Superlite wheels

[rs911t]

Looks like a Minilite repro. Has anyone tried these on their early car?
They appear to produce the correct size/offset in 15x6 and 15x7.

http://www.packracingproducts.com/page_wheels.html

[dvkk]

Despite the name, they are quite hefty. 50% heavier than a comparable Fuchs.

Offsets are all wrong for Porsches.

[ttweed]

Despite the name, they are quite hefty. 50% heavier than a comparable Fuchs.

Offsets are all wrong for Porsches.

These wheels were discussed in another thread, so I contacted the USA importer, Barry Knickerbocker of Pack Racing Products, for details. Comparing any aftermarket cast wheel to a forged Fuch will likely reveal shortcomings in the former, but there may still be useful applications of these Superlites for street use by those wishing for the particular Minilite look on a 911 at a bargain price. For the record, the facts I obtained are:

15x6 4.5" Backspace 18.9lb. $179.09
15x7 4.4" Backspace 18.9lb. $189.94
15x8 4.33" Backspace (won't fit my car, so did not inquire on weight and price)

Prices include caps, lug bolts and valve stems. They will be getting lightened versions in March '06, weights yet to be finalized. Backspace on all the OEM 911 wheels in these sizes (except the 911R 7x15) is approx. 4.75", so I don't see that these offsets are "all wrong" for Porsches. The 6x15 is within 1/4", and I know that many people run a 1/4" spacer with 6x15s without a problem.

HTH,
TT

[Flat Six, inc.]

I have not tried them on a Porsche but Panasports are in my opinion more like the Minilites.

Just a thought.

[dvkk]

Tom, here's my math:

Fuchs 6x15 offset = 36mm
Late Fuchs 7x15 offset = 23.3mm
911R Fuchs 7x15 offset = 49mm

Superlite 6x15 offset = 23mm and 24mm
Superlite 7x15 offset = 12mm and 25mm

The difference in offset of the 6x15 is 12 or 13mm. Will a 6x15" Fuchs work with a ½" spacer?

The 12mm offset 7" Superlite simply won't work. The 25mm wheel is very close to the offset of a late 7x15. But on an early car the late 7x15 Fuchs won't allow for a tire much bigger than a 205 because the tire gets too close to the fender. The Superlite 7 has the rim 1.7mm closer to the fender, exacerbating the problem.

Now if they made a 7x15 with an offset near 35mm, fitting a 225 tire would be simple.

[ttweed]

Superlite 6x15 offset = 23mm and 24mm
Superlite 7x15 offset = 12mm and 25mm

OK, I was trying to figure out how you came up with these figures from the backspacing I was given, but I went back to the Superlite website, and that is indeed what they are giving for specs. The only way that this kind of discrepancy between backspacing and offset can occur between types of wheels is if the tire bead flange on the Superlite is twice as thick as that of the Fuchs. This is the only way an extra 1/4" can be accounted for between the offset and backspacing, and that much variation is not uncommon between manufacturers. Since the Fuchs is forged, it can tolerate a much thinner flange than the cast wheel, I suppose, for the same strength.

Look at the 7x16 on the website, though-- a 35mm offset! Maybe a 225 could be squeezed on that puppy?

TT

[dvkk]

I've never used backspacing to determine fitment, I guess this is proof that the backspacing is not accurate for comparing different wheels. I was wondering why the BS and ET didn't jive. Thanks for clearing that up.

I didn't scroll down far enough to see that 16x7. It does indeed have the right ET to fit an early car.
Given that an 11mm spacer is needed to place a 911R 7x15 in the right place, that spacer makes the R wheel have an effective offset of 38mm. It's only 3mm from the Superlite 7x16. I bet a 225/50 would fit with that wheel.
It would be nice to use a 6x15 on the front, but with an offset difference of 12mm compared to a Fuchs of the same size, will it fit?

[ttweed]

I bet a 225/50 would fit with that wheel.

I think a 225/45-16 would be even better for the smaller rolling diameter (23.9 on an S-03 Bridgestone.)

It would be nice to use a 6x15 on the front, but with an offset difference of 12mm compared to a Fuchs of the same size, will it fit?

Ya, I don't think the fronts would be any problem at all for a 6x15 with no spacer and 25mm offset. A standard 7x15 w/23mm offset fits fine on the front of even a SWB car w/ no flares. The rears are the problem area.

I never asked Barry if he was going to import the 16s too. They are HEAVY though, at almost 22 lbs. I have had 10x15" steel Diamond Racing wheels that were that heavy!

TT