996 911 C2, C4 & Targa Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

  • Updated

For 1999-2004 Porsche 996 911 C2, C4, & Targa Narrowbody Chassis

View all 996 911 Images

Vehicle Covered in this Guide
1999-2004 Porsche 996 911 C2, C4, & Targa Narrowbody Chassis

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
18-sm10-5120-rs-profile3_6.png
Order Here

 

Bolt Pattern Center Bore Lug Seat Thread Pitch
5x130mm 71.6mm R14 Ball Seat M14x1.5mm

 

Performance Street & Track

Wider fitments for enhanced performance

996_DualDuty.jpg

Whether you enjoy spirited street driving or you are a weekend track warrior chasing lap times, these wheel & tire configurations are ideal for enthusiasts looking for a more dramatic improvement in performance and they are typically paired with performance oriented summer tires or track oriented r-compounds. A combination of slightly wider wheel widths that mirror the factory 996.2 GT3 specs and perfected offsets provide enthusiasts with a more aggressive stance, and a meaningful increase in performance over the stock configuration without requiring a bunch of modifications to the car. 

 

Wheels 

  • Front: 18x8.5” ET50 //  Rear: 18x11” ET60
    • Available in: SM-10
    • Popular fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 235/40-18  //  Rear: 295/30-18
    • Factory 996.2 GT3 tire sizes
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (220 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 240 (240 TW)
    • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
  • Narrower Alternative: Front: 225/40-18  //  Rear: 285/30-18
    • Factory 996.2 Carrera tire sizes 
    • Direct Fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport All-season 4 (540 TW)
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 (220 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 240 (240 TW)
    • R-Compound: No options currently available
  • Wider Alternative: Front: 245/35-18  //  Rear: 295/30-18
    • Direct fit
    • Ultra High Performance All-Season: No options currently available
    • Max Performance Summer: Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (300 TW)
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (TBD TW)
    • R-Compound: No options currently available

 

Hardcore Track & Race

All-out performance for fastest lap times

These wheel and tire configurations are best suited for hardcore track junkies and club racers competing for a spot on the podium.  Everything from Extreme Summer tires to full Racing Slicks are commonly used depending on your experience behind the wheel, class rules, etc. Most notably, 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. See fitment notes under each tire configuration below to see if modifications are required. 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: 18x11” ET60
    • Available in: SM-10
    • Popular fitment

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 235/40-18  //  Rear: 295/30-18
    • Factory 996.2 GT3 tire sizes
    • A minimum of -2º of front camber is recommended
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect 240 (240 TW)
    • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100 TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: No options currently available
  • Alternative 1: Front: 245/40-18  //  Rear: 305/35-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front & rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: No options currently available
    • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: No options currently available
  • Alternative 2: Front: 245/35-18  //  Rear: 285/30-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front camber is recommended
    • Extreme Performance Summer: No options currently available
    • R-Compound: No options currently available
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW) 
  • Alternative 3: Front: 245/35-18  //  Rear: 295/30-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front camber is recommended
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (TBD TW)
    • R-Compound: No options currently available
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW) 
  • Alternative 4: Front: 255/35-18  //  Rear: 295/30-18
    • A minimum of -2.5º of front camber is recommended
    • Front fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW), Toyo RR (40 TW)
  • Alternative 5: Front: 245/40-18  //  Rear: 315/30-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front & rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW), BFG R1S (40 TW)
  • Alternative 6: Front: 255/35-18  //  Rear: 315/30-18
    • A minimum of -2.5º of front & -2º rear camber is recommended
    • Front & rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW), Toyo RR (40 TW)
  • Alternative 7: Front: 245/645-18  //  Rear: 305/645-18
    • A minimum of -3º of front & -2.5º rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled 
    • Racing Slicks: Pirelli DH 
  • Alternative 8: Front: 245/645-18  //  Rear: 305/660-18
    • A minimum of -3º of front & -2.5º rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled 
    • Racing Slicks: Pirelli DH 

 

Wheels 

  • Front: 18x9” ET46 // Rear: 18x12” ET65
    • Available in: SM-10

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/40-18  //  Rear: 315/30-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front & rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW), Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW), BFG R1S (40 TW)
  • Alternative 1: Front: 245/40-18  //  Rear: 305/35-18
    • A minimum of -2º of front & rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: No options currently available
    • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100 TW), Toyo R888R (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: No options currently available
  • Alternative 2: Front: 255/35-18  //  Rear: 315/30-18
    • A minimum of -2.5º of front & -2º rear camber is recommended
    • Front & rear fenders may need to be rolled
    • Extreme Performance Summer: Yokohama A052 (200 TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Falken RT660 (200 TW)
    • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100 TW), Nankang AR-1 (100 TW)
    • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7/A7 (40 TW), Toyo RR (40 TW)
  • Alternative 3: Front: 245/645-18  //  Rear: 305/645-18
    • A minimum of -3º of front & -2.2º rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled 
    • Racing Slicks: Pirelli DH 
  • Alternative 4: Front: 245/645-18  //  Rear: 305/660-18
    • A minimum of -3º of front & -2.2º rear camber is recommended
    • Rear fenders may need to be rolled 
    • Racing Slicks: Pirelli DH 

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.

  • OEM FRONT 6 piston 355mm PCCB 
  • Brembo 1M1.9005A1 FRONT 6 piston 
  • Brembo 1M1.9006A1 FRONT 6 piston 380mm
  • StopTech 83.780.4700.61 FRONT 4 piston 355mm 
  • StopTech 83.781.6900.XX FRONT 6 piston 380mm 

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

996.jpeg

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

 

Related articles