944 big wheels

[944 S2]

Sorry nubie question. What's the largest wheel I can fit on a 944. Looking at 18" I assume 19 are too big. Advise on width. Is 8 and 10 pretty much the limit assuming offset is in range. I don't really want to use spacer.

[J1NX3D]

Get these and go wiiiide
FS: Broadfoot GT2 Widebody - Rennlist Discussion Forums

[BReif61]

I've seen a picture of a 968 with 19" lobster forks, so 19's fit. I can't advise on the tire size for them, however.

As for width, do you really want to go wider than 10" rears? How much power are you expecting to make?

[944 S2]

Honestly just looking for a nice set of wheels. Nothing crazy.

[J1NX3D]

check out 944racing and Porsche Wheels from Wheel Enhancement to see what factory wheels will fit your car. pretty much anything can that will match your offset. also consider aftermarket wheels like 18" Enkei NT03's, RAYS TE37's and tried and true wheels like BBS, Speedline, Speedline RUF, and a lot of others I'm forgetting.

check out the F/S sub-forums for this board and ofr the 911/964/993/996/boxster/cayman crowd. you're bound to find something.

[BReif61]

If you're looking for a nice set of 18s, I am a huge fan of the "MY02" Carrera wheels. Simple and clean five spoke design, and the standard 996 fitment was 18x8 and 18x10. There were some Boxsters with narrower rear wheels, but they are not quite as easy to find. Depending on the year of your 944 you may need a spacer of variable size.

[JeremyD]

I have a set of really nice 8 &9 x 18 Cayman wheels that I am thinking of selling. I found a set of Fikse that I wanted to use instead - I'll sell them to you for $750

[Techno Duck]

Personally i prefer to stay around 17" for the 944, i just think big wheels on older cars dont quite look right. With that said the 18" MY02 look great on the 944 regardless. No spacers needed on late offset cars. The Boxster ones are narrower and if i remember right have a bit of a strange offset that may require a spacer to look right. Try to find the 911 ones.

[944 S2]

Those look great. Liking it. Now to Figuer tire sizes. I think those wheels are 8 and 10's right?

[wwhalenc]

Not to hijack, but I'm interested in 18s too. Anyone know of other considerations such as how this affects handling or ride quality?

[DannoXYZ]

Weight really hurts handling on the road. Even on smooth tracks, it makes the car feel heavier and less responsive to steering inputs.

I had replica Turbo Twists in 17x9" that weighed 25-lbs each with 255/40-17 tyres all around. Even with more power, I was slower at the Virginia City Hillclimb than the year before on 16" wheels. It was bouncing around in the corners a lot; more difficult to control at the limit and costs me speed.

Then I got BBS race wheels in 17x10.5/11.5" that weighed 17/18 lbs. Wow, that completely transformed how it behaved!

[jcommin]

Originally Posted by Techno Duck

Personally i prefer to stay around 17" for the 944, i just think big wheels on older cars dont quite look right. With that said the 18" MY02 look great on the 944 regardless. No spacers needed on late offset cars. The Boxster ones are narrower and if i remember right have a bit of a strange offset that may require a spacer to look right. Try to find the 911 ones.

I have 17s as well. There is a good tire selection to choose.

[DannoXYZ]

Lots of tyre models in 17", but very few in 25" diameter. The 255/40-17 is widest you can find.

That's why I'm moving to 18x10/12" next. At least there's a wide 295/30-18 that's the proper diameter.

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by 944 S2

Sorry nubie question. What's the largest wheel I can fit on a 944. Looking at 18" I assume 19 are too big. Advise on width. Is 8 and 10 pretty much the limit assuming offset is in range. I don't really want to use spacer.

You can use 18x10" front and 18x12" rear with a 10mm increase in offset. Tyres are 255/35-18 and 295/30-18.

1982-1986 early offset cars would need 33.3mm offset
1987-1991 late offset cars will use 62.3mm offset
1988-1991 TurboS cars need 70-75mm offset

All need 2.5" coilovers in front for additional clearance. Only thing needed in rear is to strap the parking-brake cable to the spring-plate. It sticks out different amounts on each car and will rub the tyre on the inside.

[wwhalenc]

So I have a chance to buy these wheels pictured with tires that are 225 x 40 x18 front and 265 x 35 x18 rear. Is this over the top? Is $900 fair for nice condition wheels? Circumference is 1.8% larger so my speedo would read a little low (and I'd have yet a taller trans). --Chris

[/QUOTE]

[J1NX3D]

For a turbo that is early offset you need to make sure those wheels will fit. Massive rear tyres tho.

[wwhalenc]

This is for an '86 Turbo. Already running spacers.

[J1NX3D]

Someone wiser than I can chime in but I don't think the weight of 18" wheels with the weight of 265 tyres using 30mm(?) spacers is a good thing, even with longer bolts. I know the US is different but in NZ we can't run anything but OEM spacers unless certified case by case by an engineer. If you can get hub adaptors this would be safer, and you wouldn't have to limit yourself to 130x5 wheels either.

Porsche Wheel Adapters and Spacers &amp Wheels, Rims, & Related

[DannoXYZ]

Originally Posted by wwhalenc

So I have a chance to buy these wheels pictured with tires that are 225 x 40 x18 front and 265 x 35 x18 rear. Is this over the top? Is $900 fair for nice condition wheels? Circumference is 1.8% larger so my speedo would read a little low (and I'd have yet a taller trans). --Chris

That's a decent deal, not too crazy at all. You may need to go with thinner spacers. As for spacers, they're fine if they are like the factory '82-85 rear with longer studs and spacers.

The wheel-adapter types that bolt onto your existing studs and provide a 2nd set of their own aren't so good. This configuration has a 2nd set of lug-nuts that's hidden underneath the wheel and can't be inspected easily. You'll have to remove the wheels to check, which introduces another possible error when re-installing the wheels. Not to mention the adapter type adds more weight than the factory long-stud/spacer version.

[wwhalenc]

Good info. Wasn't even on my radar that the spacers could be a safety issue (or that they could be putting additional load on the wheel bearings).