Winter Rims and Wheels for 89 Turbo (and what fits anyway?)

[phoenix_iii]

Been searching but seeing some conflicting info.

89 Turbo.

I am looking for a set of winter wheels. I was thinking of a non-staggered setup, so I could rotate the tires [is this just my old school thinking that this is a good feature, or should I just replace them as they wear down, and provided alignment is good, no rotation would be needed?]

So looking for a winter wheel (size and offset) recommendation, and range of what fits.


Also, running staggered rims now for summer tires... again, is staggered that much better? I heard even corners will allow for neutral handling. What would be a good size to run on the car for summer performance tires, on all 4 corners (offset, and width/sidewall).

Should I break out the miata tire size calculator to ensure the odo/speedo are correct? =)

[Pettybird]

For the winter wheels I'd search out a set of identical fronts and rears. Cheap and easy are D90 wheels, Boxster wheels, 996 wheels, etc, and you'd only need the cheaper and easier-to-find fronts in a 16x7 size. With the narrower wheels you can run narrower tires. My 89T's parked for the winter but I have 195/65/15 on my 944S and would definitely recommend the narrower tires. I'll get old fashioned and want to rotate them, too.

I'm keeping my eye out for another pair of our rear 16x9 Club Sports in case I want to go square all around. I'm not sure about balance but I don't know where extra front grip is a bad thing. We also have factory rolled fender lips and can shove more tire under our cars than any other 944. Our cars came from a time when a 245 wide rear was a big deal...most people who stagger tires on aftermarket rims do so because the rears are so big they won't fit in the fronts.

[PAUERMAN]

I've got a very clean set of D90's with 2 very recent tires replaced. Wheel are off a 944S2 if you're interested. I'm in Mesa - $375.

[phoenix_iii]

Wish I was closer...

So 89T has the same 'late offset' of all the regular 87 and + 944/951s, right?

[wild man]

I run 205/60-16 winterforce (firestone) directional tires on 16x6 & 16x7 boxter wheelsfor the winter on my 89 951. The fronts do need approximately 1/8" spacers to clear the calipers though. They would probably clear them without spacers if the calipers did not have the raised lettering on them.

[phoenix_iii]

Oh really wild man? So I need 17s in Boxster wheels for snows then to clear my front calipers? I am trying to figure out wheel sizes are

a) good for winter
b) fit without spacers

.. c) fit in general. =)

[kdjones2000]

D-90's, Club Sport and Slotted "Sewer Lid" type 16" wheels will all work with your car if they are late offset. Cup 1 16" also should clear the brake calipers.

Boxter/911 "Turbo Twist" 17" rims, along with most other 17" rims will also work just fine, as long as they are late offset.

Cheers, Keith

[phoenix_iii]

Great. so the 87+ offset (late offset) wheels, and all 17 and + (though I've read to avoid 18s). Thanks for confirming guys.

[racer]

16"+, late offset (ie et50-55) will work. 7" minimum is what you will likely want. LOTS of wheels to choose from, both OEM and aftermarket.

[wild man]

Don't need 17's. 16's will work. The boxter wheels don't clear the front calipers AXIALLY, but are good radially. The "PORSCHE" lettering on the SIDE of the caliper hits the inside of the wheel spokes, not the actual outer rims. 15's won't work because the calipers WILL NOT clear the rims. The kind of spacers I was referring to are thick washers that go between the rim and the spindle hub, with each of the lugs going through one of the 5 washers (per wheel). They do need to be thickness-matched though.

[phoenix_iii]

Wild man, I guess I don't follow with how using thickness matched spacers would help. I mean, you want the wheel to mate to the hub and be flush. If a spacer is used at each lug, then those spacers (washers, in this case) are what is touching the hub... ?

I will go with the wheel recommendations above, and hopefully be able to test fit things in person too.

[kdjones2000]

Originally Posted by phoenix_iii

Great. so the 87+ offset (late offset) wheels, and all 17 and + (though I've read to avoid 18s). Thanks for confirming guys.

16" Late offset Phonies will NOT work without spacers. The rest is correct.

[phoenix_iii]

Thank you.

[wild man]

Originally Posted by phoenix_iii

Wild man, I guess I don't follow with how using thickness matched spacers would help. I mean, you want the wheel to mate to the hub and be flush. If a spacer is used at each lug, then those spacers (washers, in this case) are what is touching the hub... ?

I will go with the wheel recommendations above, and hopefully be able to test fit things in person too.

I see what you are getting at, but at least with the boxter wheels, there is only a small area of contact with the hub, surrounding each lug hole in the wheels anyways. So placing washers between the 2 doesn't reduce the contact area. If it does, it is only by a very miniscule amount.

[phoenix_iii]

Is this chart right?

14.0 Performance Modifications

If so the #s here are different than what is posted, for an M030 optioned Turbo S (89).


Will Porsche 968 (1994) Wheels [ (2) 7X16, offset 55 and (2) 8X16, offset 52] fit? They should from what I've read... So then, run the 968 sized tires of 205/55R16 and 225/50R16? Kinda small no? But good for snow tires I suppose!

*edit*

Apparently, that part of the 944FAQ is rife with errors...

http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/WheelsFAQ-measurements.html

[phoenix_iii]

Hate to do it but can I get an answer to the previous post in bold (above).

For convenience "Will Porsche 968 (1994) Wheels [ (2) 7X16, offset 55 and (2) 8X16, offset 52] fit?"

89 Turbo S (M030 option). Wish I could just find the 16'' Club Sport original rims...

*edit*

After re-reading my thread, it seems like
16'' Phone Dials won't work
16'' Boxster Wheels won't work either
16'' Cup 1 wheels should, and that's what the wheels I am going to buy tomorrow look like, so I should be good!!

[kdjones2000]

I am pretty sure that 16" Cup 1's should clear M030 front brakes, but I have not personally had any on my car to check.

Maybe some others can confirm?

[phoenix_iii]

Was just told by a knowledgeable person that Cup 1 wheels (16'') from the 94 968 I was looking at will not clear. It did not have M030, mine does, won't fit. Still hunting for rims. Send Pauer a PM...