Need advice 15" or 16" wheels

[KCinBR]

I currently have 16" BBs wheels on my 88 Targa, and am looking for a set of Fuchs polished and painted black (recess).
It seems like the 15" wheels are much cheaper than 16".
I want to know the pros and cons of going from 16" to 15" wheels. I would preffer 16" but the 15" are more attractive price wise.

Thanks.........KC

[techweenie]

I'm finding the opposite is true, re: prices of 15" vs. 16"

With 16", you have more tire choices, but for most people who choose 15," it's an esthetic issue.

[jorian]

I am sort of in the same boat as you. I have 16" x 6" and 7" Fuchs and would like to move to 7" & 9". If I change to 15's I will save money but will have to move to a taller tire to maintain the proper wheel circumference. This will affect my handling which is why I bought the car in the first place. I'm holding out for the 16's but 15's did cross my mind. I have heard however that 15's are better for autocross.

[Jason Cullen]

I sell sets of 16x6's and 16x7's Polished or Polished and Painted for $1000

I have sets of 15x7's and 15x8's Polished and Painted for $1200

I also have several sets of 16x7's and 16x8's or 16x9's

[Jason Cullen]

[Jason Cullen]

[Jason Cullen]

Any finish is available, exept chrome. Anodize, Satin Anodize, Frost Anodize, Custom paint etc.

Thank you,
Jason

[dd74]

15-inch wheels are lighter, will close up your gear ratios and will lower your car for better handling. You can equate a 16-inch wheel to the diameter of a fifteen inch wheel, but to do so, the 16-inch wheel will require a very low profile tire - something like a 45-series tire to have the same diameter as a 15-inch rim with a 50-series tire. There is, however, the added weight of a larger rim and tire combo to contend with as is the case with 16-inch wheels.

I've driven 911s with 15 and 16-inch rims, both with appropriate tires. The 911s with 15-inch rims always felt stronger and seemed to accelerated faster and handle better than the ones with 16-inch wheels.

[imcarthur]

Yeah. Go 15s!

[livi]

These are very interesting opinions.

I put out a thread a while ago pointing out the plausible advantages of the original rim sizes Porsche chose. The responses leaned toward wider rims for handling purposes. I can appreciate that, but as mentioned in this thread there seem to be advantages with a smaller rim.

I am a newbie but my experience when going from 17" rims to 16" is nothing but positive. The handling is more light, responsive and agile. Not to mention the improved comfort.

If going from 16" to 15" further increases my, tiny, experience, I can´t say.

Better looking to, I think.

[KillerDynoSoar]

AWESOME WHEELS!!!

Where is my bloody chequebook!! is that price inclusive of shipping?

[safe]

16*6", 16*7" with 205/50 on a narrow body car.

Its a bit too high it the rear at the moment.

[drsimonwong]

In our short tracks 15inch fuchs are the go for cars with less than about 270hp. The lower unsprung weight and the gearing effect works wonders for acceleration. With greater power the need for bigger brakes is the greater priority.

Simon

[Porsche virgin]

There are hardly any tires for 15" wheels anymore. If you have a lighter car, you could look for a set of 205/55/15 (f) and 225/50/15 (r). For a later and heavier car, you need more rubber: 225/55/15 (f) and 245/50/15. (I know the overall height is different, I was looking for a set just for autox.) There are Hoosiers in the latter size, but that's about it. It won't be long before these are gone, too, I'd imagine. The trend is towards larger diamaters.

[Bill Verburg]

On a 200hp car you will never the feel the difference is weight(~1#/tire and ~1#/wheel for Fuchs)) between a 50 series 15s @ ~870 r/m and 45 series 16s @~847 r/m, you will feel the difference in rolling radius or Revs/mi.

The shorter tire has a bit less than 3% lower gearing.

The thing to remember is that the gearing D only results in better acceleration at low revs, like at a stoplight drag, it does not hurt you on track unless the gearing is all wrong anyway. That's why the better tire patch shape of the lower profile 16 is well worth having on track.

[S785Carrera]

I run 16's on the street (I like the looks of them better) , but 15's on the track for the additional clearance while running wider tires, lower center of gravity and closer gear ratio's.

Mike

[Bill Verburg]

Originally posted by S785Carrera
I run 16's on the street (I like the looks of them better) , but 15's on the track for the additional clearance while running wider tires, lower center of gravity and closer gear ratio's.

Mike

Could you be more specific? Sizes/brands of both wheel and tire?

[SLO-BOB]

I went from "15" to "16"on my 77. I have been nothing less than thrilled with the results in both appearance and handling. There simply has been no downside. I went from 185/65/15s to 205/50/16s. I actually reduced the overall diameter of the rubber by one inch by doing this. To be honest, I haven't felt a significant difference in acceleration for better or worse due to "lower gearing" or higher weight respecively. Where I do feel the difference is in the curves. Night and day. The selection of rubber was also a factor-waaaay more to choose from at about the same cost.

I got mine from Jason. Talk to him for the scoop. Very knowledgable and trustworthy.

[S785Carrera]

Originally posted by Bill Verburg
Could you be more specific? Sizes/brands of both wheel and tire?

Bill, I have enjoyed your posts for quite a while now!

Street- F 16X6 Fuchs 205/55/16 BF Goodrich KDW
R 16X7 Fuchs 225/50/16 BF Goodrich KDW

Track - F 15X7 Fuchs 225/50/15 Hoosiers
R 15X8 Fuchs 245/50/15 Hoosiers

Mike

[SLO-BOB]

...and if you want to talk about cost, it has been my recent experience that 15x7s are a LOT more expensive than 16x7s, not to mention they are harder to find. They are very cool though.