MK2 GT3 Wheels/5mm spacer question

Hey all, In the process of getting some MK2 GT3 wheels for my 2004 NB C2 to complete my factory AeroKit II off. They are the standard GT3 offset and size: 8.5 ET40 front and 11 ET63 rear. Have read these should be fine to use on a NB 996. Though I have a question, I currently have factory 5mm spacers with 5mm long GT3 bolts as per the kit with standard Carrera 5 spokes. To use these GT3 wheels should I be removing or keeping the 5mm spacers? Or does it not make a difference and I can choose to use or not use them? If I do remove the spacers should I be using the GT3 5mm longer bolts? I no longer have my original bolts but could find another set. Intending on using the standard 235 up front and 295 rear in Michelin PS2 (replacing my current 225 and 285 PS2s). Anyone have any experience with this? Cross posted in the GT3 section asking if 5mm spacers came with the GT3 but was advised they weren't. Thanks

I have seen posts that state no spacer and others that a 5mm may be needed to clear the suspension. I am about to install a set of the same wheels on my 99. I bought the tool to roll the fenders, which I will do this week. Yours should be rolled from the factory. I plan on running 315s on the rear, so that may affect the need for a spacer on mine.

The 6GT3 is a narrow body car, and the rims fit fine without spacers on a 996.2 Carerra 2 (as noted by the OP, the .2 has rolled fenders from the factory). Whether or not spacers will fit may be determined by the suspension you are running. I think you�re going to have to test fit them to see.

So I run an NB Aero with GT3 wheels that is lowered. I use 295 width tires and have run with an without spacers....no issues either way but have been running 5 mm spacers in the rear. No spacer up front and I do have a bit of camber as well. Bottom line, no issues.

Thanks all. I have what looks like RoW M030 slightly lowered 10mm. I'll test with and without spacers and see how I go and post the results. I'd just like it to look standard as the 6GT3 looks like the wheels are fairly flush. Should I be sourcing standard bolts or use the GT3 ones I have? Why are the spacer bolts also considered GT3 wheel bolts?

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If you end up using the spacers you need the longer bolts. https://www.suncoastparts.com/product/LUGNUT.html

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Thanks, I already have the longer bolts. My question is - if I don't use the spacers can I still use the longer bolts with the GT3 wheels?

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Sorry, misunderstood. The GT3 bolts will be 5mm longer than standard so without spacers there's a risk they will be too long. Try them and make sure there's no interference. It's not the GT3 wheels that necessitate the extra 5mm, it's the addition of the 5mm spacer.

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Thanks, over in the 6GT3 section they have said the GT3 and Carrera bolts are the same length? I thought the +5mm with the red collar were GT3 and 5mm spacer bolts?

In for pics on ROW 030 suspension Good luck! Cant wait to see what it looks like

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Fake news As you can see from the Suncoast comparison pic, the red collar GT3 bolts are longer because of the 5mm spacers

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Haha, okay so are we confirming GT3 and Carrera bolts are the same length and the red collar are just +5mm for the spacers and 7GT3 not 6GT3?? - Myth busted?? Perhaps that's where I got that from? Fact that the 7GT3 uses the +5mm bolts as standard?

Okay - so I should have just checked PET2 first... 6GT3 and Carrera wheel bolts are the same. The +5mm version come standard on the 7GT3 not the 6GT3 I'll be sourcing a set of original bolts and removing the factory 5mm spacers - I might keep the rear but most likely not as they are 1" wider anyway Thanks all!

Where did you get the wheels?

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Australia, although I think there are some for sale in the US in the classifieds section.

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I've been looking. Haven't seen any 8.5/11 x 18's.

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There were 2 sets for sale recently (within the last few months) - ones that were re-painted and a standard set

I think for both 997 and 996....GT3 and Carrera bolts are the same...if you go with spacers on either you need to get red collar for either if using spacer. I don't think Porsche would screw with that convention for liability reasons. I would also never use a red collar without spacers. IF you want to make sure take a bolt and the wheel that is not mounted and see how much the bolt sticks out on the backside. they should stick out the same on either wheel.

