928drvr86.5

1987 Targa


When I bought this car 2 years ago, it had 17" 7.5J ET23 and 8J ET15 Turbo Twists on it in addition to the stock Fuchs which I run in the winter months. The front tires on the Turbo Twists, Dunlop SP FM901's, 235/40-17 would rub slightly on the fender lip, leaving rubber strings hanging on the outside edge of the tire. If the suspension was compressed enough, the tire would slip up past the fender lip and on the way back down it would catch and put a kink in the fender lip.

Anyway, i liked the look of the wider tires out front, so I rolled fender lips on both sides of the car and all was good, no more rubbing. Well now that the tires need replacing, i am finding that the 235/40/17 is somewhat of an odd-ball size, and my options are limited.

I guess at this point i would like to go with a tire that is a better fit for these rims mounted to this MY 911, and it appears to me that would be 225/45/17.
Am I correct?

race911

As most with a lot more current experience here will likely say, a 7X16 with a 225/50 is really iffy, and totally car dependent. Factor in the 17" rim and 1/2 more width (though the same offset) and you're probably going to rub no matter what, absent fender rolling. (Also looks like the car is 1" high in front, almost 2" high in the rear.)

In any case, with the right offset, a 225/45 on a 7.5X17 works fine on a 964 on basically the same fender.

But take a look at all the tire specs out there. Manufacturers are very different when it comes to the width of seemingly similarly sized tires.

928drvr86.5

So by that, I should be fine since the fenders are rolled and it currently has 235/40's that do not rub, no?

comparing one manufacturer's 225/45 17 to it's 235/40 17... the 235 has close to 3/4" wider sectional width.

928drvr86.5

Yes, i know it's riding high like a lunar lander, I'll fix it.

sig_a

For model year 1987 Carrera Targa 225 45 17 Nitto NT01 8" wide Fikse will contact unrolled fender lip (mid ohio 2007). Replaced with 215 45 17 and now no problem.

235 40 17 is not best choice. 225 45 or 50 depending on camber and other factors is better to avoid tire/fender damage. Rolled fender lip helps.

theiceman

i am running those exact sizes up front i think. I will double check and tell you my tire. i am running Bridgestones and and are happy withthem. I will respond back soon with the sizes.

Ed Hughes

I think 235 is too big for our cars without getting serious about mods. I run 225's with no issue under rolled fenders. 215's are fine too. I ran those for a couple of track seasons.

theiceman

I may be missing something but the difference between 225mm wide amd 235mm wide is not 3/4 of an inch . more like 3/8ths

Ed Hughes

There can be big diffs between tire manufacturers and the same size tires. I would guess that could also happen with different models from one manuf.

Ed Hughes

I wonder if those wheels really do have the offsets you list. I don't think such wheels were made in 911 offsets by a major wheel company, so it may be "potluck" on what you have. You shouldn't have any tire issues with the ride height you have.

I'd stick with the Fuchs. You know you've got the right offset, and you can hone in on proper tire sizes.

theiceman

wouldnn't that mean really having to wrestle with the steering with fronts that wide ?

928drvr86.5

Yes, I did have to wrestle the wheel when parking, but once moving it was fine.

Ed, yes I do know for a fact that the offsets are 23 front and 15 rear, i physically checked yesterday before the thread. Don't mind the rally ride height, that will be set properly soon.

At any rate, i decided last night to go with the 225/45 17's.

theiceman

woiuld have been a little easier with power steering no dobt .. please post some front-on pics so we can see...

Ed Hughes

I think that car would look absolutely stellar without the twists and a wheel with small offsets (read: deeper dish), along with a lower height.

928drvr86.5

Yeah, I've had my eye on those new 17" Fuchs replicas, the name of the supplier escapes memory, Chrome would be the way to go per my taste. I was also contemplating a set of Fikse FM5's, Black maybe. I love the FM10's on my 928, but not sure they would look right on a 911, the FM5's though, that might be alright. You're right though, the twists really are not my bag either, just came with the car. As mentioned, i do have the fuchs, they're not perfect, but decent. I hand-painted the center caps this fall.

Ed, I don't know if you remember me, but we did the Tail Of The Dragon together with a group a few years back on the way to SITM. Everyone met up in Alcoa, and I believe you were with Roger Tyson and the Texas group at the time. Must have been just before selling your 928.