monabaker

Hello All,

This is my very first post here on Rennlist. Just wanted to say hello to everyone out there. My name is Samuel and I'm from Massachusetts. I have a 1984 944 Turbo and have a couple of questions.

I currently am interested in getting some new rims and tires. What does everyone reccomend? What's the largest rim size I can get? Likewise, what is the largest tire width I can get. I am currently running 225's in the rear. Is there room for more. I like the Boxter S Rims. I don't like the cookie cutters, or the phone dials which I currently have.

Please share your thoughts. Thanks.

hosrom_951

You mean 86?

monabaker

Yes, excuse me, 1986 Turbo. My first 944 was a 1984. My father totaled it though. Slight typo. Question still applies.

Epic2112

Since your car is an 86 you have the earlier offset wheels. If you want boxster S wheels you'll have to use a spacer, or get aftermaret reproductions, which are heavy and bend easily. The max size that you can have depends on the offset of the wheels, someone else with an early offset car can probably give you more specific numbers to work with.

Jeremy

You can check out this site for more information http://members.rennlist.com/951_racerx/ . I opted for hubcentric wheel adaptors - they were more expensive, but are arguably safer. The difference is a "spacer" uses longer bolts to go through the hubs, spacers and rim - an "adaptor" uses the stock to bolts to attach the hub to the adaptor and then uses bolts that are part of the adaptor to attach the rim. Do a search on eBay and I am sure you will be able to find both - make sure that the adaptors used are hubcentric - try an ebay search for "hubcentric porsche adaptor". The adaptors allowed me to put turbo cups (late offset) right on to my 1986 951 -

Jeremy

monabaker

Interesting.

I don't like the idea of doing the research and installation myself. I think i'd just prefere to pay to have it done at a porsche professional place. I like the way the boxter rims look, but I'm open to suggestions on other rims and tires too.

Safty is a must, expecially because I autocross with my car. But I'm thinking I'd like 255's or something, instead of 225's.

MichelleJD

I have a 1986 951 with 993 replica wheels I got from Discount Tire. They're made by Frank Hartmann. You don't need spacers as they are built into the wheel. I'm running 235/45-17 on the front and 255/40-17 rears on 7.5" and 9.5" wheels:

monabaker

Discount tire eh?

How much were the tires?

Will 18 inch rims fit?

How much were the rims?

These will fit my 86' 944 Turbo?

Rich Sandor

The good thing about having an 86, is that you can fit both early offset wheels, and, if you buy spacers or wheel adaptors, you can also fit factory late offset wheels. (lateoffset = Any wheel that you see on a 1987 or later 944, or 968 or 993 or 996 or boxster.) You can also fit replica Cup1, 2 and 3 wheels. (why would you buy replica? Because that is the only way you can fit Cup1, 2 or 3 wheels on an early offset car, without spacers.. Porsche never made these wheels for 1986 offset cars.)

There are a couple of things you should know about putting on bigger wheels.

1: If you put 18's or even just 17's on the car, you will notice the car will now feel a bit heavier. (especially if the front tyres are wider) The car will track and follow ruts in the road, much to your annoyance.

2: Bigger wheels usually mean more unsprung weight, which makes the car not as nimble. Smaller wheels will give you slightly better acceleration and will feel better around the autocross track.

3: There is a service bulletin that literally bans 18" wheels on 944's. There are plently of guys that run them anyways with no ill affect, but the added diameter and resultant stiffer sidewall apparently puts more stress on the ball bearings and suspension than the stock 16" rims. Apparently, the larger wheels also upset the steering geometry, making the car handle differenly, or requiring an alignment with different settings.

4: It's advised to update to 968 castor block if you want to use 18" wheels. (not req'd thoug)

5: You can safely bolt up 18's and probably never have a suspension failure.

6: Because you have an 86, your rear fenders are boxed instead of rolled, like the 88 Turbo S and later cars. The boxed fenders mean that larger wheels, even just 17s" will rub against your fender on the driver's side and shave off a bit of the tyre's shoulder. You can easily roll you fender with a baseball bat, but you can also easily crack the paint by doing so. Get a bodyshop to do it. Sadly, you will more than likely NEED to roll your fenders if you want wider wheels.

7: AFTERMARKET rims are cast out of a softer metal, and tend to bend more easily than the stiffer factory cast wheels. On the plus side, you can repair a bent rim. Factory rims usually crack before they bend. you can't really safley repair a crack in a wheel.

8: Aftermarker Replica rims (mille miglia "made in italy") are noticably heavier than thier real factory counterparts.

hope that helps a bit..

monabaker

Very interesting....So, it looks like I should stick with the current 16's. But i'l like to lose the phone dials, and perhaps go to some new rims, and also go a bit wider. So, the question is, without any rolling, or body work, how wide can I go front and back? 225 front? 255back.

when you talk about tracking in ruts, and feeling heavier, you're reffering to getting 17's or 18's, not a wider tread correct?

MichelleJD

I bought my wheels about 5 yrs ago I believe. They ran me around $250 per wheel. I paid just over $1700 for everything.

Rich Sandor

Most 17" wheel setups are 7.5 front and 9.5 rear. (225 and 255) This works perfectly if your car is stock ride height. Mine is lowered a bit, and rubs a bit in the rear with 17's at 255, under hard accelleration. That's okay, though, it's not that bad.

I think 17's are probably as big as I would go for a street wheel. I much prefer the looks. But for AutoX and DE duty, some 16" sewer dish or club sport wheels can't be beat!

Danno

Where's that picture of a guy running 19" wheels on a 951???

MichelleJD

My rears do rub if I'm under hard acceleration and hit a bump. Doesn't happen often though.

monabaker

$250 per wheel, meaning $250 per tire? or $250 per rim? i'm confused...how'd you make it all the way to $1700?