Ruf'n it...

[smstcoach]

Just had to show off the new wheels. Yes, I know...HEAVY. I picked up the rear 17X9 and compared it to my fuch 16x9 and there is a big difference. I've been driving around with them for a few days and thought I would be able to feel the additional un-sprung weight, but they feel fine. Time to go watch F1. You guys enjoy your weekend.

[slow&rusty]

Wow that looks HOOOOT! Beautiful on your 911.

So exactly how heavy are the RUF wheels?

Yasin

[JonT]

Wow--those look very nice on your car.

[Oh Haha]

Sweet.
The Holy Grail of 911 wheels, IMO>

[smstcoach]

Yasin,
According to Bill V., the 9 weighs something like 24.5 lbs. Anyone know what a 9 inch fuch weighs??? When you pick the two up, there is a definite difference. I don't know if some of that weight difference is the tires (RA1's on the fuchs, kumho ecsta 712's on the rufs). Either way, I really couldn't tell much of a difference during some spirited street driving. The track would be another matter though.
Oh, and the big plus for these wheels...NO SPACERS NEEDED. Those of you that have tried to put anything but fuchs on your cars know what a pain in the arse (and pocketbook) that can be.

[twin plugged targa]

A Porsche tech told me that the RUF wheels were only suitable for Dunlop brand tires- something to do with a bead/fitment on the rim of the tire/wheel?.
I have notice alot of RUF wheels with dunlops and wondered if this was a coincidence or if there was some truth in the choice?
Evidently it is only an issue if used on the track.
I have done extensive PP searches and internet google searches with no answers.
I think they are damn nice looking wheels and just wondered if anyone could clear up this niggling question
rgds Ben

[makaio]

I love those wheels. If I oculd find a set for a decent price, I would have them on me car.

[Magnus Rostadmo]

I`ve contacted RUF to clear up this matter with this mail:

Hello you guys at RUF-Automobile !
I am driving 8 and 9" RUF-Speedlines on my -86 Carrera.
I`ve had Pirelli P-Zero Assi + Direc N2`s.
These tires are now worn out and I have to change tires.
When i took off the old tires there is black painted letters inside the rim
that says USE DENLOC DL TIRES ONLY.
So my question is as follows;
Do one have to use "special" tires with any sort of special bead ie DENLOC -bead or something ..........? Or is it OK to use "normal tires" ?
I am doing some pretty hard "track work" a couple of times each summer on Porsche Club Norways drivers events.
My intention was to mount Yokohama AVS Sport 225/45 and 255/40.

Regards
Magnus Rostadmo
NORWAY

Here is the answer;
Dear Mr. Rostadmo,
First and foremost we would like to thank you for contacting us and for your interest in our products. We see no problem to run convential tires like the Yokohama on your Denloc rims. You only must be shure that the tire pressure is ok!! If you have less tire pressure (under 2.0 bar) than the tire can not be hold on the rim. Of course you will see we can give you no warranty it is only an advice.

Best regards

H.-P. Lieb
RUF Automobile GmbH

RUF Automobile GmbH Mindelheimer Str. 21 87772 Pfaffenhausen Germany
Tel. +49 (0) 8265 911 911 Fax. +49 (0) 8265 12 13 www.ruf-automobile.de

Hope this clear tings up !

[jmarenas]

Running Bridgestone S-02 NO problems here with the Ruf Wheels.

[smstcoach]

Just don't use these with michelins on your F1 car!

[MIK911]

Jeff--looks awesome!! Where'd you find those wheels?

Mike
'86 coupe

[MIK911]

oh yeah....lets see more pics

mike

[Sameer]

Guys,
I have been using my Ruf rims for 5 years already with Bridgestones, Yokohomas and now on Falkens. No problems at all. No leaks, no drop in tyre pressure at all. I do a trye change every 20,000km and never once faced a problem with the tyres on my Ruf rims. The theory abt others saying we can only use Dunlop tyres in my opinion is BS. Speaking from experience here.

[craig001]

While I don't know if those rims are compatable w/other brands of tires, Denlocs were early run flats. I want to say they came out in the mid-80's and might have originally been for the 959.

They are hard to find now-a-days. Check over on Rennlist because somebody found a cache of them a while back. You could try a web search as well. That's all I remember, getting old is hell.

[TurboRuf]

Gentleman,

It’s important to note that RUF made two types of 80’s wheels that look identical. The ones marked “USE DENLOC DL TIRES ONLY” were specifically designed for the Dunlop Denloc run-flat tires. These tires made there road debut on the Porsche 959 and the RUF CTR (Yellowbird).

A couple quotes from Bridgestone:

“Initially, Dunlop developed tires with the intention of producing road tires derived from their competition tire used on the Porsche 956. Dunlop's Denloc tires had a unique rubber rib attached to the bead that "locked" into a recess in the wheel that would prevent the tire from coming off the rim and suddenly deflating in the event of a puncture.”

Bridgestone now offers a new tire that will work on Denloc wheels.

“Bridgestone has built new RE71 N0 tires featuring the Denloc bead profile in the Porsche 959 sizes. These are the only tires available for real Porsche 959 vehicles and also fit RUF (a Porsche tuner) wheels produced in the 1980s that feature the Denloc bead profile.”

RUF also offered standard wheels that didn’t require Denloc’s. The majority of RUF wheels on the market today is of this type and should work with any brand tire.

[smstcoach]

I had no idea about any of this denloc business. Thanks for the education guys. Mike - I got the wheels off the classifieds here at pelican. $2K with the tires, which I thought was a good deal.

[twin plugged targa]

Thank you for clearing up the 'Denloc' tire issue Turbo Ruf!

- You can always rely on a Pelicanite to clear up a Porsche issue!

[alwaysflat6s]

I am impressed that Ruf now has someone manning the website.it used to be very difficult to get help like this.

I am not sure if the two different answers clarified to everyone. The need to use a specific tire on the "old" Denloc Ruf wheels is a no longer an issue. You can use anything and they work just fine.

I have been running different Ruf wheels since the later 80s and they are simply the best. Most interesting is that the additional weight works reallywell if your suspension is tweeked. The heavier Rufs smooth out the ride but still allow it to do its job and using a lighter or Fuchs set for track work makes it a tad more responsive. The Rufs are a LOT better if you hit something as they are incredibly strong. If you bash them into a curb and tear up the outer edge..have it polished out and still have plenty of wheel left for safe enthusiastic use.