Soften the ride of a 997. Options?

[gulfster]

Hello,

I'm running my '08 997 4S daily driver with 19" Continental Extreme Contact on lobster claw wheels.

The handling is spectacular but the roads around here (NJ/NY) are bad enough to justify softening things up a bit given that this is my primary vehicle.

I am considering smaller wheels or perhaps a softer tire for the winter.

I will be using this car to drive 4+ hours north to Vermont for ski weekends. I would like this ride to be as comfortable (soft) and safe as possible. Not very concerned about cornering performance during the winter season.

Any suggestions? I have been searching but haven't had the best luck. Any help is much appreciated.

[Luccia at Pelican Parts]

Changing up the tire and wheel will definitely help with ride comfort. You can also look into a pretty good new suspension set up if you're wanting to upgrade. I've had a lot of individuals look into KW V3's to help with ride comfort on many different makes before. Maybe do some research and see if it may suit your needs. You read up on them below. Good luck!

2008 Porsche 911 Carrera 4S Coupe - Suspension Upgrades & Performance

[boomvang]

I had the same problem with my recently purchased 996 cab, it came with the same wheels you have with Hankook tires. I loved the way it cornered but hated the ride. I changed the shocks to B6 Bilsteins, added new links, uppermounts and bearings, which cured the feeling the wheels were going to come off when hitting large bumps, but was the ride was still pretty harsh. While perusing Craigslist I came across a set of OEM wheels in the stock 17" size. Changed them over and was very pleased with the result. The car rides like a Porsche should, firm and controlled. I admit the ulitimate handling has been impacted, but I can live with the loss of a few tenths of a G in everyday driving.With your 997, you may try 18's, as light as possible. Good luck.