mglobe

Go with the 18's. You will have more choices in tires, and they will be cheaper. Also, I like the 235/277 stagger better than the 235/295. You will get less push. Just be prepared to handle a more lively rear end (generally not a bad thing in more ways than one. )

mooty

the sol'n has been presented in several posts.
you can buy cheap many times or get it right once.
do NOT run 19" period.
you want 9" front, rear can be 11", 11.5" or 12" depending on what tires you want to run. if you want 315 sections you need 12" for example.

the best wheel to get is CCW C10, forget the rest.

call CCW and talk to john. tell him your experience and use for the wheel. ask him for tire recommendation (most like nt01, ra1, or r888) then he can help you decide width for rear.

i have just about all the wheels under the sun and now run CCW exclusively with 4 sets.

GreggT

florinda......ditto Mooty, and possibly suggest 'getting it right' be moved up a tad on your priority list.....I know it's your money.

But I notice "cheap" and "cheaper" in your your posts and hey, I like to save a buck as much as the next guy..... but at 150mph and in the track application, your tires and wheel type/fitment play a significant role.
If you are in traffic, at speed, going into a corner....... rarely do you think of how good a deal you got on what's keeping you on line.
Good luck with whatever you select.......and keep the shiny side up.

John52

A lot of interesting advice. I pretty well knew before I started this thread that the consensus would be to buy some good aftermarket 18x11's. The ex-racer voice in my head says go that route and get the maximum performance package. However, the question really is, for someone who is only going to do two or three events a year, (in the lower run groups) if I get some OEM 18x10 takeoffs and mount something like 285/35's, will it at least be comparable to my stock 19 inch set-up.

florindi

There are not many tires in the 18" diameter that is the same overall height as the stock 19's. The 295/30/19 is 25.96 inches tall. The most similar is 275/35/18 (25.58" tall) which is commonly available in many DOT-R tires such as Toyo RA1, R888, Nitto NT01, etc. Most tire companies carry 285/30/18 or 295/30/18 which is too short. So I know there are more tire choices but I am now only limited to a 275 rear tire, if I want to keep the same overall height or at least as close to the original height.
JOHN52, what tires do you recommend in that size? There are not many choices.
So this is why I want to buy 19" wheels and then either try MPSC or Toyo R888 for tires. Also, I would like to address "cheap". What I mean is inexpensive not cheap in quality. I would love to but a set of forged wheels, but I can't afford it right now. So I would like to get the most out of the least amount spent. So an extra set of stock rims with the appropriate tire. I probably attend 4-5 events a year. I am in intermediate 2 run group.

GreggT

Just curious but......please share why this is part of your buying criteria.

bella1

I have two sets of CCWs on my 996 using the offset for the 996 GT3. 8.5 X 18 Front and 11 X 18 Rear. I run Hoosiers 245/40 front 295/30 rear. I would recommend Michelin Pilot Sport Cup (MPSC) for your application. Great tires which I used to use before I went with -3 camber front and rear. The size I used was 235/40 front 295/30 rear.

Every 997, 997S, GT3 driver I see who is seriously into DE has gone to size 18 The guys at CCW can confirm what I say.

www.ccwheel.com

Good luck.

Carrera Mike

CCW hands down for fair priced on lightweight wheels custom made to your offset. They usually charge you tirerack price on their tires.

NVRANUF

I like my 18" Victor Equipment Wheels with 235/295 MSC for track use.

mglobe

I would not worry about matching the diameter of the stock 19" setup. What is important though is matching front to rear diameter. Also, for DE's, worrying about wheel weight is really silly. You will "win" every DE you attend not matter what weight wheel you run. More important is getting good tires under you so you have the grip to really have fun in the corners. For my car, I bought some old, somewhat beat up, Porsche Twists. 18" 8/10 front/rear. Did not pay much at all. Watch the for sale section on Rennlist and you can find a nice deal on Porsche rims. Yes they are not light, but they are strong, and you will win every DE you attend on them.

mooty

there are literally no good DE tires in 19". corsa and hoosier that's it. 888 is so so tire.

you have 997S. i am positive you can run 12" rear and 305 to 315, in hoosiers, r888 or nt-01.

diameter of tires doesn't have to match oem. just need to be close so you dont trigger all the computer faults. to that extent, you want the shortest tires for lower gearing.

florindi

Mooty,

That is correct and that is what I have been saying. Yes I would need a 12" wide wheel for 315 or 335. 305/30/18 is .6 inches shorter in height compared to stock. That's 2.5% off and could mess with ABS,PSM. You really should keep it under 2% variability. 305/35/18 exist Toyo RA1 and R888. This is a good size and really merits an 11" wide rim. Toyo lists that it would fit a 10" wide wheel, but that is going to bow out too much.

opus

Unfortunately, big rims are in fashion these days. Just look at the Porsche built website, there no optional 18" wheels available for 997.

purrybonker

I dunno - yet ANOTHER set of rims for us northern guys that need to keep snow tires in the shed?

The OP was talking about DE's 2 or 3 times a year. That would be my case as well. Is it really that necessary to have a set of dedicated 18" track/wheels and tires in the shed for a few runs per year?

I'm looking at DE as a way to improve my driving skills and pleasure in driving the car, not as a method to cutting a racing edge or embracing an entire sport/hobby. Besides, I think I'd work toward a purpose-owned track car if wanted to go that route.

Are my street 19's and street tires really that bad to run on the track?

NVRANUF

Nope, the stock 19" MPS2s are really good track tires, however if you start doing more "tracking" than once or twice a year they become a highly expensive consumable product......
18's are a way to offset expense and get better track grip with R compounds. They will also follow you onto a track-prep car should you head down that path.