Aftermarket wheels on a 944, porsche design or veloce RS

[924Srr27l]

U63AF
appreciate on a race track when your looking to save a few milliseconds off a lap time then the wheel weight is important but I dont believe you would notice a difference on a public road.

It's the manual steering that gives the game away so much on my 924 than it would do if it was power steering, so I could understand more some changes may not feel much different.

It's not just that the steering wheel is heavy to move when the wheels are heavy, but it involves every other function like braking requires more pedal pressure, the car will not turn in as sweet, it's more unsettled on bumps and in short it's so big a difference it's amazing to do a back to back as I did 3 weeks ago fro 16" to 17" and back again...


Look at the other thread on the disadvantages of bigger & heavier wheels, the first post is the ROAD GOLF
which when fitted from 15" to 19" is not a millisconds difference but a whole second slower on one of the acceleration tests. (have a look)

Happy to accept your challenge from the traffic lights. I will be dumping my clutch from 3,000 rpm and my nice 255 wide rear tyres will help put the power down. ha

Yeah me too ... In the wet yes? I'll have my 4 skinny 205mm treads and no clutch dumping required..

I would add, I enjoy the turbo/s2 banter, I actually have a turbo and an s2 so see the pros and cons either side. My turbo is not standard and will have a lot more torque and bhp then standard when its done and as such long term I will be keeping the turbo and selling the s2.

You prefer the whoosh to the slush...


R

 

[John Sims]

these look nice as well

Crumbs no! Nobody would ever fit something like that to a 944.

 

[blade7]

If there was ever a Road vehicle that would be described as a ticket to losing your licence.......
It would be for sure something "putting out 190 bhp and weighing 200kg" [&:]

R

That depends on where, when and how discreet you are...

 

[924Srr27l]

these look nice as well

Crumbs no! Nobody would ever fit something like that to a 944.

It's a very Popular pastime John, there are quite a few that go for the "slammed" and "Rimmed" look, many influences like
German and British Touring cars (especially) and many other forms of Racing contribute to this being "COOL" and it'll never
stop as the Road Tuning Wheels / Tyre's and Suspension market is a multi Million pound business, and that's just in the UK!

Feast your eyes on this one...

R

 

[53berliner]

i quite like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252612196084#ht_500wt_1361
would these fit straight on a 944 or need spacers etc..

Yes straight fitment, no spacers needed and no too heavy, Tyres 205/50/17, 215/50/17 or 225/45/17 front & 255/40/17 rear.
R

which would be the better tyre for comfort

If you had and driven the car regular for a good while then took off the 16's for the 17;s you would of noticed a Ride quality
deficit , but as it's all new to you , you'll probably not?

The 205/50/17 Size fits the 7" Width nice and also has a higher sidewall than 225/45/17 so it's better for comfort.
On the rear You've got a 9" Width rim, so it's really only 255/40/17 or you could go 235/45/17 or 245/45/17 which both have higher sidewalls again but are slightly stretched more on the rim than the 255.

I would not skimp on Tyres if you can, Michelin will give you the best of dry / wet and longevity but are the most expensive.

R

Would it be noticable with 50 on the front and 40 on the rear
Michelin primacy or pilot sport2

 

[Eldavo]

As my English teacher used to tell me, he marked my essays - he didn't weigh them.

A couple of good points hidden in a lot of rubbish and hyperbole (as usual).

The difference in sidewall height between a 205/50/17 and 225/45/17 is 1.25mm (102.5mm vs 101.25mm) If your bum can feel the difference in that then get a job at Rolls Royce!

Standard tyre sizes on an S2 were (I think) 205/55/16 front and 225/50/16 rear. So you want the 17" tyres that most closely resemble the rolling resistance of the old ones - keeps the speedo accurate too.

The closest front is the 225/45/17 and the closest rear is the 255/40/17.

