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I find the anti-Porsche center lock wheel opinions/comments a bit disingenuous.
Since 2009, they have been standard equipment on the 997 GTS, 997 Speedster, 997.2 GT3/2, 997.2 turbo/turbo S, 991.1/991.2 GTS, 991.1/.2 GT3/3RS/GT2/GT2RS, 991.1/.2 Speedster, 991/.2 turbo/turbo S, 911R, 992 GTS/GT3/GT3RS and likely every other GT and special edition 911 (except, notably, the 997/992 Sport Classic).
Beauty is in the eye of every beholder, but no way I look at a 5-lug wheel and say "That is way cooler than a one nut version".
Virtually every aftermarket wheel (BBS/Forgeline/OZ/etc.) print ad depicts their very best wheels in a center lock version.
From the Carrera GTS through the 918, it is standard equipment on the most sought after "collectable" versions of the marque. BBS in the 80's sold a wheel that covered the 5-lugs with a faux center line nut. The 959 covered them, as well.
Scores of folks who track their cars with CL wheels report zero issues with wheel changes. But, sure, go ahead and prefer 5-lug wheels on your Porsche exotic- it definitely makes your build more rare, but hardly more desirable. And, honestly, don't try and sell me the notion that it is superior technology, or more convenient, or better looking. I have 25K miles on my center lines and have never had a problem. If I get a flat tire, 99% of the time I will have the car flat bed towed. In a remote location, I might try the flat fix goo, which guarantees a tire replacement. Is an emergency five lug compact spare tire even an option? Do I trust a shop in East Bumf*ck without center line experience/expertise to mount/balance a new 5-lug tire?
I do grant special exception to the 997/992 Sport Classic and 997 Speedster paying homage to the classic Fuchsfelge alloy look (cutting edge tech in its day, but not today).
To each his/her own, YMMV and by all means disregard or ignore my opinion if it offends.
I find the anti-Porsche center lock wheel opinions/comments a bit disingenuous.
Since 2009, they have been standard equipment on the 997 GTS, 997 Speedster, 997.2 GT3/2, 997.2 turbo/turbo S, 991.1/991.2 GTS, 991.1/.2 GT3/3RS/GT2/GT2RS, 991.1/.2 Speedster, 991/.2 turbo/turbo S, 911R, 992 GTS/GT3/GT3RS and likely every other GT and special edition 911 (except, notably, the 997/992 Sport Classic).
Beauty is in the eye of every beholder, but no way I look at a 5-lug wheel and say "That is way cooler than a one nut version".
Virtually every aftermarket wheel (BBS/Forgeline/OZ/etc.) print ad depicts their very best wheels in a center lock version.
From the Carrera GTS through the 918, it is standard equipment on the most sought after "collectable" versions of the marque. BBS in the 80's sold a wheel that covered the 5-lugs with a faux center line nut. The 959 covered them, as well.
Scores of folks who track their cars with CL wheels report zero issues with wheel changes. But, sure, go ahead and prefer 5-lug wheels on your Porsche exotic- it definitely makes your build more rare, but hardly more desirable. And, honestly, don't try and sell me the notion that it is superior technology, or more convenient, or better looking. I have 25K miles on my center lines and have never had a problem. If I get a flat tire, 99% of the time I will have the car flat bed towed. In a remote location, I might try the flat fix goo, which guarantees a tire replacement. Is an emergency five lug compact spare tire even an option? Do I trust a shop in East Bumf*ck without center line experience/expertise to mount/balance a new 5-lug tire?
I do grant special exception to the 997/992 Sport Classic and 997 Speedster paying homage to the classic Fuchsfelge alloy look (cutting edge tech in its day, but not today).
To each his/her own, YMMV and by all means disregard or ignore my opinion if it offends.
There is a lot of dislike for them, but the visual trade-off for minor perceived inconvenience was worth it for me, so much so that I converted from 5 lug to CL
I think I prefer light silver, but only had access to black at the time.
I find the anti-Porsche center lock wheel opinions/comments a bit disingenuous.
