embacpa

I have a 89 Carrera 3.2 with full ER suspension upgrade (23/31 TB's, sport shocks, etc) that is lower than stock. I want to buy a set of custom lightweight 15" (8X9) wheels so I can run the 275/35/15 R6's in the rear. How can I get comfortable that they will fit. Any advise appreciated. Many thanks, Sean

wildcat077

First off if your car is a narrow bodied 89,which i suspect it is you will have fun trying to fit those 275's in the rear arches !
Most people who did manage to stuff them in there grinded down their spring plate bolts and relocated their oil lines on the passenger side.What size tires do you plan to use in the front ?
Not sure why you would want to use 15 inch wheels on an 89 ...

Cheers !
Phil

embacpa

yes, it is a narrow body. i currently run 225/245 R6's on 16" fuchs. i would likely still run 225's up front. i'm interested in less weight, improved gearing and more grip. i hear ya on stuffing them in. i hear some folks have done it, but no detail on how. that's why i really want to know, before i order new wheels.

pu911rsr

I've seen 285's on the rear of a stock flare Carrera was a race car so I don't know all the mods.
Phil

Ed Hughes

Too much work with minimal gains. I'd go to 255's and call it a day.

embacpa

no R6 availability in 255 in a 15"

Ed Hughes

Availability of 15, 16 & 17" tires is on the wane, for sure. Why are you set on 15" wheels-that limits your choices more than say 17's.

wildcat077

A lot of people who are running 275's in the rear usually do so for track applications and are probably running -3 degrees of rear camber and to keep the car balanced you would have to run 245's in the front or at the least 235's but the front is a whole different ball game as you need the precise ET,lots of neg camber and you would have to roll your fenders for clearance !
There are other ways to save weight ... for instance ditch the heavy leather seats for a set of Sparcos ... i have a set of Evos in my car and they are absolutely comfortable ...

Cheers !
Phil

earlyapex

Racers have used 245/275 to take advantage of the PCA rules. I can't see another reason to try to fit that tire size under a stock Carrera. The 225/245 tire package has been used for years. I'd go with 17 inch wheels if you want a wider selection of tires. The Toyo RA-1 makes for a great street/track tire if you don't shave them.

embacpa

Gent's: great questions.

Yes, I have Sparco EVO Plus seats, but the roll bar offset that weight gain:-). I sent a link this weekend to my mechanic on the Elphant Racing Rear CamberMax Adjuster as I am not running -3 (that will hellp).

17"s will not improve my gearing or weight and tire options don't work with Hoosier. I prefer the 40 tread wear to RA-1's 100. Although 17" provides a "wider" (menaing more options) selection it does not provide me a "wider" (meaning wider contact patch) selection.

If the racers (I am only HPDE) are running the 245/275's, what exactly is involved to make it happen?

Thanks for all the help guys.

Ed Hughes

It's already been stated: shaved/rolled fenders, shaved spring plate bolts, moved oil lines.

Some of the fastest drivers I've ever seen in t-bar 911's never ran greater than 225/245 widths. I'd concentrate on seat time to improve lap times, coupled with a well sorted suspension.

MUSSBERGER

Going to that size is the hot setup in D & E PCA club racing right now. Not only are the tires dramatically less expensive but you get what amounts to an R&P change along with a lower center of gravity.

http://www.buckley-racing.com/products.html

Bill Verburg

Sure
these are 9 ET14.3 275/35 x15


I ran 275/40 on 9.5ET19 on a Carrera 3.0

mehoff

I just spent two weeks digging through proper set-up for a Carrera (was more focused on gearing though), and the primary determinant here is the track schedule. The 15" wheel is the hot set-up for AX, but if you move up to moderate and high speed tracks you're going to have issues. With stock motor, gearing and the reduction in tire diameter to 23", you're out of gear at a top speed of 134mph, plus 70-90mph corners are going to require a short shift into 4th.

Simple fact of the matter, it all changes track to track.....if you're at high speed tracks go with 17's, low speed tracks stick with the 15's.

FYI, if you're just doing HPDE, why such a hard on for the Hoosiers? The V710's are only nominally slower and will get 20+ good heat cycles compared to the 8 you'll get out of the Hoosier.

(Note: I'm now on 17's with 245/275 with a half inch spacer in the rear; easily fit's under the rolled fenders)

Ed Hughes

That was my whole point: For DE? Not worth the effort, IMO.