ClassJ

Any feedback on how it feels? Pics? I am a bit worried about how the 7" wheel/225 tire bulge looks

I am making the swap on my NA from 215-60-15" on factory 7" wheels to the 16" staggered turbo wheels.

I had decided on the stock 205-55-16 front 225-50-16 rear combo. I ordered up a set of continental DW's. The 205 fronts are just too narrow compared to the 215-60-15's I am pulling off the car IMO. I think I want a wider tire but not quite ready to hunt down a set of 8" front wheels just yet (I just got the 7" and 8" set right)

One thought is to run the 225-50-16 in the back and put the same size up front on the 7". Another option is a 215-55-16 up front which diameter wise is not much bigger (actually about the same as the OE 15" tires)

Looks like the 225 front 245 rear combo is popular from searching on the topic but tire selection is pretty crappy.

Any thoughts? Am I overthinking this? I am sure porsche knew what they were doing with the 205's up front, and I have been trying to convince myself of that, but damn are they narrow compared to my 215-60-15 AVS intermediates.

Thanks for any feedback in advance

Nick

racer

You are over thinking this. 225-50-16 all arouind, even on staggered rims is fine. I too am of the belief that 205s are just too narrow. That said, should you have to drive miles and miles on rutted, truck traveled roads, you will find the 225s more susceptible to following those ruts.

205 = 205mm = 8.07"
215 = 215mm = 8.46"
225 = 225mm = 8.85"

These are the typical tire widths for the sizes mentioned. It should be noted that there will be slight variations by manufacturers.. Someone "205" may measure closer to someone elses 225. But in the big scheme you are only talking about a 1" difference between a 205 and a 225.

Also playing into the "buldge" of the 215-60 is the 60 series profile. In general, a 225-50 is about 2/3" shorter than the 215-60.

ClassJ

Thanks. I think the 215-55's might look worse than the 225-50 on the front 7". Does anyone have photos of what a 225-50-16 look like on the front 7" wheels?

ClassJ

Took the leap and ordered some 225's for the front before summit closes. Keeping my fingers crossed!

Thanks for the help

ritzblitz

They will be fine man, I had 225 hoosiers on my 16x7 track wheels and they looked normal.

ClassJ

Cool. It really sucks that they are killing off tire sizes left and right. I know the economics of it but still bites.

pjburges

225/50/16 is the standard size for early 928's. Those cars use 7JX16 phone dials on all 4 corners. I have one in my garage - tires look just fine IMO!

ZR8ED

Just to clarify for future readers. The "series" 50's or 60's refers to the height of the sidewall as a percent of the width. ie the sidewall of 215/60/15 is approximately 60% of 215mm which equals 129mm

Multiply that sidewall value (129mm) by 2 and add it to your rim diameter will get you a good idea of your total diameter. Real fast and easy to compare tire sizes.

As already mentioned different mfg's tires can be slightly different sizes even though marked the same as others, so this is just a guide.

Funn944

I'm running 245/50/16 on front early turbo phones and 255/50/16 in the rear. They don't look bulged at all.

boston951

I've got 225/50/16 mounted to 7" Club Sport wheels on the front and they look appropriate. This tire and wheel width size combo should work out well.

ebbowron

I have a 1986 944 Turbo, that was previously owned by the owner of Brumos in Florida. To have a lower ride height, he had 245/45/16 in the rear, and 205/50/16 in the front. It has 16" Fuch wheels on it.

I have the wheels off the car now as they are being polished out, and need new tires (these have plenty of tread but are 10 years old). The previous tire combo is impossible to find now. I found that I can go 205/55/16 f and 225/50/16 r, but the car will ride higher (and softer/better probably), or, with the original 245/45/16 in rear, but 225 (vs. 205)/50/16 in the front.

One concern is, there is a spacer on the front right now. I dont know if it was just to push the wheel out with the 205 to make it look better, or if it was to clear the caliper....I am going to put a wheel back on sans tire, w/o spacer, to ensure it will clear the caliper. I think the spacer is 10mm but not positive. The other concern is, if I take the spacer out (which I will probably have to do with 225s, assume the wheel clears the caliper), is there any concern of the tire making contact with the spring?

Any help would be great. Im at a loss, and want to get the 245/225 set up to keep ride height as it is, but, cant order until I know they will fit. Once I take off the spacer and ensure the wheel will clear the caliper, Im sure Ill know more. Worried with the spacer, the 225 will rub the wheel well.

goatfarmerdave

I had 225 front and 245 rear on same setup with 84 na. I currently are running 245 all way around on my 7 and 8 87 turbo wheels.I find it great!Less underteer in the corners.It feels very balanced.

PorscheDoc

The differences in height are minor between those tires (.18 inch with the 245 for example). Ride height is not why he chose those sizes, but because the 245 comes in that height dimension and likely wanted the wider tires to fill out the wheel wells better. Stock OEM sizes were 205/225. Plus one sizes were 225/245.

ebbowron

Thanks goatfarmerdave - were you running on phone dial wheels or Fuchs?

Thanks PorscheDoc - I checked last night and determined that Im almost sure the spacer on the front wheels is to clear the caliper....I havent tried putting a wheel on without the spacer, but, on the passenger side (where I still have the wheels on...only one side is jacked up...), I noted that with the spacer, the FUCH wheel does clear the caliper, but not by much, so Im almost sure it wouldnt without the spacer. That said, will 225 still be OK do you think, or will it come out too much...so much so that it could rub the fender?

PorscheDoc

If they are factory 951 fuchs and the car has the factory turbo calipers, then there should be no spacer on the front, everything should clear fine. You might pull the wheel and check the part number stamped on the inside of the spoke to make sure something hasn't be swapped.

225 will be just fine assuming the components are stock. I run 275's on my 86 951 race car up front, granted i run a lot more negative camber.

If you pull the wheel, take some pictures so we can visually see that everything is as it should be.