968 wheels - size advice please

[jptoon]

My newly acquired 968 cab arrives this week and it has standard 16" cup wheels fitted. I'd like to upgrade to either 17" cups or other or 18" wheels but I'd like some advice on options and also any Negatives, especially if I was to go to 18".

Thanks in advance

 

[Oily]

Welcome to the 968 world.

I think the opinion is that the ride gets harsher as you go larger.

Good luck.

Regards

Oily

 

[jptoon]

Thanks Olly,

I'm hoping to get some detail from anyone that has made the change, both to 17" and 18".

JP

 

[Chrishazle]

There's a member on the porsche968uk.co.uk forum (memartin) who has had a 968 cab for years and has both 16's and 17's and can advise. I had a coupe on 16's for years, first cab I test drove had 18's (plus 225's on the front and 255's on the rear) and the ride was harsh. Also I did not like the appearance of those aftermarket 18's - I think the car is still on PH, it's the guards red cab at Hagertys Cars Stourbridge. My cab is also on 16's.

IIRC, coupes and cabs had 16's as standard and 17's as options, sports and CS's had 17's as standard, and on a recent post on 968uk there was a comment "Porsche specifically advised against 18's on 968's, without giving a reason". However, there are people who have 18's fitted - perhaps the more track oriented folk who are not so bothered about harshness in the road ride but like the extra precision for track use. Had I bought the red cab, one of the first things I would have done would have been to replace the 18's with smaller rims.

 

[jptoon]

Thanks Chris, ive seen a very nice set of original 18" Carrera 5 spoke alloys for sale that I think would look great on my 968 but maybe the sensible choice is going to be 17" Cups.

 

[Chrishazle]

I must admit, I'd like to try the car on 17's just to see the difference - but a set of 17" cups will set you back a pretty penny if you can find them! They occasionally come up on eBay and PH, and there was a set sold recently on 968uk - best part of £1k! I think alloywheelsdirect.net offer them brand new - for about £1700!! Just a thought for when you do get 17's - put winter tyres on the 16's and keep them!

 

[jptoon]

I've seen those prices for 17" cups but i guess a good used set would keep their value. Doubt I'll ever use the car during winter so I may sell on the 16" wheels. Any idea on what's a reasonable asking price ? They are in very good condition.

JP

 

[964RS_DAB]

I think 17s will be fine as Porsche supplied 17s as standard fitment on many 968s. 18s will undoubtedly be harsher and noisier due to lower profile tyres.

If you decide to go for 17 Cups - make sure you get the correct offsets, 968 Cup wheels are quite hard to find, as Chris says, you'll probably be looking at a cost in the region of £1k

IIRC the correct 968 offsets are:

Front 17 * 7.5 ET65
Rear 17 * 9.0 ET55

 

[jptoon]

Thanks for the offset info David.

Hopefully I'll strike lucky finding a decent 2nd hand set to save me shelling out for new ones.

JP

 

[Chrishazle]

Are you new to 968 ownership - and where in the country are you? The 968 forum on here is pretty quiet - David stuck his head above the parapet after selling one of the best CS's you'll ever see last year! I'd suggest you register on porsche968uk.co.uk - it's a lot more active than this forum, and has loads of good and useful info and members. There are a good few on here who are also on there - folk like Mr968 which is Stu, the guy that owns and runs 968uk, Paul Follett of racing fame (and PCGB 968 asst. register sec)and a few others.

Edit - just a heads up from a post on 968uk - chap in Scotland was offered a set of 17" cup 2's in good nick, but they did not have offset and rim size markings either side of the valve nor did they have a Porsche part number on the inside of one of the spokes - thus they're not genuine Porsche wheels! I've also seen lots of posts on other forums about dodgy wheels being sold on eBay, so be very careful about what you buy!

 

[jptoon]

Thanks for yet more good advice Chris.

I've tried joining porsche968uk but you need the chassis number and I can't get hold of the guy I'm buying the car off right now to sort it. I doesn't arrive until Thursday so I will have to wait and register then as he still has all the docs.

Btw I checked out that website you mentioned for original 17" cups and the they are over £2'300 at set now.

I'm actually in Bahrain but when I'm back in the UK I live in Newcastle upon Tyne. Due to leave here for good later this year, hence buying a Porsche again.

Thanks again

JP

 

[Super_Marv]

Also, check that your 968 has the newer style caster bushes if it has 16" wheels fitted and upgrade them to the newer style if you want to go to 17"s or 18"s. (this is Porsche's recommendation, for the 17"s at least)

Hartech will sell you new caster bushes for half the price what Porsche sell them for.

 

[Paul RN]

I don't notice a stiffer ride on my 18s I can only assume the tyres I had on the 17s must have had stiff tyre walls compared with those on my 18s.

 

[jptoon]

Cheers Marv, it's in the OPC next week for a full inspection so I'll ask them to check out the caster bushes then.

Peter, what make and model of tyres do you have on your 18" wheels ?

 

[jptoon]

Sorry about the name mix-up Paul

JP

 

[RHT45]

I can't comment on fitting 17s to a cab but I am selling my CS on its (genuine) Cup 1s. I bought them from someone at RPM who had them on his 944T. The original set of Cup 1s (also genuine) which I presume were on the car from new were then fitted with a set of intermediates as I planned to use the car for track days but never used them. I therefore have a set of genuine 17s with correct offsets for sale if the lucky new owner doesn't want them with the car as a package. The "new" wheels are black with a blue rim (as per PH photo) and the others in the original silver. Make me an offer!

 

[Super_Marv]

ORIGINAL: Super_Marv

Also, check that your 968 has the newer style caster bushes if it has 16" wheels fitted and upgrade them to the newer style if you want to go to 17"s or 18"s. (this is Porsche's recommendation, for the 17"s at least)

Hartech will sell you new caster bushes for half the price what Porsche sell them for.

Sorry, just re-read that and it doesn't quite make sense - I meant check to see if your car has the old style caster bushes and if it does, upgrade them to the newer type!

Newer type at the top, older at the bottom:

 

[jptoon]

I understood your first post Marv, thanks for the pic though it makes things far easier for me as i'm no mechanic !!

JP

 

[Big Dave]

Ok wheel changes on a 968 cabrio...

Many moons ago i had a 68 cab, it originaly came with a set of 16" wheels.
It was nice and comfy.[]
But looked dated, so i fitted a set of Cup 2,s In 17" . The car looked far better and the ride qualitry was acceptable, yes it was a tad stiffer, but still comfy.[]
I then, came across a set of 18" Sport Classic Porsche wheels. Fitted them along with the correct sized tyres,,,,,,,,, BUT,,,,,,, the ride quality deteriorated considerably. Lots more scuttle shake , lots more road noise, the ride became ,, crashy, needless to say i couldnt live with them so reverted back to the 17" wheels , which it where it stayed until i sold the car.

I suppose it all depends how you like the car to feel. The 18,s ,,, i thought , were a step to far. But its all down to personal preferance..
Enjoy your 968 experience...[][][][]

 

[Chrishazle]

ORIGINAL: Super_Marv

Sorry, just re-read that and it doesn't quite make sense - I meant check to see if your car has the old style caster bushes and if it does, upgrade them to the newer type!

Newer type at the top, older at the bottom:

Marv, what's the reason / benefit of this? Hartech call it the front wishbone rear bush (at £35, no doubt plus VAT and delivery) each, plus time to fit, so the upgrade is going to cost £1-200 even at Indie prices!