checkmate1996

As there have been plenty of threads on wheel aesthetics, what is your opinion on the best wheel size for performance for the 928?

Please vote!

SeanR

15x7's all the way around.

bigmac

Potholes play a major vote in Ann Arbor, MI. The street next to ours used be part of Chrysler proving grounds.

checkmate1996

I am hoping Chuck Z chimes in with his view on the 19" se cup IV's...

dprantl

Well, if performance is your only criteria, you should be going with the largest and lightest wheel possible, i.e. 19". But, on a street car, wheel choice is always down to balancing between the compromises of performance, ride quality, aesthetics and price.

Dan
'91 928GT S/C 475hp/460lb.ft

Randy V

What, no 14"?

rexpontius

+1 with Dan

For performance, wheel weight is the most important factor. Since going fast is no use if you cannot stop fast, the bigger rims have the advantage cos you can fit bigger brakes.

I run OZ Ultraleggera's on all of my Alfa Romeo's (2x 164 and 1x 156 gta), in 19" and performance wise are a huge improvement over the stock wheels.

cheers

Chuck Schreiber

Brad,
I always liked these K-28s on David Lloyd's OB racecar. If I didn't buy the GTS, these are the wheels I would have put on the 79. Probably in black.
He rolls on 18s.

Chuck Schreiber

Oh, and how they actually look standing still.

pcar928fan

The roads I drive on are not to bad and I find the 18" a nice compromise. Usually as you go up in rim diameter and tire width the weight goes up as well. To prevent that it would cost BIG MONEY to get really light weight rims. The 18" look nicer and seem to ride well and actually firm things up in a positive way on a car that has regular suspension. It might be to harsh on a sport suspension car though. My friend Chris who bought my FM10's in 17" bought them to improve ride comfort as he was tired of getting beat to death on CA highways with his 19" wheels.

RKD in OKC

I don't have the link handy but Car and Driver did plus sizing test on wheel and tire combo's for 15, 16, 17, 18, and 19.
They tried to match tire performance types as close as possible, but what is available for 18, and 19 is much better than others.

Conclusion: EVERYTHING INCREASES as you increase RIM Diameter while trying to maintain tire diameter, ie plus sizing.

Weight increases
Tire section width increases
0-60 times increase .1 seconds for each
Braking Distance increases.
Corner G's increase. (the only desirable result of plus sizing.)

The only plus sizing that didn't increase 0-60 and braking was going from 17 to 18. The test claimed it was due to worst 18 inch tire selection being much better performance than best 17 inch.

Basically going to larger diameter rims you lose acceleration and braking in exchange for better cornering.

Since my GTS came with 17 inch wheels I opted to go with 18 inch wheels for the better tire selection.

Chuck Z

Hey Brad, I'm here.

I voted 19s for obvious reasons. I LOVE mine! I don't notice any significant difference in ride quality and the roads around here suck too.... (just bent a front wheel on my Alpina!!!). It could be that the old Bridgestones were hard as rocks and the new PS2s are well... new? I think it really has a lot to do with your tire selection and I for one am sold on Michelins. As far as performance; I don't track the car and my backside is perhaps less sensitive then some..... but my SOP feel tells me it performs as it always has.... powerful and flawless! Don't race stop light to stop light so IF 0-60 time is increased I don't really care besides, there are a LOT of pocket rockets out there that will dust a stock 928 anyway.... Stopping doesn't seem compromised but, the brakes on these cars are far superior to the "average car" even if braking is slightly decreased it's still much better than the "average car." I don't know how much they weigh and I don't care....

I'm actually thinking about changing wheels b/c now so many have the same wheel..... They will be 19s.....

I love the stance:

ubercooper

may sound odd but Ive found that 17s in front and 18s in the rear were the quickest combination for a few of the tracks Ive been to

123quattro

The smallest rim you can fit over the brakes. 17s will most likely be the best for performance assuming you find a good tire for them. 18s have a much better selection available though.

pcar928fan

BTW, 17" was my second choice! I like 18" I think in todays market they offer the best price/performance options and are on par with the 17" wheels on weight and accel... Probably that 350Z I smoked every which way from Sunday with the snazzy wheels was plus sizing and even wider than stock and just KILLED his performance! I whipped him like a red headed step child!