Lemming

Ok, I've been wanting to transform my 924S frankencar (924S body/968 engine/951 transmission) into a 924 Carrera GT look alike for some time. Up to this point I have been stuck running 225/50-15's due to the narrow wheel wells. Now that I will be going with 944 fiberglass up front and fender wells in the back, I do not have that limitation. So what size is best! The car currently weighs around 2,450lbs, with the changes that I have planned I'm guessing she will weigh around 2,250lbs.

Other items to consider:

I'm a professor, so my budget is limited.

I typically run Toyo RA-1's, although I will likely start keeping a set of Hoosiers around for time trials.

With my current tires, I can easily spin them coming out of tight corners and I can easily lock them under hard braking (no ABS).

I want all 4 corners to be the same for optimal rotation - see first consideration above!

Bill L Seifert

Lemming

I am a traditionalist, FUCHS, I would put 8x16's on the back and 7x16's on the front, with 245-45-16 rear and 225 50 16 front. If you are going to track the car, which I assume you are, buy real Fuchs, not replicas. When you go to the wide fenders, you will need to go to the early offset.

Second option, IMHO, is an early offset 8 & 7 x 16 BBS. 15 or so years ago, Tire Rack sold a Rial (I believe.) wheel in 8 & 7 x 16 at a very reasonable price, you might be able to find a set of those at a good price. They look like BBS's and have gold centers.

By the way again IMHO, gold centers with pollished edges look great on a Guards Red car.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race Car

Lemming

I like Fuchs as well, just dislike the cost If I went that route, I would go 8x16 all around running 245's. But is that enough tire?

I have already picked up a set of cookies that will be used for rain tires (Hoosier DOT Wets).

M758

Well the standard Carrera GT body work is the same size as 944 body work.

So you can stuff 275's under there with the proper offset.

Best advice is to pick the tire size that you want based on cost & availaiblity. In a 16" wheel you are maxed at 245 I think. In a 17" wheel you can probably go larger. The trick in a 17" is to not mess up the overall diameter over stock. 225/50 15" is 1" shorter than stock and 245/45 16 is stock at 24.9".

Wormhole

I would think you would want 245/275 minimal. That’s my current setup on a 2400lb 951. I’ve also been wondering if there is such a thing as to wide. I might go wide body at some point with 315’s at the back, but I wonder if you can get them hot enough for optimal grip on a car so light, and if 295’s are better suited.

Lemming

Have any of you stuffed an R6 245/50-15 on a 7" rim?

M758

why are you limited to a 7" Wheel?


While you might be able to unless you class limited to a certain wheel why not try to get 8" wheels.

BTW... 15x8's are easy to aquire in early offset fuchs. I know of a few 944 spec guys with 15x8" fuchs they could sell you. (remember these wheels are not 944 spec legal so they would happy to part with them)

Just remembered.... a 245/50 R15 tire will be taller than a 225/50 R15. This may not be helpful as compared to 16" 245/45 tires.

Lemming

Short-term question prior to getting my car setup as a GT. I have some Time Trials coming up and am trying to get max grip and the only wheels I currently have are 7".

245/50 15's are the same diameter as the 245/45 16's (24.4"). I know that I can get them to fit since I once ran a 225/55 15 Hoosier (dirt cheap discounted tire).

Send me the names of those guys wanting to sell those 15x8 early offset Fuchs.

Z-man

Won't fit.

However, if you got 4 8Jx16 or 8Jx15's, you can run 245's at all four corners, which, IMHO, is the ideal setup for your application, especially given your budgetary concerns. (BTW: on my last set of Toyo RA-1's, I got 19 track days. And I rotate front to back, left to right, and flip them on the rim after 7-8 track days.)

Do you have an LSD transmission? If not, that would explain why you are spinning your wheels on corner exit. If you have LSD, and you are over-powering your rear wheels, then as stated above, a wider rear wheel would certainly help. But if you go with 275's in the rear, you won't be able to swap the wheels front to rear anymore.

My $0.42,
-Z-man.

Lemming

Yep, LSD. Have you tried to put the 245's on 7" wheels? The reason I ask is that the spec sheet shows 7-9" for the 245/50-15 tires. Measured width on the table was from 7.5" wheels. Again this question is only for the short term until I upgrade to the GT with early offset wheels.

aeshultz

Lemming;
As a point of interest - are you trying to be historically correct with the GT version, or just whatever works best? Reason being - Ijust became aware of (saw) a real 924 GTS here in Columbus. Yep- a real one. I might be able to check the original wheel/ tire sizes if you need them.

Alan

Z-man

Nope - I haven't -- just going by what my tire guy has said. He did say that they can squeeze them on a 7-inch wide wheel, but it wasn't recommended -- too much sidewall buldge.

-Z

Lemming

Not really, I'm just looking to get some wider wheels and shed some weight on my 924S and the best way to do that is with a "wide-body kit". Turns out the the GT fits the bill and looks great IMO.

Z - that was my concern when I saw that 7" was the lower limit.

Willard Bridgham 3

I don't think you have enough HP to warrant using 275's anywhere....rolling resistance will overcome extra tire surface,

Lots and lots of n/a track cars at about your track weight run 225 or 245 all around quite successfully.

Bill L Seifert

Tod of TODANDCHARITY.com has a set of 8 & 7 x 15 fully polished Fuchs as we speak. I cant remember his whole email but PM me for his phone if you don't know it. I've used 245-50-15 R1's in Hoosier and BFG (If they make them with their new tires. They are fine.

Bill Seifert

1987 944S Race Car