Wheel and tire fitment problems!

[abrumley]

OK Before anyone slams me let me explain. I have an 86 911 Cab I've had it for several years and i'm just finishing a restoration. I have a set of gold bbs wheels that i'm tired of. I got a set of 18x8.5 front and 18x10 rears with et 52 and et 58. The company i got them from Eurotech wheels on Ebay assured me they would work with 23mm rear and 7mm front spacers. WRONG! Any idea what size spacers to use? And any info on camber, front strut dust cover removal, trailing arm bolt shaving, fender rolling etc. any help is so greatly appreciated as they are no longer returnable. THANK YOU!!!

[abrumley]

Also after i'm done these wheels and tires will be available if wnyone wants them

[JeremyD]

not sure on the 18" wheels -

But by my calculation you'll need about an inch spacer on the front (+25mm) and 2 inchs on there rear (+50.4mm)

That said - I would not run a car with spacers that big - and not sure I would put 18" wheels on a pre 1990 carrera.

I'd hang on to your bbs wheels and get them refinished. Al Reed did mine - I think black like this would look good on your car.





Welcome to the board

[abrumley]

your wheels look great i think i will hold on to mine. My new tire size is 225-40-18f and 255-35-18 rear. here is a pic of new wheels

[efhughes3]

The wheels are going to look silly for two reasons:

1. 18" diameter
2. Minimal dish/large offsets

IMHO, both of those traits look out of place on a torsion bar 911. Besides spacers, you'll be looking at longer wheel studs up front. If they said they'd work with the smaller spacers, which we all know they wont, that would seem to be reasonable cause for return?

[abrumley]

I wish it was the case but they state after you have mounted tires you own them no excuses. So be forwarned about Eurotechwheels. Also the reason i went with 18's was because i ordered ruf bumpers front and rear. I saw a picture of one similar to mine w/18's and ruf bumpers and i thought it had a neat look. But thats just my opinion.

[efhughes3]

The RUF bumpers will probably help abosorb the 18" diameter, but having the centers so far out and with the thin spokes, it will be interesting to see how they turn out.

[efhughes3]

Oh, and long live BBS wheels.....

[Shawn 357]

What amount of camber and what tire sizes are you planning on running? Are you planning on lowering the car? Are you running stock torsion bars?
For a reference point we are running 17x8" and 17x9.5" with 245/45r17 and 275/40R17 on a 88 carrera that is really low. On this car we have to run a lot of negative camber, the car has stiff torsion bars (23mm and 33mm), had to shave some bolts, and mess with the oil lines, etc. We still get some rubbing with this set up if it goes off track.
I have not run 18" wheels but I would be concerned that if you run an 18x8.5" wheel up front you may have trouble taking U-turns. You will rub the front tires on the inside when you try to go lock to lock. I would assume that if you are going to run an 18x10" wheel in the back that you will have to run 2-2.5 degrees negative camber to clear the fenders.
Keep in mind that everything that I am writing is affected by your ride height, tire size, spring rates, track width, and camber settings.

Contact Jeff Alton on this board or PM me for his number. Jeff is an all around good guy and has helped me with tire fitment issues in the past.

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by Shawn 357

What amount of camber and what tire sizes are you planning on running?

He tells us above what tire sizes he's running.
225's up front shouldn't be an issue.

[JeremyD]

He might have some issues with the 18 x 10 rears - that offset will have to be dead on - even Bill verburg says 10's wont fit on the rears.

[abrumley]

wheel dynamics.com says it's possible with modifications but Bill seems pretty smart. so cross your fingers and say a little prayer for me. I am planning on installing a kit that limits my steering lock to lock to avoid rubbing them to much And thanks to everyone for the help so far please keep it coming!

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by efhughes3

He tells us above what tire sizes he's running.
225's up front shouldn't be an issue.

I didn't see that but thanks for pointing it out

Either way I would still be concerned that a 18x8.5" wheel would still rub when you try turning lock to lock.

Abrumley,
I just read that you are going to limit your steering so you can disreguard my comment on the 18x8.5" rubbing.

[Shawn 357]

Originally Posted by abrumley

wheel dynamics.com says it's possible with modifications but Bill seems pretty smart. so cross your fingers and say a little prayer for me. I am planning on installing a kit that limits my steering lock to lock to avoid rubbing them to much And thanks to everyone for the help so far please keep it coming!

Like you are already doing, take your time figuring out what spacers you will need. The further out that you space the wheels the more negative camber you will need to run in the back to clear the fender.

[SCWDP911]

abrumley:

if you find that you can use these 18's, I have a set of 50mm H&R wheel adapters I am selling for $100 shipped. I had the 1 inchers too but they are already sold.

Also, you and I need to talk genealogy sometime. I have a lot of Brumley/Bromley's on my dad's side.

[Jeff Alton]

They sold you wheels and said "they will fit", Turns out they don't fit. Send them back and get a refund. Good luck getting a 8.5 to fit the front, same goes for the rear. Get a refund and start again with wheels that will fit.....


Cheers

[efhughes3]

Originally Posted by Shawn 357

I didn't see that but thanks for pointing it out

No problem

[JeremyD]

What Jeff said - I think you'll have ALOT of work just trying to get those to fit -