85 911 Carrera - Wheel Size f/Track?

[Cmick]

Hi guys.

I'm about to purchase an 85 911 Carrera for DE then eventually for full time track (coming from a BMW Z4M... Yeah, yeah I know....what took so long?). I'll need a set of track wheels and wondered what opinions are out there on best size. 15", 16" or larger? Stay staggered or square up?

Thx

[earlyapex]

16x7 225/50
16x8 245/45

Search the board regarding proper suspension, brake, safety, etc. things to do.

Have a great time!

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Cmick

Hi guys.

I'm about to purchase an 85 911 Carrera for DE then eventually for full time track (coming from a BMW Z4M... Yeah, yeah I know....what took so long?). I'll need a set of track wheels and wondered what opinions are out there on best size. 15", 16" or larger? Stay staggered or square up?

Thx

For a dedicated track car 8 & 9 minimum, 8 & 9.5 preferred, 7 & 9 ok, 7 & 8 if you can't afford anything else.

16 < 17 < 18

wheels & tires are just one link in the chain

[pgeorgeson]

There are several options, as noted above. However, the first thing you should do is check the rules for where you want to run, as some clubs have restrictions on what you can run.

[Cmick]

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

[175K911]

What Bill V said.

I ran 16" Fuchs in the past-
16x8 (951 offset) front and
16x9 rear.
Still had to roll the front fender lips even with lots of negative camber.

Now run Jeff Alton 17" Fuchs-
17x8 front et30
17x9 rear et17

Building a second set of 17s since I have 2 sets of Alton centers-
17x8 et25 front
19x9.5 et tbd for the rear

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by 175K911

....Building a second set of 17s since I have 2 sets of Alton centers-
17x8 et25 front
19x9.5 et tbd for the rear

I hope that's 17x9.5? hint correct o/s for that wheel is 19, mine are 19.05 and fit perfectly centered in the wheel well space

[redranger]

Depends on what your goals are for DE, if you are happy in a beginner to intermediate level run group, I wouldn't worry about more than 16x8 in the rear and 16x7 in the front w 245/45 and 225/50. Be aware that tires in these sizes, matched, are very limited, basically hoosiers and 888s. If, however, you want to move into a more advanced group, the larger the tires/wheels, the better as you'll need the traction at higher speeds. Keep in mind with 9s in the rear and 8s in the front, you will have to do some fender work.

My goals are more limited, looking to go into an intermediate group with a stock set up on an 86 911. I have 16x8 in rear and 16x7 in front. I can never keep up with a GT3 or the newer cars on the straights, but I can keep up with them in the turns.

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Cmick

Thanks for the quick responses guys.

I see you are in Tulsa. Are you going to be running autocrosses with the PCA? I know the region up there is very active. I am in the War Bonnet region in OKC. We run autocross monthly( one this sunday). Let me know if you have any questions...


Oh and have fun... You just started sliding down a slope

[PatrickB]

Your tire options are WAY better with 17" and bigger.

I have 8/9x16 Fuchs, and we are really getting squeezed out on tire options! If I had it to do over again, I'd have spent the money on 17's!!! Look at any online tire site for tire options and you'll quickly see!

[KTL]

Originally Posted by PatrickB

Your tire options are WAY better with 17" and bigger.

I have 8/9x16 Fuchs, and we are really getting squeezed out on tire options! If I had it to do over again, I'd have spent the money on 17's!!! Look at any online tire site for tire options and you'll quickly see!

Very true right there. The selection of 245/45-16 tires for 16x8 or 16x9 wheels is getting a bit grim. However 17 in. sizes offer MUCH more variety. Plus you've got more choices for front tires as well. 225/45-17 and 235/40-17 are popular choices. However in 16 in. sizes, 225/50 and 245/45 are about all you have to choose from. 245/45 is not do-able for a lot of people in front on a narrowbody car like a '85 Carrera.

[Cmick]

Wow! Great forum.

Thanks everybody for input. Lots of "food for tought" here.

Porsche4life
I'll definitely be getting involved in autoX. Seems like a great group here in Oklahoma.

A few more questions guys:
1. Plans are to run intermediate DEs for a bit till I get the hang of the "engine behind, nothing up front" thing. Do 17" wheels slow you down or is the weight difference so slight there isn't an issue?
2. Where can one find wheels with the correct ETs?

Thx
Cmick

[Bill Verburg]

Originally Posted by Cmick

....
A few more questions guys:
1. Plans are to run intermediate DEs for a bit till I get the hang of the "engine behind, nothing up front" thing. Do 17" wheels slow you down or is the weight difference so slight there isn't an issue?
2. Where can one find wheels with the correct ETs?

