I am sure there are threads on this but why is it so hard to search in this forum.

I need new wheels and tires but need advice on size!! should i go 20inch or 19? what are the tire sizes that go with them etc....any advice? will 20 ruin the rid etc... do i need to lower the car if i put 20?? i really want to change them asap

 

20" rims is bad news. 19" is a compromise, 18" is best.

I suppose that's not what you want to hear... but that is the way it is.

 

dont some p cars come with 19's stock?

 

It sounds like you're new to these cars.

Yes, all 997 S models come with 19" wheels. The non-S models came with 18", but could be ordered with 19". Some people prefer 18" for overall comfort, handling, and lower tire replacement costs. But the trend these days is bigger is better when it comes to wheels (mainly for looks).

There have been tons of discussions and opinions on benefits/penalties of going with 20" rims, pros and cons of different after-market wheels, impacts of changing offsets and rim widths/tire widths, etc etc. It is far too complex to provide simple answers at this point. I suggest you take your time and do some research on these forums and familiarize yourself with the issue before you spend money on different wheels.

 

not that new- just never paid attention to making changes till now...have been busy with my Exige S for the last 2 years...but will research more thanks

07 Exige S
07 CS4
08 Ford Expedition Limited
06 Mitsubihi Eclipse - all modded out and styled to be sexy!

 

Welcome to Rennlist and congrats on getting the 997.

20" wheels will be heavier and the tires will be more expensive. There Will be less air between the road and the wheel because of the lower profile tires for the 20" wheels, which will give you a rougher ride and increase the possibility of wheel damage due to pot holes.

19" wheels are a good, balanced compromise in looks, performance, ride, and tire availability.

 

Search is pretty easy and there have been dozens if not more threads on your question.

Here's a search on -- 20" wheels -- in the title only and only in 997:
https://rennlist.com/forums/search.php?searchid=5448220

In general, 18 is best for all modern Porsches, 19 is "fair", and 20" is a no-go due to weight, possible damage of the suspension (covered in depth recently), poor ride, expensive wheels / tires, etc.

 

Sumitomo HTRZIII has a number of reasonably priced 20" tires, but they're far narrower than you should be using, and the sizes available would upset the understeer/oversteer balance of the car. None of the best tires come in 20" at all; you can't run Hoosiers at the track, for instance. The larger wheel actually hinders performance, as the larger wheel is heavier than a smaller wheel with a larger tire.

If you're buying this for looks, get some 20" with rubber band tires but be aware you're SERIOUSLY hindering your Porsche's performance and very likely making it unsafe to drive. If you're buying this for racing, you need to stick to OEM sizes, or else you'll be bumped into a higher class. Otherwise, stick to 18 or 19".

 

thanks to everyone...ok i am sure i dont want 20's now and thats for sure. If i do get 18 should i lower the car, that gap seems huge...has anyone of you lowered your car and if so, hows the clearance of the nose and any ride changes?

 

I have 20s on my 2009 997S Cabrio. They're attractive and expensive Modulares that I worked into my deal for a fraction of what they would've cost retail, but after 2500 miles in the car (coming out of a 997S Coupe w/19" Champions), I'm likely going to sell them and drop down to 19s for the reasons mentioned here. The 20s look great and not ridiculously large (I thought they were 19s when I first saw the car on the showroom floor), but after some real-world experience, there is a ride quality and slight handling compromise that is starting to wear on me.

 

18 vs. 19 doesn't make any difference with lowering. Front tires are 25.5" around and rear are about 26.3" no matter what. The only thing that changes is the sidewall height. So the lowering question is totally separate. You don't have PASM, right? If not, lowering options are probably easier to deal with. I've got Sport PASM on my 09 and the ride height is "just right" at -20mm from what you have on your non-PASM car. Any lower and I'd be unhappy.

Me, I'd take things one at a time, enjoy the mod, then decide later. Things like ride height changes can have negative side effects (harsher ride, scraping on driveways, etc.). Maybe consider other things like headers / cats / exhaust / shifter / wheels, etc. first?

 

The 997 was designed around 19 inch wheels. They provide a performance boost to a certain extent--but as you get larger, you pay for increased weight of the wheels and tires, unsprung weight. If you know sports cars I need not go further.

 

Does the C2S need 19" wheels to accommodate the brakes, or do 18s fit?

 

also consider the roads where you live.

 

18 fits the calipers just fine. I'd also like to know why some of you think 19 wheels give a performance advantage?