wheel question from newby

[alanrich]

Hi everybody,
I just bought my first 911 after 33 years of lusting after them (and after owning the 24th 928 ever built, a 914, and a bunch of BMWs).
Anyway... it's a 1984 targa 3,2 Carrera (regular body). It has the original 15-inch wheels, and of course the selection of tires in 15" (except for track tires) is crap.
SO. Most of the upgrade wheels I've seen are Asian made (NO. Don't try to talk me into THAT. I'll mortgage my house and spring for custom-assembled BBS 3-pieces before I do that.)
I've HEARD without confirmation, that later-year 911 wheels and their euro upgrades (OZ, etc) will fit the '80s vintage 911s, but obviously the offsets are very different.
What's the scoop on this? I assume wheel spacers required to push them outboard?
Sorry. I'm sure this has been covered before, but I'm new.
thanks

[Rot 911]

Or you can go with 6" and 7" 16" Fuchs. You can find a set of 4 in very good condition for around $500 or so.

[RWebb]

16" Fuchs or a high quality light & strong aftermarket wheel

[davidrivers]

For fittment.. Bill Verburg is the resident guru. Search the forums for Verburg and fitment, you'll get lots of good data.

If you are looking for 17" options with proper offsets, our host sells some:

Porsche 911 & Carrera Miscellaneous - Page 19

Also.. Jeff Alton's product seems popular (not sure if he sells direct or via PP)

Jeff Alton 17" Fuchs in person, post yours as you get 'em

As for used 16" fuchs.. they come up fairly often on the used parts forum here.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by alanrich

Hi everybody,
I just bought my first 911 after 33 years of lusting after them (and after owning the 24th 928 ever built, a 914, and a bunch of BMWs).
Anyway... it's a 1984 targa 3,2 Carrera (regular body). It has the original 15-inch wheels, and of course the selection of tires in 15" (except for track tires) is crap.
SO. Most of the upgrade wheels I've seen are Asian made (NO. Don't try to talk me into THAT. I'll mortgage my house and spring for custom-assembled BBS 3-pieces before I do that.)
I've HEARD without confirmation, that later-year 911 wheels and their euro upgrades (OZ, etc) will fit the '80s vintage 911s, but obviously the offsets are very different.
What's the scoop on this? I assume wheel spacers required to push them outboard?
Sorry. I'm sure this has been covered before, but I'm new.
thanks

To use late high o/s wheels on an earlier 911 you need to use spacers. Some aren't bothered by that. I am. But it's your car.

If it were me looking for wheels I'd look for 1 of the following
1) a set of 7ET23.3 & 9ET15 x16 Fuchs
2) a set of 7ET23.3 & 8ET10.6 x15 Fuchs
3) a set of 8ET25-30 & 9-9.5 ET15-19 x17, these are available in Fuchs style or several other spoke or mesh styles and finishes

none of the above will use spacers

option 3 will be the easiest to find tires for

[stormmaster]

Or you can get some bent rimmed 16'' wheels...send them to Tru design and have them turned into 17s.....which is what I am having done at the moment. Hope to have them back in a few weeks....the damaged Fuchs can be had very reasonably...and the cost to make 17s is very reasonable (less than half of the alton wheels) and you get to choose the width and offset.

[alanrich]

I should clarify ...

I am NOT interested in any 15" or 16" wheels options, not even the excellent Fuchs wheels, because of the poor selection of street tires.

I AM ONLY interested in 17" or 18" options, made in Europe, that will fit my '84 911 targa ("normal" body).

I think what I've learned so far is that later model 911 wheels (factory or aftermarket) can fit an early 911 as long as you use spacers, since the offset is different (locates the tires too far inboard).

thanks

[NineOhOne]

Here are my "vintage" 18" 3 pc. OZ Tech Art wheels (with spacers) for sale soon (maybe)...centers need to be powder-coated/painted:

[RWebb]

post your rotor/caliper combos

[Oh Haha]

Originally Posted by NineOhOne

Here are my "vintage" 18" 3 pc. OZ Tech Art wheels (with spacers) for sale soon (maybe)...centers need to be powder-coated/painted:

That looks like Danny Ocean's 911. Did you buy it from him?

I really dig the over all look.

[NineOhOne]

Originally Posted by Oh Haha

That looks like Danny Ocean's 911. Did you buy it from him?

