Let's talk tires...

[997RS1]

I have to get some tires for my 16" Fuchs (7s and 9s), and wondering what everyone likes for tires. Bridgestone? Yokohama? Pirelli?

Please let me know which brand you prefer and which model of tire. I usually run Michelins on my newer model 911s, but I know for 16" there are other tire manufacturers that are preferred.

Thanks!

[Marko888]

Continental EXTREME Contact Sport 02. Had two sets of the version 1…now on the 02’s. Love ‘em

https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=329&srsltid=AfmBOopSRV_-YxrhX8nScErsdY6jSDEzFPcRWpZFFa6l4SW5TWLQqrMm

[MTN930]

Just this year went through this investigation. Settled on Nitto NT555 after having tried over the years the Pirelli P Zeros and Pirelli Cinturato P7s, Toyo Proxes R888Rs, Continental Extreme Contacts, and Yokohama Advans.

All performed fine, the only one that was a bit odd were the Proxes R888Rs that became a bit squirrely in the rain and really, really noisy as they were nearing end of tread life.

On my daily I run Michelin Pilot Sport S5s which perform really well.

Good luck.

[ccallana]

Depends what you are looking for -

2 things I found when looking for tires for my 16 7 and 9....

The 9 inch rear is typically a 245/45....
Practically impossible to find an all weather tire in 245/45 on a 16 inch wheel.

Summer tires have quite a few choices as have been listed here already

I chose the Michelin Pilot Sport AS4, but had to go down a size in the rear to 225/50 - its a tiny bit stretched, but works well. I didn't want to be limited by warm weather -

[997RS1]

Thanks for the input fellas! I likely wont be in wet conditions often (if it all tbh).

@mtn930 i had the EXACT same thought about the R888 on my 997 RS. I got real squirrely in damp to wet conditions, which I didn't like. So I went back to Pilot Sport 4S.

@ccallana aren't 245/50s an option as well? I'll admit I haven't dug in too deep before doing research as I figured I'd find out what other air cooled owners are running.

[Mocker]

Where do you live and how do you drive your car? Do you drive in cold, snowy, rainy conditions?

If you drive only in fair weather conditions, get high performance tires (the Nitto 555s are good and not expensive). If you drive in bad weather, your choices become more complicated.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

I have to get some tires for my 16" Fuchs (7s and 9s), and wondering what everyone likes for tires. Bridgestone? Yokohama? Pirelli?

Please let me know which brand you prefer and which model of tire. I usually run Michelins on my newer model 911s, but I know for 16" there are other tire manufacturers that are preferred.

Thanks!

from Grassroots Motorsports



I've used the BS RE71, NT01 and Direzza's all are grear for either street or track, not great wet

Sport Cups were great hot not so much cold

[ccallana]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

@ccallana aren't 245/50s an option as well? I'll admit I haven't dug in too deep before doing research as I figured I'd find out what other air cooled owners are running.

the 50s are a little too tall I think in a 245... but still an option I suppose.

Just really hard to find an All Weather tire in 16 245. A lot of guys have moved to 17s just for that reason.

I was concerned my 225 was going to be too narrow on the 9" wheel - and technically I suppose it is, but it rides just fine (I have nothing to compare it to though as this is all I have)..

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Thanks for the input fellas! I likely wont be in wet conditions often (if it all tbh).

@mtn930 i had the EXACT same thought about the R888 on my 997 RS. I got real squirrely in damp to wet conditions, which I didn't like. So I went back to Pilot Sport 4S.

@ccallana aren't 245/50s an option as well? I'll admit I haven't dug in too deep before doing research as I figured I'd find out what other air cooled owners are running.

245/50x16 @~25.7"OD are way too tall

stock SC/Carrera rear is 225/50 @~24.9"
245/45 is a better choice more because it's shorter @~24.7" and it fits a 9 better

on 8s a 225/45 @~23.9" is a really tasty option

the taller the tire the worse the gearing and inertial costs not to mention potential fitment issues

[997RS1]

Good to know. My car is stock euro height (89), and I don't think I will be lowering it since the wifey quite likes not being in a harsh ride 911 for once!

Will running 45s cause a larger gap between the tire and fender?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Good to know. My car is stock euro height (89), and I don't think I will be lowering it since the wifey quite likes not being in a harsh ride 911 for once!

Will running 45s cause a larger gap between the tire and fender?

here's a comparison of 2 typical SC/Carrera setups

here the installed 245 is 18.5mm closer to the lip, still ~ 5mm from it, on a stock height car this is even less of an issue

the 245/45 on a 9ET15 fits like a glove

[darrin]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Good to know. My car is stock euro height (89), and I don't think I will be lowering it since the wifey quite likes not being in a harsh ride 911 for once!

