Tyre size 996.2

[Slobberchops]

Just a quick one. - my 996.2 has had 285 wide tyres on the rear since new but the various tyre sites suggest 265 for the 18" wheels., and these have now been fitted. Seem ok but it is nagging me that it should be on 285s.

Did any of the facelift 996s come out of the factory with 265s on the Carrera 18" alloys?

[Magic919]

I only in use 265 in Winters. Download the Porsche approved tyre PDF. It says MY 2002 onward use 285 in Summer tyres.

[Automental]

Mine has 285s

[jkh112]

285 for my 996.2 as well.

[plastic toad]

285s standard summers on facelift 996
mike

[MrC986]

285s also fitted to mk1 GT3s

[DiscoColin]

The official list from Porsche is not difficult to find, and on a 10Jx18 it says that both 265/35 ZR18 and 285/30 ZR18 are equally acceptable on a 996 in general. However, 265 was the fit up to and including the 2001 model year, after which they shipped with the 285 (so for a 996.2 they came from the factory as 285s).

[DiscoColin]

MrC986 said:

285s also fitted to mk1 GT3s

Indeed, though curiously the latest tyre list recommends that 295/30 should now be used on them (i.e. same as for mk2 rears, though the front tyre size recommendation is still for 225 as the rim is narrower on the mk1).

[Slobberchops]

though as much - seems like a cock up then.

Now got to decide whether to run with them or sell them...

[DiscoColin]

Slobberchops said:

though as much - seems like a cock up then.

Now got to decide whether to run with them or sell them...

If it isn't going on track or being driven like a complete lunatic I'd stay with them in your position. Should still give adequate traction and the lower rolling resistance might save a couple of pennies in fuel. Narrower tyres are better if you get caught with standing water, slush or snow too, so you could argue that right now you actually have the better option and it isn't as if they are really out of spec either.

[Hilux2400]

Page 214 of the handbook (April 2002) gives info on this, specifically for winter or summer tyres. There is nothing which says you cannot fit all weather tyres of 265 or 285 to 10J's for all year use during either summer or winter.

However, it is worth noting that the profiles must be right to gain the same rolling circumference for both front and back. On 9J's the fronts are 225/40 R18 which should be matched on the 10J's (ET65) on back with 265/35's or 285/30's.

If you put 265/40's (in place of the correct 265/35's) on the back, the back will sit 13mm higher than it should. Now this might not seem a lot, but when you project this difference over a wheelbase of 2350mm, it means that at a distance of 100m in front of the car the headlight centre line will be 553mm lower than it should be. That's quite a lot.

H

[Magic919]

Hilux2400 said:

On 9J's the fronts are 225/40 R18

I don't think you'll find a normal 996 with 9J fronts.

[Hilux2400]

Sorry I meant 9.5j

[Hilux2400]

Sorry - wrong a second time. Too much wine.

Front is either 7.5J or 8J with 225/40

H