C4S 19x12 offset analysis

[Benjamin Choi]

I've researched all the forums and found it difficult to come up with a tried and true offset listing of what works and what doesn't on the 996 C4S/Turbo.

Maybe my search skillz need more help, but just thought I'd share what I learned. From my many years of buying aftermarket wheels, I'd say a good 90% of the wheels I see on cars are ill-fitting. Let me define that for me, a good fitting wheel meets the following conditions: 1) goes as wide as possible as the stock body allows; 2) does not rub at stock height or aggressively lowered on adjustable coilovers; and 3) accommodates readily available, common tire sizes.

So far with my C4S, I've run through three sets of wheels. First, the OZ Superleggera 3s. Second, Work Brombachers. Currently running OZ Superleggera 3s.

The fronts are pretty easy to figure out because you have more width options. You can run 8s or 8.5s all day. For all three setups, I'm running a 19x8.5 wheel with an offset at either +45 or +46 combined with both PS2s and Conti SportContact3s. PS2s, you should know, tend to have an pretty wide section width relative to its competitors so understand that you have a greater chance of rubbing than the narrower Continentals or Bridgestones. Check your manufacturer.

Now with the rears, I've always chosen the 12" width. Why? Steamrollers, baby! I also always picked the 315/25/19s because it won't mess up the awd system combined with the 235/35 tires up front. These tire sizes are very common for the 996 widebody crowd running aftermarket wheels.

Now when you read up on threads, people share the width of the wheel, maybe the tire sizes, certainly the diameter, but rarely offsets which is absolutely critical! You need to know all these things to make an informed wheel spec decision.

What's worked of me to date, if you're into running wide rears for that awesome bulldog stance look to further accentuate that wide butt, are 19x12s with the 315 tires, but make sure that the offset in the rear is no lower than +45 (e.g. +44). The lower the number, the further the rim will push to the outside.

I can attest on my own setup lowered aggressively on PSS9s that a +45 offset on 19x12 wheels work just fine combined with the extra balloony Michelin PS2 tires. My Work Brombachers had these specs and they worked beautifuly - pushed right to the edge, lowered, but 0 rubbage under full compression. It's a beautiful thing in motion, in person. My current OZ 3s feature a +46 so it's an even more conservative fitment (relatively speaking). Both have a 3.5" lip which look huge. My first OZ 3s were silver with a 3" lip. A 3.5" lip was not available at the time.

I'm assuming you're running stock brakes.

I'd like to thank Alan Baylis at Wheel Enhancement for the perfect Work wheels and Peter at Wheelexperts for his continued help with any and all questions I've thrown at him even if I've never bought a thing from him. Most of all a huge thanks to Damon @ Tirerack for his tireless customer service. Tirerack did a great job of measuring out the 996 widebody fenders to ensure maximum deep dish visual delight without sacrificing virgin fenders.

These guys know their wheels/tires!

Edited April 4, 2009 by Benjamin Choi

[jhbrennan]

I've researched all the forums and found it difficult to come up with a tried and true offset listing of what works and what doesn't on the 996 C4S/Turbo.

Maybe my search skillz need more help, but just thought I'd share what I learned. From my many years of buying aftermarket wheels, I'd say a good 90% of the wheels I see on cars are ill-fitting. Let me define that for me, a good fitting wheel meets the following conditions: 1) goes as wide as possible as the stock body allows; 2) does not rub at stock height or aggressively lowered on adjustable coilovers; and 3) accommodates readily available, common tire sizes.

So far with my C4S, I've run through three sets of wheels. First, the OZ Superleggera 3s. Second, Work Brombachers. Currently running OZ Superleggera 3s.

The fronts are pretty easy to figure out because you have more width options. You can run 8s or 8.5s all day. For all three setups, I'm running a 19x8.5 wheel with an offset at either +45 or +46 combined with both PS2s and Conti SportContact3s. PS2s, you should know, tend to have an pretty wide section width relative to its competitors so understand that you have a greater chance of rubbing than the narrower Continentals or Bridgestones. Check your manufacturer.

Now with the rears, I've always chosen the 12" width. Why? Steamrollers, baby! I also always picked the 315/25/19s because it won't mess up the awd system combined with the 235/35 tires up front. These tire sizes are very common for the 996 widebody crowd running aftermarket wheels.

Now when you read up on threads, people share the width of the wheel, maybe the tire sizes, certainly the diameter, but rarely offsets which is absolutely critical! You need to know all these things to make an informed wheel spec decision.

What's worked of me to date, if you're into running wide rears for that awesome bulldog stance look to further accentuate that wide butt, are 19x12s with the 315 tires, but make sure that the offset in the rear is no lower than +45 (e.g. +44). The lower the number, the further the rim will push to the outside.

