Porsche Wheel Offsets, Just the facts

[gwschissler]

For those of you running porsche wheels:

-What wheel size and offset are you running front and rear?
-Did you need wheel spacers?
-What size spacers did you need?
-Were there any other mods you had to do before you could bolt those wheels on?

I'm getting ready to purchase a set of rims and I need some statistics

[Shad Laws]

Hello-

-What wheel size and offset are you running front and rear?

16x7 ET55 and 16x9 ET70.


-Did you need wheel spacers?

No, but I do have 944 brakes, which is kinda like a "spacer."


-What size spacers did you need?
-Were there any other mods you had to do before you could bolt those wheels on?

Yes. Lots. All fender lips are rolled. The rears are pulled out quite a bit, too. The rear bump stop plate and shock tower are also clearanced. The bolt pattern of the springplate is rearranged to clear the tires. Stuff fits, but barely :-).

This is on a T3 Fastback.

Take care,

[Sandeep]

18x8.5 et 52mm with 235/35 front (FVD Cup2 replicas)
18x10 et 47mm with 265/35 rear (FVD Cup2 replicas)

No wheel spacers but I have a porsche 930 rear brake system consisting of 944 N/A hubs and backing plate + 944T front caliper + 930 rotor (increases rear width per side by 30mm) and a custom porsche 993 Biturbo front brake system (increases front width by 12mm per side)

The front fenders will be 2" wider and the rears will be 2 1/4" wider. I haven't purchased these yet as I can't find fenders in these widths. I may have to get my original metal fenders widened. Reason I want these widths is so the wheels 'JUST' tuck underneith.

I have a IRS rear end and ball joint front on a standard beetle. Front lowered 4" via adjustable beam/dropped spindles and rear is dropped 2". The rear bump stop is clearanced as is one springplate bolt. The original bolt was replaced with a button head bolt to gain clearance.

Sandeep

[zen]

you are going to get a very wide response of answers that may not help you much at all in the long run. there are many, many variables in this area. including what suspension mods (beam, trailing arms, etc) you have, brakes, and fenders. suggest you browse or do some searches through the forums. also checkout the June VWTrends for some additional info. it has a great article on wheel fitment.

much like an engine, it is all about the combo. you can't change one thing without impacting others. the main thing is to know what the driving purpose (i.e. track, weekend warrior, daily, etc.). that will dictate much of the rest.

here is my current setup, then where i want to go without having even run the first setup (plans and purposes change):

current:
17x7ET55 with 205/40 in front with ghia discs (adds 1/4" per side), 1 1/2" spacer and 2" wider fenders.
17x8.5ET48 with 245/40 in rear with drums, 2" spacer and 3" wider fenders.

yea, i could ditch the spacers if i went with stock fenders, but i needed the wide look.

near future:
same wheels with 951 brakes in front and unknown spacer, but will need one.
same wheels in back with 951 suspension and brakes and probably a .25" spacer.

[NYBugman1972]

1972 Super Beetle

Front:
Topline MaXX struts with Topline 5x130 disks.
17x7 et55 Porsche Boxster wheels with a 3/8" spacer.
205-40-17 tire.

Rear:
Custom Speed Parts 5x130 drums. Stock everything else.
17x8.5" et50 Porsche Boxster wheels with a 1" spacer.
245-45-17 tire.

Mods:

None in front.
Rear has Creative Car Craft 1 1/4" wider fenders.
Bump stop "perch" cut off to clear tires
"Button head" bolt installed in place of stock spring plate bolt to clear tires.