16" in front-17" in rear-anyone done it?

[eurocarrera]

With skyrocketing prices of 16x9 Fuchs, I may go another route. It sounds like I can take the 16x7 rims from the back of my 85 Carrera, and put those on the front of the car - granted they have 205/55/15 tires mounted on them.

On the front of the car, I would take the 2 old 16x6 Fuchs, and send them back to Lindesy racing to be made into 17x9's. Thats approx. $705 for 2 new wheels.

Has anyone done this or thought about it?

I would eventually , chnage the front wheels out to 17x7's (or 8').

Thanks!


http://www.lindseyracing.com/wheel2.htm

[89911]

I don't think you'll have any problem and you should get an A+ for inventive thinking. Other cars have been doing this for quite a while (Acura NSX for one). Since the wheel are basically un interchangable anyway because of different tire widths and unidirection tires, go ahead. What are 16x9's going for anyway? They still are making these new and are available from WheelEnhancement in the $650 range, so they should never go above $1200/pair.

[pwm74]

mine

[eurocarrera]

The latest price from Wheel Enhancements is $750 per wheel (8x16 or 9x16). This doesn't include center caps or lug nuts. Parts Heaven has two in stock at $800 each (ouch); eBay- can't find a set for under $1275 right now (auction hasn't closed yet). I think at those prices, someone could make a bundle on aftermarket quality look a likes, or everyone should just consider Fikse or Kinesis wheels. For those of us who have kids and a house, I think I need to go the more economical route, and still try to reman true to the original look.

Same thing with used Carrera tails - that market has jumped through the roof. Can't find a good OEM value for under $400 anymore either. Looks like its a Carrera tail from Better Bodies for me.

[masraum]

Go with the tail from MAshaw. He's decently priced, and everytime the question of quality fiberglass comes up his ends up with the most praises.

I think the problem with making new 16x8 and 9's is that even though lots of us want them the market is still very limited with lots of people going with later model 17" Porsche wheels or aftermarket 17" wheels. And from what I understand Fuchs were expensive to make and are still probably pretty pricey. The cheap way to make them (cast) is not what we want.

[cstreit]

Common older racer trick is 16" rears and 15" fronts. The 15" fronts are some 5 lbs lighter than the comparable 16's, so you're saving a LOT of unsprung weight too.

[widebody911]

I have a set of track wheels that are 16x9 and 17x11

[IROC]

I've got 16x8s in the front with 245/45-16s and 9x17s in the rear with 275/40-17s on my '76. Works like a charm. Most people don't even notice it at first.

Mike

[Bob's Flat-Six]

You'll be in good company, 935/78 Moby Dick, close to 900 HP at full boost. The rears were 19"