17 or 18 inch wheels????

Currently have 16x7 & 16x9 Fuchs on the P-car, which I intend to keep for track or autocross purposes. I want to update the look of the car now, with the intention of upgrading the brakes during the summer.

Should the brake upgrade play a major part in the size of the wheels purchase now?

I think 17" would be just fine. They are now the 16" of three years ago as far as tire availability and affordability. You can fit a wide variety of brake upgrades under 17" without a problem too...

18" wheels and tires are expensive and I really think that it would limit your tire options to a large degree.

This Porsche Technical Bulletin was posted to the Rennlist over the weekend. Synopsis: If we never put 18's on a car, you shouldn't either.


Installation of 18 Inch Wheels Not Approved By Porsche
Group - 4
Number - 9305
Model - All
Part Identifier - 4412
Subject: Installation of 18" Wheels Not Approved

April 15, 1993

ATTENTION: Service Manager/Service Technician
Models Affected: All

Concern: Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

General Information:
Endurance tests have shown that equipping certain Porsche vehicles with 18" wheels in an application not already approved by Porsche Cars, N.A. may result in loosened bolts and/or threaded connections on the front wheel carriers. This, in turn, may cause fractures in these components. Fractures may also occur in the front strut mounts and in the body in the area of the rear suspension as a result of the installation of 18" wheels not already approved for installation for this specific application. Such damage can occur without warning and the vehicle may become very hard to control or steer as a result of this improper installation.
Porsche dealer personnel coming in contact with a vehicle that has been retrofitted with 18" wheels in an application not approved by Porsche, should inform the owner of the vehicle of the potential for damage to their
vehicle and loss of steering control. Porsche Cars, N.A. should also be notified of any vehicles retrofitted with 18" wheels.

[This message has been edited by emcon5 (edited 03-27-2001).]

I agree with the above. Around 18" the tires on these model are extremely thin and they look odd. The newer cars are designed around these large wheel sizes and the tires are usually wider and taller. When you try to put an 18" wheel in place of a 16" and keep the same width, you end up having a very thin aspect ratio. Here is a pick with 17" wheels, yo could imagine how thin the rubber is going to be with 18"

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8 9 9 1 1, The last of the line.

Look at those wheel wells! You make me feel as though my car doesn't get the treatment it deserves. There goes another weekend. Thanks alot!