FFaust

Was / am hoping to use my 997S track wheels on the GT3. Only problem is they are 19". My 19" Cups still have lots of life but would be hard to sell second-hand so switching to an 18" setup would cost me a couple thousand $$ and be a hassle to sell wheels.

- Fronts are very close and will only need spacers to match the 40mm offset of the stock wheels.

- Rear fit is "scary tight". Where I have approx 1 inch clearance between tires and fender with the 18s, I have 3/8 (1 cm) with the 19s. The small knuckle on my pinky finger doesn't fit through the gap. Offset is fine.

Problem is the smallest MPSC in 19 is 305

Car is very low, but very well setup. I could always raise it up a bit but that would probably be sinful.

Also not entirely clear on the concept of rolled fenders. The fenders are bent up at the top, does rolling them mean squeezing them completely?

I'll drive the car on the street to try it as soon as I can, but in the mean time...

... Thoughts?

911SLOW

F please let us know the exact tire sizes now on the car so that we can tell more.

From your last thread link I know wheels are F 8.5" ET53, R 11" ET65

eab3@bellsouth.net

I had a set of Champion's on my car. Every dip and highway joint caused a sound that sounded like bottoming. Obviously hitting something. Finally went back to stock size 18". Everything works beautifully.

gt3'er

Beautiful wheels, I think they'd be easy to sell.

Go with 18's...

911SLOW

Ok the N cups probably are 235/35/19 and 305/30/19

fronts are fine with a diameter of 25.5 vs 25.4 of the oem 235/40/18

but the rears have a diameter of 26.3 vs 25 of the oem 295/30/18 and apart from the obvious fittment issues that maybe bypassed by rolling the fenders I think that you are pushing the ABS outside of its optimal working range with the F and R difference of the tires. Imagine that with oem tires the revs per mile are
819F and 832R and with the 19s will be 817F and 792R.

FFaust

Yes John, correct on all counts.

Rolling fenders (more than stock?) could add some clearance. Just not sure what/how.

Then there's the ABS Ice Mode. I have researched this a bunch on RL and the consensus seems to be that a 6% diff F/R is trouble. My 19" setup has a diff of 2.8% so "should" be ok. The F/R delta with the 18" is 1.74%, which is better. HOWEVER, 235/35 19, 305/30 19 is standard fitment on 997.1 GT3 so Ice Mode should not be a problem

Other issue is larger diameter = longer final gearing, and until I do the 32:8 R & P, 18 would be better.

Then I need spacers for front and longer studs/bolts, but only for my 19" track setup.

18" tires are definitely cheaper but there's less and less to chose from as we all know.

Yeah, sounds like 19" can work, but it's more complicated. Maybe I should just get a set of 18s and call it a day

So now, how the heck do I ship my wheels to the US, where most buyers are...

gt3'er

Be sure to insure them...I bought a CF hood, shipped from Montreal to California. Got "lost". How the hell do you lose a frickin hood??!! Wasn't insured...

Got another one...haven't installed it yet...but starting to like the GT2 CF hood "look", so might get it on.

GLWS! (if you do)

FFaust

Not that surprising actually. A hood doesn't fit on conveyor belt so must be handled separately and can easily be "misplaced" I think. I've traveled with bikes, hang-gliders, etc. and have had to go in to the bowels of airports many times to help the handlers "find" my stuff. You'd think they do this on purpose.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5YGc4zOqozo

SH || NC

IMO, the 19s are more trouble than they are worth (raise it, roll fenders, spacers, bolts, meh); sell the 19s and take that money and buy an 18 setup. JMHO

va122

agreed, the car is not designed for 19s

FFaust

Yes, that sums it up nicely. It's not even about performance at this point, but about physical fitment.

I assumed the 19s would work since that is the setup on the 7 GT3 and also that there would be more tire options going forward, but at what cost/hassle.

I've e-mailed Damon @ Tirerack to ask about some Alleggeritas and will be on the lookout for some used CCWs

gt3'er

Surely Mooty has a set of 6-3 CCW's lost in his garage somewhwere...ping him.

FFaust

^ I think it's Allan J who has cornered the market on CCWs.

Mooty has a set of Kinesis for sale (per his signature), but I don't know which model and am afraid that they might be a bit too blingy. Not to mention hard to clean.

gt3'er

Can't imagine Mooty being remotely associated with anything blingy...they must be pure function...or he's selling for someone else...

Crazy Canuck

The suspension isn't designed to use 19s. 18s are the way to go.

MPSCs are the best tire, other than pure slicks, to grace my car. I didn't like Nittos although they lasted forever. Pirelli Corsas were pretty good.