Thanks Lowpue, Autoatlanta and PET2 list the same bolt part number for the 6GT3 and Carrera but list the 7GT3 bolts as the +5mm version with the red collar. I'm going to remove the spacers and +5mm bolts that i'm currently using and go with standard length

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That does not make sense....I would check with Porsche on this....I would find it unusual for Porsche not to standardize.

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Unfortunately as these cars get older I find that i'm informing my OPC with knowledge from this forum more often than they are informing me... Check it out: Carrera/6GT3 bolt part number: 996 361 203 00 - superseded to: 996 361 203 01 7GT3 part number: 996 361 980 00 Carrera: http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=601-00 6GT3: http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=601-00 7GT3: http://www.autoatlanta.com/porsche-p...section=601-00

PET2:

Would converting to studs be an option? I"m planning on doing so, one less thing.

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I dont have any interest in using a stud kit - I don't have the need. Also be weary of stud kits - someone on here had one fail on them

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I bought a set out of the rennlist classifieds a few months ago, probably the ones you are referring to as standard. They have some scuffs and imperfections, but they are fine for tracking. I had been looking for a while. I saw a couple of sets in England that were 7 1/2 and 11 which seems too narrow for the fronts. As previously stated, mine are 8 1/2 and 11.

Here is a view of my GT3 wheels on NB with 5mm spacers only in the rear

I have a 1999 C2 running the same set of GT3 wheels that you are looking at using. FWIW I'm running non standard tire sizes for personal reasons, with a thicker sidewall and have no suspension, or fender rubbing or anything. 245/40/18 frt on the 18x8.5, and 275/40/18 on the 18x11et63. Ride quality is excellent and handling doesnt suffer one bit btw.. keeping in mind that I'm DD'ing this car with this setup.. track will be different. I have just completed a 800 mile road trip to the Tail of the Dragon in the mts of TN, NC and GA though with no issues at all. My NB car is using Koni yellows and H&R Sport springs as well. My rear fenders are rolled, and I have been considering flushing the rear out a bit more and using a 5-10mm spacer, although the look now is not bad at all. Check the "show me your wheels" thread in 996 for pictures if you want to see it, I'm at work right now and can't post any. have fun with it

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LOVE IT!

Thanks everyone, i'm now considering keeping the 5mm spacers on the rear because your car looks awesome lowpue, the rears look perfectly filled! Lowpue do you think the 5mm spacers are required at the rear to match the additional offset of the fronts? Just for some info on the standard 5 spoke vs MK2 GT3: MK2 GT3 Front: 235 / 40 / 18 ET40 Rear: 295 / 30 / 18 ET63 MK2 Carrera 5 Spoke: Front: 225 / 40 / 18 ET50 Rear: 285 / 30 / 18 ET65 So really the rear ET there is only a 2mm difference so + 5mm would make it 7mm in total vs the 5 spoke. Also here are the tyre differences (the fact that the rims actually look like MK2 GT3 ones was a coincidence!):

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Keep in mind the GT3 wheel is 11" wide and I think the 5 spoke is 10" wide....so you actually have an additional 12.7mm offset....Thus the rear with 5 mm spacer is 20mm wider....if I did the math correct.

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Thanks Lowpue, how does it look with the 5mm spacer on the rear? Do you know what it looks like in comparison to the genuine GT3? I.e if I want the GT3 "look" should I use the 5mm spacer I already have on the rear?

Offset is not black magic, but it can be confusing. There used to be an offset calculator I used exclusively but it's down now. Remember 1"=25.4mm..round it to 25mm for these purposes. The et 63 or 65 means that the center of the wheel is 65mm from the rear lip edge. That is why lower offset #s often have larger front lips giving a more aggressive appearance. I own both wheels in your example.. back to back installing them, the 10" wheel appears sunken and in need of the spacer, for my opinion and likes anyway, and the 11" looks like it belongs, although I would appreciate a small spacer as well. The reason is that the 10" is 25mm narrower, and 2mm further inset in the wheel well than the 11" et63. Long story short.. run the 5mm spacer as LowPue's GT3 looks awesome.

