Gary Knox

I have the Porsche Sport Design 18" wheels on my GTS, with 7.5" et 50 on front and either 9" et 52, or 10" et 65 on rear. I have Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires all around. To me, this combination drives beautifully. Tire wear is quite uniform, with stock OE alignment specs. There is a slight difference in feel at parking speeds when the wheels are turned to full lock, however.
I have driven S4's with front offsets lower than the OE 65 (50,52,47) and other tires, and felt they tramlined a LOT. I also have a set of Cup II wheels in 8" et 70 front and 9" et 55 rear for the GTS. They are great - look and drive just like the OE 7.5" et 65 Cup II wheels.

Gary Knox
West Chester, PA

toofast928

Gary what size are the tires up front?

stealth

The power steering definitely struggles a bit at low speeds with 18x8 et 50 225/40 on the front (and, as you say, feels "weird" at full lock trying to park or pull a U-turn [which makes it a little dicier to break the rear end loose to bring it around for said U-turn...]). This is noticeable with 17" wheels, too, but seems to be geometrically worse as the size of the front wheels increases.

dr bob

I have that same feeling of minor scrubbing with the 7.5x17" ET55's on the front. 225 PS2's on them. It's only at extreme lock at parking speeds that it does it.

Gary Knox

Toofast928,

I have 235/40's on the front and 275/35 on the 9" rears, 295/30 on the 10" rears. My experience is the same as Bob's - only extreme steering angles. Never experience any irregularity at street or highway speeds.

Gary Knox

Rob Edwards

The ET50 issue on the front not withstanding, would the 996 hollow spokes (Font: 18x 8 ET50 - 996.362.136.04, Rear 18x11 ET45 996.362.142.11) fit on a GTS with the 35 mm factory spacer without modification? I can't seem to find any definitive data on whether the GTS flares buy one anything in terms of larger rims on the rear, given the GTS wheel liners and all. (The PO had HRE 545's in an 18x11 on the back but the offset was custom-made for the car)

Cosmo Kramer

The rear will fit in the wheel well OK, but I think you will have to get smaller spacers because of the et 45.