Pulling trigger on FM10 and KD's...

[91C2wrencher]

Fikse is very knowledgeble on offsets and can no doubt make the right one available to you. The problem is getting the right information to them through your dealer(wink,wink) I all honesty the dealer just wants to make the sale, you should not depend on them solely for fitment. Have you tried to talk with Fikse direct? re: desired tire size/track width/ rim capatibility/offset?

[Bill Verburg]

When I looked into Fikse their o/ss were

• 7.5" +25.0mm
• 8" +18.6mm
• 9" +18.6mm
• 9.5" either +25.0 or +12.3mm
• 10" +18.6mm

Assuming that o/s is still the same The 7.5s will fit the front fine but the 8s would have trouble, I would use 225/45 on 7.5s and the 9s will fit the back fine using 255/40 but the 9.5 or 10 will not fit easily if at all.

You need to be aware that the 225/45 fronts may require a little lip work but it shouldn't be a real big issue, they are only marginally wider (less than 1/4") and a bit shorter than the 205/50. But the tread width is bigger and a better match for the rears.

[rdane]

Current Fikse suggestions from the factory for our cars ('78 SC through the 3.2 Carrera) are 8" and 9" wheels in 17". I talked with Jim Fikse and Travis Johnson in customer service.

I asked about fitting up S03 for tires and was directed to the 235/45/16 front and the 255/40/17 for the rear as the best fitment.

Yes they fit with no problems and I have a very narrow front driver's side on my SC. But I don't like how the car drives with the SO2s I ended up with in those sizes. S02s run extremely narrow in tread width and very wide shoulders. I will buy 225 and 255s in the SO3s when I get the chance. 225/255 are a better combo than the 205 or 235/255 IMO. Thank for the help from guys like Bill on this list.

Get the Fikse "SpeedSilver" paint on the wheels for $79.00 a wheel and forget about the cleaning problems. Mounted, balanced, polished lug nuts ($200!) and Wash. 8.8% tax make them $3,462.70.

I went with clear coat and bare rims to save some cash. In retrospec I would pay the additional $320 and never worry about cleaning or corrosion again.

I'll bet you'll love the tires.




If I knew then, what I know now, I would stick with my 7 and 9 Fuchs and put the money in a 3.6, YMMV. 205s and 245s work great on that set up and the 16" wheels shortens the gearing enough to notice. I have yet to decide which look I like better. The Fikse wheels do lighten up the look of my car though. The compliments are also continious for the Fikse wheels so pride of ownership is fun.

[Bill Verburg]

It would be very interesting if some of you Fikse owners would post the o/s of your wheels(or the front space and back space #s which are easily measured. Fikse no longer provides that info on their website.

From the above posts it appears that they have different o/s from what was available a few years ago. An +18.6mm o/s 8 will stick out too far in the front of a Carrera.

For those that are concerned about the height of 17s, 265/35 and possibly 275/35 are becoming available. The 265/35 is .4" shorter than even a 245/45x16. I haven't sen the 3s for the 275/35s yet.

rdane, If you put a 3.6 in your car you will want a smaller(225/45) front tire or a bigger rear tire(265 or 275).

[MuffinMan]

I believe my front 8" wheels have an offset of 21 or 23mm. Fikses have unique serial numbers on each wheel, and Fikse will give you the build information on that specific wheel if you call. I will try to remember to write down the numbers of my front & rear wheels when I go home if anyone wants a definitive answer on what worked for me.

[NoLift911]

Well it looks like 7.5 in the front with 225's are the way to go.

I spent some time up at summit looking at the cars and it seems to be the way to go. One thing that was interesting was looking at a few cars with the 7.5 and 225 setup seems to have more around the fenders than my current setup with 17's and 205's on Cups.

So if I can get the correct offset all should be good.

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

[Tim L]

I have fikses 8's and 9's with 30.5 and 18 mm offset with 225 and 255 with no problem at all with rubbing. The 8's seem better with the 225's than my other 7.5 rims.

Tim

[Tim L]

This is on an 84.

Tim

[Bill Verburg]

Now we're getting somewhere.

Tim L's 9 agrees with the #s I have 9x17 is +18.6mm o/s w/ 5.73" of backspace.

the 8s are probably the +31.3mm o/s w/ 5.73" of backspace. Do you need any spacers Tim? Any rubbing especially on the inboard side? During parking lot type hard turns at full lock?

[89911]

I have fit two sets of Fikses (FM10 and FM5's) on two different late 80's 911's with no problem. 8's up front have been no issue and actually have better clearance on the outer lip then a fuch 7". I would suggest a 9.5 in the back. You could possible get away with a 275 track tire there and a 255 would still be fine. The 9" back limit is a 255 tire. As far as finish, the FM10's are tough to clean. I think they are fine for everyday use. For track driving, I would suggest getting the FM5's if you like the look. You could always get the FM10's anodized black also.

[rdane]

dane, If you put a 3.6 in your car you will want a smaller(225/45) front tire or a bigger rear tire(265 or 275).

Thanks Bill, I want it now. The 235/255 is not the best set up for the track IMO even with a 3.0 L engine. I will be going to a 225/255 SO3 set up with my FM10s.

I also agree that I have more clearence with the 235/45/17 on the 8" FM10s than I did with the 7x16 Fuchs and a 225. The 205 on Fuchs and the 235 on Fikse's are very comparable for clearence on the front of my car. No spacers and no rubbing.

[Bill Verburg]

Yes, the 8s will have more lip room if the o/s is +31.3mm, the lip room comes at the expense of backspace, hence my question about rub on the inner panls.

+23.3mm Fuchs 8x16 w/ 225/50 tires will rub on the tub in full lock turns.

[rdane]

Nothing rubbing on the inside with the 235s. I am also using 930 brakes.
Sorry I missed the inside issue.

[89911]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
Yes, the 8s will have more lip room if the o/s is +31.3mm, the lip room comes at the expense of backspace, hence my question about rub on the inner panls.

+23.3mm Fuchs 8x16 w/ 225/50 tires will rub on the tub in full lock turns.

Mine will rub at full lock out in parking lots on the inner fender wells. I used some stainless steel sheet metal to protect this area. It only happens on the squarer track tires.

[NoLift911]

Well I called Fikse and and they say 8's with 235's and 9's or a 9.5 with 255.

Maybe I will just keep my cups...

-Jeff
nolift911@hotmail.com

[rdane]

"Maybe I will just keep my cups.."

besides the obvious reason of costs why would you when you can add rubber width and get more clearence in the wheel wells?

[MuffinMan]

I am currently running 235/255 and I definitely don't wish I had less front tire. Spring rates, sway bar sizes, and sway bar settings also play a big role in understeer/oversteer, so tire size alone is not the only factor.

I will try to get my Fikse offset numbers tomorrow to contribute another data point.

[rdane]

Rob, what tires are you running?

[MuffinMan]

I'm currently using Yokohama A032R's. I bought these because they were all that was available on short notice during my last tire emergency (isn't that always the way)? I was actually running a set of old-style R1s before these, and the sidewalls were noticeably stiffer. I could tell the difference before I was out of the parking lot...seriously.

[NoLift911]

8's are ordered and 9's for the rear

225 up front 255 in the rear...will post pics after I get them