Home  |  Forums  |  914 Info  |  Blogs
 
914World.com - The fastest growing online 914 community!
 
Porsche, and the Porsche crest are registered trademarks of Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG. This site is not affiliated with Porsche in any way.
Its only purpose is to provide an online forum for car enthusiasts. All other trademarks are property of their respective owners.
 

Welcome Guest ( Log In | Register )

 
 Reply to this topicStart new topic
> 15" vs 16" wheels
bajafreaks
post Jan 2 2026, 12:16 PM
Post #1


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 119
Joined: 7-February 14
From: Gardnerville, Nevada
Member No.: 16,969
Region Association: Northern California
I'm most likely going with the Maxlite fuchs style wheels, I'll be doing the 5 lug conversion. So, is there an advantage or disadvantage to 15" vs 16" wheels?
I'm leaning towards a 16x6 wheel with 195 or 205/ 50 or 55 tires. Straight body car no flares.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
ConeDodger
post Jan 2 2026, 12:20 PM
Post #2


Apex killer!
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 24,293
Joined: 31-December 04
From: Tahoe Area
Member No.: 3,380
Region Association: Northern California
Tire choice for one…
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
SirAndy
post Jan 2 2026, 12:21 PM
Post #3


Resident German
*************************

Group: Admin
Posts: 42,396
Joined: 21-January 03
From: Oakland, Kalifornia
Member No.: 179
Region Association: Northern California
IMHO, low profile tires on an otherwise stock 914 look weird. It'll be even worse with taller wheels.

I'd also check your available tire choices for each wheel combo first, good tires for 15" and 16" are getting hard to come by.
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/popcorn[1].gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sbsix
post Jan 2 2026, 12:23 PM
Post #4


only the lead dog enjoys a change in scenery...
**

Group: Members
Posts: 462
Joined: 10-January 12
From: Santa Barbara, CA
Member No.: 13,990
Region Association: Southern California
I’m running 16x6 Fuchs with 205/55-16 tires and I get slight rubbing on my right rear occasionally. Wheel wells aren’t rolled.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
chmillman
post Jan 2 2026, 01:32 PM
Post #5


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 311
Joined: 15-June 24
From: Switzerland
Member No.: 28,183
Region Association: Europe
16” wheels will make it look like a restomod IMHO…

Here at least there are a ton of choices in 195/65-15, 20+ different brands ranging from cheap to ouch… Fewer choices in 185/70.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
yeahmag
post Jan 2 2026, 02:35 PM
Post #6


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 2,475
Joined: 18-April 05
From: Pasadena, CA
Member No.: 3,946
Region Association: Southern California
I see way more perfomance tire options on 15" rims than 16", but I'm competing...
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
porschetub
post Jan 2 2026, 03:49 PM
Post #7


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 4,995
Joined: 25-July 15
From: New Zealand
Member No.: 18,995
Region Association: None
QUOTE(bajafreaks @ Jan 3 2026, 06:16 AM) *

I'm most likely going with the Maxlite fuchs style wheels, I'll be doing the 5 lug conversion. So, is there an advantage or disadvantage to 15" vs 16" wheels?
I'm leaning towards a 16x6 wheel with 195 or 205/ 50 or 55 tires. Straight body car no flares.

I'am running maxilite wheels ,they are very good quality ,there was a limited shipment came to my country so I scored a set of 7'' and 8'' 16in ,i sold the 8'' ones as stayed narrow body in the end .
Ultimately, I would have liked 15in deep sixes but appeared they wouldn't clear my Brembo 4 pot calipers .
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
cgnj
post Jan 5 2026, 02:22 AM
Post #8


Senior Member
***

Group: Members
Posts: 702
Joined: 6-March 03
From: Medford, NJ
Member No.: 403
Region Association: None
Better tire selection with 16 inch wheels. I use Kumho V730 205/55 ($135 with veteran discount @ simpletire) on Fuchs when warm, I switch to Boxter wheels with all season tires when it starts to cool down.
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rick 918-S
post Jan 5 2026, 05:31 AM
Post #9


Hey nice rack! -Celette
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 21,165
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Now in Superior WI
Member No.: 43
Region Association: Northstar Region
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/thisthreadisworthlesswithoutpics.gif)

