Hey, so I’m wondering if anyone has recommendations for which company to look at to buy 997 turbo replica rims (for use on a 997 4S)? I’m looking specifically for the ones pictured below (though others may work) and I’m looking for replicas since I don’t track the car and I’m not spending $3k on forged OEM rims.

I looked around but but couldn’t really find any brands that specialize in 911 replicas, or even any Porsche replicas, maybe they don’t exist? Please feel free to recommend any brands or shops that may carry some.

Thanks!

 

no offense but coming from watch industry - replicas are for fake people

 

I am not sure i'd put an OEM copy wheel on a porsche. They are typically much worse quality, much heavier and not as strong.

 

exactly..god knows where alloys are coming from for castings....they are rarely forged even when replicas of forged wheels.

 

$3,000? I have a perfect set for a narrow body 911 listed in the marketplace for $1,450. You can find very good deals on OEM used ones.

 

Haha, ok then, I should have expected that.

The reason is about replacement cost, since I know I’m going to lose a few wheels anyway. For example, my BMW had 20” forged rims yet I managed to crack 2 of them on the potholes where I drive, they were $1000 each to replace. Replicas would have been $150, and there are many BMW replicas. In the short time that I’ve had this 997, one factory wheel is already very slightly dented and I don’t even drive with PASM enabled (ie softer suspension).

So then, I don’t care what crap casting the wheel is, I have a separate set of wheels for the track, I just need a cheap easy to replace set for daily driving.

I don’t know what the wheel size is for a narrow body but I have a wide body and my Porsche dealer quoted me $1200 per rear wheel. So replicas is what I’m after, for now anyway.

 

So I checked a local used tire store and someone traded in the exact style of wheel I posted (but in silver instead of black), but something looks off and doesn’t make sense.. the OEM wheels in the picture are 997 turbo forged wheels and staggered at 8.5” and 11” but the ones the shop has (which look identical) are 8.5” and 9.5”, and the guy thinks they’re cast because they’re heavy. But they appear to be OEM from the markings.

Does this male any sense? Is there such a thing as a non-forged Turbo OEM wheel? Is there any wide body (996?) that uses 9.5” in the rear? If I did get them, how much of a spacer would I need to make them sit right, or would that mess up the handling?
The store is selling the set for cheap so I’d hate to pass these up...

 

No

i would either purchase OEM wheels or something else. I would not put a replica on.

 

8.5 and 9.5 are off boxster/cayman that someone ordered as an option

 

Knock offs are fine for avg street use. I have a pair of turbo wheels that are made in China that I use for winter rims. Bought them 9 years ago; put 12,000 kms on them back and forth from Toronto to California this past winter and they have probably 60,000 kms on them in total. No issues, no cracks, no nothin! I have plasti-dipped them 3 years ago as the original surface was oxidizing and the plastidip has held up great

Cheap oem rims always preferable but my replicas have held up great for a fraction of the price

 

Before venturing into the replica wilderness I would check with these guys first: http://www.wheelenhancement.com/products/wheels/porsche

They have or at least used to have used, refurbished OEM Porsche wheels at deep discounts compared to new ones which I think most would prefer to almost ridiculously cheap replicas of unknown quality made who knows where. Did I see you shoot for $150/wheel for new replicas or was that a misread?

 

Yes, so it looks like the wheels came off a 2009 Cayman S, which is why the rears are 9.5”. So, in that case, what would happen if I mount my existing 305/35 tire on the 9.5” rim? Will it deform the tire in such a way that it will reduce the effective width or change the handling?

 

Just keep an eye on the classifieds for some Turbo II wheels, and if you want them black, then get them powdercoated. You definitely don't want to put 9.5" wheels on the rear of a 4S and especially not with 305's. Like that old Pontiac commercial says, "E Aho Laula. . . wider is better".

Some of the manufacturers even have close-outs on occasion. I think someone had HRE "flow-forms" for $1500 a set recently which is going to be better than some random knock-off wheel. Also, it's super-hard, but swerve for potholes.

 

That's not going to work well. The 305 is typically mounted on a 11" rim and to put that in perspective, 305mm = 12". When you try to mount on a narrower rim, two things happen. First the bead and the sidewalls contact at a steeper angle making them less stable. Second the tire tread profile tends to be forced into a more bulbous shape. Neither are good for a low profile tire. On my jeep with a 285/85 R16 (33" tire) That's not a big distortion.

You could probably do a 285 tire on that rim, though a 265 would fit better, but then you have to match the outside diameter to the 305/30 R19 so that the AWD system has the correct offset it is designed for. If you try to drive the AWD system at the wrong offset, you will damage your front differential. I have no idea whether a tire is even available to meet the diameter AND load rating for the 911. And in addition, you'll be giving up some mechanical grip on the rear. I know because I intentionally run a 265/40 R18 on a 18X10" wheel in the winter.

Personally I don't feel there is anything wrong with an aftermarket wheel. They have to meet certain minimum safety requirements. My winter wheels are BBS SR. They aren't as nice as the Carrera SII made by OZ that my car came with, but in no way am I worried about their integrity. But I agree that starting with a good/refurbished used set of OEM Turbo wheels would be better for equal money if it can be done. You need to match the offset for the Turbo/4/4S cars, which is F 57/R 51 if I remember correctly.

 

Each tire manufacturer publishes acceptable wheel widths for each tire size. It's best to stick with those specs as explained above.