Narrow body fuch 7R fitment, anyone running fuch 7R wheels? Options

[burton73]

On a conversion, I have currently mounted 16 X 7 with 215 55 up front and 225 X 45 rear. THe rears are rolled and pulled but only visible to the highly astute. Unless you figure this car is going back to stock some day then why not do it tastefully. With all the mods it seems unlikely.
As most have said ...205 X 50 is not enough tire......I had issues with a warm 2 liter for traction and you have way more torque. TOT

I like the look of the offset between the front and the rear sizes of the cars wheels and tires. Thus the 7s and 8s. Just like the Carrera's and the GTs. A 205 seems like a small size when I have a 205/50 on my 5.5 Fuchs 4 lug on my 76 car.

I found a money shot of the green car. It should be entered into the car of the month for a green factory 6. I had a 70-911s in that same color in 77. I also found another shot of sixnot4s car. Just pull the rear out a little and put a 951- from a 944 turbo 8” on there.

If the 245 will not fit then a 225 will fit for sure.

Bob



245/45/16 on 951 8" on white car not green car

[Eric_Shea]

Weidman made 7x16" fuchs

That would be the ticket. Have Harvey build a set with the perfect offset.

[underthetire]

I had 205's on my old rivi's. 5" rim I think. They get a lot wider once you put them on 7"s. It's a big change.

[javadog]

I have a '71 six with 7R wheels on the back. A BFG 205 width tire just fits, with a spacer about 1/4" thick. Some 205 width tires (old Dunlop D40M2) would rub a little on the inside and the outside when cornering, so there's not much room left. No way would a 225 fit on my car.

The fronts may not be a problem. I've never tried it.

JR

[burton73]

I tried on the tires for size with the old trailing arms removed just to see what I would find. There is no way that the 245/50zr16 that I bought will fit in there. They start but just stop. They will be fine for the back of my Carrera for my 9”

The picture shows how far up the tire goes till it hits with the 225/50zr 16. A 914 lower rider.

At least I will not need to test mount the 245’s

Bob

[burton73]

I pulled down the tires that where on my car when –duc had it with the 3.2 in it. The tires are 215/40zr16 same brand. There is no scraping on the tires anyplace. These where on the car with 4 factory Fuchs 7” 5 lug.

When I got the car it was just a clean body and interior 4-lug roller. I got his tires.



Bob

[pete-stevers]

Weidman made 7x16" fuchs

That would be the ticket. Have Harvey build a set with the perfect offset.

(IMG:style_emoticons/default/agree.gif)
or original flares and bbs e50s built out to 17x8 and 9s respectively

[tomkirkcis]

I have been traveling on business a ton, and was able to play in the garage for the first time. I took a set of 7R rims that are mounted with Bridgestone Potenza S-03 225/50ZR 15's. The 7R backset is listed as 138MM. I used a straight edge laid across the back of the tires and measured the backset at 6 1/2 inches to the rim mounting surface. I installed them on the rear of my 914. After rolling the car back and forth and bouncing it to settle, the inside fit is VERY tight, but clears. I would suspect cornering or bounce might cause contact on the inside. The ouside is also tight but might clear. The tight spot being the outside rear. My passenger sideis slightly tighter than the driver side.

I decided to use a high tech method. I went to the local Tractor Supply store and bought a pound of 1/2" flat washers I then used the 1/2" flat washers to space out the rims. Washers stacked 3 deep (about 8.5MM) "appears to give Just enough clearance on the inside. I have no idea why this looked to be enough space to me but it did. This would effectively reduce the 7R backset of 138 mm to about 130mm. All other fuch 7 inch rims, including both the 15" or 16" have a backset of 112mm . If my eyeball engineering is correct, the R's may have about an 18mm backeset advantage over other factory 7's.

HaraldD's post above says he uses a 27mm spacer. This would reduce his 7R's backset from 138MM to only 111MM. Eric Shea's comment would be correct, This would be a very expensive way to get the same backset available from far less expensive standard factory 7" rims.

The 225/50's on 7R look SO much better than the 205/50's on deep 6's. Not only the width but also the more correct height. I am thinking 225/50r rubber on 7's might be enough rubber.

The only way to tell if they fit is to drive them. With the washers in place,It might just take the slightest of rolling the opening

With the washers in place, I get 4 revolutions of the lug nuts. I am a little nervous thinking of driving with only 4 turns. Anyone know if I am asking for diaster? I am thinking limited testing, not a permenant condition here. I will have some images to post a little later.

Tom

[mskala]

The safer and more complete way is to disconnect the strut bolt so you
can move the arm easily to the maximum. From the spring rate you can
approximate the travel, and then figure a bit of side-side movement of
the tire under load as well.

[tomkirkcis]

Here are a couple of images.
Image of the 225/50 on the 7R





In ths image, the 205/50 on a 6 x 15 is on the left and the 225/50 on the 7R is on the right

[Eric_Shea]

So, do they fit or do they rub?

I would "at least" put 50mm studs on there. I believe 56mm is available, that might be your best choice.

That is some "serious rubber" you've got tucked in there Tom.

[tomkirkcis]

The safer and more complete way is to disconnect the strut bolt so you
can move the arm easily to the maximum. From the spring rate you can
approximate the travel, and then figure a bit of side-side movement of
the tire under load as well.

