I need some help with wheels.

[Rodek]

I have some 17 inch Porsche wheels on my '78 SC. Obviously they're not stock but were on the car when I bought it 8 years ago. I'd like to put something else on the car and don't know what will fit as far as lug pattern, offset etc.

Front wheels:
965 362 124.00
Offset 55
Width 7
Tire size 215-50-17
There are spacers but I'm not sure what size.

Rear wheels:
965 362 126.00
Offset 52
Width 8
Tire size 255-40-17
Spacers here too, not sure what size...is there a way to tell?


My goal is to put some aftermarket wheels on. I need info on what to look for in an aftermarket wheel, maybe some suggested wheels, any discussion is appreciated.

[76dno]

BBS Mahle/RS

[76dno]

Group 4 PAG/Campagnolo

[76dno]

if a period correct look is desired, you may want to change the bumpers to impact bumpers.

[Rodek]

I should have mentioned earlier that my wife wants to go with something more modern.

[Oheggem]

Originally Posted by 76dno

if a period correct look is desired, you may want to change the bumpers to impact bumpers.

I have no idea what this post is about. Really have no idea

To get back to topic, WHEELS. The RUF 17s speedline are very popular. What about fuchs? Braids?

There`s a few options out there.

[Noah930]

Wheels have to be 5x130 lug pattern. That's effectively a Porsche-specific pattern, as no other manufacturer uses that.

"Impact bumper" is the bumper design that originally came with the car. Impact bumper cars have that black rubber accordion-like bellows on the sides of the car where the front and rear bumper blend into the front and rear quarter panels. That design ran from 1974 until 1989. The bumpers and rocker panels you have on the car aren't original to the car, but came from the later 964 model line (1990-1994). I suppose if you wanted a more original, period-correct look to your car, you could restore it to the impact bumpers and pick a wheel design that fits (period correct styling). Fuchs were the go-to OEM wheel for the impact bumper years. But it sounds like you want to go with a more "modern" wheel design (from the 1990s or later?). FWIW, the wheels you have on the car are Cup 1 wheels, which were featured on (some of) the 964 model line. So the wheel design you have on the car right now at least fits the bumper/rocker panel aesthetics. Cars of the impact bumper years will have wheel offsets in the range of 15-23 mm. Cars of the later 964 years (and later) will have wheel offsets in the 52 mm range. If those wheels really have offsets in the 55 mm range, then you'll probably have adapters of about 30-some mm underneath them. But no way to know until you pull off the wheels and check/measure the adapters. So if you want to run wheels with no/minimal spacers, then you'll have to find wheels with offsets in the 15-23 mm range. Otherwise you'll have to run adapters to fit wheels from later 911 generations, with their much larger offsets.

And you'll also have to figure out how much you're willing to spend. You can get (new) aftermarket wheels for about $2K for a set, or you can spend upwards of $6-8K for fancier stuff. Obviously if you're willing to buy used, then it'll be cheaper but you may have to wait longer for the right deal to come along. If those are real Cups (not aftermarket) on your car, then you could probably sell them for a couple thousand dollars.

edit: Went home and checked: Stock 1978 wheel sizing was 6x15 front (36 mm offset) with 185/70 tires, and 7x15 rear (23 mm offset) with 215/60 tires. That was on Cookie Cutter wheels. The optional wheel were Fuchs in 6x16 with 205/55, and 7x16 with 225/50. I've read that the offsets were the same (36/23).

[76dno]

It’s about AFTERMARKET wheel options.

Originally Posted by Oheggem

I have no idea what this post is about. Really have no idea

To get back to topic, WHEELS. The RUF 17s speedline are very popular. What about fuchs? Braids?

There`s a few options out there.

[blucille]

I had Kinesis 17’s on my 83 when I bought it...I’ve changed things around a bit, so I’d consider selling these, here’s what they look like, they’d be plug and play on your car

[76dno]

+1 what I was trying to say...if you are looking for AFTERMARKET wheels from the late 70’s or early 80’s so as to achieve a more period correct look, you might want to consider changing the bumpers and rocker panels as those will detract from achieving a period correct look.

