914 GT Wheel questions Options

[OttoB]

Hello, everyone.

Under a separate thread, I will do a formal intro to the forum as to the black, Subie-powered 914 I bought earlier this week after it failed to sell on BAT last month:

https://bringatrailer.com/listing/1973-porsche-914-140/


I have not seen it in person as it's located in NY with 1600veloce and I am located in WPB. However, it has chrome wheels which is not my preference, but also - measuring:

17x8 on 225/45/17 in the front
17x10 on 275/40/17 in the back

I am big 914-6 GT fan for many years and overjoyed with this purchase! Aside from a/c for SoFla being a must, I also need to replace the wheels on the car in order to resemble this yellow one that I saw at Werks Reunion last year at Amelia Island.

So, I am looking at getting 15x8 Braids for the front, since they sell them already with the RSR finish here:

http://www.autoatlanta.com/Porsche-Braid-F...RAID158RSR.html

They have a 4-5 week turnaround time and only come with +10 offset. I know nothing about fitment, ET's, diameters, etc. But, do know there is so much room in the wheel wells of the car available given what is already at the car.

As such, I am looking to get the thumbs up from this knowledgeable forum as to whether it will be just fine? I spoke with Tire Rack this morning and they have Kumho Ecstas available in stock 225/50/15 which ought to do the trick.

Out back, looking for 15x9 or 10 Minilites and the only place on the interweb I found that can sell them is Mr. Fiat, and this is their link:

https://mrfiat.com/products/porsche-911-min...-racing-wheel-1

They are made to order, take 6-8 weeks, and I have to be very specific as to what information I provide them to have the wheels be built for my car. With Tire Rack this morning, I was told the widest they have in stock in 15in with 50/45/40 profile is either a 295 (which is too dang much for the look I want), or a very, very expensive set of Michelin MXW's 255/45/15 at $500 p/t.

Mr. Fiat is supposed to get back to me as to whether they can do a 15x10. With what is on the car now, I have no doubts that a 15x10 on a 255/45/15 tire will fit. What I need with this set of wheels from this forum as well, is the exact measurements the manufacturer in Italy (Mr. Fiat would not disclose their name) would need so that I can get them ordered in that size.

AND

If they say they cannot do them in 15x10, I would then need the wheel measurements for the 15x9 they list on their website and eBay, please?

I look forward to receiving your valued input in this regard, since I had not foreseen that it will take a few months before the car will look the way I want it! So, the sooner I order these 2 different sets of wheels, the sooner they should arrive!

[Steve]

I'm running Fikse FM10 17x8 in the front and 17x9 in the rear. It depends on how the flairs were mounted with what you can get away with.
8x17 5-130mm (19mm) 225x45x17
9x17 5-130mm (6mm) 245x40x17

With racing tires (no side rib), you can get away with 235 in the front and 255 in the rear.

[OttoB]

Speaking to someone that does know about these cars, he recommended I go with a 15 x7 front, to mount on a 205/55/15. They indicated that steering will be more crisp and responsive and that the 1 inch in size will make a big difference.

I am not against a 15 x7 front, I just need specifics on the various numbers involved in ordering wheels like the ones I am wanting to order - bolt pattern, hub diameter, backspacing, offset, etc.

It is important for me that if spend the dough to get 4 wheels custom made and wait months for them, that there is no doubt that they will fit my car as intended.

[technicalninja]

I'd think about 16" wheels.

More options are available size, compound, and use wise.

When you hit 17" as what's on the car now the options multiple again.

If you're "set" on 15s the only thing available is "competition" rubber that will not have a very long life.

Want to drive it a bunch?

Keep the wheels it came with for "daily" use and just use the 15" for competition and showing.

Car is VERY nice!

I'd bet that is a "hoot" to drive!

Adapting a Subie AC compressor to a 914 should be relatively simple...

Find a clutch cycled version (older).

Needs to be made in Japan, Do not settle for a Chinese clone.

I run an automotive AC shop...
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[sixnotfour]

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Braids are great but they have a rolled outer lip.

[technicalninja]

Another aftermarket source to look at.

https://dr911.ca/product-category/wheels/

I purchased a set of 16 X 6 from them.

Got WARNED that the guy running the place was an EXTREME scammer!!!

Worked out fine.