Will running 45s cause a larger gap between the tire and fender?

997rs1 -- what size tires are you running right now?

[997RS1]

Rears are 225/50/16. Have about a 3 finger gap between wheel and fender. These will go on the front when i receive my 16x9s.

[darrin]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Rears are 225/50/16. Have about a 3 finger gap between wheel and fender. These will go on the front when i receive my 16x9s.

997rs1 -- are you sure your current rear wheels are 16x7s? For some reason, I remember some late non-wide-body Carreras coming with 16x8 rears. I've really enjoyed Yokohama ao52 tires on my 15" summer rims (225/50-15 rears on 15x8 Fuchs), find them to be surprisingly resilient/comfortable. Running 205/50-16 fronts would help minimize the potential for your front tires to rub the inner front fender wells on 16x7 Fuchs (16x8 Fuchs will cause tire rub up front).

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Rears are 225/50/16. Have about a 3 finger gap between wheel and fender. These will go on the front when i receive my 16x9s.

at stock ride height you are likely ok w/ 225 on 7s front, but 20555 will have issues w/ any lowering

[997RS1]

Originally Posted by darrin

997rs1 -- are you sure your current rear wheels are 16x7s? For some reason, I remember some late non-wide-body Carreras coming with 16x8 rears

Actually I’m sure I have 8’s in the rear. It’s a 25th anniversary and specs say 6 front, 8 rear.

@bill I could probably run 8s in the front with a 225/45 and not rub yeah? I’m sure running 8’s in the front is common?

[darrin]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Actually I’m sure I have 8’s in the rear. It’s a 25th anniversary and specs say 6 front, 8 rear.

@bill I could probably run 8s in the front with a 225/45 and not rub yeah? I’m sure running 8’s in the front is common?

Will let Bill chime in, but pretty sure running 8" Fuchs up front will be a problem. The tire rubbing issue that some folks run into with 7" Fuchs up front is caused by the 7" Fuchs offset pushing the front tires closer to the front fender lip than 6" Fuchs. Since 8" Fuchs position rear tires much closer to the rear fenders than 9" Fuchs (about the same distance from fenders as 9" Fuchs due to different offsets used on 8/9" Fuchs), it follows that running 8" Fuchs up front will cause front tires to rub against front fender lips.

What are you looking to accomplish by switching from 8" rears to 9" rears?

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Actually I’m sure I have 8’s in the rear. It’s a 25th anniversary and specs say 6 front, 8 rear.

@bill I could probably run 8s in the front with a 225/45 and not rub yeah? I’m sure running 8’s in the front is common?

running 8s can be done but not Fuchs 8ET10.6 that come off the back

8ET10.6 off the back has a front space of ~106mm w/ a 205 when max is ~89
if a 225 is used on that 8 f/s goes to ~106mm


a 7ET23.3 w/ a 225/45 is doable and gives more breathing room than a 7ET23.3 w/a 205/55

7ET23.3 w/ 205/55 only has an issues on lowered cars, when I used that combo back in the dark ages I had to trim the fender lips. My C3 came new w/ 7ET23.3 x15 and 205/50 fronts which give even more room because they are shorter than 16s but when lowered for track use the lips were an issue

[997RS1]

Thanks for all the input guys. The reason for switching from 8's to 9's is to fill the rear fenders. Right now i'd have to run a massive spacer if i wanted it to be flush. After some research seems like lots of people run 9's to fill out the rear arches with 245s. Would prefer not to run spacers.

Rear:
https://imgur.com/a/jMpE66x

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 997RS1

Thanks for all the input guys. The reason for switching from 8's to 9's is to fill the rear fenders. Right now i'd have to run a massive spacer if i wanted it to be flush. After some research seems like lots of people run 9's to fill out the rear arches with 245s. Would prefer not to run spacers.

Rear:
https://imgur.com/a/jMpE66x

It's always better to run sans spacers

f/s is a measure of how far out the wheel/tire sits

f/s for a 9ET15 + 245 is ~108mmm
f/s for a 8ET10.6 + 225is ~102mm

use a 6mm spacer on the 8s and it matches the 9

the main benefit of the 9 +245 is a shorter rear tire, the change in gearing cost and inertial cost puts more energy into acceleration or deceleration

you problem appears to be the need to purchase a full set of new wheels zx7ET23.3 for the front and 2xx 9ET15 for the back

I would at least consider going after market, if you like the Fuchs look, Fikse is the go to wheel
8ET27 front and 9ET15 or even 9.5ET19 w/ 215/45 and 245/40 x17 or w/ 225/45 and 255/40