This was good advise.

As Eric had noticed, my car has the factory GT stiffening kit installed. This narrows the wheel well a tad on the inside. I tried the above technique with 8.5mm of spacer under the 7R's with 225/50 Bridgestones . The verdict is in.

They DO just fit on the rear of my car. I had no contact on full movement of the trailing arms with the strut disconnected. This is more vertical movement than would be encountered while driving. I do not know if side to side movement while cornering would cause contact. It very well may as there is very little room to spare, both in or out.

If I did not have the chassis stfifening kit, I think I would be able to get away with a 5mm spacer , or maybe a little less and gain a smidge more of outside clearance. Someone also commented the Bridgstones side profile tend not to be as wide as some other brands so that may help with the fit.

I will probably order proper length studs and try the car on the road. I live in Massachusetts so this will not happen for a few months. So as other people have pointed out, each car is different.

I will report back

Tom

[davesprinkle]

The safer and more complete way is to disconnect the strut bolt so you
can move the arm easily to the maximum. From the spring rate you can
approximate the travel, and then figure a bit of side-side movement of
the tire under load as well.

This was good advise.

As Eric had noticed, my car has the factory GT stiffening kit installed. This narrows the wheel well a tad on the inside. I tried the above technique with 8.5mm of spacer under the 7R's with 225/50 Bridgestones . The verdict is in.

They DO just fit on the rear of my car. I had no contact on full movement of the trailing arms with the strut disconnected. This is more vertical movement than would be encountered while driving. I do not know if side to side movement while cornering would cause contact. It very well may as there is very little room to spare, both in or out.

If I did not have the chassis stfifening kit, I think I would be able to get away with a 5mm spacer , or maybe a little less and gain a smidge more of outside clearance. Someone also commented the Bridgstones side profile tend not to be as wide as some other brands so that may help with the fit.

I will probably order proper length studs and try the car on the road. I live in Massachusetts so this will not happen for a few months. So as other people have pointed out, each car is different.

I will report back

Tom

Good work, Tom. What is your rear camber?

[tomkirkcis]

I do not know. Racer Chris at Tangerine Racing did my alignment. Maybe he will chime in at what the settings are.

Tom

[tomkirkcis]

Well, we did some test fitting on the front. I need 10mm spacers to have the tire clear the front strut. I haven't driven the car hard at all because I need longer studs, but it does look like I may luck out and be able to fit 225/50 rubber with the 7R wheels all around on the narrow body with stock openings.
8mm spacers in the rear and 10mm spacer in the front. The wheel fitment seems to match up with the experience of guys who have fit 7" boxter wheels with a 40mm offset. I am effectively reducing the R wheel 49mm offset to 39 in the front and 41 in the rear with the spacers. The boxter wheels would be a lot cheaper way to get there, but I am partial to fuchs and already owned these, so what the hell.

I also think the profile of the Bridgestones helps with fitment. They may be a little narrower than some other 225/50's

I am ordering longer studs and will be able to fully test the fitment. I will report back and post some images.

[tomkirkcis]

Wheel stud length? I am confused as to what is the factory stud length. I seem to be finding conflicting info on the internet. I thought the studs were 45mm . Eric recommended 56mm which would make sense for 8 or 10mm spacers. Then I found this add this add on Paragon.



Replace those tired and damaged wheel studs with our new pieces or increase the length for use with spacers.

Here's a basic list of sizes used as original:

45mm - 944 83-86, 924S (front); 924S, 944 85.5-89, 944S, 944S2, 944 Turbo, 968 (rear)
50mm - 944 85.5-89, 944S, 944S2, 944 Turbo, 968 (front)
52mm - 911 65-89 (front and rear)
66mm - 911 Turbo 76-89 (front)
66mm - 944 83-85.1 (rear w/factory spacer)
72mm - 911 Turbo 76-89 (rear)

A 914-6 isn't listed but I would think it should be the same as a 911 Anyone know for certain what is the original stud length on a 914-6?

Thanks

Tom

[tomkirkcis]

I have had a chance to drive the car a couple hundred miles and everything is working out great. The tire fitment is very tight, but no rubs. The car handles so much better with the bigger rubber and the combination of 225's and the LSD has not resulted in any tire spin.

I have not had the car on the track

[qa1142]

First, I want to say this thread rocks (IMG:style_emoticons/default/aktion035.gif) just what I have been needing.

So, I will find out soon if my 15X6 and 15X7 cookies will fit narrow body or not

I still want 2nd set of rims with "R" rubber for autoX and track days. Mine is only 2.0L 4 banger so I don't need to over tire, but don't want to under tire either.

16X6 enough? 16X7? Sounds like you have all done this before do I head for 944 section on Pelican to find these rims?

Thanks
Will

[Bleyseng]

I had fittment issues in the back with 15x7 cookies but I fixed that (IMG:style_emoticons/default/smash.gif)
that was with 205x50 Kumho's for AXing.

Now I am running 16x6's and 205x50x16's without any problems, its nice.

[qa1142]

so these won't fit with 23 offset with?

Size 15x7

Part Numbers
7JX15
911 361 023
8K A1 S1 12 MG
PTL2001
83
ATS

Need to be more like "R" with 36 to 49 offset?