16x7 advantage over 16x6 up front?

[nostatic]

I've been reading through the archives about going with wider rubber (without modding the car). The rear seems easy...going from 16x7 (225/50/16) to 16x8 or 16x9 (245/45/16) shouldn't be an issue.

For the front, going from 16x6 (205/55/16) to 16x7 (225/50/16) might or might not have a problem, so more than one person suggest to run the 16x7 with 205/50/16. If you do that, what is the advantage of going from the 16x6 to 16x7 rim? Just being able to go a bit lower profile? Getting a bit wider track due to the offset?

[CamB]

My tyre guy always complain bitterly about putting a 205 on a 6" rim. Keeps wanting a 6.5"or (if its a Fuchs) the 7".

He said the 205 doesn't fit as well (bulges) compared to on a 7".

[marcesq]

I have 205/55s on 7x16s and they sit just right on the wheel, no funny bulge and the tire spreads out a bit. The down side is that I had to roll one fender (driver side) to clear. With 225/50s on the rear the car feels really good in the twisties.

My 2 cents

Looks more better.

Funny Bulges???? Yup, I got them too.

[Bill Douglas]

I tend to choose average size rubber

If you do go for the bigger rear wheels, pls sell me the spacers. That would save me asking you to buy some on my behalf at the next swap meet

Your car in the other thread sure does look like my ones long lost brother. I'll have to get around to painting my wheels.

[CamB]

"Looks more better"

or hella sweet.

Todd, I do think I remember a post where someone splained that the 7's on the front improves handling and had some scientifical reason. Probly in the archives somewhere. I bet Bill V would know the answer.
First pic 6 and 7's then 7 and 8's.

[Eric Coffey]

Yeah, 205's on 7's = less side-wall flex, better tire geometry, etc. Although, this poses the question: Does everyone that uses (951) 8's up front run 225's on them?

[89911]

A 205 on a 6" wide tire does bulge as you described. I went with an 8" front off a 944 turbo to enable me to get a 225 up front. If you think a 205 bulges on a 6", a 225 on a 7 is worse. The 8" up front and the 9" in back give a nice balance of 225/45 and 245/24 as opposed to the 205/245. I actually think a 245 fits the 8" better. A 9" fuch actually looks stretched when fitted with a 245 and looks like it can use a 255 or slightly larger. Meadering asided, a 7" fuch fits a 205 better.

[nostatic]

so Mark are they 16s, and what tires are you running? I agree...they look cibie sweet.

I've got 205/55/16s on 16x6 and don't find that they bulge much, but it might be tire dependent.

[marcesq]

Originally posted by 89911
If you think a 205 bulges on a 6", a 225 on a 7 is worse.

I think it depends on the tire. My 225/50 AVS Intermediates don't bulge and look almost the same as the 205s.

[island911]

Originally posted by 89911
If you think a 205 bulges on a 6", a 225 on a 7 is worse.

FWIW: a 225 tire should be 10% wider than a 205.
Where as a 7" rim is 17% wider than a 6" rim.
. . .so a 225 on a 7" shouldn't be as bad.

[911pcars]

Todd,
Looks aside, a wider wheel provides better sidewall support. 1" more is good; 2" wider is even better, but there's a practical limit. The 944-16x8s w/225s are probably the widest Fuchs you can stuff in a stock wheel well.

There seems to be more owners moving from Fuchs to aftermarket, which is good for those who like the factory wheels.

Sherwood
http://members.rennlist.org/911pcars

[Yargk]

I've heard that for the best sidewall and geometry characteristics, one should try to keep rim/tire > .88

205 mm is 8.07 inches.

Ratio of rim to tire:

rim = 6 inches, tire 205, ratio = 0.74349

rim = 7 inches, tire 205, ratio = 0.8674

Although still less than .88, the 7 inch rim looks much better ratio wise.

For contrast let us look at some specs for a new Porsche.

gt2 front

rim = 8.5 inches, tire 235, ratio = 0.9187

Tires are 205-55-16 and 225-50's - same size as stock. The tires in the second pics were trash that came with wheels. I have Potenzas now.
Just bought a set of 9's and will put 245's on those.

[Wil Ferch]

I run 911 type 7" Fuchs for the front...more track width and more stable/vertical sidewall support for the 205's. Lessens understeer.
Still have 7" stock Fuchs on the back with 225's.

Nice fr/rr balance for DE's on the track....

--Wil Ferch

[marcesq]

Originally posted by Wil Ferch
I run 911 type 7" Fuchs for the front...more track width and more stable/vertical sidewall support for the 205's. Lessens understeer.
Still have 7" stock Fuchs on the back with 225's.

Nice fr/rr balance for DE's on the track....

--Wil Ferch

I'm doing the WAVE