Wheel Choices: 1980 Porsche 924

924_wheels
The Porsche 924 is a dainty little thing, especially when you compare it to more modern street hardware. That’s a good reason to be quite conservative when you consider wheels for it, in case one wants to upgrade from the original 14- or 15-inch wheels.
In this case, one of the Porsche’s owners has boldly chosen to go with 17-inch wheels on 225/45 tires, and those do not exactly suit the light-looking, narrow-sided Porsche, even if the spokes are narrow. Maybe these would’ve been a better fit on the more wide-hipped 944 instead. What do you think?

924_wheels_2
Another thing you can consider is the fitment of the quite large rear wing, and whether it complements or takes away from the 924’s looks. The good thing here is that both modifications are easily undone.
But which wheels do you prefer on the 924, if you prefer the 125-horsepower Porsche as a daily driver?
[Images: Copyright 2015 Hooniverse/Antti Kautonen]

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25 responses to “Wheel Choices: 1980 Porsche 924”

  1. stigshift Avatar
    stigshift

    I don’t think most older cars look good with big stupid modern rims. This 924 isn’t horrible, and perhaps a 944 could carry those off a little better. But I still see this in it…
    https://thechive.files.wordpress.com/2011/06/stupid-car-rims-19.jpg

  2. Borkwagen Avatar
    Borkwagen

    Geez, it looks amphibious.

  3. Guest Avatar
    Guest

    After a quick Google search, I would have to say I like the originals better. IMO original wheels usually look best (there must a reason why the designers picked them). Really, the only time I agree with aftermarket wheels is when there is a serious performance benefit. Same thing applies for me when it comes to ride height. There are exceptions, of course, but that’s the way I like things!

    edit: Don’t take this to mean I don’t like customs, I do. I just don’t like lifted/lowered blinged out, useless customs.

  4. SlowJoeCrow Avatar
    SlowJoeCrow

    Telephone dials and the factory lip spoiler are the way to go. This a 70s car and really calls for a 70s look, plus the telephone dials make a connection to the 928.
    http://i.auto-bild.de/ir_img/8/2/2/7/1/6/Porsche-924-S-729×486-c24f21bcbdd88607.jpg

    1. nanoop Avatar
      nanoop

      Exactly, of the period correct wheels, phonies suit well. Fuchs are way lighter, but look too baroque. BBS look to busy. The turbo wheels are less busy.
      For an 944, 16″ are in order

      View post on imgur.com


      (available ex works in ’84 in Switzerland in a limited edition, you period-correctness sticklers)

      1. Rennsport 964 Avatar
        Rennsport 964

        Unfortunately, the hubs on this poor 924 are four lug/bolt, which makes using the OEM 928 phone dials impossible.

        1. nanoop Avatar
          nanoop

          Hmmm, you may have a point there….
          The 924 S had five lugs, and l think so did the turbos, but the extrapolation is not valid.
          The 928 had some huge offset, closer to the late 944s. I don’t know where the 23mm offset phonies were used first. Probably on a. 911 special edition.

      2. Manic_King Avatar
        Manic_King

        Strosek had their own take on phonies, I don’t think they made these for 924 or 944 but 928 version seems quite OK, in nineties yuppie style.
        http://fredopertracing.com/1_20_00/strosek/928_strosek_2.jpg

      3. JayP Avatar
        JayP

        I used to run 928 16×8″ phonedials on my 944S. Fat tires for the track. Fronts snagged the fender once so I had to flare it a bit.

    2. 7FIAT's Later Avatar
      7FIAT’s Later

      Too bad the 924 got such a bad rap with the purists, to my eyes that is a pretty nice looking vehicle and it is a shame so few are left.

  5. Andrew Avatar

    Lower the car, make the wheels 2″ smaller in diameter and 1″ wider with some lip and maybe 10mm less offset, get tires that are slightly wider than the wheels, and we’ll talk.

  6. Windbüchse Avatar
    Windbüchse

    I thought the Enkei (92s?) on my old rotary 924 looked fine.

    1. Sjalabais Avatar
      Sjalabais

      Rotary 924?

        1. Sjalabais Avatar
          Sjalabais

          Wow, that’s fantastic! Do you use it regularly? How is the fuel consumption and general maintenance need of the engine? Did the swappers manage a low center of gravity?

          1. Windbüchse Avatar
            Windbüchse

            It was my DD from 1979 until 1983 and accrued ~60k miles during that time. Due to Cali smog regs and the cars non-compliance, it was retired and sold to become another project. Mileage sucked ~17mpg. The engine was reliable but with the Dellorto carb, porting and headers, the power curve was flat until ~4k rpm and then would scream to over 11k. At high speed (>120mph) there were oil temp issues that I never could resolve. I did the swap myself and the cg was lower with a slight rearward weight shift. Handling was superb except in parking structures, as the engine and drivetrain configuration required moving the steering rack forward, resulting in anti-Ackerman geometry – the tires would squeal terribly. A Jag XJS with a TPI 350/350 HO crate motor legal swap replaced the rx924.

          2. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Eclectic automotive history!

          3. dukeisduke Avatar
            dukeisduke

            I started wading through that thread, and found a post by Antti, his avatar showing him wearing what looks like a yachtsman’s hat:
            http://jalopnik.com/where-are-the-rear-tires-it-almost-looks-like-its-a-th-1490798141
            Looking jaunty there, Antti!

          4. julkinen Avatar
            julkinen

            I also use that on my Linkedin profile just to throw people off. 🙂

          5. Sjalabais Avatar
            Sjalabais

            Just don’t use it on Tinder. Who knows where you’d end up.

          6. julkinen Avatar
            julkinen

            Lol nope, not touching that app with a 924 feet pole.

    2. P161911 Avatar
      P161911

      Those look just like early C4 Corvette stock wheels, but with 4 lugs.

      1. Windbüchse Avatar
        Windbüchse

        That’s what my wife thought also….