mudbuddha

Sounds like a plan. Please post pix (well post pix anyway), if you do decided to widen the phone dials as I've never seen it done before. Phone dials and fuchs are a couple of my favorite factory styles.

Thom

I think I have seen some phone dials modified with wider rims, some VW guys seem to do that. Not sure about the quality though... But anyway I too would be interested in wider phonies as they are my favourite wheels on a 951.

I have always wondered if making moulds from a stock set would be possible and work from there to make wider sets?

Dougs951S

I just looked and found the Khumo Ecsta XS is available in 265/45-16!! It is the only non semi slick street tire available for a 16 inch rim that is wider than a 225 section width, and supposedly this tire grips well too. It would only be ~2% taller than a 225/50-16 to boot. I am seriously thinking about looking into widening just the rears now. I figure moving the 8 up to an 8.5 would allow running a 265 section width tire. I wonder how the car would handle with a 225/265 tire combo?

A firm called weldcraft does top notch tig welding on aluminum wheels, cost is about 200 per I believe.

mudbuddha

Hmmm didn't think of the VW crowd...but I do remembered seeing some phone dials on VW bugs before so that is a possibility. As for making a mold, that would be nice in a 17 fitment or something, albeit expensive. Like they did with the Fuchs but properly done ones are real expensive. I'd love to have something like either but in a 17 fitment, and doesn't have to be forged to keep cost down a little.

Interesting as I didn't even know 265/45 existed for such an odd size...but then I've looked before so I wouldn't have known. Funny you mentioned the Kumho XS, I have them on the fronts right now and do like them- I use Kumho V700 in the rears but will go to XS as well probably this year. I think it'd be awesome if you could this off and have a one off 16X9 with the 265s...I don't think anyone on here has done it on their 944/951.

TurboTommy

So what's the consensus; I guess basically all high performance summer tires (like semi competiton tires) lose their grip drastically when in colder weather. But, if we had to choose, which brand/model of ultra-high performance tire lose their grip the least when temps get down to 5 - 10 degrees C ?
Running falken azenis right now.
A bit of a dirty trick mother nature plays on us: great power in the cold, but can't use it all

Zeff

Looks like you got all your tire info already. My car with a 27/6 will roast the tires in 1st and 2nd. On a simulated run on the interstate I had the car step out a lot on a 40 roll in 2nd once boost hit.

Dougs951S

I like the idea of custom 16x9s, I dont like the idea of one tire being available and the possibility of it going the way of the 245/45-16.

On a side note, I feel bad for all of you complaining about the cold affecting your traction. I live in south texas and run summer tires all year round. It was 75 today I can count on my hands the number of days it really gets too cold for summer tires to have good grip. Rain is another story entirely..