tadohw

I'm looking for advice on putting fatter profile tires on stock 19" rims to get a more aggressive look and a better ride on my 2009 997.2 C2S Cab.

I'm on my fourth 911 and second 997. I prefer the ride of 18" wheels with higher profile tires but want the look of a more aggressive set up with the OEM 19's including spacers to push the wheels out a bit. I have multiple sets of wheels including the stock Carrera II wheels with 295's on the rear and another set of the Carrera Sport rims with 305's on the rear (both sets are narrow body offset wheels) and I currently run 7mm spacers on the front and 7 or 15mm on the rear depending on which set of wheels is on the car. I like the edge of the tire lined up with the fender. Ride height, suspension and sway bars are all stock.

My question is this, has anyone out there put higher profile tires on the 19's and how fat can you go? I know options for tires get limited from searching tire rack but I'm thinking of going as follows:

Front - replacing 235/35/19 with 235/40/19.
Rear - replacing 295/30/19 with 235/35/19.

Thanks in advance,
Drew

PS - Please post any pictures, particularly of custom painted rims. I'm considering having the wheels powder coated two toned to get the centers black with a machined or silver lip.

tadohw

295's on the rear replacements of course…...

StormRune

There are consequences to this change that may give you results you don't intend. Using willtheyfit.com, here are some important stats showing the before and after stats for the rear tires:
Most notably, this will raise the car almost 6/10ths of an inch (14.75mm, the increase is the sidewall height), but at the same time reduce the upper gap between the fender edge and the top of the tire by the same amount. The speedo change isn't that big a deal but you'd want to make sure you realize that it cancels out the build-in speedo error from the factory for now the car is actually going the indicated speed.

Since this effectively gives the car taller gearing, the effect on acceleration is a 4% loss in speed, the same as adding around 128 pounds of weight or removing 16 horsepower.

Have you tried dropping the air pressures in the tire to something safe (lets say 32/36) but well below the 36/44 a lot of people think is correct (which it is for a fully loaded car)? This can give you a big improvement.

Also, if your current tires are more than four years old they are likely getting fairly stiff. On the outside chance you are using run-flats, those would explain the hard ride.

OKB

you should keep 30s on the rear, period. you wont tell hardly any difference whether they are 5 or 10mm wider size, but the agressive look will come with the spacers and how far they sit the wheel out

Bruce In Philly

What about the effect the circumference will have on PSM/PASM/Traction management..... whatever? On my 997.2 S, I have to enter tire size into the computer. Any issues here?

Peace
Bruce in Philly

kisik

Your choices are:
For 19": 235 or 245/35/19 + 295 or 305/30/19
For 18": 235 or 245/40/18 + 265 (winter), 295 or 305/35/18
I use WB ET51 offset for my 18" wheels which is the same as stock NB offset + 15mm spacer.
Please no 295/35s....they don't even exist really.

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05' 997 C2S 6MT

tadohw

Thanks for all the thoughts. Since it was simplest, I lowered the air pressure as suggested and the ride does improve. It was never to harsh to be unbearable to begin with. For now, I will keep the pressure low but I am still thinking about going to the higher profile tires when this set wears out. I do recognize the power and ride height gain and for street, I am willing to accept it. The car is so capable that I'm not worried about 4% effective taller gearing for street use.

Thanks again,
Drew

BIG smoke

Watch the pricing on you fatter tire choice.
35 will be plentiful, 30 maybe premium.
A spacer maybe more cost effective. Make sure you use longer bolts too.
We the enthusiast, tend to stuff, until we screw up the intended purpose.
Form over function.

Alexandrius

Anyone know the best place to order Nitto NT01s in our sizes? (19s and 18s) I want to move from R888s.

kcheves

The OP is runing spacers with the NB fitment 10-spoke Carrera Sport wheels. I've been considering buying these wheels to replace the stock Carrera S II wheels on my 09 C2S, but have been told that spacers are not recommended with this wheel. I have the factory 5mm spacers I'd like to re-use if possible, and am curious if this will be a problem.

Along the same lines, can the NB Carrera Sports be used with 295 rear tires? Looks like most people are going with 305's, but I have new Michelin PSS 295's I'd like to re-use.

kisik

Any 11" rear rims could be used with 285-295, and 305s. You are not going to see a difference on the street. Just cosmetics.

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05' 997 C2S 6MT

kcheves

The Carrera Sports are 11.5" wide.