 

[bmnelsc]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment. I believe these specs are in the tech section but consist mainly of new (probably 968) eccentric bolts for the A arms.
It seems lots of people run 18" on their 944 so it seems that there are no "structural issues" like on the early boxsters which could not run big wheels until strengthening was added to the body (about 2000 IIRC ) after which big wheels were A-OK. I understand Porsche does not approve 18" on 944s due to the additional stress on the top mounts (and possibly the steering knuckle?) but there is no distinction made between early cars with the big rubber mounts and later cars with the "turbo" style mounts which have a lot more steel in them. One would think if the later top mounts were OK for 18" wheels Porsche would include them in the parts list for larger wheels. It may be that the available eccentric bolts do not provide a sufficient range of adjustment for 18" as per Porsche engineers.

 

[924Srr27l]

i quite like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252612196084#ht_500wt_1361
would these fit straight on a 944 or need spacers etc..

Yes straight fitment, no spacers needed and no too heavy, Tyres 205/50/17, 215/50/17 or 225/45/17 front & 255/40/17 rear.
R

which would be the better tyre for comfort

If you had and driven the car regular for a good while then took off the 16's for the 17;s you would of noticed a Ride quality
deficit , but as it's all new to you , you'll probably not?

The 205/50/17 Size fits the 7" Width nice and also has a higher sidewall than 225/45/17 so it's better for comfort.
On the rear You've got a 9" Width rim, so it's really only 255/40/17 or you could go 235/45/17 or 245/45/17 which both have higher sidewalls again but are slightly stretched more on the rim than the 255.
I would not skimp on Tyres if you can, Michelin will give you the best of dry / wet and longevity but are the most expensive.
R

Would it be noticable with 50 on the front and 40 on the rear
Michelin primacy or pilot sport2

No, not at all as the two numbers are a percentage of the width, and their sidewall heights are virtually identical.

205/50/17 the sidewall height is 50% of the 205mm width (102.5mm)
The 255/40/17 sidewall is 40% of the 255mm width (102mm)

Sometimes the availability can dictate which Compound to go for?
The PS2 is the Sport Tyre the Primacy more comfort and touring orientated, but both will be excellent on a 44 in all
conditions and they will last a lot longer than pretty much any other brand.

I've never been arsed with this feature, but it's a bonus for those that want it all (Good dry & Wet grip and Longevity)
I had a set of Primacy's on a 330i BMW Touring they were great.

R

 

[andy watson]

This Thread......Ha ha, Lol, Hee Hee[] []

Some things never change......

 

[blade7]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment.

And yet Porsche offered the Performance Design wheels in 8"x18" and 9.5"x18" as an accessory for the 968.

 

[924Srr27l]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment.

And yet Porsche offered the Performance Design wheels in 8"x18" and 9.5"x18" as an accessory for the 968.

ARTICLE BEGINNING

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

INSTALLATION OF 18" WHEELS NOT APPROVED

Model All Porsche Models
Group 4
Bulletin No. 9305
Date April 15, 1993

Concern:

Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

General Information:

Endurance tests have shown that equipping certain Porsche vehicles with 18" wheels in an application not already approved by Porsche Cars, N.A. may result in loosened bolts and /or threaded connections on the front wheel carriers. This, in turn, may cause fractures in these components. Fractures may also occur in the front strut mounts and in the body in the area of the rear suspension as a result of the installation of 18" wheels not already approved for installation for this specific application.
Such damage can occur without warning and the vehicle may become very hard to control/steer as a result of the improper installation.
Porsche dealer personnel coming in contact with a vehicle that has been retrofitted with 18" wheels in an application not approved by Porsche, should inform the owner of the potential for damage to their vehicle and loss of steering control. Porsche Cars, N.A. should also be notified of any vehicles retrofitted with 18" wheels.

END OF ARTICLE

R

 

[blade7]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment.

And yet Porsche offered the Performance Design wheels in 8"x18" and 9.5"x18" as an accessory for the 968.

ARTICLE BEGINNING

TECHNICAL SERVICE BULLETIN

INSTALLATION OF 18" WHEELS NOT APPROVED

Model All Porsche Models
Group 4
Bulletin No. 9305
Date April 15, 1993

Concern:

Retrofitting 18" wheels on Porsche vehicles which do not have 18" wheels as original equipment is NOT ALLOWED.

