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Board: Porsche - 911 - 997
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Nov 6, 2005 12:39:09 PM
- ROYALPAR1
- Junior
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- Loc: FLORIDA
- Posts: 64, Gallery
- Registered on: Jun 9, 2005
- Reply to: nicholas j
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Well, to further confuse things, the Carrera GT uses
19's up front, 20's Rear. (note CGT engine redline at 8400 rpm...sick!)
http://www12.porsche.com/usa/models/carrera-gt/modelinformation/technicalspecifications/
I vote for 19's. I just drove the launch C4 (non-PASM) yesterday with standard 18's and it feels taut, but I would not consider it borderline uncomfortable or anything.
Personally, I could tolerate and I actually think I would prefer an even firmer ride that the 19's would bring on a non-PASM config.
19's up front, 20's Rear. (note CGT engine redline at 8400 rpm...sick!)
http://www12.porsche.com/usa/models/carrera-gt/modelinformation/technicalspecifications/
I vote for 19's. I just drove the launch C4 (non-PASM) yesterday with standard 18's and it feels taut, but I would not consider it borderline uncomfortable or anything.
Personally, I could tolerate and I actually think I would prefer an even firmer ride that the 19's would bring on a non-PASM config.
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Keep in mind the sidewall of the Porsche 19s is the same "thickness" as the sidewall on an M3 or a 996 with 18s because the 997 Porsche TIRE is one inch larger in diameter than both.
19s are more expensive tires, easier to damage, harder to find (though you'll always be delayed waiting for a new tire unless you're in biggest cities).
Ride differences are significant, performance and handling differences are zero.
I wish my 997S came with 18s, (roads suck here) but not enough to change them to 18s.
my $.02
19s are more expensive tires, easier to damage, harder to find (though you'll always be delayed waiting for a new tire unless you're in biggest cities).
Ride differences are significant, performance and handling differences are zero.
I wish my 997S came with 18s, (roads suck here) but not enough to change them to 18s.
my $.02
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
So if the 19s are actually 1' larger in diameter than the 18s, won't that affect the speedometer readings if you switch from one to the other? Does Porsche compensate for that when they install the different tires at the factory? Or is the difference too small to notice?
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Quote:
chipper said:
So if the 19s are actually 1' larger in diameter than the 18s, won't that affect the speedometer readings if you switch from one to the other? Does Porsche compensate for that when they install the different tires at the factory? Or is the difference too small to notice?
I'm sorry, I didn't explain clearly. The TIRE diameter of the 997 (no matter which WHEEL (18 or 19) on the 997) is one inch greater than the TIRE diameter on the 996 and the BMW. I think the 997 is 27 inches in diameter and the M3 and 996 is 26 inches.
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
So, is this correct, the consensus seems to be that 18s ride and drive better; 19s look better?
The answer may be for Porsche to introduce a better-looking 18" wheel for the 997. The 996 Carrera 18" wheel, for example, looks better to my eye than the 997 18". But the cynical side of me says that Porsche may not want the stock 18s to look too good. Why should they, when they can make another two grand selling the optional 19s? That may not be it at all. Perhaps there is another explanation. Maybe somebody in Stuttgart thinks the stock 18s actually do look good?
The answer may be for Porsche to introduce a better-looking 18" wheel for the 997. The 996 Carrera 18" wheel, for example, looks better to my eye than the 997 18". But the cynical side of me says that Porsche may not want the stock 18s to look too good. Why should they, when they can make another two grand selling the optional 19s? That may not be it at all. Perhaps there is another explanation. Maybe somebody in Stuttgart thinks the stock 18s actually do look good?
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Quote:
chipper said:
So, is this correct, the consensus seems to be that 18s ride and drive better; 19s look better?
The answer may be for Porsche to introduce a better-looking 18" wheel for the 997. The 996 Carrera 18" wheel, for example, looks better to my eye than the 997 18". But the cynical side of me says that Porsche may not want the stock 18s to look too good. Why should they, when they can make another two grand selling the optional 19s?
I think you hit it right on the head, Chipper .
