14" wheel survey, anyone still using them?
 

I just found some 14" wheels with tires laying around and deceided to try them out on my 3.2 Carrera. Well, I was amazed how soft they felt and how it made the car feel so comfortable compared to my 16" wheels. The big surprise was that the handling didn't seem to suffer very much, in fact, the front end seemed to stay glued to the road much better, especially in the twisties...hummm.

Cheers,

Joe Garcia
86 Carrera
Redwood PCA since 1976 (former tech chair)

The big downside to the 14" rims is tire availability. Not much in the way of really-high performance tires available.

They kinda look funny, too! I suppose it would be cool if you could find some low profile tires to put on them and effectively lower the gearing. (and the car) But I don't think there's anything available that's worth a damn.

I liked mine when the car was a stock '71T. They've got to look funny on the back of your car with flares.

My '70T has the stock 14" Fuchs. I think they look right for the early models kept stock although tire availability is getting more limited. I have Michelin MX4's 185 R14 which are T rated.

I'd be interested in hearing from anyone who has back dated to 14s from 16s or taller to hear what they noticed, as far as ride and handling.

Joe

I have 14" Fuch wheels with Michelin 185 HR 14 on my 71 original 911 Targa. Side walls are sorta high and finding tires does with H rating seems a little difficult too

185/60/14s are an good tire for an early 911 or 914, but I wouldn't go with them for a SC or Carrera. The main reason is that they are only 5.5 wide, while the SCs & Carreras had 7" rims in the rear.

Here's mine with 14s (any excuse to post a pick :)). 195/65/14. Lots of sidewall bulge. I wouldn't say that the handling was bad, but big problems getting decent rubber in the 14 size.

Took this pic on the weekend after dropping it off for some suspension work. My set of 16s will be on it by the end of the week.



http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1067212899.jpg

Ash

Aww man you left my car out of the shot :P

The 14s on your car don't look to small at all. Nice and balanced look.

His car is a 70, 14s came on 911Es in that year:)

I knew that; it was sort of my roundabout way of asking why 16s are necessary if it is POSSIBLE to find tyres.

14s look great in the right situation (which isn't often as 15s are far better on stock early cars). Just not as aggressive as I'd like. I'd prefer to push the barrier a little with wider rubber, and 14s really don't alow for that kind of scope.

Any others still running 14s out there?

Ash

I have them on my 69 911E.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1065977137.jpg

Actually I'd like to get 15 X 6 wheels at some point.

Chuck

Here's "Little T" as it's affectionately known around Chicagoland. 14s all around. Until yesterday. Took them off to go with 16s.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1067228446.jpg

BTW - I found 235, yes 235s at TireRack. OR was it tires.com. I forget, but it was just last week as I was considering making some "911R" style 14X8 s out of some spares.

I'm going to 16X6 next week. Haven't decided yet whether to go fully polished Al Reeds or black center anodized. I may have to post pictures here with a poll. I have a set of each.

Here's another shot of Little T with better lighting on the wheels. It's a 1970.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1067228862.jpg

Ray,

So how often do you have to "change the cardboard" under your 911s? :)

I have same "set up" under my car.

Chuck

Actually, I changed the oil pressure sender, crankcase breather gasket and oil pump seal, and now all is much better. I still have a leak in the front, probably the main seal, but will deal with that later. So I'm good changing the liter box once a month or so. : 0

These are 195/70 R14's on my '71E. Will be going to 15" wheels soon, though.
http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1067269252.jpg

Look closely guys...those are elephant racing oil lines on Evren's car. Chuck should be pleased to see his product "at work" in Turkey..:D

I tracked my car 3 times last year on 14s. I've got 205/60 H series rubber all the way around.

http://forums.pelicanparts.com/uploa...1153889524.jpg

I'm not sure what to do with the set of 16x6s that I have... I think I'm going to mount some max perf tires for tracking... plus I want to refinish/restore the 14s...

ahhh so many projects, so little time!

-- update 10/24/2006 --

I put 205/50/16s on the 16s, the 14s will sit for future restoration.

Britt