19 inch wheels on a GTS

[JasonSteel]

just curious but why hasn't anyone swapped the standard 20 inch for 19 inch wheels?

would the handling and/or ride quality would be improved?

i think they look better too but not the Porsche 19" options unfortunately. the ideal for me would be 19" Carrera S in platinum or black.

just thinking out loud...

[JasonSteel]

Ady128 said:

Because they don't look as good imo. The 20s feel OK to me.

Jazzer said:

Are you mad?

The Cayman GTS is a stunning car, one that looks just right.

The ride on 20s, even on X73, is superb for a sports car.

i don't think i'm mad and i'm not suggesting that the GTS isn't a great looking car.

the odd detail aside, i'm a 'form follows function' kind of guy and i agree with bcr5784 that large wheels with low profile tyres are flavour of the day and the 20s are there purely for looks (for those that prefer them) over performance. to me the profile is a tad too low and the brake discs do look a bit puny in comparison... so although i agree that the GTS is a stunning car, there's always room for improvement

i'm not a fan of the 18 and 19" options offered by Porsche, but i do wonder how many people would have opted for a 19" version of the Carrera S wheel had it been an option?

i came across these images today posted by a guy on Rennlist and he made the change to 19s and only had good things to say about them. i took the liberty of adjusting one of the images he posted so that the cars are identical in size and can be compared (before and after). the difference the 19s make look wise don't make the wheels at all too small, but they do to my eyes suit the car better and i agree that there would be an improvement in ride and handling.

i only recently put Michelins on mine but when it's time to change i'll be seriously considering downsizing to 19s.

[JasonSteel]

the drop to 18s may be a step too far for me, but i'm not ruling anything out at this stage.

reducing to 18s and reducing tyre width - i take it that will make the car slide more?

for my level of 'skill' i'm not sure that less grip is the way to go and the 19s would likely give me a small improvement in ride and handling as well as - for me - looking a bit better too. subtle changes, but all positive as far as i can see.

now i'm having to work late because instead of doing what i needed to do today i've been 'researching' and messing about with images... here's another simple comparison of all 3 different sizes. i must admit even the "carrera s" 18s look ok:



cmoose - i see what you mean with the GT4CS and GT3R - sidewall heaven indeed and the wheels on either of these don't look too dissimilar to the HREs fitted to the white GTS in the image i posted above.

Pinball - yes, they are HREs - see here: https://rennlist.com/forums/porsche-cayman-and-cay...

[JasonSteel]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

thanks - lots of useful info there as always.

18" wheels and 255 sections i can and will consider when the time comes. mine has X73 so tyre choice makes a big difference; for e.g. just swapping the Pirellis for Michelins made the ride a touch more supple and the handling in the wet has been transformed - i wouldn't want to lose that.

i'll revive this thread when the Michelins are nearing their end, though that may not be for some time if the reports on longevity are anything to go by.

[JasonSteel]

Rojibo said:

I was going to paint them gloss black but quite like the look of how they are now.

i normally prefer the darker wheels too but that combo looks great.

[JasonSteel]

JasonSteel said:

i'll revive this thread when the Michelins are nearing their end, though that may not be for some time if the reports on longevity are anything to go by.

well the Michelins are nowhere near their end, but i did have to swap back to the Pirellis recently to get the car serviced and the warranty extended.

i could put the Michelins back on but i'm also considering my options in terms of getting a new set of wheels and tyres.

if i go with 19" wheels the PS4Ses are available. however Michelin don't make them any smaller, so if i did go with 18" wheels then the Michelin option would be the PS4.

are there other 18" tyres i should be considering? also, i'm not clear which size 18" wheels i need?

[JasonSteel]

bcr5784 said:

There is no technical reason you couldn't fit Goodyear F1 or Pirelli PZeros on 18" wheels - though most will tell you that the Michelins are significantly superior. I'd probably go along with that in principle - but a recent test of the latest Pzeros suggests they are not so far behind the Michelins as some would have you believe. If you want a decent ride the Goodyears are probably the best and have good steering feel.

i doubt i'll ever buy Pirellis again, such is the disappointment with their performance vs the Michelins. never tried the Goodyears but have heard good things about them.

any after market 18" wheel recommendations?

[JasonSteel]

anonymous said:

[redacted]

they're not bad at all, though a bit soft maybe.

i'd like a colour similar to the satin platinum i have now though and maybe something a bit sharper too.

when the time comes it would be nice if i could arrange to try both the 18s and 19s and see how they compare. i can't imagine that's feasible though?

[JasonSteel]

bcr5784 said:

No but I have a set of 18" Goodyear F1 N0 tyres with only a nominal mileage going very cheap.PM me if you are interested.

Krobar said:

The Goodyear 18s are also cheap if you get them during Costco promotions.

difficult to commit without trying them and seeing how they look on the car.

need to find some time to look into this properly.

[JasonSteel]

Johnd52 said:

I wondered where you had got to on this as I am now considering the same issue. I have the diamond cut 20 inch Porsche rims on my GTS and both wheels and tyres are too vulnerable for high mileages on our roads. I am looking at options using the factory 19 inch rim and tyre specifications as these give the same rolling diameter and footprint.

The significant benefit of 19 inch rims is the bigger choice available. I am looking for a simple design in painted anthracite, easy to clean etc.

haven't done anything yet other than look at eventual wheel replacement and like you i'm leaning towards 19 inch painted in something similar to the current satin platinum. ideally i'd like something a bit sharper than the Carrera S wheels. the 718 version definitely sharpens up vs the 981 wheel and there are some after market wheels that are similar and available in 19".

[JasonSteel]

Bispal said:

I want to change wheels and tyres too. I have 981 Spyder and the ride is just unnecessarily harsh for UK roads. Might be fine in Europe but not in the UK. I want to go down to 18" to see if it makes the ride better. Its so bad my foot jumps on the accelerator and brake and I have to slow down to keep control of my feet and the car. I have no problems in the Exige or in my McLaren and both out handle the Porsche so no idea why they make the ride so stiff???

i have the sports chassis (X73) which i think is that same setup as the Spyder?

Would be interesting to see a Spyder on 18s or even 19s for that matter so please do post if you make such a switch.

[JasonSteel]

Cabsi said:

The car now 'flows' down the road, with much better steering feedback (and no Ackermann effect), and hardly any traction control intervention when 'pressing on' out of slow corners.

i don't understand why Porsche would fit Pirellis as standard when there is such a big difference in every area - performance, feel, comfort... there's nothing really where the Pirellis outperform.

[JasonSteel]

49neil said:

I have those wheels on my GTS with winter tyres on.

could you post some photos of a similar side on (and others if possible) view?

would be great to see a GTS with smaller wheels on.