jason latif

My car currently has the stock Carrera 17" wheels and I'm thinking of changing to 18" Carrera's. I don't have the sports suspension currently.

Has anyone else done this? Would the 18's look silly without lowering the car? I don't want the ride to suffer much.

Aesthetically, which looks the best?

When (and if) it comes to resale, which setup would be most popular?

paul s uk

Jason

Go for the 18"on every count. You won't regret it. Good luck.

jason latif

Paul,

Notice you're in the UK too, so you have to put up with the same roads. Assuming I get the 18" wheels, should I get the sports suspension as well?

What wheels / setup do you have on your C2?

Loren

Jason,

18" wheels will look fine on a standard suspension car (see below).

With regard to suspension changes what is your goal? Better handling? autocross and or track use? Are you willing to give up some ride quality for handling? Do you want the car lower?

jason latif

Loren,

I don't plan on any track/autocross events, but the car seems to roll a bit too much on hard cornering.

Your car looks great without the sports suspension, so I suppose it's not essential to lower it for looks alone.

I don't particularly want to sacrifice ride quality - how is your car's ride with the 18's?

bloke

Go with 18's. Looks much better then them silly little 17's.

Loren, nice wheels but a pain to clean.

Loren

Ride quality is just a little more firm with the 18" wheels. The US Sport suspension does not lower the car but gives sportier handling (due to thicker sway bars, heaviers shocks and stiffer springs). The the ultimate (IMHO) is the ROW M030 (European sport suspension) which also lowers the car 20mm in front and 10 mm in the rear. Here is a summary of comparision (from the Porsche Panorama article):

US M030 Sport Suspension
Front Stabilizer 9.58% stiffer
Rear Stabilizer 24.15% stiffer
Front Springs 16.6% stiffer
Rear Springs 28.2% stiffer
Front Shocks (rebound) 21.1% softer
Front Shocks (compression) 13.7% softer
Rear Shocks (rebound) 26.1% stiffer
Rear Shocks (compression) Same

ROW M030 Sport Suspension
Front Stabilizer 9.58% stiffer
Rear Stabilizer 24.15% stiffer
Front Springs 16.6% stiffer
Rear Springs 28.2% stiffer
Front Shocks (rebound) 8.1% stiffer
Front Shocks (compression) 9.6% softer
Rear Shocks (rebound) 36.1% stiffer
Rear Shocks (compression) 15.2% stiffer

996cab.com

Hi All,
I have done a bit of research about tire sizes using the following tire size calculators
1) <a href="http://www.csgnetwork.com/tireinfo4calc.html" target="_blank">http://www.csgnetwork.com/tireinfo4calc.html</a>

2) <a href="http://www.c5-corvette.com/tirecalc.htm" target="_blank">http://www.c5-corvette.com/tirecalc.htm</a>

3) <a href="http://www.sgmotorsports.com/tiresize.htm" target="_blank">http://www.sgmotorsports.com/tiresize.htm</a>

One thing I have learnt so far is that all the sizes being suggested on this forum, i.e. 235/40/18" fr or 245/35/18" fr or 235/35/19" fr 315/25/19" re or 315/25/18" re etc conflicts with the calculation of all 3 tire calculators noted above. I am aware that they are all only coded software using a number of variables to attain certain calculations. However they all seem to have similar parameters or end definitions.

For a 996TT 19" upgrade, I conclude that the best combos are 225/35fr & 305/25re. For 18" I conclude the only tire upgrade should be 305/25 on the rear - leave the fronts at 225/40.

Because of the AWD system I felt particular attention had to be paid to differentiating tire parameters – for example IF you opt for 19” with 225/35fr + 315/25re then not only would your speed be different from as low as 5mph to 190mph but also the ODOMETER reading would show lower (perhaps a good thing) mileage recording…see <a href="http://www.c5-corvette.com/tirecalc.htm" target="_blank">http://www.c5-corvette.com/tirecalc.htm</a> for clarification of the calculations.

I am not so sure about just using any tire size. I think particular attention needs to be paid to tire sizes for mainly street use, especially on AWD cars, and that we should all utilise all available tools (mechanical or digital) to ensure that we are indeed using the ‘Optimum’ tire sizes.

Anyone care to make comments?

bocky

Jason:
We have the 18" Carreras with stock suspensions





Bocky
'02 Carrera C2 coupe

ignacio

hi bocky

pretty car! <img src="graemlins/bigok.gif" border="0" alt="[thumbsup]" />

i did a double take when i saw "c2"

with all the extra stuff you put on why didn't you get a c4s? it sure looks like a c4s! <img src="graemlins/burnout.gif" border="0" alt="[burnout]" />

HRS1

Get the 19s for best handling & looks....these are lighter than the others as well...you wont be disappointed

bocky

Ignacio: We put the order on April 2000 (there was only rumors regarding the style and headlights) and got delivery on Sept 2001, the C4S was not available at the order or delivery date. But if I had the opportunity, I would have gone the C4S route.
Bocky
'02 Carrera C2 coupe

Renato

[quote]Originally posted by HRS1:
<strong>

Get the 19s for best handling & looks....these are lighter than the others as well...you wont be disappointed</strong><hr></blockquote>

Those wheels are beautiful! Are they Champion's? WOuld you mind dropping me an e-mail and letting me know how much they ran you?

Thanks!

Andreas.

[quote] --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Originally posted by HRS1:

Get the 19s for best handling & looks....these are lighter than the others as well...you wont be disappointed


--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Those wheels are beautiful! Are they Champion's? WOuld you mind dropping me an e-mail and letting me know how much they ran you?

Thanks!
<hr></blockquote>
I think they are Cargraphic's wheels.

<a href="http://www.cargraphic.de/porsche/framesie.php?center=felgen" target="_blank">19" wheels</a>

Bel996

I've got 18 inch and lowered the car, the ride is still very good.


Bel996