They don't make that wheel. You can get them from various sources.

DR911 was the least expensive when I purchased.

The wheels are NICE! I just got black ones, so I don't know how "RSR" theirs are.

DOT, and TUV certified.

They ARE Clones, just nice ones!

[OttoB]

Found these 15 x 7 Fuchs on eBay and know of a talented paint guy who could be persuaded to make them appear RSR finish. But, am I so näive as to believe that these would perfectly fit right in at the front?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/166894420484?_skw=...ABk9SR6ad9_3XZA


Haven't heard back from Mr. Fiat yet on whether they can only do 9's, but yes - I am only interested in 15's.

For reference purposes, here is a thread on Pelican where I took a nice 911 Turbo and flared it out to where I had 335's out back. I am not afraid of mods but feel this one is GTG. I just need input for now, on the wheels that I want to order.

https://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche-911...od-965-rsr.html

[mepstein]

I wouldn’t want to pay more than $1k for a set of 7’s but they will be good for the front.

[Chris914n6]

1. Do you like the way it handles and traction now?

2. 10" is too big for the rears, 9s make more sense and are more common.

3. No way I would buy 15s that wide. Think its hard to find tires now just think about 7 years from now. 16s minimum and they don't look that different from 15s. I can see how 17s look too big on a 914.

4. That's a lot of money to spend for a look on a car that is not a tribute.

[campbellcj]

FWIW I have some Braid 15x8 & 9s for track use and they've worked out great - nice quality and appearance but they do have the rolled-lip and importantly they are not an exact 100% clone of Fuchs. I had a clearance issue w/ my modified front suspension and destroyed a set of Braid 15x8's, changed back to Fuchs for fronts.

I can't comment on fitment for OP's specific car obviously but the point about 16s vs 15s is a good one re tire availability. I run race tires which are still pretty well available in 15s but I think that's no longer the case the best street tires.

With my Tangerine flares I have been running 8's and 9's for track and 8's square for street/show. 225 front / 245 rear DOT tire sizing.

[OttoB]

I value everyone’s opinions and looking forward to hearing from a ‘wheel expert’ all of the specs and dimensions needed to pull the trigger on ordering a set of 15x9 or 10 wheels for the rear. I got the car a couple of days ago and remains in NY with the seller. I need to sort a handful of things before getting it transported to WPB. In the meantime, since it takes a while to apparently find, order, and get what I want with these Minilites, this thread allows me to also get that going.

[sixnotfour]

factory 15x9s have an offset that are a close fit..
factory 16x9s have an offset that fit almost always...

not having the car in your possesion is a gamble,, unless you get some measurements of the flairs actual width...

see chart for offset comparison..

[technicalninja]

The chart above is excellent!

2nd to the bottom, the 944 wheels will often fit a narrow body with minor fender rolling.

So, that sort of gives you a fit to inside edge.

Outside edge is dictated by the flares on the car you bought.



If I understand your initial post, it's Fuch 5 lug on front and Mini-lights on back.

So, two different wheel styles on each end of the car, Correct?

Why?
Is it just to match a car you saw?

Or is this a "thing" with the Porsche crowd that I was unaware of?

You will be the first person I've encountered who was willing to spend big bucks to have an unmatched set of wheels.

Most of the time, when the wheels are unmatched, it's NOT a style driven choice.
It's an "un-available in that size" or a "race wheels" being used type of decision.

It already has 10" wheels on it. That's a hard target to hit on most 914s.

I'd want to see the current clearance and set up before I ordered anything at all.

The bodies can be different.

Sounds like some cars can be as much as an inch different side to side.



I'd keep my "radar" up for 15s, but what you've found is top of scale pricing on driver quality wheels.

A STUPID nice freshly done set of 15" were sold on this site recently. I believe they were 15x8. Done RSR style by one of the best restorations guys around.
Owner couldn't bring himself to mount these puppies on his race car.

1800 for a set of 4 was the asking price. Took 5 weeks to sell.
Had they been 16s I might have enquired.

These were REAL Fuchs and just freaking beautiful!
They were probably a pretty safe investment.
As long as they didn't get torn up, they will always be worth that price.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=371714

That site I linked to has 6/7/8" 15" Fuch clones and at one time 9s were available.
I'd choose those over the Braids, both are cast and the Dr911 wheels are 1/2 the cost.



