Matt H

If you are competing on a national scale that is 100% true, I have no doubt about it. However, 99% of people dont have an outcome hinging on .001 seconds. There are always 1%ers, like yourself. for a person who is just driving a car to and from work or around town, there is not a big enough difference to matter. If you are competing then the initial question would almost be invalid. He said he was looking to upgrade his 17s because of the larger tire choices in the 18. I am assuming (though you know what happens then) that he isnt competing, if he were he probably wouldnt be going to 18s
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ringo951

Funny, actually I have noticed a lot of track cars running 18's. People keep referring to the weight issue of going with 18's, as stated in the initial post I am changing to FORGED wheels (light weight, strong, expensive) hence the later making the need to make the right decision. The car will see some track time, mostly spirited driving. I want good handling and will be lowering the car. The tire selection is just so much better on 18's and I feel this will only get worse with 17's. With the cost of these wheels I don't want to have to buy a new set later, just want to know from those with 18's if they would go with them again or if they regret going to a larger wheel and why they like or dislike the 18's.

tifosiman

Track wheels can afford to be heavier, because there are rarely any first or second gear corners where you need to accellerate from almost a dead stop multiple times a lap. YMMV

xsboost90

find some light 17's if your keeping the same wheels for street and track. Tires are cheaper and ride isnt as compromised. I have track wheels w/ slicks-15's!- and street/show wheels 18's. I wouldnt mind some bigger track wheels but....money talks.

tconn

I installed 18" CCW's . 18x9 front 18x10 rear. 255/35/18 , 285/30/18.
The wheels are lighter than my 16" clubsports. I have no rubbing issues in fact I 'll replace the rear with 295's when they wear out.
The rolling diameter of the rear wheel tire combo is the same as the 16's
with 245's on them.
The handleing is much improved, the ride quality is a little more harsh but not bad. (we have good smooth roads here)
The CCW's are forged.
They cost a little under $1800.00 .
I would recomend them to anyone.

Piech

I've had both 17" and 18" on my car and I do have to say that there's no going back to 17" rims.
Not on Tbo. Under 944n/a or 924S or those 17" is better than 18".

IMHO

DVC

I'm glad I didn't believe everything I read on here about 18"s, because I love the way they drive. And nothing compares to the way the 18"s grace the flared fenders of the '44.

ventoGT

I was under the impression that running 18s, even in a 968, will result in bent control arms and suspension issues when driven hard...any experts want to weigh in on that? I would like to have 18s on my car, and I can't imagine that it would ride any rougher than my current 17s, but I have been hesitant to do so because I don't want to damage anything.

horsepowerfarm

Several experts have "weighed" in on this subject. Sorry Bloodraven you are a great guy but this was not your shinning moment.

18's are fine. Buy the best ones you can afford (this means forged and light). Align your car, use 968 caster blocks make sure nothing is worn out (bushings, ball joints, shocks, springs, T-bars if you have them).

As always this thread is worthless without pictures.

Please forgive me I couldn't resist

Mike B

Thanks for not resisting...beautiful car!

Piech

Just out of curiosity, I've never ever heard that 18" wheels would damage control arms. Nor I've heard 18" wheels requiring those caster block changes either.

Though, I've delt with Porsche only for 8 years so far, so it wouldn't be a miracle that I haven't heard about thos issues before.

DVC

The control arms are just fine.

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ventoGT

Thanks for the reassurance guys--I love the MY02 wheels--had them on my 993 that I just sold .

I had a buddy photoshop these wheels to look like they were painted white---I think I may do this with whatever wheels I end up getting. If anyone else has pics of dark colored cars with white wheels I'd definitely like to see them...

Piech

Paint them matt black or such. I painted wheels with Ducati semi-gloss dark metallic colour on my last car, end they looked "lethal" so to speak. Those wheels are 17" CUP3 replicas on 924S. Here's the link on the ad I had on local discussion forum.
http://www.9xxfin.com/forum/viewtopi...167&highlight=

Personally I would not have white wheels, since I drive over 30000 km's/year. But, if I had a carage-queen, it would not really matter.
Suppose those would not look so bad painted white. Atleast they would be different.

ninefiveone

Wow... people wouldn't notice a 30+ lb difference.

I agree on the performance but from a ride persepctive people will notice ~5lbs.

We've had this discussion before and I know you can't be dissuaded, however. I guess all the people who notice their ride quality being substantially worse are just imagining it, including me.

See the thing is we're talking apples and oranges. 0-100, 100-0, g-forces... None of that is substantially impacted by a heavy wheel.

The ability of the dampers to control the motions of the wheel are very impacted by a heavy wheel. Physics, numbers, all that great stuff back up that statement.