Wheel size for DE and autocross

[P.Graves]

I have a 72 911 with a 3.2 motor that I will be using for autox and DE starting this fall. Also, I will be installing larger TBs and Bilstein shocks and run as much negative camber that can be dialed in. I plan to use 15 x 7 wheels and 205 50 race tires all around. The fenders have been rolled but not flared. Will this combination of wheels and tires work without fender rubbing? Any suggestions on other combinations will be appreciated. Thanks!

[ginot912]

No expert here,

I've got 205/50/15 fronts and 225/50/15 rears on 6" & 7" rims.
No rubbing as is , don't know about 7's in front

Gino
ps I've got street 16's 6&7, 205/55/16 and the rear rub a little.

[SandyI]

I was running 205's on 15x7 cookie cutters on my stock 911E with no flares. You shouldn't have any rubbing problems. But you should consider buying 225's for the rears before your first event. 205 for an early 911 with a 3.2 on the track is not your best combo. By the way, what tires are you using?

[Hotrod911T]

On our '69 911 that we autocross, we have 15x7's in the front with 205/50's and there is no rubbing problem. We have used Fuchs, American Racing and now Superlite GTR wheels with various offsets and have never had a problem in the front with the inner lip rolled, even lowered to the max.

We are running 15x8's with 225/50's in the rear, but with RS Flares. Years ago, before the rear flares and suspension upgrades, we had 15x7's (American Racing wheels) with 225/50's and had a rubbing problem (with 2.5 degrees negative camber). The rubbing problem was not on the lip but where the top of the tire hit the fender on hard cornering, burning the paint (hence the flares). The car was lowered and had stock torsion bars, so that didn't help the situation. I have seen early SWB cars with no flares running 205/50's on 15x7's all around, so it can be done with the proper wheel offset.

Rod

[barney911rs]

A 205 with the power of a 3.2 is not going to be very effective. You are going to need to flare this car so you can get a 15x8 with either a 225 or a 245 rear tire. With my race tuned suspension, I can spin a 225 with my 2.7 under hard acceleration. I'm using a 9" wide slick on my 15x8 wheels.

[Bobby Smith]

I have been running 205/50-15 Hoosier A-6 auto-x rubber on 7x15 Fuchs on a non-flaired 73 911 with no problem. I run -2 degrees camber. I'd like to have flairs, but the car is too nice to cut up, so I'm stuck with 205's. I have a friend that fits 225/50-15 Kumho's on 7" wheels but his car sits too high for auto-x in my opinion. The 205 is on the small side, but you can still get tremendous grip if the car is set up correctly. You may consider some 15x7R wheels as the offset will bring the wheel inboard and you can fit 225/45-15's with a spacer. If you are running National Events, you will need at least 225's or more to be fast.
I hope this helps,
bobby

[rothaus]

Good stuff !

I also get my '71 T ready for next year for AX. I will add the flairs and use 7X15 at front and 8X15 rear. I will be in the prepared class.

Bobby, I hope you can give me some tips to make the 911 go faster.

Check out me website for the work I did so far.

http://muelhaupt.us

Cheers
Engelbert