I found a previous posting where someone asked "what was the widest wheel that could be fitted to a 914 with standard fenders/wings" and the concensus was that 7" will fit on the rear. What I would like to know is: what is the measurement of offset of such wheels and also what is the widest that can be snsibly fitted to the front and again, what offset?
Has anyone fitted Minilites to their 914 and if so what spec?
All replies gratefully received.
Keith

you could probably fit 8 inch or more rims...it would all depend upon the tire profile.

Hoosiers, khumos, etc have a pretty significant cantalever profile so the tire sticks out quite a bit past the rim...

Wheels are different from wheel/tire combos...

Rich

Most Porsche 7x15" wheels have a 23mm offset. The rare 911R 7x15 has a 49mm offset iirc.

The fronts have plenty of room to fit a 7" wide rim.

Minilite makes a 6.5x15 that is a great fit on a narrow bodied car. Without massaging fender lips (and sometimes more) fitting more than a 205 width tire can be trouble.

For most manufacturers, a 205 width tire gives you an 8" cross section. That is HUGE compared to stock (165mm) which is about 6" of cross section

You don't mention if you are running 4-bolt or 5 bolt wheels. Minilites can be found in either configuration. The 7x15 Porsche wheels are from the 944/911 series and are 5-bolt.

i have pulled my fenders.. about an inch and a half
i run a 16x225,50 on 16x7 fuches

to truly fit a "standard fender/wing".... one that has not been stretch or molested, your much more likely to get a 6inch wheel

some times a 7 will work
especially if its the fabled 7R wheel
but a 6 is a much safer bet.

brant

Steve whos rubber is that?

The best offset for the rear is about 36mm, which is actually what you'll find on all
the 6" fuchs and cookie cutters. If you want at least a 205 wide tire without mangling your fenders this is about as good as it gets without having to test fit or adjust camber or have stiff springs, etc.
The next closest thing (5-lug porsche pattern) is the early boxster rear wheels, which are 7x16 40mm offset and worked well for me. Other than that you'll have to go custom or aftermarket, or get 911R 49mm offset ($$$), or late 7x15 phone dials (52mm) and use a spacer.

Just finished going through this whole thing.
I ran 6x16 fuchs with 205/16/45 Hoosiers for autocross. Fit well, looked good. Not enough tiar for the 3.2.

I wanted more tiar....had to have wheels custom made. Added 1" to the inside bead and used spacers to clear the fenders and tub. Net 7" wheel, deep offset with spacers. Absolute maximum tire and wheel with the 205 Hoosiers. Another tiar might go as much as 215 or so as the Hoosiers are a little wider than advertised.

Said screw it, put the Porsche flares on, now have 9" rears with 245/50/16 and 8" fronts with 225/50/16's running Hoosier DOT A's.

What a difference!

i'm running 205 x 15 kumo ecsta on 5.5 rim. a bit chubby for the rim but NEVER interfers, front or rear. i've mock uped a set of 17x7's and with spacers in front would fit real nice
Click to view attachment

I ran 7" custom steelies on the Puttputt. IIRC the back spacing was either 5 or 5.5" and I ran a 1/2" spacer on the rear and 3/4" spacer on the front. Ran 205x50x15 Kumho V710s (very fat tire). My fenders lips were rolled and the fenders were massaged to accept the wheel/tire combination.
Yes 7s will fit if you do your homework and work on the fenders a bit.

I used to run 7x15 fuchs with 225s on the rear of my 914-6.

Here are a couple of pics.

white 914-6 is wearing 7x16s in this pic with 205s up front and 225s in the rear.

another shot of the 7x15s on the Phoenix Red car.

I run the 6.5 x 15 minilites with 205 on them. My rear fender lips are rolled, but even if the weren't they still would fit.

repeating myself...
but you'll find 1 in 10, maybe 1 in 20 that get 7inch wheels under truly stock fenders...

6 inch wheels are the safer bet for truly stock fenders.
(especially in 15 inch diameters)

Before I got my flares I could fit a 7" under one stock rear fender but only a 6" under the other, and no the car was never wrecked, go figure...
Stick with 6 inchers if you don't want to mess with your stock fenders.

Way back when I Auto-x'd my 914 (it ran back then). I had a195/60 15's on 6" & 7" cookie cutters as street tires. The rears just barly cleared and the fender lips were rolled and I maxed the neg camber. I ran 205/50 15's on 5.5" gas burners for auto-x.

Not so good pics of a 195/60 on 7" cookie cutter on the rear.

From the side:
Click to view attachment

Looking up:
Click to view attachment


Jim

15x7 0 offset, had to pit 195s on and just barely roll the fenders

16x6 with 205/50's could have fit 205/55's but I don't think I could have ever fit 16x7 unless it was a custom wheel...

Most of the 911 Fuchs wheels that are fitted to 914's have a 4.75" backspacing, the 7" 911R wheels have 5.75 backspacing.

If you have decent negative camber, you may be able to fit
215/40/16 Kumho V710, which are 8.6" wide, if you have offset
of 35mm on 7x16 wheel.

pic #2

Also, my former setup, 205/45/16 Kumho Ecsta V700
on 7x16 40mm offset boxster wheel.

These mini flares allow for 225s on 8 inch rims, however they barely clear...

Many thanks for all the replies - the concensus seems to be that 6/6.5 is easily done with no mods, 7 will fit some and not others and 8s fit with mods and all depend on tyre profile and wheeloffset. I've got some work to do!
I failed to say that the plan is to convert to 5 stud. I already have the front end sorted with a complete 911 set up.

I'm asking these questions as I plan the restoration of my 914. When I first got it I was all for fitting flares but the stock wings are in such good condition - perfect in fact, it would be a crime to cut them - hence my questions about widest wheels under stock wings. Another reason to postpone/abandone the flares idea was that the money would be better spent elsewhere (even though in my head I've spent it several times over!)

By the way - thanks especially for all the photos - some fantastic cars out there. I've really got something to aim for. Back in 2001 I began a 2.5yr restoration of my 87 Audi quattro and when I finished I said never again and now I've bought a 914 to go through it all again! This will NOT be the last question I post, rest assured.

Regards
Keith

How did you pull your fenders? Did they come out looking good? Do you have any pictures of your car now?

Sorry this is an old thread. = )

Eric