I must really be slow...

 

IMHO, the 17"-18" wheel debate comes down to personal preference. For street driving, specific tire and suspension choice will have a MUCH greater effect on ride and handling than wheel/tire diameter and width. The 17s and 18s each have their pros and cons but either setup is FAR more than you need for street driving. Another thing to remember is to watch wheel and tire weight when selecting larger versions as this is what has the most effect on performance. This coming from the guy who runs a set of "OH-MY-GOD!-they're-really-that-heavy?!?!" Speedlines on his 95 coupe.

To the "rubbing issue": My post-factory 18" equipped 95 with steering rack brace doesn't rub. My fitted- from-the-factory with 18s 97 (now with rack brace fitted from factory) doesn't rub either. Does this brace in any way limit steering lock? If so, I'd wager a guess that both of the cars Alex looked at with rubbing were 95s. Again, just a guess.


Sidenote: Nice to see all is well here, spirited discussions and all, after an absence.

 

Alex,

I have the 996 MY02s, 8 and 10 x 18s. the offsets are 50 and 65 respectively front/rear. my car is on RoW M030 springs and lowered. I have no rubbing

There are also 986 wheels that have slightly different offsets, but I am not sure what they are.

rubbing may be due to using some alternate configuration I assume, i.e. using a 986 rear on a 993 front.

Alignment specs will also play a factor.

the offset is critical, and if you search, Bill Verburg has posted a diagram numerous times that is quite revealing.
It should also be know that each 993 is a little bit different as well, so what rubs on one car, may not on another.

In general though, I know there are quite a few NB 993s using 996 MY02s with no issues, Ddcdude being another, beside myself.

Hope this helps.

 

Got it! I found, copied, pasted and saved that info during my steep learning curve of the 993.

Anything tech related from Bill is usually if not always first rate.

 

They are!

 

that is my experience as well.

 

hey Tim... welcome back?

The rack brace doesn't limit steering travel, just strengthens/reinforces the rack

 

I have 3 sets of 17's and 1 set of 18's.

The 18's are the lightest by far, they have better turn in feel. The 17's with MPS AS+ ride the smoothest on crappy local roads.

No rubbing on the front. It is an early 95, not approved for 18, and it did not rub before of after that flimsy rack brace was added.

 

My 1996 NB came from the factory with 18" Technology rims from the factory. The first owner had them removed at the dealer and replaced with 16" boxster rims. I replaced the 16" rims with 18" MY02's and have no issues with rubbing. The car still has the orig. stock SUV supension with 17,000 MI. The ride is just a little stiffer but not too harsh so as to be unpleasant.

 

Cargraphic has them in their catalogue. Rear wheel size (ET 47) won't work too well on a NB, though.

 

[QUOTE=.... Another thing to remember is to watch wheel and tire weight when selecting larger versions as this is what has the most effect on performance. This coming from the guy who runs a set of "OH-MY-GOD!-they're-really-that-heavy?!?!" Speedlines on his 95 coupe.[/QUOTE]

Definitely true!!

My heavy-*** 18" wheel+tire is 6lbs heavier than my stock 17" Cup IIs. I do feel a huge difference when driving the car.

The thing about suspension is also true. My car has the overly dampened Bilstein HD shocks. So the heavier 18" doesn't bounce around as much as the 17".

What Tim said is true, how a car feel with each wheel depends on wheel type/weight, car suspension + set up, and road/driving condition.

The only thing that is univeral is looks. 18" does look betther than 17".

 

Well it appears that nobody on this thread has a wheel rubbing issue, yet the following threads discusses it along with a few well known RLers admitting to it...fill your boots.

Wheel rubbing - help

Front Tire Rub - Inside - Stock Height/Wheels

And the following pics is exactly what I've seen on two out of two other 993s.





C4S - with stock 225/40-18 - Factory rims - front 8x18 with ET52 offset...

 

Just to have some clarity here Alex, what I said was that neither of my two 993 coupes (a late production 95 and a 97), both with 18" wheels (52mm offset on the fronts. Both are OEM wheels, the 95's fitted by me 5 years and 10000miles ago, the 97's from the factory), rub. There are no rub marks in the wheel wells and I have NEVER heard anything to indicate a tire was rubbing. I am not in denial, just stating a fact of my personal experience.

I did not say that the "rubbing" doesn't happen on certain cars. I know of one such car, an early production 95. As to what causes the issue, not sure there's a definitive answer. Did Porsche make a running change at some point (they added the rack brace during calendar year 1995)? I can't answer that question.

 

The point for bringing up in the first place is that owners can now decide what path they are willing to take.

As for the above...I think it is due to Porsche option code M995 - wider foot wells for owners with bigger feet. I'm joking, of course.

 

you were very clear Tim
he seems intent on making a point that everyone agrees on: some tire/wheel combos rub

there is no conspiracy here... No need for satellite photos, mysterious witnesses, etc.