Gents,

Lend me your ears. I am presently in discussions with the president of D-Force Wheels. they presently make lightweight BMW racing wheels for the E36 spec series. Bimmerworld sells them as do various other BMW racing suppliers.

Here is the information that I have thus far:

I have recevied a response from Tom Merrifield (President of D-Force Wheels).

He mentioned that he is presently looking into Porsche fitments and expects them to be available by next spring. However, he said to have a set made for us, we would need 60+ wheels fabricated. In other words, 15 sets. So, I inquired into the pricing and setup if I got 15 people to purchase a set of these:




Wheel Details: (LTW5)

Size Weight
17x8.5 16.2 lbs
17x9 16.4 lbs

18x9 (or possible 8.5) 17.8 lbs
18x10 18.8 lbs

(pricing example: Bimmwerworld's price for 17x9 is $259.99)


Upon inquiring further, I have received this response:



How many of you would be interested in some lightweight wheels for around $1000?

If we can get 15+ drivers, we can make this happen.

C.

 

I'm not a 944 spec guy...
...but I want 17x9s all around on my 86' 951 something around ET 23mm (I haven't sorted out what fits right just yet)

 

Hey Kyle...

Not sure on the offset situation yet. I have a feeling more folks will be running the later offset (as this also applies to other platforms).

Stay tuned.

C.

 

I like them, but for street not track! Nothing beats the cheap 15" phone dials, and the super-cheap tires you can get for those phone dials!

Nice option though for street use.

 

I'd pick up a set...I like.

 

My car is a street/DE car... I'm just not gonna take off ~16 lb Fuchs to put on ~25 lb OEM Porsche wheels. If I can't find 17x9 in the right offsets I might go back to the idea of picking up some 16x9 930 Fuchs for the rear and moving my 16x8 951 Fuchs to the front.

Either way: I'll live w/ 16x7&8 until something decent price comes along!

 

Hmm, another lister was trying to get these made with Porsche fitment a few months ago.

Here's the original post:

https://rennlist.com/forums/wheel-an...et-wheels.html

It didn't end succesfully, look at post #63:

"The manufacturers of these wheels have decided for now that they are not interested in producing Porsche wheels without a fairly significant initial order (40 sets of 1 staggered size). For now, I think it doesnt really make sense to go ahead with this venture."

 

Those are cool, but it's too easy to find cheap OEM track wheels. Or if you're like me, you make rack wheels out of nice OEM wheels and PF97 brake dust and rain. I'd buy them for street if my 944 was a street car. They'd look odd on my 911.

 

Which is why I posted the number required to make this order. 60 wheels (15 sets). Let's wait and see what the President says if I get enough people before we pass judgement. And...I am talking directly to the manufacturer not a distributor. The original poster of that thread was also in Canada. So it seems there are a number of factors involved on that thread.

Let's see what D-Force comes back with.

C.

 

Granted. But OEM wheels are inherently heavy. You'd be amazed what lightweight wheels do to your handling.

C.

 

Like I posted in the other forum... I am 100% interested.... in 16x7's. Nothing bigger is legal for ITS.

 

Chad, following up on schwank's ITS comments, to get the 944 CUP guys interested who run off of PCA rules, you would probably need to get the front 17s available in 8, not 8.5. Some of us NA guys are now running 17s (better tire ratios available compared to 16s) and 8.5 would put you into the Prepared class (+150lbs.). I'd also go late offsets, as those with early cars can just use spacers.

Just a thought, YMMV.

 

As mentioned elsewhere, offsets will be the spoiler.
No 944 here, but a 89 C4. Would be interested in 17s but would need 8" w/52 offset and 9 or 9.5" w/47 offset.

 

Yes the devil will be in the details and the offsets

The early cars will want ~15-23 mm

The later 911's will want ~55 mm

The 928 people will want 65-70+ mm

Greg Phillips

 

I'd be in for a complete set of 17x9's with a 55 offset.