RAudi Driver

I was able to pick up a set of 19" e88's and they should be here this coming week. These wheels were supposedly built for a NB 997.1, which I also have. However, the front width seems a wee bit wide at 9.5". No offsets were available. All the seller was able to give was that they were made for a 997.1 NB GT3.

Assuming that the offsets are perfect for this car, I'd like to dial the perfect tire sizes.

Can anyone offer any insight? I am thinking to going with a 245/35 up front and either the stock size or a 325 in the rear. I left 315 out of the mix because tire choices are limited in this size. I'm looking at DOT tires. MPSC, MPSS or the Trofeos.

Thanks in advance!

mdrums

With Trofeo's or MPSC go with 245/35/19 and 305/30/19. I've been running the 235/35/19 up front and it's too skinny of a tire for serious track work I've found.

RAudi Driver

Great! Has your tire come in contact with the top of the fender under hard compression? I was reading that due to the taller tire, it could happen.

Also, any reason not to throw a larger tire in the rear while I am at it? Is anything larger just asking for trouble with the car's ABS?

mdrums

No 245 is the width not height....245/35/19 same size the GT3RS front uses...just a wee bit wider than the GT3 235/35/19 and will fit your 9.5 wide wheels better too.

No reason for the wider tire with only using a 245 front. A 325 will fit if you want and your rear wheel is 12" wide and not offset too much.

997gt3north

The 245/35/19 MPSS may touch in the top of the fender liner if you hit a big bump - especially if the car has been lowered at all. The mk2 has a slightly stiffer front spring that likely prevents this at stock ride heights.

I think the better front tire is a 255/30/19 as it runs 25.1 vs 25.5 in diameter versus the 235/35/19 stock sizing and will of course fit perfectly on that rim. The 245/35/19 runs 25.8 in diameter.

They also have a 275/30/19 that is 25.6 - but you will need all the Jedi master techniques to make it work - and it wouldn't be a good daily driver tire - but with a swapped out stiffer front spring and a wood baseball bat I could make it work.

997gt3north

If you go with the 255, stick with the 305 as it will keep the f/r diameters within spec.

The 305 rear MPSS has a very large lip extension that makes the tire almost 315 section width - not tread width so it is wide enough for the narrow bodies. At minimum, a 325 would need the rear 5mm spacer removed but it should work width wise - but it will be tight.

pvgolfer

If you go for the Mich pilot super sports, they also have a 265/30/19 which would match up nicely with the 305/25/19. Price and performance seems to be a good compromise when compared to the Sport Cups.

997gt3north

Missed that one - 265/30 is a good choice also.

mdrums

245/35/19 doesn't rub it works...basically same ratio as the 235 version just slightly wider.

997gt3north, Who make a 255/30/19 r-compound DOT street/track tire? I have not seen that from any of the tire manufactures

Doc GTO

Mike,

I believe that he thinks that it may rub with the 9.5 inch wheels and that tire. That tire by itself would fit fine. I ran them on my S with no issues.

997gt3north

I will repeat again, the 245/35/19 MPSS 'may' rub if you hit a big bump if you have a 997gt3.mk1 and the car is lowered slightly - it will be a momentary thing and only on a big bump. I know this because I have those tires and it did at this fast compression on the way home. I have since upped the spring rate and further lowered the car and there is no issue.

A 245/35 isnt just wider than a 235/35 it is also slightly taller - 25.8 inches in diameter versus 25.5 inches.

Goto Tirerack.com and click on tires - brands - Michelin - Michelin Pilot Super Sports - Specs to see all the tire sizes available

On a stock ride height car the 245/35/19 MPSS will be fine - it is when lowered it can become an issue. That is why, besides the OP's 9.5 inch rim width that the 255/30 or 265/30 is the best choice.

Obviously the front struts will need rotated - and then you can play with the camber adjustment at the top and shims at the bottom to get the tire and wheel where you need it. The fender lip may need the smallest bit of messaging but it should be a great setup.

If the OP could post up pictures after and what was done it would be nice to see.

OP, when your shop is doing the alignment, make sure you have a set of LCA shims on hand. If you are going to go through this effort have them do it properly by maximizing the front track with shims for desired camber and then use the top strut adjustment as a secondary adjustment to make the wheel fit.

RAudi Driver

The 245 is also slightly higher as the profile is a percentage of the width.

I think I'm going to try the 255's or the 265's if they fit without modifying the fenders. If they don't then I'll do the 245's. For the rear, I'm sticking with the 305's for the time being, unless one of you guys can convince me otherwise.

mdrums

Who makes 255 19" R-Compound tires?????

997gt3north

Mike,

You are having a tough day or not reading very well.

The 255/30/19 is a Mich Pilot Super Sport


I believe the pics of the Orange 997gt3.mk1 that GMG is showing on another thread with all the body mods, wide fenders has the 255/30/19s - I zoomed in and am pretty sure that is them.


All the best

Paul

Nick Wong

Mike-

Read carefully between the lines.

1. Paul said that 245 width tires rubbed at stock height and stock spring rate. The only way that changed was to up the spring rate (reduce travel).

2. He also said he had to rotate the strut to accommodate the inner side of the tire/wheel.

What I have found- on a 9" wheel, proper backspacing, 245 width on 2.7 degrees camber is slightly beyond the limit of what the OE fender can accommodate (which is why the newer cars with 245/35R19 fronts have the carbon fenders or high clearance steel fender/plastic flare). That is, if you are **** like me, and refuse to accept any sort of rubbing whatsoever and require OE fit and finish (to me, the tire/fender rubbing, or doing what Paul did with spring rates, strut rotation etc., is not acceptable, but for others it may be perfectly fine).