I find it interesting that although the OEM rear wheel choices for the 718 vary from 9.5 x 18 to 10.5 x 20, the rear tire size remains unchanged at 265 mm?
Looking at the info supplied on the TireRack web site, it appears that my OEM tire (Eagle F1) in 265/35-20 is best fit on a 9.5" wide wheel.
For competition, Cayman/Boxster drivers routinely stuff a 255/35-18 on the front 8.5" wide wheel. Note that TireRack shows that size tire to best fit a 9" wide wheel. However, speaking from first-hand experience, I can tell you that it fits and works well on an 8.5" wheel.
So, my question is how wide a tire can we fit to the 10.5" wide rear wheel? Specifically, a 10.5" x 19" wheel?
Looking again at the TireRack info for the OEM tire, that data says a 295/35-xx is best fit on a 10.5" wide wheel. The 295mm tire has a 1.2" wider section width then the stock tire so it would roughly extend 0.6" more on each side. Looking at my rear suspension and wheel opening, I don't see how there would be any interference issue at all. In fact, the tire I'd prefer to run is a 305/30-19. However, its section width is 12.3" versus the stock section width of 9.5" on the OEM 265/35-20 tire.
According to TireRack, the 305mm wide tire is best fit on a 11" wide wheel but as with the 255mm tire on the front 8.5" wide wheel, I believe the 305 will fit the 10.5" wheel just fine.
My concern is would the 305mm tire rub the strut or worse yet, the fender? Note that the OEM 265/35-20 has a diameter of 27.3" while the 305-30-19's diameter is 26.2" so there would be 0.55" additional clearance vertically.
Comments???
Looking at the info supplied on the TireRack web site, it appears that my OEM tire (Eagle F1) in 265/35-20 is best fit on a 9.5" wide wheel.
For competition, Cayman/Boxster drivers routinely stuff a 255/35-18 on the front 8.5" wide wheel. Note that TireRack shows that size tire to best fit a 9" wide wheel. However, speaking from first-hand experience, I can tell you that it fits and works well on an 8.5" wheel.
So, my question is how wide a tire can we fit to the 10.5" wide rear wheel? Specifically, a 10.5" x 19" wheel?
Looking again at the TireRack info for the OEM tire, that data says a 295/35-xx is best fit on a 10.5" wide wheel. The 295mm tire has a 1.2" wider section width then the stock tire so it would roughly extend 0.6" more on each side. Looking at my rear suspension and wheel opening, I don't see how there would be any interference issue at all. In fact, the tire I'd prefer to run is a 305/30-19. However, its section width is 12.3" versus the stock section width of 9.5" on the OEM 265/35-20 tire.
According to TireRack, the 305mm wide tire is best fit on a 11" wide wheel but as with the 255mm tire on the front 8.5" wide wheel, I believe the 305 will fit the 10.5" wheel just fine.
My concern is would the 305mm tire rub the strut or worse yet, the fender? Note that the OEM 265/35-20 has a diameter of 27.3" while the 305-30-19's diameter is 26.2" so there would be 0.55" additional clearance vertically.
Comments???