[flash]

i have been wrestling with this one for a while now - i have the 18s on my car, and love the way they look, but the low profile makes the ride a bit more precarious than i would like for a touring car

i can go 17, and get 9" rims all around, and run the same tire all around, and definitely lose some weight in the process, but i am having a hard time - i can't seem to convince myself to lose the rear width i have now, or the handling i fear i might lose

thoughts?

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[JWahlsten]

You'll have to redo the entire setup you have now as you're currently staggered ... I know how you like to change things, but unless this is a track car I really don't see the point. You could lighten up the spring rates and change the damper settings a bit and achieve nearly all of what you're looking to accomplish, no?

That being said, I am thinking along the same lines. I have two sets of the original cups, and am thinking of using the 9s all the way around. I'm already on 17s though.

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[banditsc]

Go a little wider to 9.5" 17s?

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[DiREW0LF]

A softer tire can make a huge difference in ride quality. I tried about 5 different sets of tires on our Jaguar S-Type R before I found something with a nice ride. It might be a gamble because nothing may accomplish what you want but its an option.

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[flash]

there would be no need to significantly change anything in my setup due to losing the stagger - the springs and such would behave exactly the same - other than perhaps needing to change one click on the shocks and struts to account for the weight decrease everything would remain the same

a softer tire would only exacerbate the rim denting problem - i already bashed a rim in a pothole due to not having enough sidewall to absorb it - i'm not looking to do that again - i agree that a softer tire would improve the ride, and that is the other option, but if i do that, i will definitely need to change my rear camber angle first, and get rid of some of that - as it stands, the car rides on a corner back there, and that's just hard on the rim

9.5 is too wide up front on stock hubs and spindles - 9 is really pushing it as it is

don't get me wrong, the ride is actually pretty decent - i am just thinking that maybe i want it a bit more insulated from road change, and that would realistically mean more profile in the tire

i am at the point where i need to buy tires - that is why i am at this crossroad - buy more tires for these rims, or buy a whole new setup?

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[PorscheDude]

Keep 2 sets. Than you can have a choice during your moments of doubt.

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[flash]

lol - a lot of work - i just don't know - i keep going back and forth - if i stick with the 18s, which is more likely, i think i might send the wheels out to be redone though, as some of the clear is chipping - while i'm at it, i think i might change to titanium fasteners - that will pull about a pound out of each wheel

interestingly, going to 17s, i would actually gain a pound in tire weight up front

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[Kim]

A compromise usually results in nothing being done very well. I have 19s on my Cayman and 17s on my 968 and they are equally harsh (or pleasant, depending upon how full my bladder is) to me. I would stay with the 18s as you have a car that is set up now to be very capable. If the weight is an issue then I think that your driving style needs the lowest profile possible.

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[Monstrous4Banger]

I say go 17, and keep the width. For touring comfort is more important than the look of 18's. I wouldnt sacrifice traction, or handling tho. My $.02 .

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[flash]

you're probably right - i think the best course will be to lighten the wheels as much as i can by changing hardware, and then get the lightweight tires with softer sidewalls, and call it a day - in the end that will be 3lbs per front and 4lbs per rear that i would save over what i have now - that's not bad at all

i would have to do is lift the car a bit, which i was going to do anyway for clearance, but it would also reduce some negative camber at the same time - if it still doesn't reduce that enough, i will need to come up with a rear camber kit, but that won't be too hard, even if it means installing the kolkeln aluminum rear suspension, which would also probably get rid of an annoying squeak i have back there

hmmm - could be a plan

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[JWahlsten]

Aren't you glad you have us to use as your "muse"...

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[flash]

i have long understood the benefits of bouncing things off of others - just hearing yourself go through the pros and cons is often a very useful process

this has been helpful - thanks guys

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[ds968]

Bob, what's wrong with this ?! A lightweight wheel and talk about a really lightweight no-flat tire to match ! [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/rolleyes.gif[/img]
Brought to you by the inventive ( and clinically blind ) folks at Michelin [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/dry.gif[/img]

   

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[Cloud9...68]

I've always thought 17" is a "just right" wheel diameter. I've never seen the point of going larger - it's purely for looks, as there are very few brakes on cars for under $120K or so that need a wheel diameter larger than 17" to clear. As far as losing a bit of width, when you consider that actual size of the contact patch (about the size of a playing card on most modern tires), and how little this patch size changes over the wheel widths you're considering, I would go with 17s, which is what it sounds like you're leaning toward. Although Dan's suggestion is also worth considering... [img]style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/laugh.gif[/img]

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[firefish]

Depends on what you're looking to achieve but, at least in Europe, you can't get wider r-tires than 255 if sticking with 17" (save for 355 but that would be over the top). I went to 18" because of that, would have stayed with 17" otherwise.

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[pure&amp;simple]

Completely agree about not needing 18s (except for looks). When I got my car, it had 16s, so I bought a set of *staggered* 17s because I didn't know any better. Knowing what I know now, I would go 17x9 all around with 255/40/17s due to:
- Lighter weight than 18s
- More comfy ride than 18s
- 225/45/17s you have to run with a staggered 17" setup are simply not enough tire for Drivers Ed events. I have been fighting understeer and front-tire wear.
- Ability to rotate front to rear is huge.

I am told 255 front tire width requires some work to make it fit. 245/40s all around are also an option.

245 or 255 in the rear seems adequate to me for stock or near-stock power levels. Can't speak to the supercharger, though.

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[Cloud9...68]

"245 or 255 in the rear seems adequate to me for stock or near-stock power levels. Can't speak to the supercharger, though."

I agree; I can't imagine anything below 350 hp requiring a tire wider than 255.

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[flash]

lol - well..................

maybe i need to take some people for a ride around the track - there are even places i wish i had more tire than the 285 i have now

decision is made - i'm keeping the existing wheels - bummer is that the titanium fasteners won't fit my model - so, i'm going to clean these up and mount new tires - definitely going with the AD08 - that will pull about 3lb per corner - the rest i'll have to either live with or get with different rotors (a project for later) - i'll also lift the car a touch, and then see what i can do about reducing rear camber with a rear kit i'll have to design

gotta have it ready for the 17th

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[rxter]

Yes you do. We want you to be able to keep up.

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