My un-solicited advice is to chill out, get your car, and play with it.

See if the DAPO did squirrely shit to make those 10s fit.

Personally, I think you're taunting Mr. Murphy ordering expensive wheels BEFORE you check the car out.

[Shivers]

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What type of brakes do you have? Mine a wilwood superlites, so I have to run at least a 16" rim. Might want to check. And I didn't see it mentioned, that 914 is a clone of the 916, other than the steel roof and the six. Very nice. Welcome

@OttoB

[BillJ]

Actually my selling price for those wheels were for just two 15x8s not 4. And yes they were $1800 which is the going rate for nice ones. Fuchs will also sell you new genuine wheels and they send out for refinish in RSR. They end up being over $4k for a set.

The minilites in the rear and rsr up front is how the factory ran some of their cars in period. Fuchs didn't make anything larger than 15x8 at that time so they used minilites in 15x9. This is the combo I use or 15x8 on all four corners. 15x10 will not fit for me.

[technicalninja]

Sorry @BillJ I thought it was a set of four.

They were beautiful!

And thanks for the head up, Minilight in 9 as Fuchs weren't available makes a bunch more sense now.

I stand corrected and humbly apologize...

Did those Minilights have the weird lug bolts back then?


OP. If I was going to order 9s without having the car to verify I'd order +5 to +10 offset.

This is similar to both the stock 15X9 911 wheels (3) and the Fisk wheels that Steve posted (6).

For 10's I'd expect to be in the 0 to -5 range.

I'd still wait and measure the car first if I could.

[BillJ]

No worries!

Not sure on the lug nut question. I bought new from www.aircooledracing.net and use the regular lugs.

[OttoB]

As indicated, I will do a formal intro time permitting. The wheel chart above does help and hoping now that the folks at Mr. Fiat can place the order today, likely 15x9’s. On another note, this is not my 2nd or 3rd vehicle at the moment, and my wife lacks my compassion of getting my cars sorted. And she knows that getting the cars in/out of shops as I modify them costs some coin. So, with this one being turnkey sans a/c and wheels, I have the incentive to get those jumped on since I prefer showing her the car once it’s all done. That way, there’s less issues between us - hope it makes sense and that I may not be the only one married to a spouse who feels she sometimes needs to compete with a car for one’s affections?!?!

This is a link on a build I did for my 1993 MB 500e with mismatching wheels which I’ve owned for 3.5 years, where I had turbo fans designed and installed just for the fronts. The link has 100’s of photos and goes into why I’ve always loved mismatching wheels for the past 40+ years. If the pics don’t show up from the link (happens if not forum
member), I’ll nonetheless tell my story about my journey on this 914. This link will take a long time to read but, tells you why I have always had a thing for different wheels. The 500e is presently for sale on eBay and came out amazing, was part of Werks Reunion last year, has won awards, and I’m okay letting someone else enjoy it going forward.

https://www.500eboard.co/forums/threads/ottob.17573/

I don’t follow trends, never been on social media, and based on 2 links on my previous rides, anyone would get the sense that I dance to the beat of my own drum when it comes the cars I own and how I have modified them (done several).

[OttoB]

Switching gears a bit…

I like to listen to the radio in any/all cars, like many people. Aside from the 4x6’s on the kick panel, is there a subtle sound system with a mild, slim subwoofer and/or amp that others have installed on theirs?

I understand a lot of owners prefer lightness, prefer no radio,
prefer not driving their cars in the rain… prefer many things - but, I am not looking to track the car nor win points for anything other than being able to take it out on date night with my wife.

Thanks in advance for pics of your setup. Ideally, I could get everything from 1 place - Crutchfield.

[technicalninja]

Lots of threads about radio stuff on here.

It's easier to use Google search with "914world"

The "site" search feature is less than ideal.

Here's one about a hide away head unit that uses your Phone.

http://www.914world.com/bbs2/index.php?showtopic=372108

You can find aftermarket (914rubber?) speaker pods that allow larger units.

Many threads on small self-powered subs exist as well.

Plenty of small form radio stuff is available.

Whatever you do; don't post a thread on placing speakers in the door cards.

You'll get lynched here! (IMG:style_emoticons/default/ninja.gif)