minilite wheels on 66 911

sean burke · 02-05-2007, 06:30 PM

I would like to put minilite alloys on my 66. I currently have factory 4.5x15 steel wheels. Has anyone done this conversion? I was wanting to use 7 inch rears and 6 inch fronts. Is this possible for a short wheelbase car? Would same size fuchs alloys fit this set up? What are offset dimensions? I want the maximum wheel size I can fit in the rear, and I just love the rugged look of the minilite/pannasport look(despite the fact of bastardizing a Porsche). I need serious advice and data before I make a purchase. Could someone please give some advice?

EarlyPorsche · 02-05-2007, 06:49 PM

I have six inch fuchs all around on my 66 and it works perfectly. You should be able to get away with a seven in the rear but it might be close. I would go six inch minilites or fuchs flat sixes all around. I love the look of flat sixes on the short wheelbase cars.

onlycafe · 02-05-2007, 07:24 PM

as much as i like the fuchs wheels , if you can get minilites , go for it. i think they look great on a 911. i would put them on my car if i could find them.

Fleming · 08:59 AM

Here are a couple of photos pirated from the early911Sregistry.org site.

Sounds like the offsets on the 6 or 6.5" require flairs - the 7's needing spacers and flairs. Check the offsets. Watch the lug nuts and seats, Porsche is conical and the minilites/panasports are flat.

Fleming · 02-06-2007, 09:01 AM

304065 · 02-06-2007, 09:17 AM

The 911R used -49mm offset sevens in the rear, but it also had a flare like this:

As has been written here extensively, all the extra tread width of the seven is on the inside of the rim, narrowing the track measurement in the rear. Track is defined as the distance between the centerline of the wheels, so when you widen the wheel and increase the offset you are actually narrowing the track.

People who buy '66 911's don't do it for the wide tires and big horsepower, they do it for originality. Adding bigger tires will give you more unsprung weight and more polar moment to spin up and down. Minilites are heavier than Fuchs because they are cast.

Here was my solution: get some modern, safety-bead, cheap-as-dirt (at the time) 15x6 and make them look like flat 4.5's.

Those are 205's on there now but they are too heavy, I'm going back to 185s. They were good enough for the early 911S, they will be more than adequate for me. For concours I have 4.5" steelies with original 165-78R15, talk about skinny!

Don't go overboard, the wider tires are a lot more expensive, too!

Good luck!

sean burke · 02-09-2007, 06:54 AM

Thankyou to everyone who responded to my question involving 7 inch rims. I think I will just stick with the 6 inch. Does anyone know the offset for fuchs 6 inch? Thankyou.

Jim Richards · 02-09-2007, 07:10 AM

36mm

Also, check this out... http://members.rennlist.com/1976c38/index.html
credit to Bill Verburg!

}{arlequin · }{arlequin's Garage

Quote:

Originally posted by john_cramer
The 911R used -49mm offset sevens in the rear, but it also had a flare like this:

As has been written here extensively, all the extra tread width of the seven is on the inside of the rim, narrowing the track measurement in the rear. Track is defined as the distance between the centerline of the wheels, so when you widen the wheel and increase the offset you are actually narrowing the track.

People who buy '66 911's don't do it for the wide tires and big horsepower, they do it for originality. Adding bigger tires will give you more unsprung weight and more polar moment to spin up and down. Minilites are heavier than Fuchs because they are cast.

Here was my solution: get some modern, safety-bead, cheap-as-dirt (at the time) 15x6 and make them look like flat 4.5's.

Those are 205's on there now but they are too heavy, I'm going back to 185s. They were good enough for the early 911S, they will be more than adequate for me. For concours I have 4.5" steelies with original 165-78R15, talk about skinny!

Don't go overboard, the wider tires are a lot more expensive, too!

Good luck!

john that car is beautiful. it's been a while since i saw pics of your swb and i'm assuming it's yours, either way... it's what i lust after

jkarolyi · 02-09-2007, 09:34 AM

John, please post some more pics of your gorgeous '66!!!

jtkkz · 02-09-2007, 10:13 AM

My friend placed minilites on his SWB 911
pic

JCF · 02-10-2007, 04:20 PM

I put 2 6.5 minilites on the back for the track (on 185/65 tires) but use deep 6's with Vredestein 185/70 tires for everything else.
That extra half inch makes quite a difference.

John

carsngolf · carsngolf's Garage

If you go ahead and switch, I'd be interested in the steel wheels if they're chrome. Looking to get my '66 back to looking original.
Jerry Weiland