Steel Wheels

[chris_seven]

Does anyone have detailed information about the steel wheels fitted to the various 911s including sizes, manufacturer and differences between space savers and normal wheels?

I have been trying to find a definitive article but without much luck.

Thanks

[Jim Breazeale]

Does anyone have detailed information about the steel wheels fitted to the various 911s including sizes, manufacturer and differences between space savers and normal wheels?

I have been trying to find a definitive article but without much luck.

Thanks

Here is some undetailed, undocumented, untested, info.
64 through 67YM cars had 4 1/2 X 15 steel wheels in both chrome and painted.
68 YM through 71 YM cars had 5 1/2 X 15 steel wheels both chrome and painted
72 YM cars had 6 X 15 painted steel wheels.
Early space saver wheels (74 to?) were painted 5 1/2 X 15 steel wheels
Sometime later the steel wheels got a "Volcano" around the lug nut holes to make the seating surface of the lug nut the same distance as alloy wheels from the hub. The reason for this is that when using an early steel wheel as a spare an owner would damage his or her alloy lugnuts because they would go too far down the wheel stud, due to the thin steel wheel, and blow out the end of the nut. Porsche reverse engineers stuff, too!
Again, this is very vague and unscientific. Just the observations of an old Auto Dismantler.
I won't mind corrections of additions, unless they are wrong.

Regards

Jim
PS: Chris, you probably already knew all that I have said, anyway

[chris_seven]

Jim,

Very helpful and I had not much of an idea about variations in Steel wheels as I have never spent much time looking hence my questions.

[Jim Breazeale]

Pictures of space saver steel wheels and the "volcanos". the last phote is of an earlier steel wheel.
Note the different center holes on all 3 wheels.

[Bobs 67S]

Here is a little info on the 1964/1965 wheels:

KPZ made the steel painted wheels 4.5" x 15" and had slightly different hub and rim shapes to the Lemmerz.

The Lemmerz was the chromed wheels, center of the hub under the hub cap and the reverse side was painted a med-dark grey. (note the color of Jim's last photo above.)

The late 356 and early 911 look to be the same wheels.

There is a stamp on wheels 3.7 or 3.9, Harvey has said this could be the metal thickness. And, the thicker was used on the racers, Carrera 2, 4 cam cars, and on the early 911,
(which were both 130hp cars).

[andyjboy]

I did quite a bit of 'research' on steel (& steel/alloy) wheels last year but only the KpZ versions & this is what I found for the steel wheels (for disc-braked models):


6040.12 – 4 ½ x 15 (356C)

604 9A - 4 ½ x 15 (early swb 911/912) ET=42 thickness = 3.7

605 3A - 4 ½ x 15 (later swb 911/912) ET=42 thickness = 3.9

613 3A - 5 ½ x 15 (early 911) ET=42 (earlier version with large valve hole)

613 3C – 5 ½ x 15 (early 911) ET=42 (later version with small valve hole)

613 3E - 5 ½ x 15 (later 911) ET=42 ... usually found with 'spacesaver' tyre

615 5A - 5 ½ x 15 (later 911) ET=53 ... usually found with 'spacesaver' tyre

615 6A - 5 ½ x 15 (924S/944) ET=42 ... usually found with full-size (165x15) spare tyre

615 6C - 5 ½ x 15 (924S/944) ET=53 ... usually found with full-size (165x15) spare tyre


616 2A - 6 x 15 (’71-on 911) ET=36

[HughH]

for what it is worth and confirming Andy's list i have a 613-3E dated 73 which was original to my 1973E with 85 litre tank and space saver. It still has the 1973 space saver tyre on it as well
i also have a 615 6A that i bought with a space saver on it to give me a usable spare. it is dated 14 85

[Jim Breazeale]

Andy and I have Emailed back and forth. It seems that 944s and 924Ss in England came with full size spares. They all came with spacesavers in the US. I never realized it but there is provisions in the spare tire well of 944s for both a Space saver and a full sized spare. I guess the full isze spares in the cars in England must have a different rear trunk carpet to compensate for the larger tire. The "bump" in the trunk carpet in US cars will not allow a full size spare to fit under it.

Regards

Jim
PS: More reason to never say never

[andyjboy]

Jim - it's not even as straightforward as that !

Some 944 models were equipped with the steel apare wheel with Uniroyal 165x15 full-sized tyre whereas other 944's were equipped with the steel spare with 'spacesaver' tyres - I've not been able to pinpoint which models received which version (yet) ...


Also the 615 6C version (stamped 477601030B) with the Uniroyal tyre combination was used as an optional winter tyre/wheel in Europe.