Wheel Recommendations

[tramsey]

I have searched and found numerous threads about wheel swapping and what will fit, etc but it all really seems confusing since there are multiple options. I have an 87 Carrera with 6/7x16 Fuchs. I want to have a 2nd set of wheels for track and Autocross but I dont want to roll fenders. Any recommendations on 15",16" or 17"?

[willywoody]

This is a good start.
Wheels fitments, all are 17" unless other wise specified

[willywoody]

Btw, I've got a set of OZ Vegas 16" 7/8 that just came off my car that I will be selling, gold BBS style that are in my garage picture. They fit my 87 with no issues.

[Paul K]

FWIW, I have a set of replica Cup 1/C@ Turbo 17"x 7.5" fronts and 9" rears on my '83 SC. They bolt right on and I didn't have to roll the fenders.



I have a pair of rears (17x9) for sale in silver that will bolt right on if you are interested.

Cheers,

Paul.

[80-911SC]

I have the same wheels .. I had to massage the front though .. but i also shoved 255 in the rear and 225 in the front ... you have great taste Paul ...

didnt rub at all with the 205 on the front and the 245 in the rear ....

[jmh61]

Tramsey,

I have an '86 Carrera. I run 16x7 and 16x9 fuchs for street with Toyo T1R tires. I also use these for DEs. Unfortunately I'm having a hard time finding street tires that fit the 16x9. I also have the original set of fuchs that are the 16x6 and 16x7 that you have, so I'm thinking about having the 6s made into 8s by Trudesign wheels, costs about $400 a wheel. I will use the 6s and 8s for street and dedicate the 6s and 9s for track.

For autocross I use 15x7 and 15x8 fuchs with 225/50/15 Kumho Victoracers. I am very happpy and competitive with these.

Good Luck,

[tramsey]

Thanks everyone for the responses. I appreciate the info. The table provides a lot of good reference info. I'm thinking I may go with the 15x7/8 Fuchs for autocrossing. My biggest concern is getting rubber to match what I go with.

Thanks again for the recommendations.

[tramsey]

jmh61,

On the 15" Fuchs what offsets are you using? Did these come from a 911 or the 944/951?

Thanks,
Tim

[msterling]

15x7 and 15x8 Fuchs would be great for AX. I bought 4-15x7 23.3ET Cookie Cutters and put 205/50ZR15 on front and 225/45ZR15 on back. I am installing 1/2 spacers on the back to space the wheels out like the Fuchs 15x8 10.6ET wheels. I have plenty of fender clearance front and back. I bought Nitto NT01 tires but you can get Hoosier A6/R6, Kumho V710, Hankook Z214 and Toyo Ra1 in that size. Street tires are a totally different story and the pickings are slim. I decided to go with tires that I could drive to the event.

You could even fit 245/45ZR15 tires on the 15x8 Fuchs.

[will hung]

Originally Posted by tramsey

jmh61,

On the 15" Fuchs what offsets are you using? Did these come from a 911 or the 944/951?

Thanks,
Tim

15" Fuchs all have the same offset 23.2 for the 7's and 10.6 for the 8's. I think you are headed in the right direction by getting a set of 15" Fuchs for track wheels/tires. There are many R comp tires 15's.

[jmh61]

Tim,

Will Hung is correct, my 15" fuch offsets are 23.2 for the 7s and 10.6 for the 8s.

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by msterling

15x7 and 15x8 Fuchs would be great for AX. I bought 4-15x7 23.3ET Cookie Cutters and put 205/50ZR15 on front and 225/45ZR15 on back. I am installing 1/2 spacers on the back to space the wheels out like the 15x8 10.6ET wheels. I have plenty of fender clearance front and back. I bought Nitto NT01 tires but you can get Hoosier A6/R6, Kumho V710, Hankook Z214 and Toyo Ra1 in that size. Street tires are a totally different story and the pickings are slim. I decide to go with tires that I drive to the event.

You could even fit 245/45ZR15 tire on the 15x8 Fuchs.

+100, if you are using them for AX, 15s are the way to go, the 15s with a 50 series tire lowers your gearing (from your 16s) making your car quicker. You really want to avoid the fake Cup wheels, as the 17s will raise your gearing and they are VERY HEAVY which will slow your car down, not what you want to AX..

[will hung]

Originally Posted by Racerbvd

+100, if you are using them for AX, 15s are the way to go, the 15s with a 50 series tire lowers your gearing (from your 16s) making your car quicker. You really want to avoid the fake Cup wheels, as the 17s will raise your gearing and they are VERY HEAVY which will slow your car down, not what you want to AX..

Adding to Byron's comment, the 15's are VERY light when combined with the right tire. I currently have 16 x 7's and 9's on my SC. The total weight loss compared to 15's is in the 40 pound ballpark. That's all unsprung and rotating mass. Besides the increased gearing from the shorter overall diameter, you will have a more efficient drivetrain, brake, steering and suspension system because all of them have to turn/manipulate less weight. Every time I think about that weight loss, it starts me looking at 15's again.

[tramsey]

Thanks again for all of the great info. I'm now searching for the 15x7/8 Fuchs with some sticky R-compound tires.

BTW, does PCA rules allow for spacers. I thought I had seen something that prohibits the use of spacers for competitive events as well as DE schools.

Thanks again for sharing your insights/opinions!

[Racerbvd]

Originally Posted by tramsey

Thanks again for all of the great info. I'm now searching for the 15x7/8 Fuchs with some sticky R-compound tires.

BTW, does PCA rules allow for spacers. I thought I had seen something that prohibits the use of spacers for competitive events as well as DE schools.

Thanks again for sharing your insights/opinions!

Yes, 930s came from the factory with spacers, as did early 944s.
Also some later Porsche use bolt on spacers. Just make sure that you have enough threads on the studs for the lug nuts to bite and if you are going to have an extra set of wheels, it wouldn't hurt to get some steel lug nuts for the track as well..

[jmh61]

Tim,

In PCA autocross the lowest class you can run in your Carrera is Production. PCA allows up to 1/2 inch spacers in that class. Production class also limits the wheel diameter to those that were available as original equipment on the car, in our case 15 and 16. The complete rules are here:

http://parade2012.pca.org/documents/2012_PCRs.pdf

AFAIK there is no limit on spacers for DE.

[j911brick]

Funny! For years, while everybody was going up in wheel size they laughed at me for staying with 15" wheels. Now people are seeing my logic and 15" wheels are more popular than ever.

[tramsey]

Hey John (jmh61),

You mentioned you run the 225/50-15 Kuhmos. Is that front and back? I was wondering if I couldn't go up to a 245/45 or 245/50 in the rears?

Thanks,
Tim

[jmh61]

Tim,

I use 225/50-15 all around for autocross and it works well for me. My car liked to understeer and going to the square tire setup helped cure that. Now I can kick the back end out when I want.