Edgy01

Suggest you simply ask the automobile manufacturer if a 19 in rim and tire is a suitable sub for your car. They're the ones who built it.

The real issue is your driving habits and just how far you push it with that driving. If you're more into how the car looks with 19s but you rarely drive it to its limits (that's 90% of the Porsche drivers out there) then you can rest assured that you will be fine.

I just took the 19 in rims off my car (an 06 997S) just to inspect the suspension and brakes for the first time. I used to think that the 7 and 8 x 16 Fuchs wheels were the ultimate in wheel technology and they look like little toys next to my 8.5 and 11.5 by 19s on my 997S. The suspension is a multilink set up that is considerably more robust than anything seen before. It is well known that Porsche, when developing the 997 literally tore up 996 suspensions when they started their early testing with the 19 in wheel. I dare say the 996 suspension is even tougher than that on the 993.

ca993twin

"Suggest you simply ask the automobile manufacturer if a 19 in rim and tire is a suitable sub for your car. They're the ones who built it."
The problem here is that no manufacturer of almost any product, but especially an automobile will ever recommend ANYTHING that isn't factory equipment. Too much liability. They won't even approve aftermarket brake pads or non "N" rated tires. This is a dead end.

"It is well known that Porsche, when developing the 997 literally tore up 996 suspensions when they started their early testing with the 19 in wheel."
I for one have never heard this story, and I have trouble believing that all the facts are here. There is NOTHING inherently different with a 19" wheel... they can weigh the same, they can have the same geometry, and the tires can have the same grip. A potential difference is that there is less tire "thickness" to help absorb bumps and protect the rims in case of nasty potholes. The "absorb bumps" is very much like running very high air pressure in the stock tires (Porsche recommends something like 40psi front, 44 psi rear). Very few of us run the Porsche recommended air pressure.

I will concede that the EQUIVALENT 19" wheel/tire is heavier than the equivalent 18" wheel/tire by a few pounds. Is this significant? Yes... to the racer, who is trying to minimize his unsprung weight, and who is probably also using lightweight brake components for the same reason. For the rest of us? No. And will it cause our suspensions to break? Hard to conceive that this is a factor.

Al Z

Thanks everyone for the input. I guess I fall in the 90% who will never exploit the handling limits of a porsche at a racetrack. I was thinking of the 19" wheels for the street only.
BTW, ca993twin & ohho I think your cars look great with the 19" wheels.
Jeff, If I decide to get the 19" wheels I will let you know. About the yellow 993, you were correct no comment.
Jeff, were you at the summer porsche picnic? I saw a couple of pics and thought I saw you car. I got there late and was only there for about 20min.
Thanks again to everyone..AL Z

Mark in Baltimore

I agree with ca993twin. Stock 993's at the track run 18" wheels with either R comps or slicks and rarely experience catastrophic failures. I'm not convinced that a street-driven 993 on 19" wheels will ever approach the stresses of a 17" wheel-shod 993 driven in anger on the track.

Edgy01

Here's a couple of pictures (granted not from a 993, but from one of my earlier 911s) to show the incredible growth in tire and wheel sizes over the years.

Fuchs 7 and 8 x 16s contrasted with my Carrera Sports which are 8.5 and 11.5 by 19 inch pressure cast alloys. Rear tires are now up to 305/30 by 19.

Wheel space is clearly needed to clear the significant brakes coming on these cars today.

ca993twin

Dan,

Cool comparison on the wheels. My first 911 (1970 911E) came with 14x5.5" Fuchs wheels... 15x6" were the monster options. Some more random thoughts on brakes... that old 911E came with the very nice 911S brakes. Those brakes remained on that car even after it was morphed into a full IMSA car, and I used to run the stock Tetar pads. I never had any brake fade and the car could outbrake most of the others, even with their huge Lockheed brakes. Very bizarre, actually. Of course that car was 2000 pounds, ready to race.

Chaos

Make sure you get the steering rack brace !

Edward

Those poor little Fuchs! They look so perfect on the car, yet comically small next to modern wheels. Still, gotta love Porsche Forged! ...sorry for the OT.

Personally, I'd pass on 19s if only for the blingy and out-of-proportion look. But that, of course, is in the eye of the beholder. A very real consideration, however, is increased chance of lip damage with such a ridiculously short sidewall. But heck, different strokes for diff folks.

Edward

ca993twin

Edward,

I'm with on the "eye of the beholder" part. But lets put the sidewall bit into perspective... if you want your 19" tires to have the same diameter as the 18" (that's what I chose), the sidewall is 1/2" skinnier than the stock 18" wheels. Most guys don't worry about the car sitting 1/2" higher, and their sidewalls are the same thickness as their 18".

Greg Fishman

No thanks. They are the ones that set the ridiculous suggest tire pressures on 993s as well.
I don't like 19's on 993s but don't see how it will cause a problem.

24FPS

to be honest... i thought there would be even more of a diff. from the ol' fuchs & the new cs's. would be less if they had their big fatty tyres on.
great illustration dan & i love yer cab.

i like the the added 1/2" & the forgiveness 18's allow. i've hit pot holes (not in a while, but i have). also i'm not as enlightened as steve @ driving so i like having the (false?) sense that i've got more side wall to "give" in cornering too. tbh... that's the deciding factor b4 looks.

Edward

Hi Steve,

You *know* I love Rufus ...how could anyone not!!

What I was alluding to was that 18s already run with, what, a 35 profile in the rear tires, IIRC. So with the 19s, the profiles drop to 30 ...again, IIRC and my aging memory hasn't betrayed me. Assuming the same width tire, that's less sidewall to absorb shock. Of course, this is no problem under good road conditions, but that's not always the case, and even more a concern if the car is driven at anything more often that garage-queen status. Of course, one's roads may vary...
And as you pointed out, I suppose one could find 19s with a 35 series profile which would probably yield the same road compliance as its 18" counterpart ...didn't consider that.

And BTW, hope to see you at another event or rumble!


Edward

ca993twin

Edward,

I "think" the stock 18" size is 285x30x18, and most guys use a 295x30x19 or 305x30x19, so the actual "thickness" is pretty much the same. The rim, being 19" instead of 18" raises the car by 1/2". On my car, I wanted the tire diams to stay the sme as the 18", so I went with 305x25x19... so in my case, my tires are indeed about 1/2" skinnier. Luckily, I live in pot-hole free Southern California.

Thanks for the kind works about Rufus. I have some new pictures, and I'm not afraid to use them.

Edward

Ig GADS!!! Very nice, Steve. Dead giveaway: no wipers! Ha ha ha ...no rain for you
(I now can laugh, too ...I use my trackmeister for rain duty now. )

Re the 18s/19s and the sidewall profile, I stand corrected. Hope to see you "out there."


Edward

Edgy01

Yea,--I always loved the Fuchs alloys. Incredibly strong and the right size,--always! But, I have to tell you, I have become a believer in the 19s which are standard on the latest Carrera S cars. Been driving Porsches since I was 19,--but now I really CAN take turns like in a roller-coaster. It's definitely the rims and rubber (and the Porsche Stability Management is there to take over if needed!)