Mark Hubley

At some point in the not-too-distant future I will need new tires for my '86 944.

The angel on one shoulder is saying, "Just get new tires for your 15" phone dials."

The devil on the other shoulder is saying, "This would be a great time to get those 16" wheels you've always wanted."

To add to the devil's temptation, the lastest catalog from Mid-America has 16" Fuchs knock-offs; a set of four runs about $1000.00. I would love a set of Fuchs, but the budget will definitly not allow a new set of the real things.

Anyways, I've been thinking about the Fuchs, then I'm looking at the car and I realize that I really like the looks of the phone dials, too. However, I would like the 16" wheels with the slightly wider (8") rears.

Should the devil get the better of me, what are opinions on the knockoff Fuchs vs. the 16" phone dials?

Mark

ODUporschegurl

i usta have the PDs and liked them. i know have Fuchs(diff car) and like them much better. if youre going to upgrade- go for the gold. do it the way you want it. youre the one who is gonna be driving the car

fastman

My '89 n/a came with phone dials. I had always thought I would want to find a set of Fuchs. But after 3 years, I find that it is not that important. Maybe to much money. I dunno, but I also am into keeping thing origional! Just my opinion. If you need the extra width for the track. Then do what you gotta do.

mroberts

Fuchs are a LOT lighter than PD's

16" PD's = roughly $400 a set

You ought to be able to get "real" Fuchs for around $1200 - if you're going ot drop a grand, go for the real thing.

Macfreak007

Don't go with knock off fuchs, I have seen many 16" fuchs with tires selling for under $1000, it is not uncommon, shop around. I picked up 4 early 16" phone dials with good rear tires for $350
shipped, Then I painted them white. It gives it a GREAT look!

Jason_86_951

You've got PM

Serge944

Look into old bbs or enkei 16" wheels. They are pretty light and look great in my opinion.

7&8 Fuchs are quite expensive.

Geo

Wow. People here have an inflated view of Fuchs prices. Real 16" Fuchs can be had for $500-600 if you're patient.

CT944

i sold my 16x7 fuchs for $400 with tires...

Geo

I know!

I really wanted to buy them, but at that point I had been unemployed for about 8 months and no matter how I tried to justify it in my own mind, I couldn't.

A month from now and I'd grab a set (just started a new job today).

Macfreak007

yeah, CT that was an amazing deal, I really considered buying them just because, I LOVE fuchs!

UDPride

Fuchs prices are all over the map, much of it depending on condition. The 7s arent too hard to find. The 8s less easy -- I think a lot of 911 guys pilfer for them -- and the 9s big bucks. A mint original set w/no curb rash and gleening shine are going to set you back more than $500 though. Off the shelf, theres really nothing out there that will come close to strength and light weight unless you want to spend triple or quadruple. You may be able to find a set for a good price and with a couple weekends of elbow grease pull a rabbit out of the hat. Id look for no curb rash. Thats the toughest to repair.

Ive always wondered how a power washer would work on them. Id like to freshen my sets. I realize the anodizing might get stirpped off which is not good, but if the rims never see much abuse, how much protection would I really be losing.

Random question. How do you take a tire off the rim and put it back on. Dont tell me a $459 part from Tweeks.

Macfreak007

Take it and get it demounted, by a tire shop, cost you a few bucks, but you'll need to get them put back on and balanced anyways. Unless you want to buy your own tire changer and balancer.. $$$$

shmucklebuckle

"real"? not "real"? What's the diff on the fuchs? just size stuff? or something else? hm...

TheRealLefty

Agreed about replicas vs real Fuchs. The replicas look just fine, IMO, but real advantage to the Fuchs wheel is in weight and strength. ROFL about the idea that the anodization might come off with power washing. This from personal experience. I got a set of 15 X 8's from George at 944 Ecology last winter. I sat in my basement and sanded and polished most of the winter until I was blue in the face and suffered from tennis elbow and couldn't get through the anodized finish I've seen how pro shops to do these and the best ones use a media blaster but not sand...something more organic, like walnut shells, really!

Stopped at about this stage because it was the right look for my autoX car and knowing I could always polish, chrome or refinish from this state without backtracking on the work.

FWIW, paid $750 for the set of four, all super clean and certified round and true. Tend to agree with the idea that prices, even on 16's, vary widely depending on condition and the seller's circumstances...their urgency, their product knowledge, and, of course, their honesty. Even on ebay, insist on seeing a picture of the back of the wheel to see P-car parts number.