996 Trubo in the Winter: 17s or 18s?
11-03-2006, 04:22 PM
#1
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996 Trubo in the Winter: 17s or 18s?
Hi Folks,
My first post here. Just wondering what people's experience is with winter tires and the 996. I am considering purchasing a 2k3 Turbo to drive here in Montreal. I wouldn't drive it on heavy snow days, and I am a casual weekend driver at most.
I notice from perusing the archives that many people use 18" tires. Conventional wisdom suggests that a 17" might perform better. Also, I ask an "expert" at a reputed Porsche specialist and he also suggested 18s.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
My first post here. Just wondering what people's experience is with winter tires and the 996. I am considering purchasing a 2k3 Turbo to drive here in Montreal. I wouldn't drive it on heavy snow days, and I am a casual weekend driver at most.
I notice from perusing the archives that many people use 18" tires. Conventional wisdom suggests that a 17" might perform better. Also, I ask an "expert" at a reputed Porsche specialist and he also suggested 18s.
Any thoughts on this would be greatly appreciated!
11-03-2006, 04:24 PM
#2
Agent Orange
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17's will give you more tire sidewall and will be easier on your suspension with the potholes and other road imprefections in the winter. Most 17" wheels are also narrower, which is better for snow.
11-03-2006, 04:53 PM
#3
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I just put on Pirelli Snowsports 240 on the 18" rims (C4S uses exactly the same sizes as the Turbo). BTW these are the only N-rated matched tires in that size (rear). The recomended sizes for winter by PCNA, the dealer and TireRack are:
front 235/40R18
rear 295/35R18
in the N-rated Porsche approved Snowsports. Note that the sidewall on the back is taller (35 vs 30) so the front tires are wider (235 vs 225) to keep the rolling diameters equal and so that the PSM and ABS systems stay happy . You should not put 265 on wheels wider than 10" so that is why PCNA is now recomending this set-up for widebody 996's. 17"s (depending on the make might not clear those big brakes.
I had them put on this morning and the car drive great (no snow yet, but cold!). The slightly higher sidewalls have definetely softened the ride; which is probably better for winter anyway and most likely the reasoning by Porsche. They are also remarkably quiet for a winter tire too.
front 235/40R18
rear 295/35R18
in the N-rated Porsche approved Snowsports. Note that the sidewall on the back is taller (35 vs 30) so the front tires are wider (235 vs 225) to keep the rolling diameters equal and so that the PSM and ABS systems stay happy . You should not put 265 on wheels wider than 10" so that is why PCNA is now recomending this set-up for widebody 996's. 17"s (depending on the make might not clear those big brakes.
I had them put on this morning and the car drive great (no snow yet, but cold!). The slightly higher sidewalls have definetely softened the ride; which is probably better for winter anyway and most likely the reasoning by Porsche. They are also remarkably quiet for a winter tire too.
Last edited by pongobaz; 11-03-2006 at 06:26 PM.
11-04-2006, 06:02 PM
#4
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I use 18's on my C4 this year I am running the Alpine Pilot Sports. My friend is running 18's with Snowsports 240 on his 996TT. Both cars are daily drivers.
11-04-2006, 08:59 PM
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Can a 17" wheel clear the calipers?
You can not mount a 17" Cayenne (V6) wheel on a Cayenne S or Turbo (V8) due to brake caliper interference.....not sure if it's the same with the 996TT.....then again, I've never seen/heard of any 17" wheel for a 996TT.
You can not mount a 17" Cayenne (V6) wheel on a Cayenne S or Turbo (V8) due to brake caliper interference.....not sure if it's the same with the 996TT.....then again, I've never seen/heard of any 17" wheel for a 996TT.
