First off, thanks in advance for any guidance. I've been researching for a couple months and I'm not getting any closer to making any decisions, so any prescriptive replies are very welcome.

I'm in Wisconsin where a lot of roads are very bad. Broken pavement all over the highways and I think it's going to start contributing to rattles. It's not fun. I've got 19" Carrera Classics today, with stock suspension (in a Carrera2, 997.1) with lowering springs. It looks great, and anywhere else would probably drive great.

I'm looking for as close to stock as possible 18" wheel recommendations, and suspension refresh recommendations. I'll get the car in the air this spring to assess, but ultimately I want a fun comfortable car for backroads, that still looks good. Fat tires on 18s I think look good, with a mild drop and no rake.

Anyone been down this road or have prescribed reccs? I'm really struggling to settle on something.

 

Pic for fun

 

There’s a stock 18” wheel that came on base 7.2s

 

Or maybe I can start by just changing springs? I do really like these wheels. Is there a more comfortable spring that would offer a modest drop from stock but still be better than mine?

 

From what I know, lowering springs are never a good idea since they should match the dampers and are to be considered a pair. You could try going back to stock springs.

 

18s with more sidewall will help. Going back to stock springs will help.

What tire pressures are you running? Try 30F & 35 R if you're currently higher than that.

 

I am on Eibach lowering springs with 18" Michelin super sports on my 2005 base C2 and my car rides great here in NJ. The brand of tires make a difference as well.

 

I've got Michelin PS 4S tires now on my 19s. I already bottom out if I'm not careful around here so maybe the first order of business should be to go back to stock springs. I think if I switched to 18s, on the lowering springs, I'd be slightly even lower to the ground than I am today right?

 

One of the most overlooked aspects of ride quality are tires. There is a reason why some manufacturers have a specific tire compound made for their cars. I have been beyond impressed with Michelin PS4S tires. I switched from General GMax RS tires (which I'm told are basically Continentals and made in same factory - just different mold) and could tell an immediate improvement in ride quality, especially over short sharp bumps. The Generals had sharper turn in but rode harsher. PS4S are no slouch with turn in and provide a perfect blend of handling and ride quality. Also, I think they look fantastic. I prefer the squared off look of a sidewall rather than the rounded off look. 18" wheels plus PS4S are a pretty sweet combo.

 

I am usually running 31F, 35R today, which is I believe slightly under the manual? I think that in the manual it said something like 33/38. With the stock dampers, is there a spring that is known to be a little bit more comfortable, but a little lower than stock? The stock ride height looks like a truck, but with the Eibach springs I have now (previous owner installed) you can't even get a finger between fender and tire up front, and there is a slight forward rake.

 

"]I've got Michelin PS 4S tires now on my 19s. I already bottom out if I'm not careful around here so maybe the first order of business should be to go back to stock springs. I think if I switched to 18s, on the lowering springs, I'd be slightly even lower to the ground than I am today right?"

Wrong. The stock 18" wheel/tire size combo is actually a larger diameter then the 19". Look it up on tire rack or other using the stock 18 and 19 tire sizes for the 997

 

I'm not sure on alternative springs as I put B16 coilovers on my PASM equipped car and customized the DSC controller to make them softer in low g-force situations.

 

I love my 18” Carrera IVs, 235/40-18 and 285/35-18 PS4S, might move to Conti’s in 235/40 and 295/35 next time around.

Instant ride compliance and less harshness over my previous 19” setup.

 

Oh, wow! Good to know, thank you so much

 

285 in the rear is a 10" wheel? I'm currently talking to someone about buying the Carrera IIIs which have 10" wheel in the rear, but I've heard from others to avoid that narrow in the rear. Also, what suspension are you on? That looks perfect.