Fuchs are not AFTERMARKET. Braids are modern day reproductions of Fuchs.

Originally Posted by Noah930

Wheels have to be 5x130 lug pattern. That's effectively a Porsche-specific pattern, as no other manufacturer uses that.

"Impact bumper" is the bumper design that originally came with the car. Impact bumper cars have that black rubber accordion-like bellows on the sides of the car where the front and rear bumper blend into the front and rear quarter panels. That design ran from 1974 until 1989. The bumpers and rocker panels you have on the car aren't original to the car, but came from the later 964 model line (1990-1994). I suppose if you wanted a more original, period-correct look to your car, you could restore it to the impact bumpers and pick a wheel design that fits (period correct styling). But it sounds like you want to go with a more "modern" wheel design (from the 1990s or later?). FWIW, the wheels you have on the car are Cup 1 wheels, which were featured on (some of) the 964 model line. So the wheel design you have on the car right now at least fits the bumper/rocker panel aesthetics.

[faapgar]

This pattern does fit other cars and trucks.I had 2 Mercedes G-Wagons in Costa Rica that had Cayenne wheels on them.Back here in the states I have 2 VW V10 tdi Touareg that both have 5 x 130 Cayenne wheels on them.I almost put a set of 3 piece BBS ON then thought with 3 tons of weight it was silly.Unsprung weight what was I thinking.Ciao Fred

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by faapgar

This pattern does fit other cars and trucks.I had 2 Mercedes G-Wagons in Costa Rica that had Cayenne wheels on them.Back here in the states I have 2 VW V10 tdi Touareg that both have 5 x 130 Cayenne wheels on them.I almost put a set of 3 piece BBS ON then thought with 3 tons of weight it was silly.Unsprung weight what was I thinking.Ciao Fred

You're the first person to confirm this. Years ago I asked if any other manufacturers used the 5x130 pattern and all I got (other than obscure cars decades old) was crickets. Do all G-Wagens and Touaregs use the 5x10 pattern, then? Not that that helps the OP for his 911--just asking out of curiosity.

If the OP is set on keeping the 964 bumper style on his car, then I'd suggest going over to the 964 forum here and on Rennlist and scrolling through the wheel and picture threads there. Lots of aftermarket and later-generation OEM options. But then he'll have to continue to use adapters to have those larger offsets fit his car. But it can be a source for inspiration.

[Rodek]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Wheels have to be 5x130 lug pattern. That's effectively a Porsche-specific pattern, as no other manufacturer uses that.

"Impact bumper" is the bumper design that originally came with the car. Impact bumper cars have that black rubber accordion-like bellows on the sides of the car where the front and rear bumper blend into the front and rear quarter panels. That design ran from 1974 until 1989. The bumpers and rocker panels you have on the car aren't original to the car, but came from the later 964 model line (1990-1994). I suppose if you wanted a more original, period-correct look to your car, you could restore it to the impact bumpers and pick a wheel design that fits (period correct styling). Fuchs were the go-to OEM wheel for the impact bumper years. But it sounds like you want to go with a more "modern" wheel design (from the 1990s or later?). FWIW, the wheels you have on the car are Cup 1 wheels, which were featured on (some of) the 964 model line. So the wheel design you have on the car right now at least fits the bumper/rocker panel aesthetics. Cars of the impact bumper years will have wheel offsets in the range of 15-23 mm. Cars of the later 964 years (and later) will have wheel offsets in the 52 mm range. If those wheels really have offsets in the 55 mm range, then you'll probably have adapters of about 30-some mm underneath them. But no way to know until you pull off the wheels and check/measure the adapters. So if you want to run wheels with no/minimal spacers, then you'll have to find wheels with offsets in the 15-23 mm range. Otherwise you'll have to run adapters to fit wheels from later 911 generations, with their much larger offsets.