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Awesome! Thanks

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Thanks for the kind words...however, my car is not a GT3 but it does beat a 996 GT3 from every performance perspective. It was built by Dundon motorsports.

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No affiliation but here are a set, good price including tyres IMO: https://www.ebay.com/itm/18-OEM-Porsche-2004-996-GT3-911-GT2-GT3-Wheels-Rims-Caps-Michelin-99636213605/323579142871?hash=item4b56d1e2d7:g:kvoAAOSwtQNcA-26

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thanks for heads up

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No worries! Will look awesome and complete the aerokit. Those wheels were actually available as an option in later tequipment catalogues. Mine arrived on Friday: Getting some new Michelin PS2s fitted this week.

Factory option:

Nice, beautiful wheels, are they brand new? Can't wait to see them on your car with the 5 mm spacers. I have the same setup on my 996.1 w/ the RSS 5 mm spacers on rears only :-) Cheers,

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Awesome setup Thanks, mine are used - the images make them look even better but they do have some use, nothing too major though. Planning on doing the same and using 5mm at the back but not on the front basically the same setup as yours and lowpue's, will post pics when they are fitted! Did you find the front were pushed out far enough without the 5mm spacers while the rears were good with +5mm?

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You don't need any spacers up front; IMO the front OEM GT3 offsets are already perfect. You can see it for yourself when you mount your new wheels on your car, These 996.2 GT3 wheels are also my favorites, enjoy them... Cheers,

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Awesome - thanks Personally I think they are the best looking, then again when I got the 5 spokes I thought the same thing haha

Wow... lots of good info in this thread. Wish I would have found it earlier.

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There was info scattered around the place so I thought i'd dump as much as I found in it Thanks everyone for their contributions too

Can't believe how much a beat up set of GT3 wheels go for now....I am glad I bought my two sets when I did....

Definitely not cheap, although asking price vs selling price might be quite different on those...

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The car looks great with those wheels. Did you have to roll the fenders?

Anyone know if on the front I can use the +5mm bolts without the spacers? Will it interfere with anything? Whats behind the hub?

Would you use the wrong oil just because it�s what you had lying around? I strongly recommend using proper length lug bolts, if for no other reason than it�s just good practice to use the right parts, especially when it�s parts that attach the wheels to the car.

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The reason I ask is I have a set of regular bolts but they are worn - the +5mm are brand new ​​​​​​ I'll use the standard ones until the new standard ones get delivered

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I figured that was the case. Honestly, I really don�t know if you�d be okay to run extra length bolts through the back of the hub, but it just doesn�t seem like a part of the car one should take any risks with. I suppose if you install the wheel with those bolts and it spins freely you�re probably perfectly safe, but I wouldn�t and I�m not the most risk averse person either.

Okay, got around to doing this today after I had the rims fitted with new Michelin PS2s in standard GT3 size. First tried the rears with the 5mm spacers - stuck out wayyyy too far! How are you guys running 5mm on the rear I think there is a difference between the MK1 and MK2. Mine looked like this: Hated the look so ditched the spacers all round - used the standard bolts I had. Turned out like this: So to answer my own question on a MK2 you should not run 5mm spacers with GT3 wheels. Thanks! ​​​​​​

WOW that's good to know indeed; Actually those GT3 wheels were designed for the MK2 so maybe that's why you don't need to use spacers... I'm surprised that no-one else has done this conversion before you on MK2 cars. Lowpue & myself have MK1 and the 5mm spacers are good addition and I believe I may have little room for couple more mm's maybe, but I decided to stay safe with 5mm only. I am sure you can sale those 5mm spacers w/ longer lug-nuts to someone on here. Cheers,

Thanks for the pic, I was so confused when I mounted them and they stuck out that far! Must be a MK1 vs. MK2 thing as the MK1 GT3 has 5mm spacers on it from the factory but different rims. Anyway, info is here for anyone wanting to know if you can run MK2 GT3 wheels with spacer​​​​​s: MK1 - yes MK2 - no I didn't try the fronts with the spacers but I think there might be some room for them.

