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

[mskala]

Tom,
There is no one answer for widest rubber in the stock fenders, there are too many
variables. Tire brand, camber, spring rate, ride height, factory workers' alcohol
content that day, etc. Measuring and test fitting is the only way. Too bad I don't
have my boxster wheels with auto-x tires any more or I could lend you.
Mark S.

[sixaddict]

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

[Eric_Shea]

Tom,

I don't see the advantage of 7R's on a 914. The offset sends them into the body as Harold describes. With your stiffening kit you probably loose another 1/4" as well. You will need spacers to make them... well... like a regular (albeit expensive) 7x15. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/confused24.gif)

[Michael N]

Check out the article in Oct 2006 Excellence. It has a 3.6 in a stock bodied original 914/6 with Weidman made 7x16" fuchs running 225's. I bet it cost the same if not less than buying 4 7R rims. Talk about a sleeper 914. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/yellowsleep[1].gif) (IMG:style_emoticons/default/burnout.gif)

[campbellcj]

I just checked my car yesterday at the track and there is still enough room in the rears to stick both of my hands between tire and outer fender, with 205/45R16 Hoosier R6's on Fuchs 16x7's. I doubt I could jam 225 Hoosiers in there but some other tires likely could fit.

[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.