too cheap for bigger Fuchs

[cantdrv55]

Ok, flame away if you like. I'm too cheap to upgrade to 8s or 9s in the rear but I like the look of filled out wheel wells. I have 6s and 7s only so I was thinking about using spacers. Is it possible to just use 1" spacers both front and rear? Any problems with this set up?

[v9ff]

Go for it! If you don't like it then you can always remove the spacers.

[Lukesportsman]

Are you sure you want a full inch? Is the difference all on the outside, really?

If your really cheap, then get bolt on adapter spacers and run a standard rim.

If your getting slide on spacers make sure they are hubcentric. I prefer forged/billet over cast spacers. Make sure you have full diameter worth of engagement on the studs. I would prefer to upgrade stud specs if your going to ask more of them and be sure of your lugs torque specs.

You probably knew all of this, but don't want you to over look things.

[cantdrv55]

Originally posted by Lukesportsman
Are you sure you want a full inch? Is the difference all on the outside, really?

If your really cheap, then get bolt on adapter spacers and run a standard rim.

If your getting slide on spacers make sure they are hubcentric. I prefer forged/billet over cast spacers. Make sure you have full diameter worth of engagement on the studs. I would prefer to upgrade stud specs if your going to ask more of them and be sure of your lugs torque specs.

You probably knew all of this, but don't want you to over look things.

No, I didn't know all of this. Thanks for the advice. I thought it'd be pretty straightforward. I guess nothing really is when it comes to 911s.

[Bill Douglas]

The great thing about spacers is your wheels arn't bigger and heavier - ya know all that rotating mass stuff you learnt at school.

[Zeke]

If using the slide on spacers (preferred in my opinion), I would think the cost of longer studs and the labor time to install them would buy the 8's. Maybe not 9's. Move the 7's to the front, keept the stock studs.

[Elombard]

A full inch is a big deal on any car. You will need longer special studs - the spacers are expensive and new lug nuts. Its a major undertaking. You will probably be in $500 by the time you are done. I would move your 7s to the front and cough up a few more $$ for 8s in the rear - get the same look - before I spent that. Plus you can sell your sixes - heck its a break even deal if you wait for the right price on some 8s and sell the 6s...

[Chuck Moreland]

Like Milt says, price out the spacers and the longer studs. You will be into this for close to $300 just to do the spacers, not counting labor.

Sell your 6s and add the $300 , that should just about pay for a pair of 8s or 9s.

You will need new tires, but maybe you'll get used ones with the bigger wheels.

[ubiquity0]

I have 1/4" slide-on spacers on the front & 1" adapters rear.
Total cost was about $140. I'm getting 7's & 8's tho'. I'd recommend you vjust pony up for wider wheels. Sell the 6's & swap over your current tires. Out-of-pocket maybe $500?

[ubiquity0]

Originally posted by Chuck Moreland
Sell your 6s and add the $300 , that should just about pay for a pair of 8s or 9s.

Anyone priced 9's recently? wow!

[jyl]

cantdrv55, since you have been doing AX and presumably will do more, I think going the extra mile for 8"s in the rear will pay off in the end.

[cantdrv55]

OK, I'm convinced. This may be a case of being penny wise and pound foolish. Yes, I will be doing more autocrossing so I'll save up for 8s. My wish list just keeps getting longer.

[vash]

get the 8's.

for a spacer question, does moving the load 1" out increase the leverage on the bearings? or is it too small to worry about.

one more question please, (maybe it should be a diff thread, but asking for my buddy chris): what is the deal with 944 fuchs? my PO had a set, and he told me they were desirable, but not why. needlesstosay, i didnt get them with the car.

[Jack Olsen]

944 Fuchs have a slightly different offset. It's similar to the way the 9's have the insets for the lug nuts. It allows the wheel to sit a little further in, meaning you can run an inch more wheel, usually.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by JackOlsen
944 Fuchs have a slightly different offset. It's similar to the way the 9's have the insets for the lug nuts. It allows the wheel to sit a little further in, meaning you can run an inch more wheel, usually.

Yes and No, 944 Fuchs come in 2 flavors the 7x16 has the same o/s as the 911 7x16 i.e. +23.3mm, the 944 8x16 has the same +23.3mm o/s while the 911 8x16 has +10.6mm

I agree w/ Noah 7 & 9 x16 has 95% of the benefit and 20% of the headache of 8 & 9 x16.

Spacers are a very poor choice

[89911]

It depends on what you want to run up front, as to the need for a 944 front rim. The rears are set at 245 with 9's, which is the ideal tire. If you go with a 7" Fuch up front, the widest is a 205 that will fit the rim correctly. Putting 225 on 7's is a poor fit with too much side wall bulge. That leaves an 8" 944 fuch as the only option to get a 225 up front. This balances the 245 in the rear nicely. It is slight gain for more money indeed, but knowing you have the maximum setup on your car without the need for any spacers leaves you with out any "desire" for wider Fuchs and lets you concentrate on other ways to spend your cash.

[twin plugged targa]

But the 8's
I spent about $200 on 1" rears and 1/4" front spacers and then sold them when I bought the 8" for the rear (about $500).
This is a good setup and the car felt fine, a little heavier on the steering but better when auto X'ing
Go for the 8's and put the 7's up front 205/225
Good luck
Ben

[Zeke]

Originally posted by vash
get the 8's.

for a spacer question, does moving the load 1" out increase the leverage on the bearings? or is it too small to worry about.

one more question please, (maybe it should be a diff thread, but asking for my buddy chris): what is the deal with 944 fuchs? my PO had a set, and he told me they were desirable, but not why. needlesstosay, i didnt get them with the car.

Good points. Depending on the backset, wheels will split the difference in width half inboard and half out. Whereever the vertical centerline, if it moves out, there is some aditional load on the bearings. I think that is an insignificant worry. However, it does change the effective t-bar rate. The shorter the fulcrum, the less leverage the tire has to move the suspension.

If I were to put SC flares and 8's or 9's on my car, I would step up one or two on the rear bars to compensate from where I plan to be with a narrow car. (26mm rear)

[Chuck Moreland]

Milt, your comments about lever arm length being changed with spacers is very true on the front, spacers do change the front wheel rate.

But that doesn't apply to the rear. The rear lever arm is the spring plate, which runs fore/aft. Hence spacers have no affect on rear wheel rate.

Spacers do load the bearing more. But a 1 incher isn't that much.

The next reply in this thread will likely point out that turbos ran huge spacers from the factory. They also ran different bearings.

All in, I'd get the larger wheels.

[Wil Ferch]

Nope... the next thread will be to say that 225's on 7" is not that bad....seeing that is exactly what the factory did on the rear of Carrera's. Certainly 8" would promote less sidewall distortion, but I wouldn't go so far to say they unduly bulge the sides.

---Wil