Ucube

Wow...those older Fuchs look like tricycle wheels next to the Carrera Sports. Thanks for the comparison pics, Dan.

Edgy01

I believe that there is some parallel development on the 18s as well, because a significant market (996 owners) resides in that area. How they will determine which are fielded first, and the gap between them is anyone's guess.

The difference between the Fuchs of yesteryear and today's wheels is incredible,--hence the reason I set up and took the picture. I grew up around the 16s being considered monster rims (7s and 8s and even 9s!) but they pale in comparison to the 19s which are made in up to 12 inch widths (GT3 and RS). That's a good 33% wider and more than what was put on the 930 Turbos back in the late 70s and during the 80s. (205/55x16 and 225/50x16 F,R contrasting with 235/35x19 and 305 or 325/30 (25) x 19s)!

mickfluff

the car these wheels are made for will sticker north of over 200K..... as limited production. can just imagine what the $ price will be for such wheels.... and how many will be produced available for purchase. Unless they make this wheel available on other P car models as an option prepare to pay high $$$$.....

808c2s

Great Info Edgy. Thanks.

Iozzio

In few weeks I will be releasing a fully forged, 2pc, 17" and 18" Fuchs style wheel based on an early design. Let me know what you guys think, please give me some feedback. Please email me for details Paul.Iozzio@gmail.com and check out the build pics here http://public.fotki.com/Iozzio/my-cars/17-fuchs/

Edgy01

I have to say that on that early 80s car it looks ridiculous. It looks like you're simply hogging it out of billet aluminum. As a two-piece wheel you lose strength and gain weight because TIG welding has to be used to connect the two pieces. It's substantially weaker than the real deal. Can't you make a one-piece true forged wheel?

Iozzio

I could cut them from plate but each wheel would cost the customer about $1000. I am shooting for a price of about $550 each. The production wheels are forged using a custom die, then lathed and finally machined. The wheels pictured are just prototypes so they were cut from solid plate. An original 15X5.5" Fuchs wheel was used during the designing of the new wheel. In reguards to the strength, I assure you the production wheels will be plenty strong enough for street and track use. The first two production wheels will go to Ohio for DOT/SFI testing. Centerline is making the forgings and Schott Wheels is machining/assembling the final production wheel. After the test fit on the Porsche pictured above, the owner is going to buy a set of painted/polished wheels. Thankyou for the feedback, let me know if you have any more questions.

Edgy01

You may need to watch yourself with the use of the term "Fuchs." Another manufacturer is now licensed to use that name in America,--to make forged one-piece wheels.

mickfluff

More like Porsche needed to get clubbed in the head with a sledge to finally bring these back.... no reading of mind just listening to demand thats been out there year after year after year.... finally....

mickfluff

well done, I could care less if you can't call them fuchs but good point Edgy...., we know what they look like so call them FUKes or something. Super job giving it a try. Personally never liked crome but can see beyond that in your design and love what I see. Looks very good and please keep us posted on your progress... they will need to cost less then the OEM ones Porsche is releasing to be a success and not by only 10% etc... thanks for listening and attempting to deliver a quality wheel... looking forward to hearing next steps...

Matt(inMA)

I'd be VERY interested in a set of 19" with black centers like the 997 SC....

Get working

Matt

OldGuy

Dan Great points. You should go and spend hours in the 993TT forums and explain to some of those nutjobs why 19s dont work on 993s.

stevepow

The proportions don't look correct to me - too much "spoke", so they end up looking like mod flower power versions of the original. They don't really quite work for me in any of the photos.

Take a look at Dan's pics of the original and the mock up as well as the SC wheel. I like the look of the SC wheel - that one is done right. Will be interested also to see what Dan's connection comes up with as a final.

Nice to see that the market has "awakened" though and some Fuchs love is coming for us from at least a few sources.

FlatSix911

The spokes should be elongated on the modern wheel sizes to maintain the correct proportions ...

Edgy01

What anyone who looks at the traditional Fuchs windmill pattern and today's cars will soon realize is that this is not a simple project. Offsets are critical to clear larger and larger brake calipers and to clear fenders. Also, to get the right optical look of a deep dish is a challenge with the current offsets. I would imagine that what we're seeing on the 911 Sport Classic are made by Fuchs KG in Germany. The only other current wheel offered for Porsche by Fuchs KG is the turbo wheel,--also forged.

This sort of undertaking is not simple, nor easy. Although CNC time is coming down from what it used to be, I venture to say that planning production wheels that are each hogged out of billet aluminum is costly. The original Fuchs windmill wheels were forged with massive dies and presses. It was a multi-step process to get the ultimate shape from a large aluminum blank. They didn't have to resort to milling it in those days with a CNC machine,--they didn't exist! You will find that the original Fuchs wheels were very much handmade, handled individually as they went from one step in the presses to the next. Even the paint work was quite a bit simpler,--dipped. Hopefully, the guys I know will have licked the design issues that have challenged others, including the ones by Iozzio.

Keep in mind that there is a significant difference in a two-piece wheel from a single forged piece. World's of difference. The earlier claims by Iozzio are a little misleading when he states that his is a forged wheel. CNC machining a center, and TIG welding it to a premanufactured wheel is not really a forged wheel, in the tradition of Fuchs. Check in periodically as Fuchs USA produces a true one-piece FORGED rim for the 997, 996, and 993s. The look is right, and the engineering behind it is world class.