Early 944 wheel selections
10-28-2011, 09:22 PM
#1
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Early 944 wheel selections
I'm looking for a primer on, or wheel selection advice for the early 944. After seeing the recent post by "stv951" it has brought me to an issue I have wanted to address since I got this car. The cookie cutters on it are okay but the stance, especially in the rear, is lacking. I want the cleaner look of maybe a 7x16/9x16 wheel package, not to mention the broader availability of performance tires.
I did a search just now but didn't find what I was looking for. I don't fully understand the early/late offset information and I don't know what specific wheel information I need to know for proper fitment. Is there a past post on this? Can you guys run me through it? Thanks in advance!
I did a search just now but didn't find what I was looking for. I don't fully understand the early/late offset information and I don't know what specific wheel information I need to know for proper fitment. Is there a past post on this? Can you guys run me through it? Thanks in advance!
10-28-2011, 10:47 PM
#3
I made kind of the same post not that long ago. I would look for some 951 fuch wheels. They will bolt right on and are solid lightweight wheels. If you want to run late offset you will need 1" wheel adapters all the way around. Get Adaptec Wheel adapters. They are a sponsor and make a quality product.
10-28-2011, 11:25 PM
#4
Most folks selling Fuchs in 7 and 9 x 16s or 7 and 8s x16 or 8 and 9s x16 will be asking $1-2K. Then, you realize there are only a few brands/sizes available to fit (205-55, 225-50 or 245-45). Just saying.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
10-29-2011, 09:45 AM
#6
Drifting
Or is my selection limited to three 245/45 R16 street tires? Maybe...
I don't limit my wheel selection to the tires. There's Hoosier R6s in every single "gnarly" size, because Hoosier R6s are gnarly. There are some gnarly wheels laying around out there too if you find them.
I'm starting to sound mental.
Goodbye.
Alex.
10-29-2011, 09:49 AM
#7
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Most folks selling Fuchs in 7 and 9 x 16s or 7 and 8s x16 or 8 and 9s x16 will be asking $1-2K. Then, you realize there are only a few brands/sizes available to fit (205-55, 225-50 or 245-45). Just saying.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
Thanks for your help!
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10-29-2011, 10:45 AM
#8
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When I was looking for tires for my club sports, there was a 245/45 in a Fusion tire and a 245/50 from Bridgestone, Firestone, and from either BFG or Goodyear. So 4 I guess. I called a bunch of tire places and they didn't have anything. I love my Bridgestones but they do look stretched on to a 9" wide wheel.
10-29-2011, 01:42 PM
#9
Most folks selling Fuchs in 7 and 9 x 16s or 7 and 8s x16 or 8 and 9s x16 will be asking $1-2K. Then, you realize there are only a few brands/sizes available to fit (205-55, 225-50 or 245-45). Just saying.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
You might consider 17's. You can find Boxster wheels for about $500-800. Adaptors for another $100-200. Same money.. better tire selections typically.
Also where are you finding adapters for $100-200 unless they are chinese made?
Thank you. So essentially the offset difference is 1" between early and late.
Yeah. Not going Fuchs or BBS unless Obamanomics comes through for me. Love'em, but not right now. I will check out the 17" route. But even the three 16" choices are better than the 15" choices! The only thing I found in 15" was a Hoosier DOT and a BFG G-force that has been discountinued for next year.
Thanks for your help!
Yeah. Not going Fuchs or BBS unless Obamanomics comes through for me. Love'em, but not right now. I will check out the 17" route. But even the three 16" choices are better than the 15" choices! The only thing I found in 15" was a Hoosier DOT and a BFG G-force that has been discountinued for next year.
Thanks for your help!
10-29-2011, 09:35 PM
#10
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The only thing I found in 15" was a Hoosier DOT and a BFG G-force that has been discountinued for next year.
Also there's the Falken Azenis RT-615k which I have and highly recommend. http://vulcantires.com/azenis_rt615k_t.htm
But if you still want to go to a 16" you can always look for late offset rims and use spacers. I personally really like the C2 5 spokes that came on the 968's or D90's
10-30-2011, 06:28 AM
#12
RL Community Team
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This is an easy one. If you have an early 944, you can use ATS cookie cutters or Fuchs.
You can also use late Porsche wheels (pretty much anything you want) with spacers. You want to look at hubcentric bolt-on spacers. Figuring out the spacer size is easy too - a 7" Fuchs with et23 fits, so a 7" d90 with et52 would require a 29mm spacer (52-23=29). It gets more complicated when changing the wheel width, but if you stick to wheels that are commonly used on 944s, you basically want 1" front and 1.25" rear IIRC.
There are also a slew of aftermarket replica wheels (twists, for example) that are made in the early offset but look like late wheels. They are heavy, but they are a direct fit and usually cheaper than the real wheels, not to mention that you won't need to buy spacers.
And then there's the crazy choice: convert to late offset suspension.
You can also use late Porsche wheels (pretty much anything you want) with spacers. You want to look at hubcentric bolt-on spacers. Figuring out the spacer size is easy too - a 7" Fuchs with et23 fits, so a 7" d90 with et52 would require a 29mm spacer (52-23=29). It gets more complicated when changing the wheel width, but if you stick to wheels that are commonly used on 944s, you basically want 1" front and 1.25" rear IIRC.
There are also a slew of aftermarket replica wheels (twists, for example) that are made in the early offset but look like late wheels. They are heavy, but they are a direct fit and usually cheaper than the real wheels, not to mention that you won't need to buy spacers.
And then there's the crazy choice: convert to late offset suspension.
10-30-2011, 10:20 AM
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Many good posts, thanks. I want to run a 7-7.5" wide up front, 9" in the rear. My main goals are to fill out the wheel wells, have the "DeepDish" rear look, have a better selection of DOT track tires and spend less than $1500. From what you guys have said, it looks like I should be looking for discarded/aftermarket Porsche wheels in 17", using spacers as needed. Sound right?
Questions; Are the spacers going to agravate the already weak spindles and bearings? I'm already over-driving the suspension with cookies and Eagle GTs which have medium dry grip.
What do DEs, PCA, NASA & SCCA say about spacers? I'd like to run these new rims both street and track.
What is "et23", "et52"? "et" is not a term I'm used to.
Questions; Are the spacers going to agravate the already weak spindles and bearings? I'm already over-driving the suspension with cookies and Eagle GTs which have medium dry grip.
What do DEs, PCA, NASA & SCCA say about spacers? I'd like to run these new rims both street and track.
What is "et23", "et52"? "et" is not a term I'm used to.
You can also use late Porsche wheels (pretty much anything you want) with spacers. You want to look at hubcentric bolt-on spacers. Figuring out the spacer size is easy too - a 7" Fuchs with et23 fits, so a 7" d90 with et52 would require a 29mm spacer (52-23=29). It gets more complicated when changing the wheel width, but if you stick to wheels that are commonly used on 944s, you basically want 1" front and 1.25" rear IIRC.
There are also a slew of aftermarket replica wheels (twists, for example) that are made in the early offset but look like late wheels. They are heavy, but they are a direct fit and usually cheaper than the real wheels, not to mention that you won't need to buy spacers.
And then there's the crazy choice: convert to late offset suspension.
There are also a slew of aftermarket replica wheels (twists, for example) that are made in the early offset but look like late wheels. They are heavy, but they are a direct fit and usually cheaper than the real wheels, not to mention that you won't need to buy spacers.
And then there's the crazy choice: convert to late offset suspension.
