15, 16 or 17 inch wheels?

[myslateblue911]

I am new to the Porsche world. I recently purchased a 83' 911 Coupe SC. It has been lowered to a Euro ride height and currently has on it what I believe are the stock size wheels (6X16) in the front and (7X16) in the rear. I am considered purchasing an additional set of Fuchs for the car to fill out the car a bit more.

1 - What are the advantages or disadvantages to a 15, 16 or 17 inch wheel? (ie tire availability, ride feel, accommodation of different brakes, etc...."

2 - I believe that my car has the stock SC body. What would you recommend for front & rear combination? 7 & 8's? 7 & 9's? 7.5 X 8.5? etc... I have seen several different permutations on this.

3 - I assume that I will be going with an aftermarket wheel that is a replica of the Fuchs wheel. I do not plan (at this point anyway) of racing the car on the track. This will probably be a street car only. Any aftermarket replica Fuchs wheels you would recommend or warn to stay away from.

Thanks for your advice

[Joe Bob]

Well the SC's suspension is designed for 15 or 16 inch wheels. Going to 17 or larger wheels with the thinner side walled tires will compromise ride comfort and need suspension and alignment adjustment.

17s WILL give you a wider tire choice since 15 and 16 inch tires aren't as readily available as 17s are and economical/cheaper than the smaller ones. I used to be able to get 245/4516 Kumhos for $60 and get 28k+ miles out of them. Kumhos are NLA in that size and the only ones I could get were 200 bucks plus, each. So I sold the 16x8s for stupid money. Went back to 6 and 7s with a one inch spacer......was $1800 ahead with a cheaper tire replacement cost. 225/45 and 205/45 tires are still cheap and available.

So.....it's a choice. Not to mention real Fuchs only come in 14,15 or 16s.

So your answers are validated....no secrets from me....

[Arne2]

16" tire choices,are not bad, as long as you don't get 9" for the rear. For 7 & 8" sets, the stock 16" sizes are good, and still plenty of choices.

As Joe Bob notes, don't over look keeping your stock 6 & 7" wheels and using spacers. I am running those wheels with 1" (25 mm) spacers on the rear only, and it really changes the look.

[Lyle O]

As an FYI, Fuchs DOES now make 17" wheels...

http://www.fuchsfelgeusa.com/wheels.cfm

[Joe Bob]

Yeah but they don't right....and you'll need spacers as they appear to be later offset.

[RichardNew]

The big difference is that 16-inch wheels are cheaper.

I have 16-inch wheels on my car and I don't think a single person has noticed.

The other difference is tire choices. Go to tire rack and check out the various tires before you make a wheel choice.





Richard Newton
Wheels Should Be Round

[Driven97]

Since it's going to be only a street car, it probably doesn't matter. Use what you've got.

If you want the good performance street tires, you pretty much have to go 17". The hot 15" tires are too short, and there's nothing wide enough in 16".

Fortunately, tire technology has advanced enough that even the modestly sporty tires of today are far grippier than what came on the car when it was new.

I don't have 16s, but I do have the original real Fuchs 15s, a set of replica 15s, and a set of replica 17s:



The car has the 17s on there most often, just my personal taste (and I like the tires) but no way in hell I'm ever getting rid of the originals.

[Jesse16]

I agree with many others above, if you like the look of your wheels and don't plan to get aggressive at the track (meaning heading down the track wheel/tire rabbit hole), then adjust the wheel-well fill using spacers. There are lots of threads with photos showing that look and you'll likely be very satisfied. Agree that there are still plenty of tire choices in 16" for the reasonable tire shopper. And I did spend 2 years doing DE's on my 6/7x16 combo and learned alot with them. Then the hole appeared.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by myslateblue911

I am new to the Porsche world. I recently purchased a 83' 911 Coupe SC. It has been lowered to a Euro ride height and currently has on it what I believe are the stock size wheels (6X16) in the front and (7X16) in the rear. I am considered purchasing an additional set of Fuchs for the car to fill out the car a bit more.

1 - What are the advantages or disadvantages to a 15, 16 or 17 inch wheel? (ie tire availability, ride feel, accommodation of different brakes, etc...."

2 - I believe that my car has the stock SC body. What would you recommend for front & rear combination? 7 & 8's? 7 & 9's? 7.5 X 8.5? etc... I have seen several different permutations on this.

3 - I assume that I will be going with an aftermarket wheel that is a replica of the Fuchs wheel. I do not plan (at this point anyway) of racing the car on the track. This will probably be a street car only. Any aftermarket replica Fuchs wheels you would recommend or warn to stay away from.

Thanks for your advice

The wheel and tire you choose is part function and part aesthetics.

I'll leave the aesthetic part up to you
the function part
#1 is the OD of the tire used, This impacts appearance and function in the form of overall gear ratio, shorter is better for acceleration, shorter sidewall(/35 vs /50) is better for cornering, taller sidewall(/50 vs /35) is better for comfort. an SC w/ stock motor and trans wants a tire under ~25"OD. the car doesn't care if that is a 275/35 x15@24.6" or a 225/50x16@24.9" or a 245/45 x16 @24.7" or a 225/45x17 @24.8" or a 245/40x17 @24.7" or a 255/40x17 @24.8" or a 275/35x17 @24.6" or 255/35x18 @24.8"

#2 is the relation between the tire and wheel, best performance comes from using the widest wheel for which a tire is spec'ed, best comfort comes from using the narrowest wheel for which a tire is spec'ed

the width and ET of the wheel + the tire spec determine how well the assembly fits the car.

probably for most people for most uses 7ET23.3 & 8ET10.6 or 9ET x16 is the best choice w/ 205/55 or 205/50 front tires and 225/50 on the 8s and 245/45 on the 9s.

