I currently have 18's with summer tires; now that is has snowed in Dayton I am stuck until I order a winter set; (BTW I just bought the car, otherwise I would have planned ahead)

Also I have seen decent prices on 996 wheels on ebay. Would 996 OEM wheels fit on a 997.2?

 

Go to the TireRack website, plug in 2009 C2, and see what comes up. I think not, that there will be trouble with the brakes. 996 wheels have very different offsets (which you can learn about via the search function in this forum).

 

By your number of postings, it is clear that you haven't been here long. That question was asked several years ago when the 997 model first arrived on the scene. (I don't know why people feel compelled to go backwards with tire diameters). The consensus here is to stick to 19s or go to 18s for winter tires. What is decent price to you for a wheel? Use caution there as many wheels on eBay are not as they appear. You're far better off with Wheel Enhancement or another reputable firm when it comes to buying used rims. The Chinese manufacturers have struck the wheel market with several knockoff designs which you'd swear were OEM Porsche--but they're not.

In time you will find better tire fitments for the 18 and 19 inch rims, much like the older cars are seeking larger diameter rims to fit the newer tire technologies.

 

Trust me, there are those of us that wonder why they keep going "forward", i.e. "bigger" with tire diameters. Why do we need 19-20" rims on our cars? Most of them add unsprung weight, which I think overshadows any advantage to allowing for lower profile tires.

As for the Chinese or Italian knock-off rims, I've sadly read that there really isn't as much of a difference as we'd all like to think.

 

The optimal wheel / tire size is the 18 for these cars. 17 won't fit over the huge brakes we all want for stopping power, and 19 or up just has no reason for existing. 18 has just the right amount of sidewall, is a good balance between wheel vs. tire weight, etc.

 

Think I'd stick with 18" . As for the wheels, Victor makes a good wheel at a fair price as does OZ. Some of them are lighter than the OEM Porsche variety. As for quality, I'd beat they are at least equal to the OEM. Remember, Porsche outsources wheels and I doubt the manufacture/manufactures make Porsche wheels exclusively for Porsche and Porsche is nothing if not a great marketing company. Hence the , "If it's not expensive it can't be good enough for a Porsche" belief that many owners take as gospel.

 

Really can't beat the Tire Rack OZs in 8.5x18 front and 11x18 rear for about $1600 a set of four. New wheels, extremely light, good looking (they now have the CF center cap in), and warranty (vs. used wheels).

 

Non S they will fit. Koni cars all run 17"

 

Ditto that.
I have 19s (for bling only) on 2 Pcars, several sets of 18 for track.
I ran 17s on 997.2 last winter.....I don't not necessarily recomend it, but as far as 'fitting over the huge brakes'....as always it's more about specific wheel design and offset, that just whether it's a 17,18,19.
The wheel arch on 997.2s is larger/wider than 996....so you may disqualify 17s simply for the looks.....and if the car is significantly lowered, 17s won't be the ticket.
Good luck.

 

I have had great experience with 18 inch replicas of the stock C2 wheel. Made in Italy. I hear all these die hards saying never buy a replica. But I've never heard an actual problem or horror story. They are cast aluminum and visually indiscernable from the factory wheel. They fit perfectly and have never given me a problem. For all I know they're from the same manufacturer. I think Porsche sources wheels from Italy.

Your call. But for winter I see no problem with it. And you'll feel much better when you get the inevitable chip from sand, potholes, whatever.

I bought them in Jan 07, when the 997 was still relatively new. So they were more than $1000 for the set. You can buy a set now for about half that. If my memory serves me correctly, this is the company I bought my wheels from. I bought them with N spec Continental winter tires mounted and balanced. http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/18-Wh...item2c4f18995b