Eey_ore_9

Hi guys I'm in uk and new 996 turbo owner. A realisation of one of my dreams and goals. I've always wanted a porsche 996 turbo and I'm just so glad I've now got one, what an awesome car il be shortly doing a bit of a write up on first few months ownership.
Firstly I'd like some info, whilst I love the car I think it might benefit from a wheel upgrade. I have the stock hollow spoke turbo 2 wheels. I have been looking around and found some 19 inch ones which once refurbed might look good on my turbo
Porsche 997 c4s wide body 19 inch wheels 235/35/19 & 305/3019 The Tyres Are 235/35/19 87Y Bridgestone N1 & 305/30/19 102Y Bridgestone N1

Eey_ore_9

Will the c4s wide body fit my turbo?
Also love the gt2 gt3 bbs and hre style wheels, can someone give me info on which way to go? Obviously if buying from uk only have correct fitting issue but if buying from overseas got import and tax to take into consideration too

Guybrush Wilkinson

I hope someone with experience 18 vs 19 inch wheels could chime in here. I have heard some negative comments against 19. The car will definitely look better and this reason moving to bigger lures me also. However these cars are all about driving enjoyment for me so that is holding me back.

fly2low

When I picked up my current 996TT, it came with 19" wheels. I did not like the ride at all, too harsh. Plus, I use mine as a DD, and needed the extra rubber that 18" allow for in order to deal with pot holes. I've bent 18" rims, and was afraid I would break a 19".

sanyata

Yes the 997 C4S wheels will fit without issues. I don't know if those tire sizes are within spec for the rolling diameter though so I'd check on that. There needs to be less than 3% difference between fronts and rears preferably with the rears being the slightly larger of the two.
Congrats on the new ride!

theporscheguy

19's on my 996TT looked great and did not bother me in regards to ride comfort. I would caution anyone thinking of purchasing refurbished wheels to be completely knowledgeable and comfortable with the repair/s.

Kevinmacd

Maybe this will help. Keep in mind Porsche while tuning their suspension tuned this car with 18's

http://www.europeancarweb.com/featur...and_tire_test/

wross996tt

I have 19's on mine, but I also don't have stock suspension or mounts and my car is set-up and corner balanced with the 19s. The ride and the handling is far better than the stock setup. I actually think the stock suspension is one of the weakest parts of the turbo....I guess it is setup for the "typical" owner...so grand touring.

Oh and BTW, I would look into the N-rating as specified in the article. My understanding is the N rating designation is for Porsche, but the dash numbers were the rev's...not specifically for snow, et. al. So an N-2 supersedes an N-1....That was told to me by Tire Rack?

MB_Fahrer

If you're doing wheels, think about something other than just stereotypical BBS style wheels. Those are so cliche for beetles these days. Fikse FM5's or TE37's or maybe some 997TT wheels?

DaveCarrera4

I put my 19" 997 Turbo wheels from my C4S on my '02 Turbo, and the rears rubbed. I added 21mm spacers, but they are too wide IMO. I just got the 15mm spacers yesterday and need to see how they look.

2002 Turbo - Basalt Black Metallic / 2003 Carrera 4S - Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 - Rust Red

cdk4219

The only positive aspect of the 19" wheels are that they may be better looking, on the minus side, they ride much harsher and it I'd much harder to tell if the tire is low on air pressure. Small sidewall and low tire pressure = bent 19" rim quickly. If the car isn't lowered, the 19's don't really look very good IMO. If it is lowered it needs to have adjustable Rear control arms to rectify the inability for the factory ones to remove the rear camber, which will lay waste to the inside of your 315's I very quickly.
I would suggest a tire pressure monitor if you decide to go to a 19" rim and tire, which will both be destroyed very quickly at low tire pressure, which is almost impossible to determine from a visual check.

MB_Fahrer

^^^ In other words; just check your tire pressures on a regular basis.

TT Surgeon

19s ride terribly, one of my biggest gripes with the 997tt.

Guybrush Wilkinson

Something to consider also is the unsuspended wheel mass. Car makers try their best to diminish wheel mass by light alloy rims, lighter or ceramic brakes etc. In theory the only reason to go from 18 to 19 is to make room for bigger brake discs and calipers. Rubber is lighter than alloy and smaller wheels tend to be lighter than bigger. Porsche has made OEM rims hollow to make unsuspended wheel mass as low as possible. Bigger wheels will not add traction or do anything good exept looks for what I have learned.

Another point that may be a little off side this topic is the re-sale value in the future. Look back the previous generations of turbos. Cars that look 100% same as they rolled out from the factory are the most desireable ones. The older these cars get the harder it is to find an original one without any mods. If your car is 100% original it may make a collectors item in the future

DaveCarrera4

have to disagree, it's not about rubber versus metal density, it's about total weight of the tire and wheel combo. Unsprung weight decrease is the goal.

2002 Turbo - Basalt Black Metallic / 2003 Carrera 4S - Speed Yellow / 1955 356 Continental 1500 - Rust Red