Just wanted to start a thread hoping to get first hand information about the many questions involved with upgrading wheels and tires.

Sometimes the answers to these issues are subjective and biased but hopefully we can find some common elements to help us noobs, in customizing our Cayennes.

Focusing on wheels and tires that are larger than stock,(ie 21" 22" +) please share your first hand experiences on upgrading or driving upgraded wheels and tires.

Some of the first questions that I can think of are...

How will a wheel size increase affect the ride comfort quality?

Does the air shock system smooth out the bumpiness of the lower profile tires or will there be a noticable difference?

Will there be an increase in tire noise in the cabin? Which tire brands are noisy, which are quiet?

Which lower profile tires are stickier than stock and how many miles can you expect for a set. (with what type of driving style or during which seasons)

Which wheel Brand, Model and sizes are the lightest?

How much do stock Cayenne wheels weigh?

What are the pros and cons of the different wheels designs. (3-piece 2-peice or solid 1-peice) or (Forged Vs. Cast etc)

Thanks for reading

 

While I don't have 22" wheels(only 20") I'll take a stab at this. Most of the answers are pretty simple phyisics or common sense. In all my answers I am assuming that you are keeping the wheel diameter as close to stock as possible in order to keep the speedometer accurate.

The larger the wheel the smaller the sidewall of the tire. The smaller the sidewall, the stiffer it has to be made.

Not many people realize that the sidewall of a tire is actually part of your overall suspension system. That said, lower profile aka stiffer sidewall = harsher ride. It's a fact.

Also the lower the profile, the more chance you have of bending or breaking your rim on a pothole etc.

It's better than the steel springs, but it can only do so much. There will be a noticeable difference. Just going from my winter 18" wheels to my summer 20" wheels makes a huge difference. The air suspension cannot make up for the stiffer sidewall.

Someone at tirerack or the reviews/ratings there can tell you which brands are noisy and which are quiet. Tire noise mostly comes from tire compound and tread pattern. A general rule of thumb is that the more agressive a tread pattern and grip a tire has the louder it will be.

"stickier" or grip comes from two things, tread width, and tire compound. There is no "lower profile" tire that offers more grip, in fact in some cases to run a larger rim you actually have to put narrower tires on!

That said the tire with most grip for the Cayenne would be the Michelin 4X4 Diamaris.

Not sure, but the stock wheels weigh A LOT! I think my stock 20" wheels AND tires are around 55-60lbs.

This link will answer your questions about the different wheel types:
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/tech/construc.jsp

 

Thank you VERY much Jenner! I didn't realize the stock 20" weigh so much. I was also surprised that the air suspension was not able to smooth out the ride between your 18" and 20" wheels. Thanks for that important info.

It would be a bummer if I go through all the trouble and expense of getting these kewl wheels only to end up hating the ride comfort due to added noise or stiff jarring ride.

I found a big difference in both noise and ride comfort from switching my Goodyear runflats to Michelin Pilots on my Corvette. However they are the same size tires.

Anyone esle care to chime in? I know you guys with wheel upgrades are lurking the thread and can offer even more help.

 

It really depends on the usage... but I will say that most folks that we've put on wheels for have been happy, however the larger the wheel and the smaller the sidewall of the tire, the harsher the ride. That's just how it is. How "harsh" is too harsh is down to the individual though.

It's the same on the 996TT's... With my super stiff JRZ set up, when I use heavier 19s with a smaller sidewall, the car just rides more harshly. It also doesn't handle as well. The Cayenne Turbo was designed with 20s in mind so anything above that and you start to compromise ride quality and of course handling

Then again, women have to suffer to look good and so should us guys driving Cayennes

 

Also I forgot to add that the Cayenne (especially the turbo) is such a heavy vehicle that you do really feel the difference in what I was saying up top. I've ridden/driven them with 22s/23s and I certainly prefer it with 20s...

 

That is including tire, but yes they are VERY heavy.

The air suspension can't defeat physics. The sidewall is a part of your suspension be it steel or air. The advantage the air suspension DOES have is that if you drove on 18"s in sport mode, you could change it to comfort mode for the 20"s and the ride would be about the same(still a little bit harsher)

Also keep in mind that when you go from 18" to 22" that's a large amount of metal you just added. Plus 22" tires need to have extra strength and heavier materials than an 18" tire(given the same diameter). All that extra weight on the suspension doesn't help either. And I haven't even touched on how that added weight and having mass further away from the center of wheel kills acceleration.

I also agree 100% with sharkster that 20" is the best compromise between looks, ride quality and handling.

 

This is some excellent information. I have had people tell me that their 22" wheel and tire package weighs less than the stock packages and therefore less unsprung weight and better handling.

I've even seen people on this board comment on how they love the better response and handling of their new 22" wheel packages.

I'm sure glad that we have a forum like this to discuss these details. Your first hand experiences are invaluable!

 

Just bougtht my first Porsche!!! I'm having the car shipped to the new york area and wanted to get some feedback on the Yokohama Parada Spec-X. Will largely be a daily driver so looking for comfort and quiet along with sure footedness in the 4 seasons. I'm thinking the suspension gives me enough handling for my purposes so maximizing handling isn't on my criteria list. Not concerned about treadwear (at least for this first purchase).

Also beyond feedback on the tire, would welcome some opinions on size. I'm considering a slightly taller tire (45 rather than the standard 40)for comfort purposes with an understanding that the speedo will be slightly off.

I've got the techno sport wheels, 9" in front, 10" in rear. Thanks!

 

Holy Thread Resurrection from the Dead!

Congratulations on you first P-car! The Cayenne was my first Porsche as well.

I too have the staggered set of Sport Technos. Great looking wheel.

I put Michelin Diamaris 4X4 on mine. The recommended size is 275/40-20 on all four corners. I did not like the way the 275 looks on the 10 inch rear wheel. I put a 315/35-20 on the rear. The sidewalls look better. The handling and ride are great.

 

Clutch,

Are all 4 corners 10" rims? What offset is the sport technos? I am about to put on 10" rims on all 4 corners with 295/40/20 all around.

 

The 315 is beautiful ... you've got me thinking. The Diamaris are on the car now but I'm concerned about the rain & snow. Also, they seemed pretty loud and while i didn't measure the tread they looked pretty meaty so i'm thinking it's just a noisier tire. But I like those 315s alot - they look great!!

 

The fronts are 9 in and the rears are 10 in. IIRC, the rear offset is 55 and the fronts are 60

 

Clutch: Great license plate. A vanity plate that truly made me laugh...out loud.

My 22'' wheels definitely made the ride noticeably harsher but the dramatically better handling offset this.