Looks vs. Performance ...... What do you think?
#16
Ironman 140.6
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
Originally Posted by Dave Swanson
I liked 16" 968 5-spokes on my '88 NA. About the same weight with wheel/tire assembly versus the phone-dials I had on (these became wheels for my Blizzaks). Ride quality barely changed, but handling was nice.
The big question is what tires do you want to run and what sized are they available in. I found 15" tires/sizes to be very limited.
The 968 wheels are a direct bolt on (correct offset, 7" front with 8" rear), have big 5-spoke openings (good ventilation and you can bleed brakes without removing the wheels), and were reasonably light.
I may sell a set I have soon, mounted with pretty good SP8000's. If you're interested, send me a PM and we can talk.
The big question is what tires do you want to run and what sized are they available in. I found 15" tires/sizes to be very limited.
The 968 wheels are a direct bolt on (correct offset, 7" front with 8" rear), have big 5-spoke openings (good ventilation and you can bleed brakes without removing the wheels), and were reasonably light.
I may sell a set I have soon, mounted with pretty good SP8000's. If you're interested, send me a PM and we can talk.
#18
Hey Man
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
One time just for jollies I put my 17's from the 951 on the NA while having new tires mounted on the cookie cutters. It felt like I pushing the NA through mud; conversely driving the 951 with new 15" tires and CC's was like lighting a cats *** on fire...very poor traction under power but a kick to drive.
#19
RL Community Team
Rennlist Member
Rennlist Member
To each their own on wheel design. We all have favorite and hated rims; the fuchs suit my taste personally, but who cares. The question is on size vs looks. When answering this question (since I don't like turbo twists on 944s) I imagined 18" rims that I like, and thought "is it worth it?" My answer is no, even if you just drive it to work and back, the car's driving characteristics will get noticably poor. I once put my dad's 16" 928-dish rims on my 944 (just 1" bigger) and the car felt like it lost 10 hp.
If they make smaller turbo twists, go for those, but I wouldn't like to have more than 16" under my NA's fenders.
If they make smaller turbo twists, go for those, but I wouldn't like to have more than 16" under my NA's fenders.
#20
Nordschleife Master
Wow after reading all of this, im really curious to see what its going to be like running 15-inch wheels on my n/a car. Especially next autocross season when ill be running with 225/50/15 tires all around!
Personally the only wheels that i think are truely hideous on the 944 (on all P-cars actually) are the sewer lids. Turbo twists look out of place on a 944, but look good on a 944 Turbo. The 944 looks to dated for them in my opinion.
Personally the only wheels that i think are truely hideous on the 944 (on all P-cars actually) are the sewer lids. Turbo twists look out of place on a 944, but look good on a 944 Turbo. The 944 looks to dated for them in my opinion.
#22
Drifting
Originally Posted by Techno Duck
Personally the only wheels that i think are truely hideous on the 944 (on all P-cars actually) are the sewer lids. Turbo twists look out of place on a 944, but look good on a 944 Turbo. The 944 looks to dated for them in my opinion.
Any excuse to show a picture right
#26
Personally i've never really cared for after market wheels on my cars, I think it looks especially goofy when you put flashy 17" or 18" wheels on pre 1995 cars or exotics. I saw a Ferrari 355 the other day with huge chrome wheels and i'm sorry but it completely wrecked the look of the car, and I feel the same way when I see older Porsches (924/944/968/911) with the same. I think it looks a lot better if rims from the same manufacture are used, like Boxster rims of the 944, or newer BMW rims on an older BMW, that can look appealing. Believe it or not, cars are designed with rims in mind, and that's why I feel 99% of the time, the wheels from the factory usually give the car it's best look....of course there are plenty of exceptions out there on lesser cars, but i'd never touch the rims on a higher end car.
Oddly enough, I almost like the look of the early cars with their black cookies better than the phones on my 944. If I ever found a set for a bargain, I could be tempted to swap them out with my phones, not that the phones aren't a good looking rim though, because they are.
_________
Pat
86 944
95 Audi 90 CS
Oddly enough, I almost like the look of the early cars with their black cookies better than the phones on my 944. If I ever found a set for a bargain, I could be tempted to swap them out with my phones, not that the phones aren't a good looking rim though, because they are.
_________
Pat
86 944
95 Audi 90 CS
#28
Race Director
Originally Posted by m21sniper
Switching to that big a rim with a tire that has that low a sidewall WILL affect ride quality negatively.
I've twice switched to 40 profile tires on cars equipped with 60 profile from the factory and noticed zero downgrade in ride. Neither did my wife which is important to know because she a) would tell me, and b) isn't an enthusiast so she wouldn't be biased towards a performance or looks boost.
Originally Posted by m21sniper
It also has the potential to really pooch screw suspension geometry unless you keep the same overall wheel height.
#29
Rennlist Member
Dave, how did you do at the Road America Club Race last Monday (with the 968)?? I left on Sunday so I missed your run.
I had a respectable outing in the Enduro. I qualified like pooh, just couldn't get a clean lap. The good news is I made up 19 places in the race, 7 places in class, finishing about mid-pack.
I was pretty pleased as the brakes went away about 1/3 of the way through the enduro and I lost about 5 lbs in water! Man, 90 minutes in a hot car flying through traffic at Road America is work! I was propping my shoulders into the seat to lock my arms and rest on the straights
I had a great time though. The rookie X is gone, four uneventful races and much wrenching work to do in the off-season.
I trust your weekend was a blast too!
#30
Drifting
Originally Posted by Stuttgart 944
JustinL, I have never EVER liked those sewer lids... but that track car has just changed my way of thinking. If they are painted they don't look half bad!!
They used to be polished to a mirror shine. In fact I could have used them for shaving! When I bought the set there was 3 16X8 and 2 16X7. So I bought "the ugliest wheel you can find as long as it's straight and true" (the fourth 16X8) from 928 specialists for dirt cheap.
After a couple cans of Duplicolor anthracite paint they came out looking like that. Still not the most clasically beautiful wheel, but as the topic says it's more about performance than looks for that wheel... now if only I could score 2 more 17X9 twist wheels...