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I live in the Colorado foothills, and recently purchased a 997.2 C2S with 19” eight year old summer tires. An absolute death wish for any kind of cold weather driving.
Ideally I’d like to drive on mostly clear roads, colder (< 40F) temps, occasional light snow/slush.
Doing some research, I came across this link for a recommended winter tire/wheel setup:
Congrats on the 997.2! No issues per say but your front wheels will be flush with the fender with a 45ET (close to it) with the 3mm spacers that will put you at 42ET (This May be a bit much and may sit past front fender). Your Rear wheels will be quite a bit inboard compared to the front wheels. I would consider 10mm rear spacers.
In general with a 8.5" Front you want around a 50ET and the Rear a 50ET, to be close to flush with fender. Is your car factory ride height? Tire wise, the DWS is a good all-season and the tire sizes look good, a bit more meat for the winter months.
Congrats on the 997.2! No issues per say but your front wheels will be flush with the fender with a 45ET (close to it) with the 3mm spacers that will put you at 42ET (This May be a bit much and may sit past front fender). Your Rear wheels will be quite a bit inboard compared to the front wheels. I would consider 10mm rear spacers.
In general with a 8.5" Front you want around a 50ET and the Rear a 50ET, to be close to flush with fender. Is your car factory ride height? Tire wise, the DWS is a good all-season and the tire sizes look good, a bit more meat for the winter months.
The reason I listed the 3 mm spacers was that Apex claims it’s necessary for the C2S to clear the brake calipers. I definitely don’t want the wheels to stick outside the fenders though…
If you are looking at new wheels why not install the winter shoes on your current wheels and spend the next few months finding a great set of wheels that do not require spacers and shoe them up with your summer tires?
If you are looking at new wheels why not install the winter shoes on your current wheels and spend the next few months finding a great set of wheels that do not require spacers and shoe them up with your summer tires?
That would definitely be ideal, but I didn’t see winter tires available for the 19” wheels I have. Also, the current tires I have in the rear are 305/30-19. Kind of a wide tire for snow/slush…. Any particular winter tire recommendations for that size?
I would use only the Porsche recommended rim sizes including the Porsche offset specs. Then I would find tires spec'd by Porsche. These rim and tire specs are in your owner's manual. If you want Porsche rims, there are plenty of Wheel Boutiques out there on the net who sell used Porsche "take offs" Try https://sportscartire.com/ for complete setups.
Again, I only use Porsche specs/sizes for my winter and tire set ups. Tire brand... well I don't always adhere to their N spec and find the Michelin Alpins the best all around winter tire i have used on my Porsches since 2000. I tried a bunch.
I would use only the Porsche recommended rim sizes including the Porsche offset specs. Then I would find tires spec'd by Porsche. These rim and tire specs are in your owner's manual. If you want Porsche rims, there are plenty of Wheel Boutiques out there on the net who sell used Porsche "take offs" Try https://sportscartire.com/ for complete setups.
Again, I only use Porsche specs/sizes for my winter and tire set ups. Tire brand... well I don't always adhere to their N spec and find the Michelin Alpins the best all around winter tire i have used on my Porsches since 2000. I tried a bunch.
Peace
Bruce in Philly (now Atlanta)
Thanks Bruce! I didn’t know that was there, sure enough the owner’s manual has the full specs for a winter tire setup.
That front offset isn't good even without the spacers for a winter setup.
The DWS06+ is a great all season tire choice though. Ran them on my daughter's BMW X5 and now her Audi Q5 since it's her only car.
Living where you do, I might go with a more dedicated winter wheel and tire setup and a dedicated summer wheel and tire setup. Should be able to make your current wheels the winters and get some used forged wheels for summer or run some Boxster / Cayman 8" and 10" wheels as the wintwrs with some narrower tires that work better in the snow like a 225 or 235 at the front and 275 at the rear. Unless you have yellow PCCB calipers with the 6 piston fronts, many 18" wheels should fit fine over the red S calipers.withiut a spacer.
That front offset isn't good even without the spacers for a winter setup.
The DWS06+ is a great all season tire choice though. Ran them on my daughter's BMW X5 and now her Audi Q5 since it's her only car.
Living where you do, I might go with a more dedicated winter wheel and tire setup and a dedicated summer wheel and tire setup. Should be able to make your current wheels the winters and get some used forged wheels for summer or run some Boxster / Cayman 8" and 10" wheels as the wintwrs with some narrower tires that work better in the snow like a 225 or 235 at the front and 275 at the rear. Unless you have yellow PCCB calipers with the 6 piston fronts, many 18" wheels should fit fine over the red S calipers.withiut a spacer.
Here is what Porsche recommends according to the owner's manual:
Front 235/40 R18 91V - Rim Offset: 57 mm
Rear 265/40 R18 91V - Rim Offset: 60 mm
or
Front 235/35 R19 87V - Rim Offset: 57 mm
Rear 295/30 R19 100V - Rim Offset: 67 mm
The load capacity coefficient and max speed code letters are minimum requirements. Personally, I would go with 18" wheels, which will be better with potholes. The 18" wheel and tires size will also allow you to mount chains in the rear. From my experience, Porsche OEM wheels are stronger than any aftermarket wheel, which will also help you with potholes.
I run 19" widebody Lobsters and Pirelli Sottozeros for my winter setup. You can get Sottozeros in stock tire sizes and they are dedicated winter/snow tires. Only downside is price. They are spendy but worth it.
01-01-2023, 02:01 PM
Winter tires/wheels sanity check…
