I apologize in advance if this has been covered but I did a search and didn't see it answered. Can someone describe the difference in performance, handling, ride comfort, gas milage, ect between the 19's and 20's. I realize its cheaper and a bit easier to find snow tires for 19's, and that the 20's fill up the wheel wells better so they look nicer, but what else should I know? Obviously the 19's come standard on the base so it's cheaper to keep them and not get the 20's. I have read that the 20's actually hinder performance as they are heavier and that they are more prone to failures due to the lower sidewall when pot holes are encountered. I really like the look of the 20's, but wondering if its worth it to pay for them or just keep the 19's.

 

I can't answer all of your questions. Bigger is heavier for the identical wheel which can cut into MPG and performance. On the other hand - 20" look great! Probably too much for a Boxter. jMHO.

 

Just to be clear, I'm talking about the base 991 not the Boxter. I do agree they look better, which is why this decision is difficult. Just want to understand the differences so I can make an informed decision.

 

I had both and prefer 20's, both cars w/o PASM.
I really like the 19"s wheel design, but the standard Good Year Eagles were too soft and bouncy, visually they look thicker than they actually are and the gap between the tire and the fender lip was huge, looks like the car was designed for 20" to close the wheel gap.
Its definetely a iittle firmer (not harsher) with 20's, but still very comfortable for everyday use, much more than a 997 with 18"s I drove back to back.

IMO the 991 with its longer wheel base and higher wheel arches needs 20"s to really "pop".

 

I have a base with 20" wheels. The car also has PASM. I do not find these to be harsh in any way. For normal driving I doubt that there is a significant difference in fuel economy. I routinely get 28-30 MPG on the highway at 75-80 MPH.

You should get a bit better fuel milage wit hthe 20" vs the 19" due to lower rolling resistance. You do need to mind the potholes as the decreased sidewall of the tire is more prone to potholes damaging the wheels.

The other thing is replacement cost. As an example the rear 20" replacement tire is $564 while the 19" is $323.

 

I would definitely consider insurance because of the high cost of the 20s, but they will come down over time.

ChuckJ

 

1) "Foot Print" on the 20" is bigger than the 19"
2) Sidewall is lower on the 20"

Therefore, if the compound is the same, the 20" would deliver better handling. At the same time 20" is stiffer than the 19" for sure.

 

The lot car I just bought came with the standard 20's. I had previously driven one with 20's and honestly didn't notice much difference. I kind of wanted them, but the standard 19's look great and biggest bonus is in tire price as 19hole noted.

 

I am leaning toward the 19s, but are there going to be more tire options coming out? Right now, it is just the Goodyears and some Bridgestones in those sizes.

Does Michelin plan to release the PSS for these sizes? That would seal the deal for me at 19".

Too many pot holes here in the Northeast. 20" scares me.

 

I agree, the contact patch on the 20 is going to be bigger. But there are arguments bot ways.

Short sidewall can compromise the integrity of it under high loads. Some tires will handle better, some not. You will certainly have more and better options in 19".


The loss of performance stance is a joke IMO because how much performance are you using on the street? Maybe 50%? 20's, if they degraded performance, might do so by half of 1%. Solution, drive .5% harder. Some guys trip me out bashing people for 20's talking about performance driving to the grocery store. LOL.

 

I think if I was back in FL I'd prob go 20's without question. But up here in Northern PA, the roads leave quite a bit to be desired. So the risk of damaging a wheel is much greater and the 19's are cheaper for snow tires and wheels. Still not 100% sure but the 19's are looking like they might be the better option.. I need to go see the difference in person, guess that means another trip to the dealer....

 

Am in Southeastern Pennsylvania and our roads SUCK. I recently traveled to a courthouse in northeastern Pennsylvania and I was impressed that (1) you don't have any stikin toll roads and (2) your roads are smooth. My 991 has 20inch classic wheels and they look great. I recently purchased the 19 inch porsche winterwheels and tires from Porsche of Delaware.

The 20 inch wheels and tires stick like glue. Cornering is incredible. I was told that the winter tires are not as sticky.

My suggestion, buy tire and wheel insurance. I did and I don't think about the tires or damage to the wheels.

 

Right to the point! I have 2 sets of 20" for the street driving and they look great without being too firm. I am running 19" on the track, mostly to lower the cost (a lot) and reduce the weight (a bit). I found out that my 19" + 888's are not much lighter than 20" with PSS's (same type of wheels in 2 different sizes).
Go for 20" for the street if you like the look better. Throw away the OEM Pzero's and get you a set of PSS's, they are 10 times better.