I really dig the over all look.

I bought it from a Pelican member, but his name wasn't "Danny"...

[Oh Haha]

Cool. His user name Danny Ocean. I don't recall his real name. He hasn't been around in a while.

Sorry for the interruption.

[nineball]

Originally Posted by alanrich

I am NOT interested in any 15" or 16" wheels options, not even the excellent Fuchs wheels, because of the poor selection of street tires.

a quick search on tirerack.com found 47 different tires that will fit 16" fuchs (winter tires excluded). they can't all be bad.

[alanrich]

Sure, some of the 47 (street) tires on Tirerack in 15 and 16" aren't BAD... the best just aren't among them. The Conti SportContact 3 and Michelin Pilot series start at 17 inch, as does most of the Pirelli P Zero line. (I can however get the Conti SportContact 2 or one of the P Zero models in 16" tho.) I've tried Japanese and American tires on German cars before and haven't been satisfied for a variety of reasons. The "really good stuff" that a 911 deserves starts at 17" and is made in Europe, IMHO. Same goes for alloy wheels, again IMHO. Which brings me back to my problem: how to get 17 or 18 inch wheels on an '84 911 (without fender flares).

[stlrj]

Originally Posted by alanrich

how to get 17 or 18 inch wheels on an '84 911 (without fender flares).

You will have to go with the later wheels with adapter spacers: 1" front and 2" spacer adapters in the rear.

[paulgtr]

I have 16 x 7 and 8's. plenty of good tires to choose from. 205 55 front 225 50 rear.
what size are you looking for?
kumho makes great tires in that size and so do toyo. among others

[JeremyD]

Or look for a set of Fiske, Kodiak, bbs or CCW Wheels in the correct offset. There were some CupII wheels that were aftermarket there were made in the correct offset too. ROH also makes a wheel with the correct offset. http://www.groupawheels.com/

I'd go that route before I started putting big spacers on a impact bumper car.

That being said - I think the fuchs look right. The Zuffenhaus Fuchs are about the best wheel combination you can get - the right look, strong, and light. They are not cheap, but the best option.

Next I would send a pair of 16 x 6 and 16 x 7 fuchs to Jim at True Design and have him make me a set of 17" wheels.

[alanrich]

I have used Asian tires before on German cars, and so have most (maybe all?) of my friends. I have tracked Yokos on my BMW full-race car. Admittedly I'm an anal, nitpicky, hard-to-make-happy spacecraft scientist... but I just have NOT liked ANY Asian tires I've ever driven, when compared to Conti, Michelin, or Pirelli. Maybe it's the imprecise road feel or the way they transition from grip to slide. Maybe it's the extra effort required to balance them, or that they weigh more than average, or that they're too noisy. Sometimes more than one of the above. When Continental of Germany has such excellent models at great prices (SportContact 2 and 3), and from Michelin or Pirelli there are options as good or better (except for the prices), I can't justify putting lesser tires on a 911. But again, I really need to be at 17 or 18 inch to get all the best choices.

[Forza]

Originally Posted by paulgtr

I have 16 x 7 and 8's. plenty of good tires to choose from. 205 55 front 225 50 rear.
what size are you looking for?
kumho makes great tires in that size and so do toyo. among others

I have the factory option 16" Fuchs (205 front, 225 rear) on my SC and see plenty of good tire options. Dunlop Direzzs Star Specs, for one, are well priced and I have seen them recommended by many on this board. Additionally, Dunlops can be seen on the vast majority of Porsche factory racing posters, especially during the era of SCs and 3.2s, FWIW. By all means, go with a bigger wheel diameter if it suits you, but I agree with Paul that tire availability isn't driving others to toss out their incomparable Fuchs.

[alanrich]

Thanks everybody. I think the Fuchs 16-inchers might be the way to go. Especially since I found out one of my favorite tires (Conti Extreme DW) comes in 205-55-16 / 225-50-16. It's an easy no-brainer - the best wheels in sizes that won't make me roll fenders and buy spacers... and a tire I've already got on my Audi Quattro which I know has incredible stick and feel.
STILL interested in hearing from someone who knows how to get a good 17" euro wheel (OZ, later model Porsche OE, etc) on an '84. Conti SportContact-3 in 225-45-17 and 255-40-17 would be even better!
thanks again everybody