987 Cayman/Boxster Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

  • Updated

All 2005-2012 987 Porsche Cayman and Boxster chassis

View all 987 Cayman/Boxster Images

Vehicle Covered in this Guide
All 2005-2012 Porsche Cayman/Boxster chassis including base, S and R models. 

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter.

Available Wheel Designs (click images to enlarge)

 

Flow Formed Designs      
SM-10
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Bolt Pattern Center Bore Lug Seat Thread Pitch
5x130mm 71.6mm R14 Ball Seat M14x1.5mm

 

OEM+ Fitments

These direct bolt-on fitments are ideal for enthusiasts planning to run performance summer or all-season tires that enjoy their car day-to-day on the street. These wheel fitments will improve the appearance and performance of the car without requiring modifications or adjustments to the factory alignment. 

 

Wheels

  • Front: 18x8.5" ET50 // Rear: 18x10" ET36
    • Available in SM-10
    • Popular Fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/40-18 // Rear: 275/40-18
    • Direct Fit
    • A slightly shorter 275/35-18 can also be ran in the rear
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PSS (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (240 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Hankook RS-4 (200 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3 (220 TW)
  • Alternative 1: Front: 235/40-18 // Rear: 265/40-18
    • Factory Tire Sizes
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (240 TW), Hankook RS-4 (200 TW)
  • Alternative 2: Front: 245/35-18 // Rear: 275/35-18
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
    •  

Wheels

  • Front: 19x9" ET50 // Rear: 19x10" ET40
    • Available in SM-10
    • Popular Fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/35-19 // Rear: 275/35-19
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Hankook RS-4 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • Alternative: Front: 235/35-19 // Rear: 265/35-19
    • Factory tire sizes
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Michelin Cup 2 240 Connect (240 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3 (220 TW), Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)

 

Performance Street & Track Fitments

Whether you enjoy modifying your Porsche for spirited street driving and canyon runs, or you're a hardcore track junkie chasing lap times, these wheel & tire configurations are best suited for enthusiasts looking for a dramatic improvement in performance and handling. These fitments incorporate wider 9” front wheels which provide superior tire sidewall support over the more "generic" 8.5" front wheels. A wider front wheel and tire combination will increase front end grip and close the stagger from front to rear resulting in sharper turn-in and less understeer. This is one of the easiest and most effective improvements you can make to your Porsche from a handling perspective. 

We've optimized the offset of our 9" front wheels to to work well with the stock fenders, however, a wide variety of tire compounds can be used and some may require negative camber to fit properly. If you plan to track your car, we highly recommended dialing in negative camber regardless of whether your wheel/tire fitment requires it for fender clearance. Negative camber is vital for extracting the most performance and longevity out of your tires, and without the proper amount the outer shoulders of your tires will wear out prematurely and running tire costs will dramatically increase.

 

Wheels 

  • Front: 18x9" ET46 // Rear: 18x10" ET36
    • Available in SM-10
    • Popular Fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/40-18 // Rear: 275/40-18
    • Typically a direct fit, but we encourage a little additional negative camber up front 
    • Shorter 275/35-18 rear tires can also be used
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PSS (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (240 TW), Hankook RS-4 (200 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3 (220 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
    • R-Compounds: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slicks: No options currently available
  • Alternative 1: Front: 255/35-18 // Rear: 275/35-18
    • A healthy amount of negative camber is encouraged up front 
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook RS-4 (200 TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 & A7 (40 TW)
  • Alternative 2: Front: 245/35-18 // Rear: 275/35-18
    • Typically a direct fit, but we encourage a little additional negative camber up front 
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: No options currently available
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 & A7 (40 TW), Hankook Z214 C51 (40 TW)
  • Alternative 3: Front: 255/35-18 // Rear: 295/30-18
    • A healthy amount of negative camber is encouraged front and rear
    • Rear fender rolling may be required 
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Nankang AR-1 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 & A7 (40 TW), Toyo RR (40 TW)
  • Alternative 4: Front: 245-645-18 // Rear: 305-660-18
    • Aggressive negative camber specification front and rear are required
    • Rear fender rolling is typically required 
    • Racing Slick: Pirelli DH
  • Alternative 5: Front: 265-645-18 // Rear: 305-660-18
    • Aggressive negative camber specification front and rear are required
    • Rear fender rolling is typically required 
    • Racing Slick: Pirelli DH

 

Wheels

  • Front: 19x9" ET50 // Rear: 19x10" ET40
    • Available in SM-10
    • Popular Fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/35-19 // Rear: 275/35-19
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Hankook RS-4 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Michelin Cup 2 (180 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
  • Alternative: Front: 235/35-19 // Rear: 265/35-19
    • Factory tire sizes
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Michelin Cup 2 240 Connect (240 TW), Goodyear Supercar 3 (220 TW), Yokohama AD08R (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Michelin Cup 2 (180 TW), Goodyear Supercar Eagle 3R (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 & A7 (40 TW)

 

PCA Spec Cayman (SPC)

This class is open to 2006 through 2008 Cayman S (3.4 liter) cars. As long as the proper S engine and transmission are installed, the non‐S (2.9‐liter model) chassis from 2007 and 2008 may be used.

  • The required rims are 18x9 front and 18x10 rear or narrower. 
  • Wheel/tire combined weight must be equal or exceed 40 lbs. for fronts, and 46 lbs. for rears.
  • The tread at the top of the tire may not extend out beyond the fender arch above it. This rule does not apply to the rear for rain tires as long as the spacers used are no wider than necessary to prevent rubbing.
  • Hubs may be converted to studs in place of wheel bolts.

 

Wheels

Front: 18x9” ET46  //  Rear: 18x10" ET36

    • Available in: SM-10

Tires 

  • Dry: Front: 245/35-18  //  Rear: 2754/35-18
    • Hankook Z214 C51 (40 TW)
  • Wet: Free as long as they fit on the spec legal wheels above 

 

Additional Resources

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter. The following brakes have been tested and confirmed to clear our wheels.

  • Factory 4 piston 318mm - fits all
  • Factory PCCB 6 piston 350mm - fits all
  • Brembo 1M1.9004A 6 piston 380mm - fits 18x8.5" ET42 & 18x9" ET46 SM-10 wheels only
  • Brembo 1M1.8802A 6 piston 355mm - fits all
  • Brembo 1P1.8503A 4 piston 365mm - fits all
  • Brembo 1B1.9016A 4 piston 355mm - fits all
  • AP Racing 13.01.0054 CP9661 4 piston 355mm - fits all
  • StopTech 83.788.6700.51 ST60 6 piston 355mm - fits all

Should I Dial in Negative Camber, and How Much is Right for me? 

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Whether you are a casual weekend track warrior that still enjoys your car on the street, or a hardcore racer competing for a spot on the podium, negative camber is a vital part of chassis setup that has many benefits. Not only will adding negative camber create more room for wider wheel and tire configurations, it more importantly improves handling, turn-in and tire longevity. Learn more in our blog article, The Positives of Negative Camber.

 

Still have questions?
Fill out our Fitment Recommendation form
Call us: 925-245-0773
Email us: support@apexraceparts.com

 

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