jasper

I'm looking ahead to winter and am thinking of buying a (very) cheap set of 17" Boxster wheels so I can install a set of winter tread tires for those 2 weeks out of the year when it gets cold icy/snowy here in Beautiful BC.

Not a very good description on Craigslist, but I'm gathering they would be a series 1 twist type of thing. I don't intend to rally or autocross with them, just get me through the toughest part of the winter.

So:

1) Will they fit over my brakes and what not (ie offset ok?)
2) Just how ***-like will they look (ie are they real skinny?)
3) Will I need spacers (and if so how much for those).

Thanks guys!

TheSpeedDemon

I have a set of 17" 996 wheels with tyres sitting around here I am going to sell, haven't thought of a price and I would have to ship them to you. PM me if interested and I can give you more specs etc.

jasper

PM sent!

Pugnacious P

I have boxster 17's as winter wheels, they do look pretty funny. But thinner is better for snow. I popped them without even worrying about spacers. I didn't have a mechanical problem.

jasper

Thanks Robert - we don't even get that much snow around here, and when we do it's kind of slushy and really only on the side roads. 99% of the people around here drive light all season tires without a problem. As vain as it sounds, I'm more concerned with the aesthetics of a skinny wheel than grip in the snow.

I know the MkI and MkII cars came with different size wheels as stock. I wonder if there is a mechanical difference between the two?

BrandX

Jasper,

I'm thinking about the same thing (snows on a separate set of rims for our west coast winter). Trouble for me is, I have a C4S, so I'm sure I have to go with 18s to clear the brakes and probably spacers - if I can fit 10s on the rears. But I'm actually really looking forward to some snow to show some SUV drivers how it's done!

newport996

if the mk I has 18" wheels they are the same size...the difference is the ties on the rear of the mk II are 285 vs 265 on the mk I. both are 18x10 et 65 rears. Fronts are the same as well.

jasper

Thanks - that's the info I need. Can you tell me if the 17" wheels are the same as well?

Kevin H. in Atl..

FWIW, 996 MkI 18" fronts are 7.5" et 50, MkII fronts are 8" et 52.

996 17's are 7" et 55 front, 9" et 55 rear.

Boxster 17's are 7" et 55 front, 8.5" et 50 rear, or 8.5" et 48 rear.

jasper

bingo. thx