For very nice street performance improvement 8ET25-30& 9ET12-15(or 9.5 ET19 x17 w/ 225/40 and 255/40 x17 tires

[myslateblue911]

Thanks for all the responses....keep them coming. The previous owner of my car had the fuchs polished and repainted. The chrome/polished look is not my taste. I like both the RSR finish and the all black look. Now that I received some good tips for using spacers with my existing wheels, I am thinking about maybe using black plastidip on those for the all black look, and then purchasing another set of replica Fuchs in the RSR finish. Maybe 7's & 8's....or 7.5 & 8.5's. Does anyone have any recommendations for replica fuchs?

[Joe Bob]

Depending on the offset, 16x8s (911 versus 951 wheel) with 245s will be the max you can get in the rear without fender mods. Rubbing the lip or contact with the oil lines is the problem. Bill is the tire expert and can give you 17 inch recommendations.

Be advised, tire sizes between manufacturers differ. Hoosiers are the biggest offenders with their race tires.

8.5-9 inch wheels are in the realm of being too wide for a 245 and the next tire up, the resultant width/spread is going to rub. Play with the plastic dip and spacers until you get a look and stay with the wheels you have. Then modify ride height and don't forget about alignment after the adjustment.

[Driven97]

No experience with 16, but the very common Euromeister and Linea Corsa 17" fake Fuchs are designed specifically to fit SC/Carrera flares. The Euros are 7"(ET23.3)&9"(ET15). The Linea Corsa is a 7.5" front.

Depends on the tire you pick and how your car is set up, but 255s should pop on the rear without issue, 205 is the conservative front that should fit any car, 225s may fit depending on a few things such as actual tire choice, vehicle height, and camber setting.

Bill V has a great fitment chart he made, hopefully he'll chime in and you can click on his sig.

[911pcars]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

......8.5-9 inch wheels are in the realm of being too wide for a 245 and the next tire up, the resultant width/spread is going to rub. ......

245-45-16 tires on 9x16 Fuchs have been a commonly used combo forever. There are no interference issues in the rear with SC/RS flares.

Your wording also suggests 8.5-9 inch wheels would be too wide for the next size larger than 245-45. Uh, maybe the other way around.

As Bill suggested, YMMV for appearance preferences.

Sherwood

[Joe Bob]

Depends on the manufacturer. Back when I used 245s, the 9 inch wheel wasn't recommended by Kumho. Since I didn't own a 9, I only remembered the information as anecdotal.....

Either way, 9s and 245s on an SC that isn't raced an is stock or N/A isn't optimal for normal spirited street use.

YMMV and it's just my opinion....

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Depends on the manufacturer. Back when I used 245s, the 9 inch wheel wasn't recommended by Kumho. Since I didn't own a 9, I only remembered the information as anecdotal.....

Either way, 9s and 245s on an SC that isn't raced an is stock or N/A isn't optimal for normal spirited street use.

YMMV and it's just my opinion....

Most will disagree w/ that assessment particularly when compared to the most common other 16" choice 225/50 on 8x16
a 245/45 on 9x16 offers an appetizing array of positive features
short OD combined w/ wide tread
short side wall
max wheel width for the 245 tire section width

the main competitor for the 245/45 x16 on a 9 would be 255/40 on a 9 or 9.5 x17
which offers
~the same OD
an even shorter side wall
these could be used on a 10 so a 9.5 or 9 gives up a bit of the wheel width edge, but over all a great trade off.

[Bill Verburg]

here's a visual showing some possible fitments and how close to the edge they will be, the closer to the top or right edge of the envelope the more work is needed to ensure a fit. It's possible but far less likely to run into issues when near or even beyond the lower or left edges

[Joe Bob]

Strictly speaking a 9 and 245 was not recommended back when I was shopping at Tire Rack.....so if you have 9s and plan on mounting 245s, the shop MAY have an issue.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Joe Bob

Strictly speaking a 9 and 245 was not recommended back when I was shopping at Tire Rack.....so if you have 9s and plan on mounting 245s, the shop MAY have an issue.

Tirerack is constrained for the most part to recommending what were oe fitments. The constraint is due to the lawyers wishing to avoid lawsuits. It in no way provides info as to what is possible or even desirable to an owner wishing for something better either in performance or looks.

[Joe Bob]

Beating a dead horse, Tire Rack has recommended installers that follow TRs recommendations. Once I moved away from using my pet installer I use the TR shops. I don't have 9s, don't plan on having 9s and certainly don't use 245s.

I was simply posting my recollections and experience....again, YMMV.

[GH85Carrera]

My 85 Carrera came with 15 inch Fuchs. They were great, but the tire selection was just pitiful for I gave up and bough the 17 Euromiesters.



I put modern summer performance tires on it and the increase in traction is phenomenal. Yea, the are heavier but they ride great and I have no regrets. With the 15s I was reduced to only M&S rated tires or minivan tires. Your 16s have a better selection.

In the end I am very happy with the 17 inch Euromiesters. I had to pay a local wheel shop to paint the centers to match the OEM white centers I have come to love.

The Forged FUCHs 17s are available if your pocket is deep, but they require spacers to fit at all.