Tyre / ride height advice

[phib]

So my new 1968 912/6 arrived to me with 6 x 16 and 7 x 16's with 205 60 16's all around on modern wheels.

I really didnt like them so bought some 15 inch replicas and have been through a process of chaniging tyres around until i got to a plan !! Which I thought were 205 60 15's.

I tried 195 60 15's but they just looked wrong

I am not sure what has been done to the car in the past, the wheel arch lips seem very slim to me probably 5mm so may have been trimmed and crtainly one has been rolled.

It ran the 16's with no issues at all !!

So now afreva bit of advice on what to do with it, ideally i probably need to riase the ride height 24 inches from floor to arch (on the side that has the 205's on)

It also has new koni's allround if this makes any difference (the sports one not lowering ones)

I really like the look so dont ideally want to go smaller tyres, any advice very welcome.

I should add its the front that really the issue as the reat has a 7mm spacer that can be removed ( and will be toorrow)

[deano]

Not sure if this helps, but my 73 911 has 6 x 15's with 185/70's, same as when originally delivered according to my CoA

[hot66]

What width 15” reps have you got ? 6” ?

[phib]

Thanks, the challenge with mine is it probably had 165’s on steels to start with but then got buggered about with over the last 50 years and ended up with 200hp 2.2 in the rear so don’t really want much less than 205’s with a low (ish) sidewall.

Phib

[phib]

Unfortunately the reps are 7’s again not ideal.

Thinking I am going to need to look for some 6’s really, big challenge is I’m not sure I’m keeping the car.

I had a 2.7rs lightweight a few years ago and several 993’s bought this as it had fully rebuilt 2.2 engine, gearbox, torsion tube, suspension and pretty much every rubber part has been replaced.

But really miss the 964/993 thing.

So it’s all a bit of a halfway house if that makes sense.

Thanks

[hot66]

I have about 220bhp in my lwb, run stock 6” Fuchs with from memory 10mm spacers and with 195/65’s ( same circumference as stock 185/70) ... imho you don’t really need anything wider, especially at the front. You’ll loose steering feel if you too wide.

It was years ago when I had a swb so can’t really comment on what’s best for feel and performance

[deano]

Came across this pair of 6 x 15 reps, suitably patina'd https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/2-X-Porsche- ... ition=3000

For not much more, you can get a whole set, but perhaps a little shiny. I think they ought to have a patina'd finish option

I should have said before - its a fantastic looking car....

[phib]

Thanks for the replies, a really stupid question ???

so in theory the 6’s just pull the tyre further into the arch by half an inch I guess ?

Phib

[deano]

That would be true only if the offsets were the same.

I think most if not all of the 6 x 15 Fuchs had an offset of ET36.

The offset of the replicas appears to vary.

Maybe find out what your offsets are and use this tool to help visualise your different options: https://tiresize.com/wheel-offset-calculator/

[Sam]

7s and 205s are pretty tight on the rear of a narrow car. It can be done with a perfect offset but it has to be perfect. Too far out and they’ll foul the arch, too far in and they’ll foul the nuts on the spring plates.

Adding negative camber helps but may not necessarily help how the car drives.

This thread has a good discussion on offsets and 7 vs. 7R Fuchs: http://forums.pelicanparts.com/porsche- ... fuchs.html

[911hillclimber]

If it helps, been though all this over my 32 years with mine.
I have a 73T narrow body with 7" Cookies and 195 x 65 Dunlops. The engine is a healthy 3.2 so about 220 bhp on a good day.

For a road car I agree with James, you don't need acres of rubber and 6" would be my ideal choice if I was doing this lot again. 7" on the front kill the delicate steering feel compared to a 6".

I first had 6" Cookies on the car with 185 x 70 Goodyears (1989) and it was a dream to steer.
Started hillclimbing with the car, went to 7" replica DAGE wheels and 205 x 50 which just got under the rolled rear arches, still burnt the paint due to deep suspension movement hillclimbing.

Ran this was with different super grippy tyres and wooden steering until I retired the car about 18 years ago.

It now has the 7" Cookies and 185 x 65 Dunlop Blu Sorts and all is clear on the arches, but still have the dull steering.

[phib]

All really helpful and appreciate that 6’s would be ideal and not 205’s.

However after a bit of fiddling this morning with the ride height bolt I have probably the clearance I need.

It was set at the lowest setting on the adjustment.

The main problem is I am not sure what’s been done to it over the years so really it need to go to an expert. As I said it ran 205 x 16s with no rubbing at all.

I can only imagine it’s the camber settings.

Now I have made the changes need to take a little drive and see how it settles

[Lightweight_911]

.
From your picture those 7in replica Fuchs look to have the same (or very similar) off set to genuine 7in Fuchs - 23.3mm - so I don't know what's been done to your car's arches to get those to fit on a swb model - especially if you say it's got 7mm spacers on the back as well !

Have you got a picture taken from the rear showing the arch profile ?

As others have already said, your car will feel/steer much better on a narrower wheel/tyre combination &, if you do decide to move it on, this wil also make it easier to sell (imho) ...

.

[210bhp]

I would fit deep sixes at the front and 7R’s at the rear (with 7mm spacers) for a period look and nice driving balance.


Regards
Mike

[phib]

It’s just not worth spending lots of money on as it’s a bitsa anyway.
Here a couple of pics of the rear arches