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YOUR RESEARCHLobster Claws on a 996
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Install these wheels
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I have searched this forum and I see many pictures of people who have installed these wheels on their car, some without any spacers.
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I read an article a while ago about how the handling changed on a turbo (4WD) once the author changed the wheels for 19".
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I read an article a while ago about how the handling changed on a turbo (4WD) once the author changed the wheels for 19".
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I'm running Nitto Invos (really nice tires for the money) I know that each tire's manufacturer may be different.
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Suggestion · Original poster
Wheel Enhancement did say they recommended different tires, but they said the stock Michelin Pilot Sports should mount ok.
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So I found a set of factory black Lobster claws for a great price, and thought they would fit my '02 Targa. Wheel Enhancement had told me that the rears should fit with no problem, and the fronts would fit, although they'd be inset 7mm without spacers. Today I took the car and wheels down to my local dealership and they said they tried to put them on, but the rears were hitting the control arm. I have searched this forum and I see many pictures of people who have installed these wheels on their car, some without any spacers. Is there something I am missing? My stock equipment: FRONT: 7/50 offset with tires that are 205/50/17. REAR: 9/55 offset with tires that are 255/40/17. The Lobsters: FRONT: 8/67 with tires that are 235/35/19. REAR: 9/55 offset with tires that are 255/40/17. Wheel Enhancement did say they recommended different tires, but they said the stock Michelin Pilot Sports should mount ok. Thanks for any help!
yes, sorry. You're right. The rear lobsters are 11/67 offset with 295/30/19 tires. So does anyone know who is right? Wheel Enhancement or my Porsche dealership?
Put a set of 15mm spacers rear and 5mm spacers front.
That 15mm spacer is required per PET if you install GT3 wheels ( 10x18 et 65 ), so those lobster claws definitely need them too.
5mm front spacers need longer bolts too, but if they come as a set from Porsche dealer.
joelpirela, what an awesome looking car. What exhaust do you have? And did the duals fit in the stock opening?
Is it possible that the type of tires mounted on the back affect whether it rubs or not? I have the stock 997 tires mounted on the Lobster FORKS now.
I saw a guy on a 996 C4S driving with lobsters but the offsets were terrible. The rears looked WAY tucked in and the fronts were WAY out like an SUV.
JoelPirela - yours look great, any more pics to share?
I have seen Lobster CLAWS (haha) on 996
they look OK, one of the better 19" looking 19's for the 996 but I still prefer 18's
I saw a GTR running 18's at the track Wednesday and I think they come with ? 20's ? - it looked great on the 18's! probably saved himhelf a ton of weight too
Thanks for the kind words. I'm running Nitto Invos (really nice tires for the money) I know that each tire's manufacturer may be different. I just love the fat 305's on the back!
More pictures can be found here:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/8252581...7603707165109/
Joel, I think that's the best looking '02 I've ever seen. Where did you get the painted center console? That looks really sharp. Regarding the Lobsters, did you buy them brand new or used with the factory tires installed? I'm really wondering if anyone was able to slap them on with the Michelin Pilot Sports without any problems. The set I bought has hardly any wear on the tires so I'd rather not invest another $1500 in new tires if I can avoid it. Cheers!
The center console is from bumper plugs. It's one of the best mods I've ever done. People love it when they sit inside the car. I bought the wheels+tires as a package (they came with Invos) and they bolted right in. Clearance is tight when they are mounting them (due to the fact that the suspension is fully extended when the car is in the air) but once they drop it, the clearance is more than enough...
Just be careful to stay up with torque values for all suspension pieces. Porsche experienced many 996 suspension failures when they began the engineering effort for the 997 with the 19 in wheels. As a result, the 996 and 997 suspensions are substantially different. They were literally tearing the 996 suspensions apart with the 19 in wheels.
You know, that's what everyone always says, but the engineer inside of me calls BS on it. I'm to believe that 18" wheels work just fine but 19" wheels will literally tear my suspension apart?
What if the 19" wheels I use weigh less than the OEM 18" wheels?
using lobsters for 2 years, no problems under normal use. if switching from 18" to 19" was a serious problem, you would've hear about it by now... I read an article a while ago about how the handling changed on a turbo (4WD) once the author changed the wheels for 19". he didn't follow the correct math to change the tires' profile (to match the 4wd system) and the car was handling worse than with the original 18". in that case, it has nothing to do with the switch to 19" per se, or regular Carreras.
