JimNB

Who sells replica Fuch style wheels ?

Bill Gregory

Performance Products does, and through today they are 20% off. They are probably OK as long as you don't plan to use them on the track. The general problem with cast Fuch copies is that they cast them to the same thickness as the forged Fuchs, and thus aren't as strong as the forged Fuchs.

Thom Fitzpatrick

To Fuch, or not to fuch: that is The Question;
Whether 'tis nobler to save a dollar in the wallet, and suffer the weight and cracks of (potential) misfortune,
Or to spend a little more against a sea of troubles?

993chaz

I just purchased a pair of 9 x 16 for my 911 from performance Products. I think that they are actually better than the OEM fuchs. Pricing was pretty good, I think about 280.00 a piece after 20% discount.

Thom Fitzpatrick

Can you describe how they're better? I'm not saying you're wrong, but I've never heard someone say the replicas were better in any category other than price.

Cornpanzer

I would definatly spend the time looking for original Fuchs. They are MUCH lighter than the cast wheel and the replicas are not exact replicas. If performance is your thing, keep in mind that reciprocating weight such as wheels and tires is more important than static weight. Not only do you have to move the weight, but you also have to accelerate and decellerate it. 72 and later 15x6 Fuchs are quite common on Ebay as are the later 16" wheels. The early 6's Are harder to find, but I have seen them in the $500-$600 range if you dig and they can be restored fairly easily if you are a do-it-yourself kinda guy. Eastwood sells some nice home polishing kits.

Drago

Forged vs. cast, in the same overall thickness?

Know anything about metallurgy or metal forming methods?

For a street car they're probably just fine.

On the track, I wouldn't feel nearly as comfortable.

Reg

I am no expert on this , but cast wheels made for DOT approval must certainly pass some kind of stress testing, and the standards must be so high that any cast wheel should be OK for racing a street version 911 or other Porsche.

Forged will be stronger, and lighter but skill could easily make up for any of that!

...just my opinion though

JackOlsen

Not unless you've come up with some new alternate definition of the word 'better.' Many Porsche-based race groups categorically prohibit Fuchs replicas. Weight issues aside, they're simply not as strong as the forged wheels. If they were, there wouldn't be the huge market for used Fuchs.

Stephen Masraum

I have heard multiple stories of cracked/broken cast rims on 911's with sticky street or R compound tires. Maybe they would be ok on a regular car that is tracked, but a tracked 911 that is really driven can generate quite a bit of force.

911CHAS, I understand the rims you bought looked nice and were inexpensive, but I don't think they would come out on top in any other catagories. The real Fuchs are just a top notch wheel, forged they'll dent bend, but not crack, and besides the fact that they are stronger they are also lighter which is good for reducing unsprung weight and rotational mass which is good for handling and acceleration. I understand that you are happy with them which is the important thing.

As for DOT specs, I think the consensus is that DOT spec doesn't actually mean that much. Now if the rims are TUV certified that means something. I understand the TUV certification process to be quite strenuous.

Chris Campbell

I can't think of a single reason to go for repro wheels, with the exception of the super-rare Fuchs like the early factory "R" deep 7" ones, and so forth, that are into 4-digit prices.

For regular 15"-16" production car sizes, you will get superior quality, weight, appearance, strength and resale value by going with the real thing. These are some of the best wheels ever fitted to a production automobile folks.

Just my $.02

Roland Kunz

Hello

Just make simple test.

Hit the curb with a geninue Fuchs and do the same with a copy.
The Fuchs will bend inwards and clamp the tire. The cast will break and loose the tire.

Fuchs are far abouve TÜV specs. The ATS Cookie Cutters are cast wheels short under that stability but they are very heavy.

I´m not sure but some 15 years ago a company wantet to import the Fakes to germany but failed to achive the TÜV approvals.
I met those guys when I was discussing about importing Compomotive rims.

Don´t ask me why we have so high TÜV standards but I always say it is the price for 15% unrestrictet highways where you can blast fast if you are not stucked up in the usual traffic. A rim failure at 65 mph or at 165 mph is a complete different story.
In the same time you can stop down from 65 to 0 you are still over 100 from 165.

Grüsse

JimNB

Great information. I am solidly in the "real Fuch" camp based on everyones feedback.

Thanks.

jim

Paul491 Cadrobbi

Hey Jim,

I agree Fuchs are indeed a very nice looking and strong forged wheel, but as mentioned before the original wide ones are quite expensive...and hard to replace. I am seriously considering HRE wheels as an alternative. They are a forged 3-piece wheel, which look quite similar to the originals. The main visual difference, are the bolts that hold the rims to the center hub. If detailed in black like the originals, they look pretty good. Check out the "Lightweight 911 Club Racer" in the May 2001 issue of Excellence Magazine (#101) pgs 70-76.

I am the fortunate owner of a Factory Turbo-Look 911 and am seriously considering ordering a similar set for my car. HRE wheels will cost about one third less than the price of original 9" & 11" widths with the additional bonus of 16" or 17" diameters for today’s tires. Plus, if you bend a rim, they can be replaced! There is a slight weight penalty, probably about 5-6lbs per wheel. Bottom line: Strong enough to track!

Just my 2 cents... )

Seth

How exactly do you pronounce Fuch?