bob_dallas

Maybe a stupid question but I realized I was making an assumption. I couldn't find the info on their website and I don't have my manuals handy but I assume it's not there either.

TIA /Bob

johnfm

I think non-genuine GT3 wheels are forged.............


....I'll get my coat........

Viken

GT3 wheels are pressure cast and somewhat lightweight.

Front : 8,5x18 - ET40 : 11.3 kg (24.91 lb)
Rear : 11x18 - ET63 : 12.4kg (27.34 lb)

bob_dallas

Thanks Viken, that's what I thought but didn't want to get pinned down by someone if I was wrong. I've heard it's generally bad to repair a cast wheel due to unknown structural damage, hairline cracks, and the propensity for a ding to spread into a crack, even if "repaired". Anybody have hard data or an educated opinion around this? I have curb damage, a sharp but smallish chip in the outer rim - probably 1/4 - 1/2" deep - the impact was pretty bad as the tire sidewall was punctured in a few spots and was completely flattened. Insurance wants to repair and I'm obviously not comfortable with that.

Just to clarify - this isn't curb rash - car went over the curb at close to 90 degree angle.

Marco Polo

The Product Information publication provided to sales staff says only that the wheels are made "using flow-forming technology to acheive exemplary strength and a reduction in weight."

Jack

"Somewhat lightweight" -- you've got to be kidding, Viken.

Those wheels are just plain heavy -- almost as bad as the stock GT2 wheels.

Sun Ra

ah Jack,

but i'm hearing more: "... and then my fikses cracked/bent..." stories!!!

heavier than 22/23, but very hard to damage a factory wheel... there seem to be trade offs in life?

Jack

Ah... Watt : You sound like a PCCB complainer. Any wheel can bend/crack -- depends on driver care/abuse. Haven't experienced a spontaneous cracking of any of my Fikse wheels yet -- more than 6 years of Fikse wheel usage on four cars.

My point (intended somewhat in jest) in responding to Viken's comment (about the GT3 wheels being somewhat light weight) was not to imply one should buy Fikse, HRE or the new BBS RS wheels, but rather, I was suggesting Porsche could have done better on the GT2/3 wheel weight issue. Geezzzz.... the Turbo hollow spokes and the Sport Technos both weigh significantly less than the GT3 wheels -- you'd think Porsche would/could do better on its "specialty" cars.

BTW, FWIW, the Fikse's in 18x8.5" and 11" weigh in at around 20.5 and 22 front and rear, respectively. Just want the record to be accurate.

Sloth

I too thought they were heavy, but how do they compare to the Sport Designs used in the MkI GT3?

Jack

They were also relatively heavy, especially given their sizes (8"F and 10"R) -- Weights for the Sport Designs (8's and 10's) 25.5 lbs and 28.75 lbs, front and rear, repsectively.

Viken

GT3 MkI Sport Design wheels:

8" x 18" - ET52 - 12 Kg/26.45 lb
10" x 18" - ET65 - 13.1 Kg/28.88 lb

Jack

I better have Wheel Enhancement check their scales -- the front Sport Design wheel weighed in exactly at 25 lbs 8 oz with the rear at 28lbs 13 oz.

ADOGNY

Does it really matter that much? You arent Michael S. nor racing for millions of dollars. The information is cute, but lets put things in perspective here. Maybe I am crazy, but are a few pounds per wheel going to hurt that much on this level?

bob_dallas

so...just for arguments sake - that's about 20 lbs of unsprung, rotating weight saved. What's the weight savings for ceramics? I can't recall off the top of my head but I think it was somewhere around 30-40lbs? I'd bet that a combination of Fikse wheels and lightweight Brembo brakes would actually save more unsprung weight and perform better than the PCCBs with a LOT less uncertainty about performance. Price-wise I'd bet that it's a little more than 8k up front but long term much cheaper due to replacement costs.

Thoughts?

ADOGNY

They claim nearly 40 lbs...