My car is wearing 19" wheels today (19x8 in the front, 19x11 in the rear, Carrera Classic wheels taken from a 997). Tires for the 19" wheels are absurdly expensive, especially when staying in the N-rated set.

This weekend I ran in an autocross, and had a ball. But between the autocross and last week's performance driving school, I significantly reduced my tread on my tires.

I'm looking to get a set of track wheels, and would like to get some 17" wheels, since 17" rubber seems to be much cheaper. I would like to stay with 225-235 front tires, and 285 rears, and to do that I think I need 17x8 for the front, and 17x10 in the rear.

I've looked around, and I think the only 17" wheels that are 'standard' for my car are only 9" wide in the rear. I'd rather not give up that much width if I can avoid it.

I'm relatively ignorant of wheel and tire lingo, though I've been trying to learn by reading all about it everywhere.


My questions: What would be the correct specification for wheels for my car if my goal is 17x8 and 17x10? In addition to that info, I think I need the bolt pattern and the offsets?

Assuming I can find wheels that fit that goal, what size tires would fit? I'm assuming it would be 225 or 235 wide fronts, but I'm not sure what the second number would be to have the correct overall diameter. In the rear, I would like to stay at 285 exactly, and again I'm looking for the correct second part.

Feel free to point me to other sites if a good resource exists. I've searched here a bit, and I've read a bunch of threads, but I didn't find anyone asking or answering this exact question.

Thanks!

 

Based on my recent research I think you'll find it hard to come by 17s in that width with the correct offset, unless you go custom. But, if you do, I'll be here checking up b/c I'm somewhat interested in that kind of a change.

Good luck!

 

So far I've had little luck. And, since I'm looking for track wheels, I'm kinda hoping for cheap ugly wheels, but I think you are right on the need to go custom. Gonna keep looking and asking, though.

Anyone running 17x8.5s in the front?

 

I think you can run 8' boxter rears in the front with 9' 996 rears on the back and come close to what you're wanting to do tire wise...but I don't think that there's going to be an inexpensive 17 x 10 wheel out there for you to source.

Heck finding a 17' tire wider than 275 might be difficult anyhow (depending on what brand of tire you're looking to run) so maybe the 9' wheel would be OK even though 275's still a bit of a stretch on a 9' wheel. However with that stated I run 275's on a 9' wheel on my M3 for the track and they work well.

Andy

 

Best compromise for 996 are 18" wheels.
Porsche engineers have spent lots of time in develop the best meassure.
996 is design to wear 17" or 18" wheels.
I wonder why you like 19". The esthetic is important but the car goes better with 18". 17" are the cheaper serial equipment.
Almost every 996 owners bought their cars with 18" optional wheels.
In Mk I series the mounting of 225/40 R18" front and 265/35 R18" rear, with M030 RoW suspension is a great compromise. The car goes soft
If you want to improve the handling, just make a good setting in the aligment.
It's very important N-specs tyres too. The production of this tyres is different in the internal construction and It's tested by Porsche as you know.
Every model has " it's setting "

 

Previous owner purchased the 19" wheels/tires. They look nice, but I would have stuck with 18". I'm aware that they are the incorrect size for the car.

 

I heard more than a person who are tehe Porsche Bible, and always says that 18" is the right size. The trains are designed for 18" with the proper weight equals quicker acceleration, better braking and smoother handling transitions.
The word is a perfect balance