And you'll also have to figure out how much you're willing to spend. You can get (new) aftermarket wheels for about $2K for a set, or you can spend upwards of $6-8K for fancier stuff. Obviously if you're willing to buy used, then it'll be cheaper but you may have to wait longer for the right deal to come along. If those are real Cups (not aftermarket) on your car, then you could probably sell them for a couple thousand dollars.

edit: Went home and checked: Stock 1978 wheel sizing was 6x15 front (36 mm offset) with 185/70 tires, and 7x15 rear (23 mm offset) with 215/60 tires. That was on Cookie Cutter wheels. The optional wheel were Fuchs in 6x16 with 205/55, and 7x16 with 225/50. I've read that the offsets were the same (36/23).

Wow! Thank you for all of this information. Yes, the wheels are real and yes, I want to keep the bumpers and rocker panels and go with wheels that will fit the current setup. I'll also go to the 964 forum and see some wheel combos. I really appreciate it.

[76dno]

+1

I have seen some period BBS Mahle and CW wheels with 5x130 in a 15x7/8 size but the back-space was not enough. Maybe due to difference in brake size/clearance....

Originally Posted by Noah930

You're the first person to confirm this. Years ago I asked if any other manufacturers used the 5x130 pattern and all I got (other than obscure cars decades old) was crickets. Do all G-Wagens and Touaregs use the 5x10 pattern, then? Not that that helps the OP for his 911--just asking out of curiosity.

If the OP is set on keeping the 964 bumper style on his car, then I'd suggest going over to the 964 forum here and on Rennlist and scrolling through the wheel and picture threads there. Lots of aftermarket and later-generation OEM options. But then he'll have to continue to use adapters to have those larger offsets fit his car. But it can be a source for inspiration.

[76dno]

Fikse is modern aftermarket but not sure if they come in the widths you desire/need.

[Rodek]

For everyone that's replied, I say Thank you! This forum is a treasure trove of knowledge and experience.

[Michael at Pelican Parts]

Check out our wheel section. If you do want a more modern looking wheel, the best place to start would be page 6, where there's a wide variety available from Braid.

[Noah930]

Originally Posted by 76dno

Fikse is modern aftermarket but not sure if they come in the widths you desire/need.

Fikse will make whatever width/backspacing/offset you desire. That's the beauty of 3-piece wheels. Unfortunately it'll be expensive, but it will come out to be exactly what you want.

[Arne2]

Originally Posted by Noah930

Do all G-Wagens and Touaregs use the 5x130 pattern, then? Not that that helps the OP for his 911--just asking out of curiosity.

Re: G-Wagens - I'm not sure if they all use 5x130, but many late models do.

Re: Touaregs - All use 5x130, but when the Touareg was replaced in North America by the Atlas, the pattern changed back to 5x112 (the normal Audi/M-Benz pattern). Audi Q7s were also 5x130 until the latest generation.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Rodek

I have some 17 inch Porsche wheels on my '78 SC. Obviously they're not stock but were on the car when I bought it 8 years ago. I'd like to put something else on the car and don't know what will fit as far as lug pattern, offset etc.

Front wheels:
965 362 124.00
Offset 55
Width 7
Tire size 215-50-17
There are spacers but I'm not sure what size.

Rear wheels:
965 362 126.00
Offset 52
Width 8
Tire size 255-40-17
Spacers here too, not sure what size...is there a way to tell?


My goal is to put some aftermarket wheels on. I need info on what to look for in an aftermarket wheel, maybe some suggested wheels, any discussion is appreciated.

An SC oe fitment is 7ET23.3 front 205/50 or 55 and 9ET15 rear 245/45

If staying w/ 17s that's what you should be looking for, tires 215/45 & 245/40

in front 7ET25 would give you a little more room at the lip.

Bigger can be fitted but isn't at all necessary

the spacer can be measured easily enough by pulling the wheels and using a set of calipers, to get the installed ET of what you have now subtract the thickness of the spacers from the wheel ET