Track wheels for 2.7

Daggie · #1 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 09:08 AM

What size should I get?

18"? 19"?

I have my Techart 20" wheels for cruising, but I want an extra set of wheels for track.

Should I buy original Porsche wheels or are replicas as good?

**Gator Bite** · #2 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 12:58 PM

It kind of depends. What track will you be driving most? Is it smooth or rough? Many people have suggested that they get better results (less hopping) on 18"s when the track is anything but silky smooth.

Also, for me, I wouldn't consider replicas for the track. Maybe for the street, but not for the track. The strength of a replica may not be that of a factory wheel, and breaking a wheel is not something you want to happen on the track where forces are so high.

RichP · #3 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 01:14 PM

18s for sure. No advantage to a 19" wheel, only more weight and a greater chance of rim damage.

RingSport · #4 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 01:40 PM

Use the stock 17s, if you have to have bigger, 18s for reasons noted above.

**jim@tirerack** · #5 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 02:25 PM

We have some options that have worked well and are going to be less money and probably lighter than the OE wheels. The Enkei NT03+M would be the best price I have. I would also recommend the 18".
If I can help let me know.

Daggie · #6 (**permalink**) 09-20-2007, 02:55 PM

I was on track yesterday with my original 17" wheels with 55 tires .. and they felt a bit soft.

Would those 17" wheels with tires that are less high be an option?

Looks are of no importance whatsoever on track.

RingSport · #7 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 12:48 AM

The OEs should have been free with the car.

You can use a lower aspect ratio as long as you are consistant front to rear or use a tire with a stiffer sidewall. Also, make sure you are monitoring tire pressures and using a pyrometer.

Daggie · #8 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 08:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RingSport

You can use a lower aspect ratio as long as you are consistant front to rear or use a tire with a stiffer sidewall.

Suggestion on sizes/brands?

I will track it approx. 2 times/month during the "dry" periods in Belgium, which is maybe 6 months a year.

RingSport · #9 (**permalink**) 09-21-2007, 01:26 PM

I think the base comes with 205/55f and 235/50r, so you could try to find 205/50f and 235/45r or plus size of 215/45 and 245/40. Not sure of brands with those particular sizes but if they are not your primary set of wheels for the street I would go with a set of R comps for the track. toyo RA1 or R888, Nitto Nt01, Yokohama A048, Hoosier, Michelin Pilot sport cup, etc. If not look at the Hankook RS2 and the Falken Azenis both very good on the track yet completely streetable. The RS2 makes a fantastic Rain tire btw. Good resources for research are The Tire Rack - Your performance experts for tires and wheels and Tire size calculator.

**Russ@raderwerks.com** · #10 (**permalink**) 09-22-2007, 07:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Gator Bite

Also, for me, I wouldn't consider replicas for the track. Maybe for the street, but not for the track. The strength of a replica may not be that of a factory wheel, and breaking a wheel is not something you want to happen on the track where forces are so high.

There isnt anything that would contribute towards a replica being any less strong then an OEM wheel. It is true that some inferior metal compositions found in some ASAIN replica wheels could lead to less strength however the casting process for an OEM wheel compared to an aftermarket replica wheel are the same.

All of our wheels are Italian made to OEM spec. In some models our wheels are exact all aspect down to weight and as always our replicas are built to OEM offset and width.

We have many customers using our replica wheels for track days as they can abuse them an not worry about the damage to a higher cost OEM or aftermarket performance wheel.

Räderwerks.com

**doubleclutch** · #11 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Daggie

What size should I get?

18"? 19"?

I have my Techart 20" wheels for cruising, but I want an extra set of wheels for track.

Should I buy original Porsche wheels or are replicas as good?

I'm in the process of making this decision right now for my 2.7. Don't ignore the 17" wheels. I am in the process of making a table of all available track tires to fit a Cayman with the prices and wheel diameter in mm so I can easily decide if a front-rear combo is within 3%. My preliminary findings indicate that 17" tires are much more affordable than 18" but there are not many that will fit on a stock 6.5" rim. If you found nice set of 17" wheels with a front width of 8" and rear of 9" or 9.5" that would be great. The perfect, albeit expensive solution, would be to pick out the tire set-up that is perfect for you, then call Fikse and have them make the perfect size wheels for you. In the 17" size you will be looking at something between $750 and $800 per wheel. But they are light and strong. If you do enough schools, you might be able to justify the wheel expense with money saved on tires.
My current choices are: Toyo RA-1's: 235/45/17 (8") F and 255/40/17(9") R or Nitto NT-01 (or Azenis RT-615): 245/45/17 (8 or 8.5") F and 275/40/17 (9.5") R or NT-01 225/45/17 (7.5 or 8") F and 255/40/17 (9") R There are lots of 17" choices if you pick your tires before you pick wheels. I wouldn't even consider the 19". You can save $50-$80 per track tire by choosing 17" over 18". And these combos will all fit over the Cayman S brakes as well (the only fitment issue is that 6.5" front wheels don't have lateral clearance, so once you go with wider 17" wheels, even S drivers can save $ too).

Daggie · #12 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 09:36 PM

doubleclutch: that table of available sizes would be very intresting to me.

I don't know how wide the stock 17" wheels actually. I can't image that they'd put a 6.5x17 on it in front with a 205/55 tire .. But I'm sure you have looked in to it better then I did ... Then the only option left is buy different, wider wheels.

I don't need custom build wheels, so I should be looking for light 17/18" wheels, 8 or 8.5 in front and 9 or 9.5 in the back.

Keep me informed on that size-table

***DaveN007*** · #13 (**permalink**) 09-23-2007, 11:16 PM

Find some OE Boxster take-off 18 inch wheels. They often come with new PS2s. Mine were less than $2k on eBay. The tires alone are $1300 new.

OEM 18 inch tires:

235/40 18s in the front
265/40 18s in the rear

Tire choice depends upon what you are trying to do and how sensitive you are to tire cost per track day.