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Hi Friends! I needed to get some new tires and started thinking about options. I thought I'd post my experience moving from stock 16" manhole covers to 18" staggered Panamera wheels (8" front, 9" rear) on my 1986 928 S2 (Euro). First, I did a ton of reading (links below) before buying anything. All of my reading led me to believe that it would be easy as pie... plug and play, so to speak. Then, I found a great set of used 10-spoke Panamera wheels locally in Los Angeles for $450. Once I had them cleaned up, I started researching tires. I decided on a set of Michelin Pilot Sport All Season 4 (235/40/18 front and 265/35/18 rear). One thing that was not obvious to me at first was that my S2 (and apparently some S3s) come with factory 21mm rear spacers. These spacers cannot stay on the car when installing the Panamera wheels and appropriate tires without the need to roll the rear fenders. The factory spacers must be removed. I was hoping that, with the removal of the factory spacers, I would have some space to spare between the tires and fenders in the rear so I got my hands on some 7mm H&R spacers. Unfortunately (or fortunately), I was unable to use them because without them there was just enough space to fit my finger between the tire and the fender. What this means is that your lugs are now sticking out further from the wheel they were previously. My solution was to use steel open-ended lug nuts to secure the wheel and add the factory aluminum lug nuts afterwards (just for looks). I don't love that the aluminum lug nuts stick out so far, but it is hard to notice from a distance. Maybe I'll look into other possible long-term solutions, as well. Suggestions are welcome!
The next morning was a PCA tour of the Los Angeles mountains/canyons and I was really able to test out the new kicks. Amazing the difference between my old, beaten, mismatched 16s and the new 18s. The change provided a soft, silent, more stable drive and there was a noticeable improvement in the cornering. Overall, I'm very happy with the update and now I can rehabilitate the stock wheels as time permits.
Anyway, I just wanted to let folks know about the need to remove the factory rear spacers and utilize open-ended lug nuts if you're in the same boat as me. I also included relevant links and additional info below.
I have Panamera wheels on my 84 as well. If I remember correctly, I have 235's in front and 255's in the rear. With the stock spacers, the rear tires just cleared the fenders, but rubbed occasionally. I removed the spacers and used steel lug nuts just as you did. It looks good as is, but at some point I plan on installing thinner spacers.
I have put two different Panamera 10 spoke wheel sets on my 82. There are no spacers and both sets work fine. One set is 8 1/2 and 10 and the other is 8 and 9 as I recall. As to the lug nuts and the longer lug studs, I recommend using the open steel nuts but cutting the ball end off of the alloy nuts and just use the threaded hex end to cover up the outer end of the lug studs.
Another option if you'll be staying with this setup long term is to press in shorter studs into the rear hubs so closed ended lug nuts fit correctly.
That might be easier said than done. Although I do vaguely recall a thread where someone was able to do that without pulling the hubs, but I'm not too sure it can be done. Otherwise, to change the studs in the rear hubs requires pulling the hubs and that destroys the rear wheel bearings so they too must be replaced. That whole project is a major undertaking.
That might be easier said than done. Although I do vaguely recall a thread where someone was able to do that without pulling the hubs, but I'm not too sure it can be done. Otherwise, to change the studs in the rear hubs requires pulling the hubs and that destroys the rear wheel bearings so they too must be replaced. That whole project is a major undertaking.
Agree. I didn't say it was a simple or easy option, just an option, and why I mentioned you'd have to be planning to keep those wheels on long term to want to undertake it.
OP looks like you still have US sealed beams,
I suggest,
get on Amazon look for the 7 inch Hella H4, 7 inch lamp set ,
make the lights look euro.
Plug and play includes bulbs
cover the lenses with 3M film.
I have the same Pana 10 spoke wheels and 235/40 ad 265/35 tire sizes. I originally had them on my 85 S3 but moved them to my 86.5 S3. I found it interesting in that both cars came from the factory with the 21 mm spacers on the rear. with the 85 it was a direct bolt on. the wheels fit with the 21 mm spacers and I had no rubbing. when I moved them to the 86.5 I had to reduce the spacers to 15 mm to get them to clear the fenders.
02-25-2021, 05:21 PM
S2 with Panamera Wheels
