride is rougher
-the tires are expensive as *****, and the rears will last less than 10,000 miles.
-my car handles like its on rails, I have to guess the boxster would be the same
-the ride is rougher

Ok I didn't mean to highlight the rougher part, but that is definitley the case. Now it might also be due to my suspension set up, but with as low profile of a tire as you are going to have, the tire transimit the entire variation of the road surface to the suspension.

My wheels are made by HRE, they are spendy, but where on the car when I bought it. One thing i like about them is I can replace the barrel if need be, like all 3 piece wheels, I guess.

Bill

[kaisen]

The 35 series tires are not neccessarily wider than stock, although that is the norm in a 'plus' application. If wider, then more absolute grip in theory. But they *are* less forgiving and will break away less progressively. Also, you may not have the best choices for moderate all-season tires. Those sizes are typically summer performance tires that compromise tread wear, ride, and wet-weather behavior for ultimate dry-weather grip.

Another consideration is the rotational mass effect of that larger rim. Stopping power is reduced, acceleration times are sapped, and steering response is dulled. We all know what unsprung weight can do, but it's not *just* how much mass, but how far that mass is located from hub center.

[kaisen]

BTW, that set up looks awesome. Just know what you're getting into.

[HardDrive]

The increased road noise is a really bummer here in Washington State. They allow studed snow tires here, so the road surfaces are very rough. Still, I would be willing to put up with it.

But the rain issue is a show stopper here in Seattle. If there aren't some sort of 'all season' tires in those sizes, then there is no way. I'm running Continental Sportcontact2s on 17s, and they are terrible when there is water collected on the road. Not really interested in making the situation worse....

Arg. More research need.

Thanks guys.

[kaisen]

What tire sizes are you considering?

Goodyear Eagle F1 GS D3 are available in 225/35ZR19 for the front and 265/30ZR19 for the rear and that *should* fit a Boxster just fine. They are pretty darn good in the rain and are fairly quiet. I've had them and highly recommend them.

[TheMentat]

Originally posted by HardDrive
The increased road noise is a really bummer here in Washington State. They allow studed snow tires here, so the road surfaces are very rough.

... fo sure. The road noise on WA highways is unreal!

[HardDrive]

Wow, that strange, I did a size check out at tirerack.com, and it told me that they did not have a set when I searched as a front/back combo. But when I hunted them down individually, they have them in stock. Rated very highly in the wet!

Thanks kaisen! Thats what make this site great. Automotive junkies enabling the habit of other auto junkies.