Since 2009, they have been standard equipment on the 997 GTS, 997 Speedster, 997.2 GT3/2, 997.2 turbo/turbo S, 991.1/991.2 GTS, 991.1/.2 GT3/3RS/GT2/GT2RS, 991.1/.2 Speedster, 991/.2 turbo/turbo S, 911R, 992 GTS/GT3/GT3RS and likely every other GT and special edition 911 (except, notably, the 997/992 Sport Classic).
Beauty is in the eye of every beholder, but no way I look at a 5-lug wheel and say "That is way cooler than a one nut version".
Virtually every aftermarket wheel (BBS/Forgeline/OZ/etc.) print ad depicts their very best wheels in a center lock version.
From the Carrera GTS through the 918, it is standard equipment on the most sought after "collectable" versions of the marque. BBS in the 80's sold a wheel that covered the 5-lugs with a faux center line nut. The 959 covered them, as well.
Scores of folks who track their cars with CL wheels report zero issues with wheel changes. But, sure, go ahead and prefer 5-lug wheels on your Porsche exotic- it definitely makes your build more rare, but hardly more desirable. And, honestly, don't try and sell me the notion that it is superior technology, or more convenient, or better looking. I have 25K miles on my center lines and have never had a problem. If I get a flat tire, 99% of the time I will have the car flat bed towed. In a remote location, I might try the flat fix goo, which guarantees a tire replacement. Is an emergency five lug compact spare tire even an option? Do I trust a shop in East Bumf*ck without center line experience/expertise to mount/balance a new 5-lug tire?
I do grant special exception to the 997/992 Sport Classic and 997 Speedster paying homage to the classic Fuchsfelge alloy look (cutting edge tech in its day, but not today).
To each his/her own, YMMV and by all means disregard or ignore my opinion if it offends.
Agree with most of this except convenience and you didn't mention wheel options. More 5 lug wheels available to choose from than CLs.
Telling me you flat bed your CL 911 if there's a flat doesn't make CLs or 5 lugs more convenient. It's the access to a flat bed tow truck that's convenient.
Tracking with 5 lugs is more convenient. I can zip 4x 5 lug wheels on and off with a full pad change in 30 minutes. That can be done between sessions. It was impossible to change as quickly with CLs when I tracked a CL equipped 911 without a second person to help. I can change timed out wheel studs for $200 in about an hour. CL hubs time out after 4200 track miles at $2500 an axle. No problem if you can afford a $6k (labor) hub swap every few years. But certainly not convenient.
I love and prefer the look of the CLs but when you actually have to use them and R&R wheels regularly, 5 lugs are more convenient, easier and cheaper to live with.
Nate, I accept your exceptions of track day convenience and greater wheel choices that make 5-lugs a better choice for you.
I would say you occupy a very small subset of 997 GTS owners. What you do/have done is totally awesome. Your build thread is probably the most interesting and informative on Rennlist.
I've found plenty of choices in 19" CL wheels, even more in 20/21, for a 997 model. Most of them, owing to the 911 models that are CL, are forged and cost dearly.
I did neglect to mention the inability to use spacers with a CL wheel as a detriment. And the OEM Spyder wheel offsets on a 997 GTS are just plain atrocious. Again, $ solves that problem, but one can buy a prefect offset/width in a stronger and lighter (than ANY OEM equivalent size, except the magnesiums) version. And there is no scarcity of high performance street and track tires (if $ is no concern) to run on those bespoke custom forged CL wheels.
Style is a personal thang, but like @Aclmin 's example*, CL wheels look badass on a 911. I am not fond of many OEM wheels, and there are dozens of aftermarket wheels that hurt my eyes. How anyone could love/tolerate the design of a Lobster Fork wheel is totally beyond me.
But, variety is the spice of life. Enjoy what you have, or mod it to your liking.
*
This picture sold me on OZ UL's on a 997 GTS:
So, I bought these for mine from a RL member:
But the OEM Spyders are OK wheels, even on a track...
Holy Grail, to me...gorgeous Forgelines on @sandwedge 's GTS:
Last edited by Liste-Renn; 11-11-2022 at 04:48 PM.
11-08-2022, 09:53 PM