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Quote:
chipper said:
But the cynical side of me says that Porsche may not want the stock 18s to look too good.
I think it's more like Porsche WANTS to create this competition between models of their own cars. Black calipers, red calipers, yellow calipers, silver calipers so the Porsche nut, so inclined, can instantly figure out which guy has the "better" brakes.
Really sad because, unlike brakes which DO perform differently, they are even getting into totally cosmetic stuff like 19s and quad tailpipes.
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Quote:
tori said:
I think 18" with PASM and wheel spacers would do well for both ride performance and looks. Anyone got 18" with 7mm front 14mm rear spacers pics?
I don't have PASM but I did get the 7mm/14mm spacers. I'm looking for someone reputable in south Orange County to do the install. I'll of course post pics soon as it's done.
If really like the look of the 19's, especially the new Sport wheels. But I also happen to like the look of my 18's as well. Simple, clean look (and easy to clean!). Since I'm on the standard suspension however, I'd prefer to see less gap between the wheel well. Even if I got 19's it seems I'd still have that gap anyway w/o PASM.
Nov 7, 2005 7:11:15 PM
- Bill (Chicago)
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- Reply to: MHakkinen
Nov 8, 2005 10:06:25 AM
- AS
- Co-Pilot
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Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
996 wheels/tires are smaller in circumference than 997. doing so would result in better acceleration, slower topspeed, screwed up speedometer readings, poorer gas mileage, & who knows what it'll do to car's overall balance & dynamics. not something i would do...
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
So we both have silver '06 997s, you with 18s, me with 19s. Each wheel size seems to have its pluses and minuses. The 19s look good on the car but, for me, the ride feels a little hard and the handling somewhat forced, rather than natural. For you, the 18s ride and perform well, but leave a little too much space around them in the wheel wells. What will the spacers do? Are you going to drop the car? Enjoy.
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
From a dynamic standpoint bigger wheels do have advantages - but they are usually eaten up by the disadvantages due to higher weight. It is not the weight itself that makes the difference (the unsprung weight) - this makes the ride a tad harsher and CAN cause the tires' contact to be worse over bumps. The smaller sidewalls play their role as well.
Additionally the rotating masses are bigger which hamper acceleration and braking enourmously.
The 19" wheels on the 997 come with wider rear tires which definately improve cornering stability on a rear-engined car.
Evo commented very well about the PASM system which seems to improve stability under braking, especially over bumps.
If you guys are really interested in dynamic handling, get the -20mm sportsuspension, the PASM or a different suspension on the std. model.
After all it should depend on your personal preferences, it still is a great car!
Additionally the rotating masses are bigger which hamper acceleration and braking enourmously.
The 19" wheels on the 997 come with wider rear tires which definately improve cornering stability on a rear-engined car.
Evo commented very well about the PASM system which seems to improve stability under braking, especially over bumps.
If you guys are really interested in dynamic handling, get the -20mm sportsuspension, the PASM or a different suspension on the std. model.
After all it should depend on your personal preferences, it still is a great car!
Re: 18s or 19s? What's best on a (reg.) 997?
Quote:
chipper said:
So we both have silver '06 997s, you with 18s, me with 19s. Each wheel size seems to have its pluses and minuses. The 19s look good on the car but, for me, the ride feels a little hard and the handling somewhat forced, rather than natural. For you, the 18s ride and perform well, but leave a little too much space around them in the wheel wells. What will the spacers do? Are you going to drop the car? Enjoy.
The spacers are purely for asthetics
Even before my car was delivered I saw some pics on this board which motivated me to want to try spacing out the wheels to get them flush (or close to flush) with the wheel wells. Now that I have the car in the garage, I can see that the fronts require very little spacing (if any) but the rears definitely are in need.
As for ride height w/the 18's, I'd prefer to have the car sit lower than it does with the std. suspension. But of course there's always concessions to make when you do this sort of thing and that's a bit of a dilemma for me atm
I have an appointment setup in a couple weeks to have the spacers installed now; I'm going to decide between now and then whether I will have it lowered as well.
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