General Information:

Endurance tests have shown that equipping certain Porsche vehicles with 18" wheels in an application not already approved by Porsche Cars, N.A. may result in loosened bolts and /or threaded connections on the front wheel carriers. This, in turn, may cause fractures in these components. Fractures may also occur in the front strut mounts and in the body in the area of the rear suspension as a result of the installation of 18" wheels not already approved for installation for this specific application.
Such damage can occur without warning and the vehicle may become very hard to control/steer as a result of the improper installation.
Porsche dealer personnel coming in contact with a vehicle that has been retrofitted with 18" wheels in an application not approved by Porsche, should inform the owner of the potential for damage to their vehicle and loss of steering control. Porsche Cars, N.A. should also be notified of any vehicles retrofitted with 18" wheels.

END OF ARTICLE

R

Part Number 964 210 808 49
Part Number 964 210 958 47

I don't know where you came from, but hopefully it wont be long before you go back there.

 

[Monkeythree]

Don't feed the troll

 

[53berliner]

i quite like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252612196084#ht_500wt_1361
would these fit straight on a 944 or need spacers etc..

For the wheels in the link above which center cap do I need as there are so many choices https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/option/centre_caps_porsche
concave, convex, plastic, metal, grooved,!!!!
I want a painted set

 

[924Srr27l]

i quite like these http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=252612196084#ht_500wt_1361
would these fit straight on a 944 or need spacers etc..

For the wheels in the link above which center cap do I need as there are so many choices https://www.alloywheelsdirect.net/option/centre_caps_porsche
concave, convex, plastic, metal, grooved,!!!!
I want a painted set

Hi, these

9A1 Silver Concave Coloured Crest,

R

 

[53berliner]

150 quid for 4 caps. Where is the best place to buy them

 

[924Srr27l]

150 quid for 4 caps. Where is the best place to buy them

Yes they are a bit steep!
You could get copies off ebay and send them to me, where I can quadruple their life and lacquer them for you...

Otherwise the thin chinese paint comes off quite soon...

R

 

[John Sims]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment.

And yet Porsche offered the Performance Design wheels in 8"x18" and 9.5"x18" as an accessory for the 968.

968 suspension is not the same as 944. Just because something was offered as an option on a 968 doesn't mean it would be appropriate on an unmodified 944.

 

[blade7]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment.

And yet Porsche offered the Performance Design wheels in 8"x18" and 9.5"x18" as an accessory for the 968.

968 suspension is not the same as 944. Just because something was offered as an option on a 968 doesn't mean it would be appropriate on an unmodified 944.

Aside from the castor mounts how is it different ?

 

[924Srr27l]

Just a reminder that Porsche says no to 18" wheels on a 944 and provides specs for required part upgrades for 17" wheels to allow proper alignment. I believe these specs are in the tech section but consist mainly of new (probably 968) eccentric bolts for the A arms.
It seems lots of people run 18" on their 944 so it seems that there are no "structural issues" like on the early boxsters which could not run big wheels until strengthening was added to the body (about 2000 IIRC ) after which big wheels were A-OK. I understand Porsche does not approve 18" on 944s due to the additional stress on the top mounts (and possibly the steering knuckle?) but there is no distinction made between early cars with the big rubber mounts and later cars with the "turbo" style mounts which have a lot more steel in them. One would think if the later top mounts were OK for 18" wheels Porsche would include them in the parts list for larger wheels. It may be that the available eccentric bolts do not provide a sufficient range of adjustment for 18" as per Porsche engineers.

That all makes good sense to me, add on they only made a dozen? production cars with 18" wheels, and even then they were lightweight 3 piece Speedline Splitrims (Probably lighter than the 17" Cups) on the 968CS and the internet seems to suggest the upper rear shock mounting is a weak point as these ideally need reinforcing for Racing when deleting the Torsion bars and using Coil overs with high spring rates.

This Chassis was designed 40 years ago and in it's first guise with 14" Wheels, going up by 4" inches (and more than twice the wheel weight) is extreme and it's clear that Porsche made the technical bulletin declaration for several areas of concerns on the grounds of safety.

R