Picture of Wheels you have.

[Thumper]

Gemballa Competition
Front 18x8.5 ET46
Rear 18x10 ET40

[lawren]

I just bought a 1998 Boxster Base model to be used as an autocross/track toy.

I plan to run RE71Rs (225/45-17 front & 255/40-17 Rear) on the stock 17" wheels for autocross (C Street). I will be installing an adjustable front sway bar this winter.

I'm planning on using another set of wheels and tires for track days. I'm a big fan of the Nitto NT-01. I noticed Radium Kings setup below:

OZ 18" wheels:
front 8.5" wide, ET 53 with 7 mm spacer = ET 46, Nitto NT01 245/40
rear 10" wide, ET 40, Nitto NT01 275/35

I'm loving this option because i already have the 8.5" OZ wheels (ET 53) that i ran on the front of my 997 with the same tire. In the short term, I'm planning to stick with the stock struts/shocks and LCA. Anybody see any issues with this plan?

[steved0x]

987.2 Cayman 17" wheels (2009-2012)

17x7 ET 55
17x8.5 ET 40



Funny story - I bought a 2009 Cayman earlier this year. Turns out, the 17" Cayman wheels I have on my Boxster came from this exact car, sold to me by a previous owner when he replaced them with 19" Lobster claw wheels.

[The Radium King]

Originally Posted by lawren

I just bought a 1998 Boxster Base model to be used as an autocross/track toy.

I plan to run RE71Rs (225/45-17 front & 255/40-17 Rear) on the stock 17" wheels for autocross (C Street). I will be installing an adjustable front sway bar this winter.

I'm planning on using another set of wheels and tires for track days. I'm a big fan of the Nitto NT-01. I noticed Radium Kings setup below:

OZ 18" wheels:
front 8.5" wide, ET 53 with 7 mm spacer = ET 46, Nitto NT01 245/40
rear 10" wide, ET 40, Nitto NT01 275/35

I'm loving this option because i already have the 8.5" OZ wheels (ET 53) that i ran on the front of my 997 with the same tire. In the short term, I'm planning to stick with the stock struts/shocks and LCA. Anybody see any issues with this plan?

i've actually moved to a 15mm spacer in the front. you may need to take a heat gun to punch out some of the plastic wheel well liner to avoid rubbing at full lock. the only consideration is that is a lot of tire for a base (and probably for an s as well). make sure turning all that rubber doesn't bog you down.

[steved0x]

Originally Posted by lawren

I just bought a 1998 Boxster Base model to be used as an autocross/track toy.

I plan to run RE71Rs (225/45-17 front & 255/40-17 Rear) on the stock 17" wheels for autocross (C Street). I will be installing an adjustable front sway bar this winter.

I'm planning on using another set of wheels and tires for track days. I'm a big fan of the Nitto NT-01. I noticed Radium Kings setup below:

OZ 18" wheels:
front 8.5" wide, ET 53 with 7 mm spacer = ET 46, Nitto NT01 245/40
rear 10" wide, ET 40, Nitto NT01 275/35

I'm loving this option because i already have the 8.5" OZ wheels (ET 53) that i ran on the front of my 997 with the same tire. In the short term, I'm planning to stick with the stock struts/shocks and LCA. Anybody see any issues with this plan?

I'm loving the 245/40/18 on the front of my Cayman, front grip for days, but be aware that 245/40/18 won't fit the front of the 986 boxster unless you have aftermarket coilovers (I think TRK has KSport? apologies TRK if I got that wrong) - the 245/40/18 is too tall (approx 25.6" vs 25" for stock) and the tire will majorly hit the lower spring perch of the stock front strut and I don't think any amount of spaces could push the wheel out enough to fix that. I learned the hard way when I tried to run some Cayman wheels I bought that had 245/40/18 and 285/35/18, the back fit and looked awesome, but the front would not and it wasn't even close....

[lawren]

So do you think the 235 on front and 265 on rear is a viable/better option with the stock suspension? That keeps the ratios front-to-back the same as the recommended 245/275 option. Also, the point was made below that I may be going beyond optimum tire size (too much weight/width - too little hp) with the base model 986.

[BYprodriver]

Originally Posted by lawren

So do you think the 235 on front and 265 on rear is a viable/better option with the stock suspension? That keeps the ratios front-to-back the same as the recommended 245/275 option. Also, the point was made below that I may be going beyond optimum tire size (too much weight/width - too little hp) with the base model 986.

Yes I believe so, The 986 is a lite car & it needs lite wheels & not to much tire so you can slide around a bit. You especially don't want to have taller tires on the rear that will effectively reduce torque multiplication.

[lawren]

Uh Oh!! It looks like the NT01s (my preferred track tire) are only available in a 40 sidewall in the 265 width (265 40 18). That's more than inch taller than stock in the rear! Not good for limited torque on the base model. I guess i'll need to go with the Toyo in 265 35 18.

[ianacole]

Originally Posted by lawren

Uh Oh!! It looks like the NT01s (my preferred track tire) are only available in a 40 sidewall in the 265 width (265 40 18). That's more than inch taller than stock in the rear! Not good for limited torque on the base model. I guess i'll need to go with the Toyo in 265 35 18.

Have you considered the NT05's? I haven't looked at sizing, so they may have the same limitation.

[The Radium King]

Originally Posted by steved0x

I'm loving the 245/40/18 on the front of my Cayman, front grip for days, but be aware that 245/40/18 won't fit the front of the 986 boxster unless you have aftermarket coilovers (I think TRK has KSport? apologies TRK if I got that wrong) - the 245/40/18 is too tall (approx 25.6" vs 25" for stock) and the tire will majorly hit the lower spring perch of the stock front strut and I don't think any amount of spaces could push the wheel out enough to fix that. I learned the hard way when I tried to run some Cayman wheels I bought that had 245/40/18 and 285/35/18, the back fit and looked awesome, but the front would not and it wasn't even close....

apologies yes, thanks for catching that. so many variables.

[Strayconch]

This is my father son project. Makes teaching stick fun.