The .1 GT3 had the Sport Design wheels, which were x8 +52 front and x10 +65 rear, whereas the .2�s were x8.5 +40 front and x11 +63 rear. So, the .1 wheels would have needed 18mm spacers in front and 15mm rear to get the outside of the wheels where the .2�s are without any spacers. In my opinion, the .2 GT3 wheels� fitment is perfect. Your car looks fantastic!

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Hmmm...that is weird and it makes no sense....so I think there are may be two issues here. 1) THese are actually GT2 wheels. GT2 wheels look like GT3 wheels but with WB offsets. So look at what the offsets for your new wheel are. 2) Perhaps (and the most likely) reason is that most of us with GT3 wheels have our cars lowered. When you lower the 911 the wheels get pulled in slightly and the body widens as you move up. Your picture with the 5mm spacer looks like my car when I have the rear jacked up off the ground. I remember this when I first got the GT3 wheels put on I was worried until I loaded the wheel up. So the conclusion I would draw from this thread is the following I think if its a true GT3 wheel (not a GT2 wheel), then if the car is stock height, then you don't need a spacer, however, if you lower to a GT3 height, the car will need a spacer to keep the wheels flush. There you have it...it takes a village

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Thanks Lowpue, it is quite strange I was confused when I first mounted them - thinking perhaps they would tuck under when I lowered it down - they didnt I did check that they are definitely from a NB MK2 GT3 as they are ET63 which is whats listed in the 2008 tequipment brochure as well. Planning on getting PSS10s - I think the car has RoW M030 as its slighly lower than the standard RoW 996s i've parked it next to. 2008 996 Tequipment brochure with ET63 ​​​​​​

Here�s what my Turbo Look IIs look like with 15mm spacers in the rear, which makes them have the same effective offset as the GT3 wheel, look like from (almost) the back and from the top at stock Carrera ride height. I think another 5mm and 295s would look exactly like his with 5mm spacers. The GT3 has a bit more camber and a lot lower ride height out of the box than the Carrera, which does change the way the wheel fits with the fender.

This is weird....Is there a 996 Mechanic amongst us that can explain...How is that my MK1 NB is different from MK2 NB with different offset results. Makes no sense...

Thats just under what mine looked like with the 5mm spacers. Without the wheels sit exactly flush to the fender hopefully when I get around to buying and installing the PSS10s it will stay the same - just lower For now im quite happy, until the new offset and width kick up all sorts of debris onto my paint... What's the concencus on getting an alignment done now that I've added some width in the front and rear? Alignments are $200 at the dealership ughh and I'll need another one when I install the PSS10s.

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So the answer is I have more aggressive camber settings? I think that is the smoking gun if that is true.

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I'd say if yours is a true track setup then most likely. Camber is so aggressive it counteracts the +5mm width added... Awesome!!

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Probably. The factory setting for Carrera rear camber is -1� 10� +/-15� (~-1.2�). GT3 is -1� 50� +/-5� (~-1.8�). Even .5� would make a difference in the way the top of the tire interacts with the fender. The Turbo II x11 +45 widebody wheels fit the .1 nb with something like -2� (maybe the example below had more, I can�t remember what the exact camber was but I remember it not being insanely aggressive).

What's the general consensus on changing wheels - does an alignment need to be done? Assuming that it will be because the offsets and the tyre sizes are now different? What would the alignment configuration need to be based off for GT3 wheels on a C2? Standard Carrera or GT3? Might check out POSES and see the alignment differences between them.

wrong post.