Factory Wheel Availability 0n '78 - '89 911

[jimaushea]

Can ANYONE out there clarify what sizes of Fuchs alloy wheels were available on these cars? Apparently there were 15 X 6 (fr) & 15 X 7 (rear) as well as a 16 inch in those widths as a factory option but was there also a one inch wider version available as well? in other words, a 16 X 7 (fr) and 16 X 8 (rear)? I'm looking to buy one of these from the above years and a few cars seem to have a wider, more aggressive track than others... could it be they have this one inch wider wheel as an option??

[brockperry]

My '85 came w/ 15x7 and 15x8 Fuchs as an option. I later purchased 16x7 and 16x9 Fuchs that came from a turbo. There may have been others...

[darrin]

jim:

Are you looking for a "wider, more aggressive" look for your 911 or for confirmation of stock sizes?

My '86 narrow body came with 16x6 front, 16x7 fuchs stock. I upgraded to 16x7 front and 16x8 rears (same sizes ran on earlier wide bodied turbos, but not sold as stock) -- the fronts are a tight fit and generally require rolling front fenders to avoid rubbing, but provide the wider more aggressive track you reference.

I choose the 16x8 rears so I could run the much more available 225/50-16 tire size (16x9s require 245/45-16 tires, which provide very few non-track-specific options).

The other option (if you have a narrow-body 911 with 16x6 front and 16x7 rear fuchs) is to add spacers to your existing wheels to achieve the wider more aggressive track w/o changing wheels.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by jimaushea

Can ANYONE out there clarify what sizes of Fuchs alloy wheels were available on these cars? Apparently there were 15 X 6 (fr) & 15 X 7 (rear) as well as a 16 inch in those widths as a factory option but was there also a one inch wider version available as well? in other words, a 16 X 7 (fr) and 16 X 8 (rear)? I'm looking to buy one of these from the above years and a few cars seem to have a wider, more aggressive track than others... could it be they have this one inch wider wheel as an option??

Bare Bones, stock on an SC were 6&7x15 cookies cutters, optionally available were 7&8x15 Fuchs, 6&7x16 Fuchs and the most desirable, 7&8x16 Fuchs.

.


With the 84 Carrera, bone stock was 6&7x15 Phone dials, same Fuchs as above, then in 86, Porsche added 9x16 Fuchs to the line up.

[Racerbvd]

[darrin]

byron -- didn't think porsche offered the 16x7 size up front for narrow-bodied 911s -- remember seeing the 16x8 rears become available on 89 carreras, but thought they still had 16x6 up front.

[da Vinci Dan]

The sticker in my ‘88’s engine bay:

[darrin]

dan -- what were your stock wheel sizes? 16x6 front and 16x7 rear? I have the same tire size sticker on my '86

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by darrin

byron -- didn't think porsche offered the 16x7 size up front for narrow-bodied 911s -- remember seeing the 16x8 rears become available on 89 carreras, but thought they still had 16x6 up front.

You could order your 911 with them from the dealer, hell, I've even seen build sheets where people order Turbo tails for SC. (judged PCA concours BITD, and when these things came up, owners presented the window sticker, ect to prove their SC came that way. And yes, the the 89 did come with 6&8X16 Fuchs.

[Arne2]

My info looks like the standard wheels were 15x6 and 15x7 cast wheels (cookie cutters on SCs, phone dials later). There were 2 Fuchs options through the period (other than Sunderwunsch). First was the 15x7 & 15x8. The 16" choice was 6 & 7 from '78-87 (or thereabouts) and 6 & 8 at the end.

[jimaushea]

Thanks for all the input; this is my 1st post on this forum so I'm kinda excited there's so much activity and well-informed people. I'm seriously shopping as I said in my note but it's just that with 16 inch Fuchs (apparently the most popular wheel on these cars) some cars seem to have wheels with a wider track... based on your responses either wider wheels or possibly spacers are a popular upgrade (seems like that would put too much load on the wheel bearings though)

[jimaushea]

So Arnie, you're saying that if the car has 16 inch fuchs (i'm currently looking at an '86) then the factory only fitted 6" to the fronts but the rears could be either 7" or 8"? (I've been led to believe the car has not had any change to the factory-supplied wheels)

[jimaushea]

trying to get used to this forum; one of the messages
below Arnie, is for you...

[Bill Douglas]

Instead of expensive 8" rears; do some research on spacers for the back

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by jimaushea

So Arnie, you're saying that if the car has 16 inch fuchs (i'm currently looking at an '86) then the factory only fitted 6" to the fronts but the rears could be either 7" or 8"? (I've been led to believe the car has not had any change to the factory-supplied wheels)

For an '86 with 16", they would have been 6 & 7 unless the car is a turbo-look. 8" was not a normal factory choice in the rear for '86.

[jimaushea]

thanks so much Arne for your reply - that seems to correspond to the car I referenced though I've only seen photos - I'll be looking at it "in the flesh" in about 2 weeks