Boxster wheels?

I presently have a set of replica Fuch 15x6 wheels on my IM (Porsche pattern rotors). Years ago, when I first owned the car, I tried mounting 195/65 tires on the car. Unfortunately, one of the rear tires rubbed on the fender and I had to go with a 185/65 tire. This time around I want to take another crack at a 195/65. One option is to have the rear wheels widened one inch to lessen the tire bulge. Henry thinks that widening my rear wheels (negative offset) will give me the needed clearance. Another option is to go with Boxster 16x6 wheels. The offset is 50 mm, so there shouldn't be a problem with the rears (some clearance may be needed on the inside), but I'm fairly sure the fronts will need spacers. The Boxster wheel also comes in a 16x7, with a 40 mm offset, but I doubt that would clear my fenders.
Anyone running Boxster wheels on their speedster?
Ron

Ron,

The one thing you must remember a 50mm offset is measured from the center of the wheel. So a 50 mm offset on a 6 inch wheel or 152.4mm nets you 26.2mm from the hub to the outside of the wheel and 126.2mm on the inside. On a 7 inch wheel or 177.8mm a 50mm offset nets you 38.9mm from the hub to the outside of the wheel and 138.9mm on the inside.

If you looked at those wheels with the same offset they would look different on the outside. To get the same look on the outside the front 6 inch wheel would need a 37.3mm offset.

I have a copy of the Fuchs offset chart (.pdf) for the various styles of wheels the factory made. For the IM-6 Henry recommends the 911R offset for the rears which is BTW is 49mm close to the Boxter wheels but they don't work for the fronts.

BTW the offsets are measured to the inside of the bead on the rim not the outside of the wheel.........I just had a mfg make me a custom set of wheels for the IM-6 Henry is building for me. I learned lots about wheels, what works and how to make them look the same from the outside.

Ron,

Henry made some C-2 wheels work on my IM by using spacers. I have 6" in front and 8" in the rear. Zero clearance or close to it on the rear tires at rest. No interference when driving though.

Tomm

Dave and Tomm, thanks for the feedback. My IM is a pan car, and I think it has even less fender clearance than a tube frame car. I'm fairly certain a 16x6 (50 mm offset) will work on the rear, but there is no way a wheel with a 50 mm offset will fit on the front. My current wheel (15x6) has a 40 mm offset and I had to adjust how far the wheels turned to stop the front tires from rubbing on the suspension. I'd need, at the very least, a 10 mm spacer to get the same clearance I have now.
My problem is I want to mount high performance tires on my car. Unfortunately, there are very few 60 series high performance tires on the market. So far I've found three tires that are decent performers in a 195/60-15 size:
Falken ZE 912
Kumho ECSTA ASX
Bridgestone Pole Position RE 960 AS
I think the stock beetle came with a 155/80-15 tire, which has a 24.8" diameter. A 195/60-15 has a 24.2" diameter. There is a better selection of tires in the 195/55-15 size, but a 23.4" diameter is almost 1.5"s smaller than stock.
I like the idea of going with 16" wheels, because Toyo puts out a very good handling summer tire (T1R) in a 195/55-16 size, with a 24.4" diameter.
Having said that, I'm looking for the lightest possible wheel and, all things considered, a 15" wheel is lighter than a 16" wheel.
Decisions, decisions.
Ron

One of the lightest 15" wheels would be the Mahle Gasburner at 9.7lbs.
Yokohama makes a very good tire from high to extreme performance.
I use the Yoko Avid H4 on Mahle 4-bolt burners and love them.

Ron.

Have a look here. I'm going to use the Yokohama S.Drives in 195/55/15 fronts and 205/55/15 on the rears. The Yokohama site has the most tires possible other than Falken. The Yokohama's have a wider tread contact listed than anybody at 7.4" for the 20/55/15. You should be able to find the same size charts for the Falken's as well. If not let me know as I found them. BTW if you wanted to go with factory 16" Fuchs I have a set of 16x6 and 16x7 with brand new Falken ZE/512's in 205/55 fronts and 225/50 rears for $1000.00

See here:http://www.yokohamatire.com/tires/spec.aspx?tire=S.Drive

Terry, can one still buy Gasburners, or something similar?
Dave, I'd take you up on your offer, but there is no way a 225/50 would fit on the rear of my pan IM. I do like S.Drives.
Ron

Ron,

I know what you mean about the 225/50's.

Terry sent me this:http://www2.cip1.com/ProductDetails.asp?ProductCode=C32-GBB a while ago before I had my wheels custom made. That said if you want a full custom wheel built to your specs I can recommend: http://www.imagewheels.co.uk/

Good people to deal with.

The real Porsche "Gas Burners" are highly sought after and can fetch $4k a set. Hey its only money........;-)

Good luck.

Ron,
Repops are available but they are a bit heavier than the originals.
Gasburners show up pretty regularly on the Samba. And, as Dave said, they're usually pretty expenses. But prices have been coming down lately and I've seen them as low as $1,700.00/set.

While cruising the net I found a couple of photos of Boxster wheels on an older 911 and a 944. They looked terrible. I'm crossing the Boxster wheel off my list. For now, I'll most likey get my rear replica Fuchs widened one inch and go with a set of Falken ZE912s, Kumho ASXs, or Exalto A/Ss.
Ron
p.s. that UK site has some GREAT looking wheels!

Ron,

The one thing to remember is with the original "Gas Burners" they came 5.5 inches wide period. As they are pressure cast magneisium you would pay dearly to have them widened if it can be done at all. The repro aluminum ones it is easy as the Fuchs. That said be careful about widening factory Fuchs. They are forged aluminum and they have got to be done by someone that knows what to do.

Be careful I would hate to see your ride or you have a problem.

Cheers!

Mine are (unfortunately) cast replicas. I'll take them to the place Henry recommended.
Ron