Will a 18x10 rear and a 18x8.5 front rim fit on an 03 boxster?. Rims are aftermarket and were originally off a 996 turbo. Are the bolt patterns the same?

Thanks in advance for any help.

 

They will fit if the offset is in the right ballpark. Mine are 18x10 ET48 and 18x8.5 ET52. Bolt pattern for 996 is the same as Boxster.

 

rears are 18x10 ET66 fronts are 18x8.5 ET58
I'm clueless as to what that means...I think they came off a 996 turbo...I've already purchased them...am I screwed in thinking these will fit an 03 Boxster "S" or could it happen.

 

I don't think you're screwed; you just haven't finished spending money. My wheels barely clear the struts, etc. (The ET number is the offset in mm) You will need spacers to make your new wheels clear. Comparing your new wheels with mine on the calculator at http://toy4two.home.mindspring.com/offset.html I get that you'll need about 18mm rear spacers and 6mm front. I know that 21mm and 7mm spacers are easy to find in the catalogs.

 

mickf thanks for the reply...I just got a similar answer regarding spacers from a tire place near here...however they said they don't ever recommend using spacers for two reasons
#1 they said it adds strain to the suspension and #2 they said it has a tendancy to unbalance the rim on the car.
Have you heard of this before?

 

Spacers don't add strain to the suspension since you'd be returning the offset to more stock. Wider wheels/lower profile tires/etc. will put more strain on the suspension, though. The unbalancing depends on the quality of the spacer and hub-centric ridges, etc., and how careful you are in mounting and tightening the bolts. Personally, I wouldn't expect any issues if you get the right spacers. My 18" wheels are almost the same as mickf, fronts being 8" wide but otherwise same.

 

I dent have the 8X10s but I did put 21MM spacers all around just for the fuller look with 18 Boxster S wheels. I received the added bonus of a less twitchy handling vehicle, more solid but not heavy feel.

 

Turboflyer ...where did you get your spacers...haven't had any experience in looking for or purchasing any to date. If you don't mind my asking what should I expect to pay for a set of good quality spacers....and if you or anyone else knows ...what is the difference between a regular spacer and one of better quality.

BTW - thank you for the feedback...making me less nervous about using these new rims. I guess I'll find out soon enough if they'll fit or not.

 

Finally found the receipt. It was from Park Place Porsche 800-443-5212. My mistake the invoice says 17MM I thought they were 21s. You have some options there depending on what you need to achieve. Quality humm, well these are a P part number and made to their specs. That isn't to say there isn't a better made product out there. I am just not aware of it. I think this receipt was for a set of two at 256.50 and I cant find the other invoice but my memory says it was about 500 plus. Zims is another place you could check. They have always been very helpfuls and knowledgable.

 

Thanks for the help Turboflyer...had no idea that spacers could be so much. I got the rims for a great deal so I won't complain if I need to spend a little more...but WOW I never honestly thought I'd be spending close to $800 for spacers. I've never heard of Zims, but will phone our equivalent tomorrow for pricing (closed on Sundays)

BTW - ever heard of Hub Centric spacers?...what are these?
arenared you mentioned them once...if you're still following this thread I'd appreciate the education.

 

There are several makers of good spacers. Mine are H&R. Try doing a Google search on "H&R Spacers" and you'll get a bunch of sellers you can shop with re price and availability.

"Hub-centric" is a term, not a brand. It refers to how the spacers fit on the car. Hub-centric spacers fit tightly against the part of the hub that your wheel fits over, thus centering it and supporting it. Some spacers merely bolt on behind the wheel -- by not fitting tightly around the hub it would seem that the lug bolts would have to withstand much more stress than with hub-centric types.

 

Thanks mickf and others for the valuble feedback...found an H&R authorized aftermarket outfit here today that specializes in tuning...ie: spacers springs etc. The guy was super helpful and had some great suggestions for lowering the car with H&R springs and Bilstein shocks. Does anyone know if this type of work will void the factory warranty? ...Does it need to be performed by a Porsche authorized dealer?

BTW - these guys had some good pricing for the Hub-centric H&R spacers $350 ...was quoted as much as $600 from another outfit for the same thing. The quote for lowering with H&R and Bilstein was around $2000 labour and taxes in...is that good?

 

My take: It's a good deal! You're saving a lot on labor by having the springs & shocks replaced at the same time. Enjoy!