Moving Up to 9x16?

[nkotselas]

Ok, so I have been looking for 9x16 wheels for a while now to fill up all that empty space in back . And I finally might have my chance. Just wanted to check with you guys and get your opinions about some things.

I would like to move up to 9's primarily for the appearance and to get more tire to the ground for better handling.

I'm kinda trying to get a pros and cons list going to help my decision.

I assmue
Pros are: better handling, appearance, and possibly tire choices(?)
Cons: More weight, harder steering, expensive(?)

I saw a list of fuchs weights and noticed that the 9"s weigh only 1 pound more than the 8"s. Does anyone know what they weigh with tires and how they affect acceleration?

Also should I move my 8's up to make and 8' and 9' combo or keep it at 7' and 9'.

I've got many questions, but if any of you could shed some light on the changes you felt with this modification please fill me in

[McLovin]

the biggest (and IMO only) downside is the lack of tire availability in the 245/45 16 size. There's still some out there, but it is limited.

[BW911]

7s and 9s are a great combination for handling. But, the big con for the 9s is the shrinking line of tires available (other than DOT track tires) that will fit the 16x9 wheel. There's another thread on this subject.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by nkotselas

Ok, so I have been looking for 9x16 wheels for a while now to fill up all that empty space in back . And I finally might have my chance. Just wanted to check with you guys and get your opinions about some things.

I would like to move up to 9's primarily for the appearance and to get more tire to the ground for better handling.

I'm kinda trying to get a pros and cons list going to help my decision.

I assmue
Pros are: better handling, appearance, and possibly tire choices(?)
Cons: More weight, harder steering, expensive(?)

I saw a list of fuchs weights and noticed that the 9"s weigh only 1 pound more than the 8"s. Does anyone know what they weigh with tires and how they affect acceleration?

Also should I move my 8's up to make and 8' and 9' combo or keep it at 7' and 9'.

I've got many questions, but if any of you could shed some light on the changes you felt with this modification please fill me in

If that's a true M491 chassis there should be 28mm spacers in back to push the wheels outboard, if it's a turbo bodied 911 then even bigger spacers are needed, that's w/ either 8ET10.6 or 9ET15 wheels

in front M491(930 body) used either a 21mm spacer and 911 hubs or late 930 hubs which are 21mm longer than the older 911/930 hubs.

[Hoss911sc]

It's my understanding that the 8" rears are the wrong off-set to be moved up front. 8" Fuchs from a 944 Turbo will work but are quite expensive.

[McLovin]

I'd set it up just like the factory did, with 7s and 9s and factory tire sizes.

[racer]

What size tire are you running on your 8s? 245? if so, its harder to find anything wider for the 9"s.

I'd save up for some 17 or 18" Fiske or BBS wheels instead. Wrap the Fuchs in a bag and save them for the concours circuit

[darrin]

To further muddy the waters -- it's my understanding that (almost?) all the additional width of a 9" 911 offset fuchs sits inside of the hub. Put another way, from the outside, a 9" fuchs won't appear any wider than an 8" --

Given the scarcity of tires that fit a 9" (commonly available 225/50-16 tires apparently don't fit a 9 as well as an 8), you may well want to stick with your current setup and get appropriate spacers. FWIW, I run 205/55-16 on my front 7's and 225/50-16 on my rear 8's (narrow body carrera)

[wildcat077]

I would move up to 17 inch wheels ... Like racer says,keep them stored somewhere and get yourself some wheels that will fill up those beautiful flared fenders !

I'm running 17 inch Fikses on my car but the original 1989, 7 and 8 inch Fuchs are stored away in nice boxes ...

Cheers !
Phil

[McLovin]

Originally Posted by wildcat077

I'm running 17 inch Fikses on my car but the original 1989, 7 and 8 inch Fuchs are stored away in nice boxes ...

Cheers !
Phil

Not to be nitpicky, but an '89 came with 6 and 8.

[porschenut]

I think the most sensible solution is to stick with 7/8's, and use small spacers in back to fill out the fender. It will save you a ton of money and the look will be the same. Forget 245/45/16, because the choices are slim and likely to get slimmer. And going with anything wider is going to raise your gearing.

Or, go with 17's.

[Menmojo]

I would definitely do it!
I am currently running 7x16's and 9x16" on my 1973 RS clone.
In the front I run 205 55 16 and rear 225 50 16's.
It looks great and handles perfect on the track.
It gives me a nice krisp turn in with increased grip to the rear.
It does limit your tire choices. I run Yokohama advanAO48's.
Perfect choice in my opinion.

[wildcat077]

Originally Posted by McLovin

Not to be nitpicky, but an '89 came with 6 and 8.

Sorry McLovin ... they've been stored for the last three years ... lol
I won't argue about that because they're in boxes ... in the back of the shed, and there's a foot of snow on the ground before i even get there !

Cheers
Phil

[nkotselas]

Thanks guys, I was actually expecting a more approval of this. Maybe I should do more research before I get too exited.

I know my car has spacers, but I'm not sure what size. It still seems like there is a long way to go though. Is that true about the extra inch going in rather than coming out?

[LJ851]

The 9 inch wheel adds about 1/4 inch to the outside and 3/4 inch to the inside compared to the 8 inch wheel. As mentioned above, i would put wheel spacers on the wheels you have to fill up the fenders your desired amount.

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by nkotselas

Thanks guys, I was actually expecting a more approval of this. Maybe I should do more research before I get too exited.

I know my car has spacers, but I'm not sure what size. It still seems like there is a long way to go though. Is that true about the extra inch going in rather than coming out?

it appears that you have a 911 chassis w/ 930 bodywork added at a later date.

That means that the factory rear spacer is too narrow. If you just buy a 930 9ET15 wheel it will sit only 8.3mm more outboard using the same spacer that you now have, to move the wheel further outboard to fill the wheel well you still need a bigger spacer or a wider wheel w/ different o/s

in front you can use 7ET23 w/ a 21mm factory spacer(this is the arrangement used on early 930s) or 8ET10.6 w/ no spacer, the latter moves the outer edge of the wheel 4mm closer to the lip.

[BarryJB]

While the 9x16 do look great on M941 & turbo (I have 7&9x16 on my narrow body), tire availability makes finding the wider sizes for rear tires harder every year (see thread 265/45/16's, a gift from the tire gods!)...

So I'd agree with others above, save your $ on the 9x16's, store your 16's and get some 17's to fill out those delicious fenders and ensure a few more years of great tire choices.