dmjames

I've got an '87 Turbo (late-offset) with a set of 17" turbo twists on it w/ all-season tires, and with the Colorado winter coming up before too terribly long, I'd like to track down a set of winter shoes that won't break the bank.

Since I don't want to have to worry about mounting and re-mounting the same rubber, I plan to pick up an extra set of wheels for winter use. I seem to recall that skinnier is actually better much of the time in the snow, too.

What wheels would you guys recommend for winter use based on availability of tires and overall performance?

V2Rocket

i think 924S (87-88) had 6" ET52 wheels, those would be sweet for snow duty if they exist.

early boxsters came with 6x16 fronts too

SloMo228

Before I retired it from winter duty, I used the stock 15" phone dials with Blizzaks and had no problems with winter traction (Michigan).

Although I guess they probably won't clear the brakes on a Turbo. I don't see why the stock 16 inchers wouldn't work just as well.

Scott at Team Harco

Phonies are perfect for this. I would do a trial fit to see if 15" will clear the brakes. I have an S2 with 17" wheels. I swear there is an inch worth of clearance to the calipers. If not, 16s are the next best option.

For tires - narrow and higher profile are fine for use in the snow. I think I have 205/65R15s on my A4 and they are what I will likely use on the 944 RallyCross car (when ever that happens )

There are plenty of good winter tires in 215/60R15 should you want to go to the original size of the NAs.

87944turbo

Hey David, maybe you could run 4 951 spares? : ) I would be on the lookout for 7" late offset PDs. Seems like the narrow wheels are typically cheapish.

ramius665

You might consider buying a set of Porsche 928 snow wheels. They're late offset and come in 7" or 8" widths. Also very reasonable cost at ~$150/wheel.

dmjames

Lots of good suggestions here- thanks!

I'm pretty sure the 15s that the NAs came with won't clear the brakes on the 951, but I've got an extra set from the 84 that I can use to kind of eyeball it. I know the offsets are quite different, but I'd assume the clearance issue would be based on the diameter rather than offset.

My main concern is making sure I get a set of wheels that has reasonable tire options available, and I know going skinnier will save easily a couple hundred bucks a set in addition to being better suited for handling snow.

Arominus

Just grab a set of late offset d90s and rock the 205/225 stagger. If you can score 4 16x7s you can do 205/55 all around. 15" wheels do not clear the front brakes, as far as I know there is no late offset 15" that does. I run the factory 7/8" d90s and my s2 is a winter warrior taking me up through the tunnel to go snowboard quite a bit. I ran general Altimaxes and they were good for the price and not horrible for dry days. They fall into the continental winter tire category, which is a good match for a 944. You can get harder core winter tires too, but I haven't really found the need. If it's that bad out I'm in my beater.

Early offset wheels look really really really wrong on the car so I can't say I would do that. They would likely cause issues with slush getting thrown in the air. Late offset 16"s are your best answer.

dmjames

Good to get confirmation on the 15s being a no-go- I assumed as such, but never actually checked it myself. I definitely wanted to make sure to stick w/ the late offset. I know there's a set of the D90s available locally- might ask about that. I'm not a huge fan of the d90s, but the options for skinnier late wheels are pretty limited as I'm discovering.

I've run a set of Hankook studded W404s on 15" cookie cutters on my NA the past couple winters, and they did great, but were super loud, and not so great in the better weather. I only went with them because I snagged a set that was almost new for $50 from a guy who was moving out of snow country w/ his 944. Next time around, I'm planning to go for the non-studded variety, both for the noise and for the dry performance.

Van

Didn't they make 16" phone dials for the turbo cars?

dmjames

Yup. Had a set on my 88 Turbo about 10+ years ago... Those might be the better look. Same basic dimensions as the D90s, I think? Mostly I don't want to buy some wheels and find out that snow options are limited at best.

Van

An alternative would be a set of 17" Boxster wheels. They're pretty easy to come by, since people upgrade. And there might be more options for performance winter tires in 17" rather than 16".

Van

That's what I had on my 996.

Arominus

Having had the dials and D90's as winter wheels, i'd pick the D90's still. They keep more snow off the rotor, especially when you are showing a parking lot whos boss. They don't cool as well as the dials, but i like that in the cold too.

Scott at Team Harco

The same (Cup 2s?) that Van showed are what I have on Stu. Since I want to keep Stu from the salt as much as I can, I don't drive him in the winter. Otherwise, I'd use the D90s that came with the car.

The earlier comment I made about phonies is valid, though it may be that only the 16s will work. The 15" wheels may have the radial clearance, but the inner profile may not be sufficient (without spacers?) to clear the turbo brakes. Again, I have had no reason to test this, though I do have some late offset wheels that could be used to confirm or bust this myth.

I think tires are not going to be a problem. There are plenty of good winter tires out there to fit this envelope. My favorite winter tires are Hakkapeliittas (Nokian) - though you may decide the extra cost is not worth it; if your winter driving is more "casual".