Guys with 18" wheels, question - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

ekam · 08-22-2008, 10:20 AM

What rear tire size are you guys running? And what's the width of your rear wheels?

I've been doing research on getting myself a set of those Carrera 18" 5-spoke wheels but the ones for sale on ebay are 8x18 / 10x18 which is 911 sizing. I assume at least 5mm spacers for the rear is required. I believe the same wheel made for Boxster is 7.5x18 / 9x18.

My point is that running 265/35/18 on 10x18 wheel will look weird because the tires will look narrow on that size wheel. Not to mention of wheel curb if you're not careful.

Running 911 size rear - 285/30/18 = more $$$, heavier, slower acceleration.

PS: I don't think I'll be getting these until next summer, but yes I'm bored at work...!

FTD · 08-22-2008, 10:35 AM

I'm bored at work too!
I will check the size and take pics and post them. I have the 18" 'Carrera Light' wheels, which is what I think you are interested in. I personally think they are VERY good looking, being a less is more sort of person.

Thanks for giving me something to do....

FTD · 08-22-2008, 10:57 AM

Michelin Pilot Sport 265/35 ZR18
I don't know how to answer your other question.

Here's some poor quality pics.

ekam · 08-22-2008, 10:59 AM

Did they come with the car when you bought it?

These 'carrera light' wheels from Porsche come in 2 set of sizes.

For 996 - 225/40/18, 8x18" front, 285/30/18, 10x18" rear
For Boxster - 225/40/18, 7.5x18" front, 265/35/18, 9x18" rear

If you have 265 rear tires then you should have the 9x18" rears. You can tell by looking at the tires if it's too narrow for the wheels.

I think they're _perrrfect_ on a Boxster without bodykit. I also agree that less is more and these 5 spokes look totally elegant. As you can tell I'm a big 5-spoke fan and my last car also had nice clean stock 5 spoke wheels.

I also like BBS-style mesh wheels but I don't think they will look nice on a boxster without bodykit.

Chippy · 12-30-2008, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ekam

I also like BBS-style mesh wheels but I don't think they will look nice on a boxster without bodykit.

You mean like these (with no body kit)

ekam · 12-30-2008, 11:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Chippy

You mean like these (with no body kit)

Don't get me wrong, they're very nice wheels but I think meshies break the lines on the boxster. The wheels look more aggressive than the car unless you put a kit on to balance it.

And as a general disclaimer, you can take my comment with a grain of salt. Humans not sheep so opinions makes us different.

That and the saying about everybody got ****************************s & opinions...

Cloudsurfer · 12-30-2008, 06:15 PM

I run 10x18 ET45 with 265/35-18 Contisport 3's.

Cold Warrior · 12-31-2008, 04:10 PM

8.5 x18 et50 front, 10.5 x 18 et40 rear. 235/40 front, 295/30 rear MPSC's.

CW

aussieboxy · 01-02-2009, 02:33 AM

A while ago I put some 18" rims on my car. Running 285's on the back & 245's on the front. Made a dramatic difference to the way the car looked. Recently I got a flat rear & was unable to get a replacement tyre quickly so I put the 16's back on.

Immediately I notice a considerable increase in acceleration. Something to do with the weight of the rims and the inertia or torque required to spin the rears, not the laiden weight.

I've kept the 16's on for a while. When I'm driving I cant tell what the car looks like lol

986Roadster · 01-02-2009, 07:44 AM

I say that you consider 19z!

Boxtaboy · 01-02-2009, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by aussieboxy

A while ago I put some 19" rims on my car. Running 285's on the back & 245's on the front. Made a dramatic difference to the way the car looked. Recently I got a flat rear & was unable to get a replacement tyre quickly so I put the 16's back on.

Immediately I notice a considerable increase in acceleration. Something to do with the weight of the rims and the inertia or torque required to spin the rears, not the laiden weight.

I've kept the 16's on for a while. When I'm driving I cant tell what the car looks like lol

That's true. I've noticed that when I moved from 17 inchers to 18s, the acceleration was slower a bit from the larger rims. I just can't bear to go back to 17s just because of the look though.

ekam · 01-02-2009, 12:26 PM

Don't want to go 19"s.

- It makes the tires look too skinny on the 986. I think 19"s match better with 987/997.

- Tire cost - I do like to drive fast / burn rubber.

- Our city is falling apart with our ****************ty roads. Toronto = Detriot of Canada.

coreseller · 01-02-2009, 01:00 PM

Years back I learned a valuable lesson regarding tire / wheel size. It was with a Mustang Cobra, I jumped up from the stock 17's to wider 18's (265/35 front, 295/35 rears), dropped the car with an Eibach Pro-Kit, did some more suspension work for open tracking. End result was an incredible improvement in turn in, general handling and overal look / stance of the car. Now the downside...the car tracked horribly on public roads and became too much of a handfull for the wifey to enjoy driving. She did look good though.....

timothy · 08-22-2008, 11:11 AM

No spacers needed on those wheels so long as you get the 18x10 with Boxster offset. Check out the Bridgestone Potenza RE050A Pole Position 265/35ZR18. I believe the tire is a little wider than most other 265/18. It's what I use.

TriGem2k · 08-22-2008, 11:46 AM

I run 18X10 rears offset at 48mm with 5mm spacers. Final offset is 43mm with a rear size of 285/30/18...

easyc · 08-22-2008, 01:06 PM

I run the 18" Carrera Lightweights on the street... in boxster ET... I run 275 toyo's in the rear. When I was researching these wheels, I was obviously looking for them in 986 ET, but they were hard to find. The 996 ET wheels have to have at least a 15mm spacer, and a good rule of thumb is stay under 275, although some people have run 285 if it is a narrow running tire type. I believe those that run 10" ~ET65 (996 size) rear wheels have to tie off the parking break line as well...

hope this helps

Boxtaboy · 08-22-2008, 01:36 PM

I run 18 inch SSR GT3 wheels with no spacers. Specs are below

Fronts 18x8 / 5-130 / ET49 - Tires 225/40
Rears 18x9.5 / 5-130/ ET43 - Tires 265/35

porsche986spyder · 08-22-2008, 03:43 PM

Boxtaboy, I love those rims!

I'm running the same but with 275/35 ZR18s in the rear. It does give you more coverage width wise. You can go as wide as the 285 but it is not necessary. Hope this helps.

Boxtaboy · 08-22-2008, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by porsche986spyder

Boxtaboy, I love those rims!

Thanks dude. I'll trade for your bodykit.

Cloudsurfer · 08-22-2008, 03:43 PM

It all depends on the offset if you need spacers or not, not the width of the rim. I run 18x10 ET45 BBS wheels on my car, and its a perfect fit. Most of the Carerra wheels you see are ET65, which will require a giant 20mm spacer. Search carefully, you can find wheels that require no spacers for our cars.

As to the second part, I run a 265/35-18. A 285/30 fits, and one can argue looks better, but it will also enhance understeer.

Patrick