Thx
Cmick

Fuchs are available in 7x15, 7x16 or 8x16 ET23.3 for the front and 8x15, 8x16 ET10.6 or 9x16 ET15 for the back

There is a better choice of tires in 17s for most purposes.

Weight and gearing and track configuration and driver preferences are all tied up in a knotty ball. It's true that 15s are a lot lighter and give better acceleration because of that and the shorter loaded rolling radius of the tires, but the down side is the speeds where the acceleration is available and the extra shifting that is often involved. It's all very complicated and best addressed on an individual basis once you have acquired more personal insight into your needs.

Just because of a very nice combination of favorable attributes I favor 17 over 16 but there are also very good arguments for 16 over 17 or 15 over 16. It all depends.

In 17 probably the best current choices due to the failure of Kinesis and Fikse as corporate entities are Jeff Alton's Fuchs knockoffs, which are available in 7.5 or 7.75 or 8 x17 w/ o/s correct for the front and 9 or 9.25 x17 w/ applicable rear o/s. Tires to use w/ these will vary depending on use and how much extra work you are willing to do to get a good fit. Easiest w/ almost no additional work would be 225/45 on 8x17ET30 and 255/40 on 9x17ET17

[porsche4life]

Originally Posted by Cmick

Wow! Great forum.


Porsche4life
I'll definitely be getting involved in autoX. Seems like a great group here in Oklahoma.



Thx
Cmick

Yes they really are a great group. In fact I was just at War Bonnet region thing tonight. Ended up getting elected as a board member.


There is an autocross this Sunday(Nov 15.) in OKC. Registration starts at 11. If you have a car bring it out. If not come out and watch some runs and we can probably get you a ride in a few cars... Shoot me a PM if you are interested.


Sidney J

[JeremyD]

I have a 1987 Carrera -

Just put on a set of RA1's.

235/45/17 fronts and 275/40/17's on Jeff Alton Wheels.

Shaved the spring plate bolts - but really didn't need to - fenders are rolled in the front - the rears are not.

These are probably about the maximum wheel I can stuff on this car

[earlyapex]

Take a really hard look at where you want to go with your driving. Do you want to race? Ever? The rules may dictate what wheels and tires you can use. My car has gone through too many variations as I tried to figure out what I wanted to do. It's now very close to what it started out to be.

[Cmick]

Thanks everybody.

[175K911]

Originally Posted by Bill Verburg

I hope that's 17x9.5? hint correct o/s for that wheel is 19, mine are 19.05 and fit perfectly centered in the wheel well space

What, you don't like the idea of running 19" rear wheels with 17's front?

Seriously, yes that's 17x9.5. I was going to shoot for et20 and fine tune with spacers if necessary, but your 19.05 sounds right on the money, thanks.

[911st]

Lot of good answers already.

I would start with the tires.

For a good street tire that is designed to also work on the track there are a lot of great 205/225/16 tire options. The Dunlop Z1 being a good example and a set is about $500. They are very predictable during break away & thus a great learning tire, do not squeal, ware very well, and actually work well in the wet. This class of tire best likes 7&8" Fuchs but if you are just starting will work on stock 6&7's.

The best all time track tire that can be driven to the track is the Toyo RA1. It was discontinued but is back. The will be available in 225/245 16's and other sizes. They are sticker, get faster with use, and last a while. They are not the best choice for a dual use tire as they will not last long on the street. A set of these are probably $800. They are best on 8&9's but are still very fast on 7&8's.

So far a set of 7&8 fuchs is a versatile wheel set up.

The best value in a track tire that can be driven on to the track is the Nitto NT01. However, they do not come in 16's. If you go to 17's you can run these. I think a set of 225/255 17's are about $600 and they are almost an equal to the Toyo's. One way to run these cheap is to run 993 cup II rims in 7&9". However, to do this right requires wheel spacers and longer studs. One other advantage to this is they are a nice open wheel that will help keep the brakes better ventilated compared to a Fuchs style wheel. Good used wheel sets can be fond for around $600 compared to about $2000 for a set of usable 8&9's or $1500 for a set of 7&8 Fuchs.

I guess I would have to say, if you are just starting just run what you have at first and see if there are other cars that you want to run with. They look to see what they are running. Get a set of the raceable street tires and just put them on what ever rims you have. I did this with the Dunlops and they worked great. There are lots of other things to spend money on like Race Pads/fluid, helmit, and track fees. Also, if you make the wrong choice up front, you might find yourself kicked up into a class with much faster cars.

[Jeff Alton]

Ed,

I run the same rear wheels as you. (clearly ) on my car I run 3.0 degrees of negative rear camber and I have .570"of spacers on the rear and have not fender lip issues.....

I am reconfiguring my rear wheels to have a .50 inch wider rear barrel and using a new spacer I am making up to fit. The spacer will be 14mm.......

cheers