Hello everyone,

18" seems to be the consensus for winter wheels (at least as far as I can tell), why is that? Am i crazy for wanting to use my current 19" Carrera II wheels for winter and Turbo I wheels for summer driving?

Car is a 997.2 C2S btw.

Thanks!

 

Not crazy. 19 in winters are more expensive, less sidewall, BUT.. it's how you drive and the size of the potholes in your roads.

 

For NJ / NYC or Northeast in general, 18" would probably be a better choice because of the size of the potholes. The taller sidewalls would absorb the impact better when you inevitably hit a pothole, thus decreasing the likelihood of bending one of your rims. I'm not saying 19" is impossible since I survived on a set of 19" Blizzak LM-25 in Boston on my M3, but I also lived in downtown at that time so I have the choice to just walk or take the bus to work / school at that time and leave the M3 in the garage.

It's nice to see that I am not the only one that is already thinking ahead about winter wheels / tires.

 

Much more choice in 18 inch and also better winter performance. Here's a pic of Targa 4S with 18" 993 Turbo wheels. Doesn't look too bad with 5mm spacers. Could go with 10mm in the rear since it's a wide body and it would look a little better but I only use them for a few months of the year.

 

Just bought a used set of OEM Lobster forks to use as my winter tire/wheel set. I like the look better than 18's, they fit my car without spacers, are light weight and they cost me less than a new set of cheap after market wheels would have. I bought them for cold weather dry pavement and the occasional light snow driving. Wen the weather gets really bad I drive my SUV when necessary.

 

I like 18's for winter tires because you can get them in narrower widths, the narrower the better in snow. Plus you get a little more sidewall and they are less expensive. Also a better selection of tires in 18's, for example I like the Michelin Alpina's and you can't get them in 19's.

 

When you go from 19 to 18 what size is recommended for a wide body 997.1 Targa? The dealer when I asked recommended not changing wheel sizes for winter as the car came with 19 and if you change them out he stated the car setup will be wrong. I have 235/17 in front and 305/19 in rear.

 

Hopefully thats a typo and you actually have 19's in the front as well as the rear.....................

My tire/wheel chart shows you would run 18x8 wheels in the front with 235/40 tires and 18x10 wheels in the rear with 265/40's for your car/body style. You should be able to get these in the proper offset for your car so no need to run spacers.

 

I certainly won't be driving my C2S in the snow, really just cold dry weather.

I've always loved the Turbo I wheels and I'm not sure I can resist them.

 

sorry about typo yes 235/19

 

Honestly, think you won't have a problem with 19" in winter. We had a setup in NYC area on 20" wheels, no problems during the winter.

 

19's are just more expensive and don't provide a traction advantage. For the cost, it won't cost much more initially to buy an 18" wheel and tire combo. In the long run you will pay more to have winter / summer tires switched out twice a year. Please call me when you are ready to order

 

I have a set of the factory lobster forks in excellent condition complete with the Pirelli OEM approved winter tires, center caps and TPMSs which I haven't listed for sale yet, but will shortly. If anyone has interest - PM me.

 

PMd you.