Hollow spoke

[996 turbo]

Hi,

Does anyone know how to tell a hollow spoke wheel from a normal one (Or, better still have pictures). I need to replace the rear wheel on my car and have been asked the question but don't know the answer.

Cheers, Steve, 996TT

[phelix]

Hiya Steve!

For the 993 the answer's here: www.993faq.com/archives/cat_wheels.html#000194

Not sure how applicable that is to the 996 though...

A google search finds this: www.theautobahn.com/forum/showthread.php?t=3738

But the image being referred to is NLA.

Felix

[996 turbo]

Felix,

Thanks for that though having read the autobahn links I'm even more confused than ever. I think mine are solid as they have quite deep grooves in the back.

How much lighter is the hollow spoke wheel?

Steve, 996TT

[phelix]

No idea about the weights I'm afraid. The PET CD lists the following part numbers for front wheels:
996 362 136 04 (M410, 8x18)
996 362 136 01 (M415, 8x18)

and for rears:
996 362 142 03 (M410, 11x18, -02)
996 362 142 11 (M410, 11x18, 03-)
996 362 142 01 (M415, 11x18, -02)
996 362 142 10 (M415, 11x18, 03-)

My conjecture: M410 is the option code for hollow spoke wheels and M415 is the option code for Turbo Look II wheels.

Elsewhere it lists metal valve stems with the M410 option and rubber stems with the M415 option. That would tend to support my guess above but who knows?

Do your wheels have any part numbers on them?

And there's this old advert: www.pistonheads.co.uk/sales/detail.asp?i=22823&s=137

[cyberface]

Weights for the hollow vs. solid spoke wheels (from 993faq.com):

Hollow Spoke "Technology" wheels:
993.362.136.00 - ET52 - 19.95 lb (front)
993.362.140.01 - ET65 - 23.36 lb (narrow body rear)
993.362.140.00 - ET40 - 25.13 lb (wide body rear)


Solid Spoke Turbolook wheels:
993.362.136.01 - ET52 - 25.57 lb (front)
993.362.140.04 - ET65 - 29.32 lb (narrow body rear)
993.362.140.03 - ET40 - 31.08 lb (wide body rear)

In other words - a pretty significant weight saving of around 20% per wheel. That's got to make a difference to handling...

[budding911man]

They might be lighter but what of durability? I've heard several cases of hollow wheels failing (although to be fair a couple of these were after people in the US tried Chrome plating them - which sounds a stupid idea anyway). However, I've not heard of a solid wheel failing so they must be more durable. Although Ironically one of my rear 993 (solid) C4S wheels has a buckle that has been balanced-out with weights for now but I am looking to replace it - so anyone knowing of a single 993.362.140.03 going spare - let me know