Let's see 205/55/16 vs 215/55/16. I want to use a set of 6X16s i have on my 6. I agree with Sir Andy that low profile tires look weird on 70 vintage cars. Maybe I should switch back to 15s. (IMG:style_emoticons/default/idea.gif)
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post Jan 5 2026, 06:07 AM
Post #10


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,088
Joined: 12-September 04
From: Life Elevated..planet UT.
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beer.gif)
Wills 951 16 x7/8s rear fenders worked over.. What you should have went with IMHO..
JKH empi 17 x 7s fit but low pro tires


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
sixnotfour
post Jan 5 2026, 06:33 AM
Post #11


914 Wizard
**********

Group: Members
Posts: 11,088
Joined: 12-September 04
From: Life Elevated..planet UT.
Member No.: 2,744
Region Association: Rocky Mountains
Call Eric about his 15x7R replica fitment on a couple of narrow body's..
(IMG:style_emoticons/default/beerchug.gif)


Attached thumbnail(s)
Attached Image
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
chmillman
post Jan 5 2026, 08:45 AM
Post #12


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 311
Joined: 15-June 24
From: Switzerland
Member No.: 28,183
Region Association: Europe
Didn’t the original sixes have 14“ wheels? Or at least certain years/options? I have seen at least one of them here with 14” Fuchs.
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
Shivers
post Jan 5 2026, 09:23 AM
Post #13


Senior Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,220
Joined: 19-October 20
From: La Quinta, CA
Member No.: 24,781
Region Association: Southern California
I have to use a 16" wheel minimum to clear my wilwood calipers in the front. What brakes are you going to use?
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
bajafreaks
post Jan 5 2026, 09:32 AM
Post #14


Member
**

Group: Members
Posts: 119
Joined: 7-February 14
From: Gardnerville, Nevada
Member No.: 16,969
Region Association: Northern California
QUOTE(Shivers @ Jan 5 2026, 07:23 AM) *

I have to use a 16" wheel minimum to clear my wilwood calipers in the front. What brakes are you going to use?

I'm using stock calipers
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
rick 918-S
post Jan 5 2026, 10:04 AM
Post #15


Hey nice rack! -Celette
***************

Group: Members
Posts: 21,165
Joined: 30-December 02
From: Now in Superior WI
Member No.: 43
Region Association: Northstar Region
QUOTE(chmillman @ Jan 5 2026, 08:45 AM) *

Didn’t the original sixes have 14“ wheels? Or at least certain years/options? I have seen at least one of them here with 14” Fuchs.


Ya 14"
User is offlineProfile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
emerygt350
post Jan 5 2026, 07:45 PM
Post #16


Advanced Member
****

Group: Members
Posts: 3,436
Joined: 20-July 21
From: Upstate, NY
Member No.: 25,740
Region Association: North East States
I don't think the 16s look too big for the car at all. I have 225/50/16s on mine but I have a little more room than stock. With a 225 that sidewall is probably pretty close to a 195/60

Attached Image
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
DanL83
post Jan 5 2026, 09:19 PM
Post #17


Newbie
*

Group: Members
Posts: 10
Joined: 2-December 25
From: SoCal
Member No.: 29,135
Region Association: Southern California
When i bought my car it had 17"s with 205 and they rubbed & rode horrible. Went with 15's from Mobelwagon, good wheel but also required spaces and going lug bolts. Wish I had upgraded to 5 bolt with 16's, but at the time wasn't in my budget. However the 15's with 185/65 and they ride very nice.


Attached image(s)
Attached Image Attached Image
User is online!Profile CardPM
Go to the top of the page
+Quote Post
« Next Oldest · 914World Garage · Next Newest »
 

Reply to this topicStart new topic
1 User(s) are reading this topic (1 Guests and 0 Anonymous Users)
0 Members:

 

Display Mode: Standard · Switch to: Linear+ · Switch to: Outline

Track this topic · Email this topic · Print this topic · Subscribe to this forum

- Lo-Fi Version Time is now: 7th January 2026 - 05:30 PM
Invision Power Board v9.1.4 © 2026  IPS, Inc.
...
All rights reserved 914World.com © since 2002
914World.com is the fastest growing online 914 community!
We have it all, classifieds, events, forums, vendors, parts, autocross, racing, technical articles, events calendar, newsletter, restoration, gallery, archives, history and more for your Porsche 914 ...