17" wheels..., any reasons not to? Options

[campbellcj]

Much better selection in high-quality (aftermarket) wheels, and 15-16" race rubber will probably not get any more common in the next couple years either.

I know I've seen race 914s with 17's but most were flared cars running large Kinesis, BBS or Fikse wheels with Hoosiers or slicks.

My car is unflared and so I would be looking at 17x7's with 205/40 Hoosiers. This would give me a 1.6% (just about 10mm) taller tire than the 205/50R15's I'm running now. I am thinking that would be a good thing, i.e. I could keep the slightly shorter tires for short-track or autox use and the taller ones for big road courses.

I still might end up with 16x7 fuchs due to cost, but the 17" concept is intriguing and there sure are some nice wheels in the 17-18" sizes these days.

I don't think the extra weight would be highly significant, because some of the modern forged race wheels are very light and strong. And Hoosiers are very light too.

Any thoughts/ideas?

[914Timo]

When I deamed about 17" wheels I found out that there are not so good selection of 7x17 whees with P-bolt pattern. Most 17" size wheels are atleast 8" wide, which is IMHO too much for narrow body 914.

The second reason is that they are all with´wrong´offset. You should use spacers. Only Revolution makes 7x17 wheels with right bolt pattern and right offset for 914 (ET 35mm).

If you go and order 3-piece custom built Kinesis, BBS or Fikse wheels, then the imagination is the limit...... I believe you can get what ever you want, but, of course, that will cost a lot too. It was the third reason for me to accept ´only´ 16" wheels.....