Could I try your 7x16 wheels on?

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Could I try your 7x16 wheels on?

Postby BR987S on Thu Mar 03, 2016 1:06 pm

I have a narrow body 72 and I'd like to get a set of four 7x16 Fuchs so I can run 205/55-16 RE71Rs. I know 6x16s would fit, but 7" wheels should fit the tires better. I've read that 7s will fit no problem in the front and will most likely fit in the back but it may vary car-to-car. So before I buy wheels and tires that might not fit I thought I'd ask to see if anyone has a pair of 7x16s with 205/55 tires mounted and wouldn't mind letting me test fit them on my car.

Ben
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Re: Could I try your 7x16 wheels on?

Postby Steve Grosekemper on Thu Mar 03, 2016 2:29 pm

Ben,
I have done this on customer and personal cars and it requires stiffer suspension or higher ride height.
And four 7x16's will likely require two 80's 911's to get the front wheels off them that you need.
Tires will also make a difference and not all 205/55-16's are created equal.
another option is 205/55-15's on 7x15's all the way around. (cheaper)
I have a 70-911 like this in the shop that I am setting up right now. (But is has stiffer suspension)

That said, if your car is lowish with stock suspension it likely will hit.
No sway bars? makes it even worse.

Just my 2 cents,
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Re: Could I try your 7x16 wheels on?

Postby BR987S on Thu Mar 03, 2016 5:12 pm

Steve,

Thanks for your reply. I'm at 25.5" front and 25.75" rear with stock suspension and F/R sway bars. I have 6x15 wheels on it now. Unfortunately none of the good high performance tires are made in 205/55-15. The best modern tires seem to be available in 205/50-15 (which looks way too short for my taste at 23") and 205/55-16 which is why I'd like to go to 16s. Sounds like my options are 7x16s with stiffer suspension or 6x16s with some sidewall bulge.

How stiff does the suspension usually need to be to fit 7x16s in your experience? I'm planning on a sporty street machine that is autocross-capable but not necessarily class-winning. Are we talking moderately stiff, sporty street style or REALLY stiff, knock your teeth out on the street?

Ben
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Re: Could I try your 7x16 wheels on?

Postby Steve Grosekemper on Thu Mar 03, 2016 6:08 pm

Ben,

That's pretty tall ride height so you might be OK.
By stiffer I mean 21/26mm torsion bars and 18-20mm sway bars.
The sway bars are easy; just put a rear 18mm bar on from a 74-77 911 and an aftermarket 18-20mm replacement bar up front.
Rear bar is a straight install, front takes minor modification.
I think I even have some of these bars lying around.

Yes, 15 inch tires are hard to get.
I have been using 205/55-15 Yokohama S-Drives.
They are an Ultra high performance summer tire.
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... el=S.drive

I really like them for spirited street driving.
If you want something really nice like a Bridgestone RE-71R you will have to go to 16's.

I have done several pre-73 911 suspension upgrades this year like this and they are not stiff at all.
Just brings the car up to modern sports car stiffness.
Probably a lot softer riding than a 2006 Cayman S.
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