I can attest on my own setup lowered aggressively on PSS9s that a +45 offset on 19x12 wheels work just fine combined with the extra balloony Michelin PS2 tires. My Work Brombachers had these specs and they worked beautifuly - pushed right to the edge, lowered, but 0 rubbage under full compression. It's a beautiful thing in motion, in person. My current OZ 3s feature a +46 so it's an even more conservative fitment (relatively speaking). Both have a 3.5" lip which look huge. My first OZ 3s were silver with a 3" lip. A 3.5" lip was not available at the time.

I'm assuming you're running stock brakes.

I'd like to thank Alan Baylis at Wheel Enhancement for the perfect Work wheels and Peter at Wheelexperts for his continued help with any and all questions I've thrown at him even if I've never bought a thing from him. Most of all a huge thanks to Damon @ Tirerack for his tireless customer service. Tirerack did a great job of measuring out the 996 widebody fenders to ensure maximum deep dish visual delight without sacrificing virgin fenders.

These guys know their wheels/tires!

The current setup looks great. When I analyze wheel changes I start with the OEM widths and offsets and then use the offset calculator at www.1010tires.com to see what impact changing offsets, wheel width and tire width has compared to OEM. Then the fun begins.

Edited April 4, 2009 by jhbrennan

[st4rk]

**** that's nice!

[rrspikemarty]

Benjamin,

Fascinating post. Thanks.

BTW, what's the color and impressive finish on the car in your pics? It looks like polished glass :)

[Benjamin Choi]

I use calculators, too, but mine is real life driven testimony. I hope it helps just even one person to make my post meaningful.

Edited April 6, 2009 by Benjamin Choi

[Benjamin Choi]

Benjamin,

Fascinating post. Thanks.

BTW, what's the color and impressive finish on the car in your pics? It looks like polished glass :)

It's called bad camera phone under fluorescent shop lighting. :D Thx, man.

[Connor]

I've researched all the forums and found it difficult to come up with a tried and true offset listing of what works and what doesn't on the 996 C4S/Turbo.

Maybe my search skillz need more help, but just thought I'd share what I learned. From my many years of buying aftermarket wheels, I'd say a good 90% of the wheels I see on cars are ill-fitting. Let me define that for me, a good fitting wheel meets the following conditions: 1) goes as wide as possible as the stock body allows; 2) does not rub at stock height or aggressively lowered on adjustable coilovers; and 3) accommodates readily available, common tire sizes.

So far with my C4S, I've run through three sets of wheels. First, the OZ Superleggera 3s. Second, Work Brombachers. Currently running OZ Superleggera 3s.

The fronts are pretty easy to figure out because you have more width options. You can run 8s or 8.5s all day. For all three setups, I'm running a 19x8.5 wheel with an offset at either +45 or +46 combined with both PS2s and Conti SportContact3s. PS2s, you should know, tend to have an pretty wide section width relative to its competitors so understand that you have a greater chance of rubbing than the narrower Continentals or Bridgestones. Check your manufacturer.

Now with the rears, I've always chosen the 12" width. Why? Steamrollers, baby! I also always picked the 315/25/19s because it won't mess up the awd system combined with the 235/35 tires up front. These tire sizes are very common for the 996 widebody crowd running aftermarket wheels.

Now when you read up on threads, people share the width of the wheel, maybe the tire sizes, certainly the diameter, but rarely offsets which is absolutely critical! You need to know all these things to make an informed wheel spec decision.

What's worked of me to date, if you're into running wide rears for that awesome bulldog stance look to further accentuate that wide butt, are 19x12s with the 315 tires, but make sure that the offset in the rear is no lower than +45 (e.g. +44). The lower the number, the further the rim will push to the outside.

I can attest on my own setup lowered aggressively on PSS9s that a +45 offset on 19x12 wheels work just fine combined with the extra balloony Michelin PS2 tires. My Work Brombachers had these specs and they worked beautifuly - pushed right to the edge, lowered, but 0 rubbage under full compression. It's a beautiful thing in motion, in person. My current OZ 3s feature a +46 so it's an even more conservative fitment (relatively speaking). Both have a 3.5" lip which look huge. My first OZ 3s were silver with a 3" lip. A 3.5" lip was not available at the time.

I'm assuming you're running stock brakes.

I'd like to thank Alan Baylis at Wheel Enhancement for the perfect Work wheels and Peter at Wheelexperts for his continued help with any and all questions I've thrown at him even if I've never bought a thing from him. Most of all a huge thanks to Damon @ Tirerack for his tireless customer service. Tirerack did a great job of measuring out the 996 widebody fenders to ensure maximum deep dish visual delight without sacrificing virgin fenders.

