996 911 Carrera Narrowbody Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

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The 1999-2004 996 Porsche 911 narrowbody Carrera including Carrera 2, Carrera 4 and Targa models.

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Vehicle Covered in this Guide
1999-2004 Porsche 996 911 Carrera narrowbody chassis including C2, C4 and Targa 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

 

Dual Duty - Performance Street & Track Fitment

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These 18" dual-duty fitments are best suited for drivers enjoying their car on the street and/or attending occasional track days.  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
    • Typically a direct fit, but we encourage a mild amount of negative camber up front to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression.
    • 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

 

Dedicated Track/Race Fitments

These fitments are best suited for weekend track warriors and competitive club racers looking to maximize grip and overall performance. They incorporate wider 9” front wheels which provide superior tire sidewall support over the more "generic" 8.5" options listed in the section above. 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. 

While 9" wheels aren't very difficult to fit under the front fenders, there are many different tire sizes and compounds that can be used, many of which may require negative camber to prevent rubbing the front fenders under suspension compression. We highly recommended dialing in negative camber regardless of whether your wheel/tire fitment requires it for fender clearance, as it is vital for extracting the most performance and longevity out of your tires. Without negative camber dialed in, the outer shoulders of your tires will wear out prematurely and the running tire costs will dramatically increase. Suspension modifications like camber plates essentially pay for themsleves in that regard.

 

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
    • Typically a direct fit
    • 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 healthy amount of negative camber is encouraged to prevent these taller tires from rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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
    • Typically a direct fit, but we encourage a mild amount of negative camber up front to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression.
    • 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
    • Typically a direct fit, but we encourage a little additional negative camber up front to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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
    • Aggressive negative camber is required up front to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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
    • Negative camber is encouraged to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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
    • Aggressive negative camber is required front and rear to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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)

 

Wheels 

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

Tires

  • APEX Staff Pick: Front: 245/40-18  //  Rear: 315/30-18
    • Negative camber is encouraged front and rear to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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 healthy amount of negative camber is encouraged to prevent these taller tires from rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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
    • Aggressive negative camber is required front and rear to prevent rubbing upon suspension compression
    • 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)

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? 

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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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