Another Wheel Fitment Thread

[twps]

I apologize if this has been covered, I know there are a number of wheel fitment questions. I believe I once saw a chart online showing detailed wheel fitment, but I cannot find it now.

I'm looking at buying a 1985.5 944. It needs wheels, currently it has 3xRW (BBS) 17x7.5 20ET wheels. They look great, but I cannot find a 4th wheel. So I'm looking to upgrade. I could easily put phone dials on the car, but why pay that much for a standard set of wheels?

I'm looking at a set of used Racing Dynamics wheels (flat black 5 spoke, star pattern wheels) removed from a 930. The wheels are 17x8.5 ET13.5 & 17x9.5 ET 20.5 Can these wheels fit? Will I need spacers?

I find the wheel fitment thing to get confusing due to back spacing, etc. I can pick these wheels up at an affordable price and I like the looks of them so if I can make them fit easily I'll more than likely pickup the car and the wheels. Thanks in advance for your responses.

[Rasta Monsta]

That offset is correct for your car, but 9.5 seems a bit wide to me. WheelEnhancement.com is a great resource for Porsche wheels, FWIW.

[Cocacolakidd]

Basically the rims will fit with the back spacing that they are. The 9.5" width is much wider than recommended for true balance of the total suspension. I often break this rule though for more racier/radical look when I have 10" rear rims with 275/40-17 tires - for looks only. My tires and rims are to wide for true balance and suspension tuning of the car, but I like the super wide look on my car. A 8.5" rear rim with 255/40-17 would be allot closer to a good balance/suspension tuning for overall use.

All of the above is assuming you have a early model of 944, 1986 or earlier, as the 87 and up cars have different back spacing. The early offset rims would not fit a late offset car without major problems.

[twps]

Thanks for the responses guys. Do late model 944 15" phone dials fit early model 944's? IS there such thing as late model 15" phone dials? Again, I may pick up an 85.5 and am looking at 87 wheels. Thanks.

[Rasta Monsta]

"Phone dial" is the only Porsche wheel manufactured in both late and early offsets.

[Cocacolakidd]

+1^ But are not the late offset Phonies 16" only - Do not know if I have ever seen a late offset in 15" - could be wrong, but ????

[Dantilla]

The original wheels on my 1987 944S are 15x7 Phone Dials with the late offset.

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by Cocacolakidd

+1^ But are not the late offset Phonies 16" only - Do not know if I have ever seen a late offset in 15" - could be wrong, but ????

'87 & '88 cars that had 15" Phonedials were 52.3 et offset.

[Rasta Monsta]

Although forged 16x8 and 16x9 wheels exist in late offset. . .rare 951 option.

[twps]

I didn't think late offset came in 15x7 either... What do I need to do to make them fit an earlier model? (85.5)

[Tidybuoy]

Originally Posted by twps

I didn't think late offset came in 15x7 either... What do I need to do to make them fit an earlier model? (85.5)

In order for late offset wheels to fit an early car, you would need to add spacers. (i.e., 52.3mm - 23mm = 29.3mm spacer). If you don't add spacers, the effect of the late offset wheel will be the tires sitting more towards the center of the car.

I'm not an expert but there my be some risk to adding spacers. You may need to increase the length of the wheel studs to be safe - but someone else on this board may know for sure.

On my '88 late offset car, I purchased some 16" 928 phone dials (not realizing the offset was 65mm for 928). As a result, the tires "looked" skinny because it added so much space between the wheel and the fender. I ultimately got rid of them and replaced with 951 late offset phone dials.

[Tidybuoy]

My 1988 944 (normally 52.3mm offset) with 928 65mm offset 16x7 phone dials. If you notice in this photo, the wheels are plenty wide, but they sit about an inch closer to the center of the car causing a larger than normal space between the outer fender and the wheel. This gives the illusion of skinnier tires. (It's the opposite effect if I were to put early offset on a late offset car).

Putting 52.3mm offsets on your early 23mm ofset car will have a similar effect - but even worse as the difference here is 12.7mm and on your car it would be almost 30mm difference.

[cvriv.charles]

Awesome explaination. So I can install early offset wheels on my late 44. But the wheels will be closer to the quater panels than if I had the late offset. Well,... I cant do that because the wheels will rub against my quarters/ fenders. Great.

[twps]

Thanks for the responses and help guys. I think I get it... Time to buy a Porsche, and some wheels...