Hi guys, I just bought an 04 boxster base model with 17 inch wheels on it. I'd like to go up to eighteens. Can anyone recommend the correct widths. I saw some 18x11 rears off a 911 turbo but worried that was just too wide.

P.s. Porsche dealership warned me to stay away from nineteens. Said it may result in damage. Not to mention a harsh ride.

 

Porsche Carrera style wheels (5-spoke design. light weight, easy to clean) were optional for your car....7 1/2 X 18 (50mm offset) in the front and 9 X 18 (52mm offset) in the back.

 

Note.. the same wheel, as offered on the 911, was 8x18 and 10x18. My '00 boxster had 18s.. Sport design wheels (looked a bit like early GT3 wheels). They were 7.5 and 9 x 18. (225front and 265rear width tires) Sorry, I forget the offsets though.

Check out a place like wheelenhancement.com for ideas of what will fit the boxster as a simple "bolt on". Otherwise you will have to do lots of math in your head to compare wheel widths, offsets (or ET) and the need for spacers to make a wheel fit. Ride height, alignment and rolling of fender lips can also impact what you can make fit.

Turbo wheels tend to have the wrong offset to work on the "narrow" cars vs the wider turbo bodywork.

 

OEM 18" wheels:
7.5x18 (ET 50) 225/40ZR18
9x18 (ET52) 265/35ZR18

Bentley also lists 9x18/10x18 as a combination, with the same tires as the standard 18"ers- what 986s were offered with those wheels?

 

Those wheels are the IXRC option, Sport techno wheels. The parts number are:
Front 996 362 136 51 from 2002 on
Rear 996 361 140 51 for 2002-03 and 996 362 140 52 for 2004.
You can find the information in the parts manual. You can download it for free from Porsche web site here:

http://www.porsche.com/usa/accessori...artscatalogue/

Cheers! Eric

 

Was that a factory option for 2004 986S? If so... man... I'd love to have bigger wheels like that for autocross, but am limited to factory stock wheel sizes in my class. $179 a wheel, and can put 265mm+ rubber on them Has anyone done this? Is there clearance?

 

It is my understanding that these wheels are a factory option from 2002 to 2004.
Eric

 

Factory wheel sizes are listed by others. I don't think you'll gain much by 18" over 17". I found there is much more of a difference in different tires/construction/compounds. You'll probably have more fun with cheaper, stickier 17" rubber. And the wheels are lighter.

I would not put 265/40R17 on there. Been there, done that. Those are too high of a load-carrying tire, and you do not have enough weight on the rear of a Boxster. Basically, the Boxster is running 911 sizes without the rear weight. If you can, upsize the fronts to 225s (17") or 235s (18").

 

you are correct , they are too wide but call me crazy , I put them on my car anyway. from a carrera 4cs 11" on rear 31mm spacer to clear shock, tire stuck out about 1/2 inch so I eventully flared the fenders, had no rubbing issues on the road or AX but at the DE I did rub, hence the flares , MAN do they stick around the corners.