skeetshooter

What are you 997 owners using for autocross tires? What are you using for wheels. My 997 has 19" wheels and I suspect it will be hard to find autocross tires for those wheels.

Skeeter

Jim Michaels

You got that right. Very few R-compound tires in the 19" sizes. Michelin Pilot Sport Cups come in 19", but they are not very good for autocrossing because they don't get hot enough to provide their optimum grip. Switching to 18" wheels would provide a wider choice of R-compounds (Kumho V710 and Yoko A048, for example), and switching to 17" wheels would provide an even wider range.

Peter Bull

The Michelin Pilot Sport that are stock on the 997 Carrera S here in Europe are really good. Not R-compound tires, but very close.

/Peter

skeetshooter

Yes, 17" appears to be the way to go. Where can I get 17x8 and 17x11 wheels for a 997 with the proper offset?

Skeeter

NJ-GT

For a 997, get a set of cheap 996TT 18" wheels (under $1,000) 18x8ET50 and 18x11ET45.

Tires, Kumho V710 245/285, almost the best grip for a DOT-R in autocross, long lasting, cheap, and improved rear torque due to autocross speeds and reduced rear diameter.

Jim Michaels

Before deciding on those sizes, you might look at wheels at www.wheelenhancement.com, and also call to talk to someone (310-836-8908) about the advantages and disadvantages of different wheel and tire sizes for autocrossing. While there are more tire options in the 17" wheel size than in 18 or 19, 17s may not be advised for 997s that came with 18s or 19s. 17" wheels will weigh less, but the tires you fit put on them will weigh more due to their wider sidewalls. They may also look a little strange, but if they will work better, that's the main thing. Also, I think the 8X17 front you mentioned should be at least 8.5, or even 9, for autocrossing, if 9s will fit without rubbing. Porsches tend to understeer (push) in tight turns, so wide in the front will help reduce that. Wheel Enhancement can identify the cast Porsche wheels that will work, or can build any of their 3-piece forged (strong and light) wheels to the exact offsets to fit. Just to make your job more complex, you may also want to be thinking about optimum tire sizes for the wheels at the same time. You can get help from people at Tire Rack (877-835-8473) on that. They carry most of the popular R-compound tires. I have no affiliation with either place, except a happy history dealing with both. My car came with 18" wheels, so I bought a second set of 18" wheels and have Michelin Sport Cups on them for autocross and track. While I like the Cups a lot on track, they are not very good for autocross. I think I'll try the Yokohama A048 R-compound tires next. Hopefully, they will provide more grip cold than the Cups, and I can stand their noise on the road to and from events. Kumho V710 R-compound tires are probably the best for autocross, but they really shouldn't be driven on the road to and from events. So wanting to drive to and from events on your R-compound tires constitutes another restriction. If I wanted my Porsche to be as fast as it could be, I'd have wide and lightweight forged wheels shod with V710s, change my wheels/tires at the event, and hire a better driver.

Jim Michaels

Okay, forget what I said. I like NJ-GT's idea better. Less hassle and much cheaper.

motomodz

996-TT wheels will NOT fit the 997. the stock offset for the 19 inch 997 wheels is 57MM front and 67MM rear.....Also, be careful going with a wheel smaller than 18" diameter as you may start too interfere with brake caliper clearance. I ordered a set of custom made 18" wheels with appropriate offsets in 18X9 front and 18X11 rear.

I have set of 996TT hollow spoke wheels for sale....(I thought they would fit too!)

kurquhart

This must be a different tire than the PS2s that are available in the US. I have PS2 on my 997S, and they overheat and get greasy on the second lap in AX. I then spend the rest of the session practicing car control while my times steadily increase.

They are a great tire for the street, however. Much better than the Continental that came on my car.

skeetshooter

Well, I guess that depends on the 997. Mine is a bone stock non-S model. The 996TT front wheels fit my 997 just fine. The rear wheels, especially with with 315/35's installed stick out of the fender well a bit. Either the ride height is sufficiently high enough to prevent rubbing or there is enough camber gain when the suspension compresses to keep there from being a problem.

I am concerned about the rear wheels and will not autocross the 997 with those wheels on a bumpy course until I find out more. If I had a 997S or a lowered standard 997, I would not use the rear wheels.

Skeeter