These guys know their wheels/tires!

i run similar offset setup with bvillen wheels i get this strange creak at low turning speeds though. drives me nuts.

if it's not one thing it's another. should have taken my cousin's offer to tune it...

[Benjamin Choi]

I've researched all the forums and found it difficult to come up with a tried and true offset listing of what works and what doesn't on the 996 C4S/Turbo.

Maybe my search skillz need more help, but just thought I'd share what I learned. From my many years of buying aftermarket wheels, I'd say a good 90% of the wheels I see on cars are ill-fitting. Let me define that for me, a good fitting wheel meets the following conditions: 1) goes as wide as possible as the stock body allows; 2) does not rub at stock height or aggressively lowered on adjustable coilovers; and 3) accommodates readily available, common tire sizes.

So far with my C4S, I've run through three sets of wheels. First, the OZ Superleggera 3s. Second, Work Brombachers. Currently running OZ Superleggera 3s.

The fronts are pretty easy to figure out because you have more width options. You can run 8s or 8.5s all day. For all three setups, I'm running a 19x8.5 wheel with an offset at either +45 or +46 combined with both PS2s and Conti SportContact3s. PS2s, you should know, tend to have an pretty wide section width relative to its competitors so understand that you have a greater chance of rubbing than the narrower Continentals or Bridgestones. Check your manufacturer.

Now with the rears, I've always chosen the 12" width. Why? Steamrollers, baby! I also always picked the 315/25/19s because it won't mess up the awd system combined with the 235/35 tires up front. These tire sizes are very common for the 996 widebody crowd running aftermarket wheels.

Now when you read up on threads, people share the width of the wheel, maybe the tire sizes, certainly the diameter, but rarely offsets which is absolutely critical! You need to know all these things to make an informed wheel spec decision.

What's worked of me to date, if you're into running wide rears for that awesome bulldog stance look to further accentuate that wide butt, are 19x12s with the 315 tires, but make sure that the offset in the rear is no lower than +45 (e.g. +44). The lower the number, the further the rim will push to the outside.

I can attest on my own setup lowered aggressively on PSS9s that a +45 offset on 19x12 wheels work just fine combined with the extra balloony Michelin PS2 tires. My Work Brombachers had these specs and they worked beautifuly - pushed right to the edge, lowered, but 0 rubbage under full compression. It's a beautiful thing in motion, in person. My current OZ 3s feature a +46 so it's an even more conservative fitment (relatively speaking). Both have a 3.5" lip which look huge. My first OZ 3s were silver with a 3" lip. A 3.5" lip was not available at the time.

I'm assuming you're running stock brakes.

I'd like to thank Alan Baylis at Wheel Enhancement for the perfect Work wheels and Peter at Wheelexperts for his continued help with any and all questions I've thrown at him even if I've never bought a thing from him. Most of all a huge thanks to Damon @ Tirerack for his tireless customer service. Tirerack did a great job of measuring out the 996 widebody fenders to ensure maximum deep dish visual delight without sacrificing virgin fenders.

These guys know their wheels/tires!

i run similar offset setup with bvillen wheels i get this strange creak at low turning speeds though. drives me nuts.

if it's not one thing it's another. should have taken my cousin's offer to tune it...

i know what you mean.

doesn't sound like it's the wheels, but suspension. what are your exact wheel/tire specs?

Edited April 6, 2009 by Benjamin Choi

[judgejon]

looks good, Ben. thanks for the info. I'm still thinking about painting the front, side, and rear skirts, and going to the RH 3-piece turbo wheels. Best...

[Benjamin Choi]

looks good, Ben. thanks for the info. I'm still thinking about painting the front, side, and rear skirts, and going to the RH 3-piece turbo wheels. Best...

go for it man as it'll make the car less audi-ish. cost cutting measures. the biggest transformation will certainly be the wheels, but don't do it if you're not going to lower the car.

good to hear from you, chief.

[jtec]

Thanks for you post. I just bought a 2002 C4S and have been looking at wheel combos and I am happy to hear that 19 X 12"s will work.

Cheers your car looks awesome.

[Benjamin Choi]

Thanks for you post. I just bought a 2002 C4S and have been looking at wheel combos and I am happy to hear that 19 X 12"s will work.

Cheers your car looks awesome.

congrats on the pick-up. the c4s is a siq ride. and with wheels the right size and quality will make it even crazier. glad to be of some help, boss. :)

[hoacha]

Old post..BUT..Thank god i found it.. This is awesome info..Thanks!!!