Jadz928

With the wheel Dave (Tass) sent (Thanks man! ), I was able to get the wheel into CAD. Not 100% accurate, yet.. but a good starting point.

Tony

17..18 incher to fit a 295 please!

WOW

ROG100

Jim,
Do you still need mine?
No problem if you don't, just holding off having them refinished prior to fitting to my 78.
Roger

Jadz928

Roger,
I think we're good. Thanks for you offer!

I can send the one I have on down to Texas pretty soon. I'm just about done with it.

Tom. M

"If you build it......they will come" !!!!!

... looks cool...can't wait to see the final product..

LightStriker

This make me wonder...
So far, when checking wheels design, most are terrible and doesn't really fit the 928. (Or surprising, doesn't fit anything aside the Cayenne. )
Wondering if designing a wheel that fit most porsche lines and please most fan could actually be done.

Mike Frye

I think something like this would have to be sold as 'for off-road use only' like many aftermarket items that have not been tested by the DOT.

I'm sure there would be no safety issues, but unless and until it is tested and approved, things like this can't be sold to the general public for use on the streets unless I'm mistaken.

Kind of like aftermarket catalytic converters and many intake/exhaust/suspension mods.

hernanca

Great project!

I realize there may be limits on what rims can be used, but note the "stepped" rim found (only, I believe) on the early offset 944 Turbo Phone Dials. This may be a nice part of the design solution to increasing to 17 or 18 inch wheels.

Another thing that is not as easy to see in these pics, is the difference in lip angle on these same wheels. Most Phone Dials have a lip that is overall 90 degrees or less to the rim. The early 944 Turbo wheels seem to have a greater angle, making the lip look more "flared".

Note also what seems to be a slight ridge around the bolt holes. Also seems unique to these wheels, but so subtle that I am not sure.

Jadz928

^^^
Mike, that's an interesting considerarion. I'll find out for sure, but would tend towards USDOT is not in the wheel business.
There are SO many wheels, coming in from all countries...
Let me ask my friends over at Hartmann.

FWIW, Hartmann is not going to be the mfg., as it doesn't fit their biz plan... but have been very kind to consult.

Asian vendors have dictated they do the final design, and will not accept my design for mfg. (wussies).
I'm okay with that as long as I have final approval of mfg data.

Just to recap:
There is no big market product here unless someone has $50K-$100K to pony-up for larger volume tooling.

This is a low-volume, "one-off" or possibly "group buy" deal, somewhere in the $3K-5K range.

How many people would buy this wheelset for $3500 - if it were similar to CIII specs? (18" x 8" front, 10" rear)

I think I know my market, but have been suprised before.

PS. I'm not in this to make money, just doing it for fun.
If it so happens there's money to be made down the line, so be it.

hacker-pschorr

+1
8.5 front with et70 and 11" rears please.

In other words.....

Benton

Cool project, Jim! Are you thinking about something that would just utilize a bespoke center and standard barrels? That would allow for pretty much any fitment, and seems to me it would be easier to pull together. You could also do similar to what Kinesis did with their Supercups, which was to run a 17" center but have two types of outer barrels--one for 17" and one for 18". Of course, if you are going 18" and can scale it that large, the 18" center would be preferable. You could also do it like Fikse with the centers tapped for bolts so they are hidden.

hacker-pschorr

+1
That's a must, phone dials with the customary "3-piece bolts" around the lip would be awful.

Jadz928

Definitely ala Fiske, Hacker. No exposed screws for me - just doesn't fit this application.

Mark, I had a set of 18" Hartmann 3-piece w/17" centers - always thought it was a compromise.
Going for 18", no looking back.

Re 3-piece application, you're right, it offers flexibility. I like that, so it stays in consideration. But as you know, even std barrels are pricey (read $750/corner).

Another option being considered is forged blanks. Then machine the design into the blank. The forged aspect is necessary for high performance (lightweight) application, and I just don't think straight machined billet will cut it.

I found a company who does the forged blanks, and has 8.5" in stock for the fronts. 10" & 11" special order (min 50, ouch) for the rear.
They have 12" in stock... man that's alot of meat!
So I'll keep looking.

I think 8.5" fronts would be great.
I think 10" or 11" rears would be great.

Anyone care to figure out the ideal offsets for these? Save me the work, please.

AO

Ideal Offsets for the rears should pretty much mirror the Carera III's I would think.

11" CIII ET=51, but I run a 3mm spacer to avoid rubbing on the inside (needed for GT's maby GTS's too?) so maybe the "ideal" offset is 48?

10" I believe the CIII ET is 54. And does not pose any flaring or rubbing issues.

For a 8.5" FRONT wheel, you would not want to go any less than 58 ET. I think a 60 would work great.

As for pricing. $3,500 is way too rich for my blood. $2k, maybe, but I know they won't come in at that price, so I'm probably out. Plus I would have to see them on an S4 before I could pull the trigger. I love my CIII's, so it would have to be something really special.

hacker-pschorr

Per your handy little calculator, how would an 8.5 front with et70 work?

I would rather go with a higher offset and if necessary rack stops than lower just to clear the inside.

I need to see if Jim can find the offsets of the 10" front Fikse's on his car.