18" or 19"
Registered User
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 989
From: Hillsborough, CA
Rep Power: 62
I have 19 TechArt Formula GTS rims (Lowered)
Might be for sale soon (perfect conditions w/ BBS air-caps)
I also have a pic to attach...
for some reason, I can't attached it (usually has no prob!!) ?!
anyway... here is my temp homepage... you can check it there as well.
http://hobbystage.net/porsche/em
latez,
Endra
Might be for sale soon (perfect conditions w/ BBS air-caps)
I also have a pic to attach...
for some reason, I can't attached it (usually has no prob!!) ?!
anyway... here is my temp homepage... you can check it there as well.
http://hobbystage.net/porsche/em
latez,
Endra
Last edited by EM 996 GTS; Dec 11, 2003 at 10:21 PM.
Banned
Joined: Jul 2003
Posts: 1,935
From: L.A.
Rep Power: 100
The fact that the next gen 911 Turbo will come with 19" wheels is absolutely irrelevant to his question. One has to look at the overall diameter of the wheel/tire package.
When it comes down to it, given the 996's overall tire diameter and available tire choice, 18" is the choice for performance, and 19" is the choice for looks.
When compareing 18" vs. 19" setups, given the same tires, the smoother the roads, the closer the performance gap will be. However, assuming that most of your spirited driving is not done on a smooth track, the additional .5" of sidewall of the 18" package preserves enough sidewall to absorb the dynamic loads experienced by the tires from the road.
And in a car such as the Porsche, where the rear-biased weight distribution plants a lot of mass over the rear tires (especially under acceleration), having enough sidewall for "give" in the rear tires results in a more predictable setup, thus yielding a more linear breakaway characteristic relative to the short sidewall of the 19" setup. Again, this is given the overall restrictions of the 996's tire diameter. Obviously, the more skilled the driver, the more capable he/she will be at handling the sharper handling characteristics of the 19" setup.
Remember, it's not the "sharper" the handling the better the car. You have to find the response "level" that suits your driving style and environment. Case in point, if you guys were to take a romp in the ultra-responsive F1 cars on your streets (or even track), you'll find that the razor sharp handling response (unforgiving) may not suit you one bit.
Also, contrary to what someone had mentioned, in terms of looks, you should definitely lower your car before going 19's. The reduction in the tire's sidewall will only exacerbate the tire-fender gap, giving it that lifted 4x4 look.
Stephen
'01 Turbo Ti
When it comes down to it, given the 996's overall tire diameter and available tire choice, 18" is the choice for performance, and 19" is the choice for looks.
When compareing 18" vs. 19" setups, given the same tires, the smoother the roads, the closer the performance gap will be. However, assuming that most of your spirited driving is not done on a smooth track, the additional .5" of sidewall of the 18" package preserves enough sidewall to absorb the dynamic loads experienced by the tires from the road.
And in a car such as the Porsche, where the rear-biased weight distribution plants a lot of mass over the rear tires (especially under acceleration), having enough sidewall for "give" in the rear tires results in a more predictable setup, thus yielding a more linear breakaway characteristic relative to the short sidewall of the 19" setup. Again, this is given the overall restrictions of the 996's tire diameter. Obviously, the more skilled the driver, the more capable he/she will be at handling the sharper handling characteristics of the 19" setup.
Remember, it's not the "sharper" the handling the better the car. You have to find the response "level" that suits your driving style and environment. Case in point, if you guys were to take a romp in the ultra-responsive F1 cars on your streets (or even track), you'll find that the razor sharp handling response (unforgiving) may not suit you one bit.
Also, contrary to what someone had mentioned, in terms of looks, you should definitely lower your car before going 19's. The reduction in the tire's sidewall will only exacerbate the tire-fender gap, giving it that lifted 4x4 look.
Stephen
'01 Turbo Ti
Last edited by StephenTi; Dec 13, 2003 at 01:16 AM.
