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Porsche 997: Customizing Your Rims

The following article lists some of the things you should consider before buying new aftermarket wheels for your Porsche 997, which includes budget, color, and needs. Continue reading for more information before you invest a lot of money in new wheels.

By Jeffrey Bausch - April 21, 2015

This article applies to the Porsche 997 (2005-2012).

If you want to upgrade the look and improve the performance of your Porsche 997, then upgrading the vehicle’s wheels is one of the easiest as well as effective ways to go. While installing new wheels is simple, choosing the right ones can be a bit of a headache because there are literally thousands upon thousands of options out there to choose from. The following article breaks down some of the more important things to consider when selecting a new set of wheels for your Porsche 997.

Materials Needed

  • Jack and jack stands
  • Tire iron

Step 1 – Choose your budget

In case you missed the cost at the top of the article, the range for new wheels is pretty expensive. A cheap set for a Porsche 997 can cost somewhere in the neighborhood of $500, but you can probably knock off about 35 percent of that price if you go for a cheap aftermarket set. A new, race-ready set will run you well into the thousands. Sure, quality is going to cost you more, but there are plenty of options in between cheap aftermarkets and race-ready wheels. The ones you choose should be determined by the depths of your pockets. Realistically speaking, you can find a complete set of quality, good-looking wheels for under $1,000. But before you hand over that much cash for your new wheels, make sure to go online to check forums for discussions on the brand and type of tire. Also, look for things like wear rate, durability during the winter months, and so on.

Figure 1. Wheel Dynamics R-66 wheels on a 997.

Step 2 – Choose the right color

If you are in the market for new wheels for aesthetic reasons, then you really want to hone in on what kind of look you want for your Porsche 997. Do you want black wheels to match your black car, or would you prefer more of a contrasting color like, say, a chrome or aluminum type finish? The good news is the Internet is chock-full of all sorts of options to consider, and a quick Google image search will yield plenty of results for you to consider. Among the more popular are black-on-black, red-on-white, and green-on-black.

Figure 2. 997 GT3RS wheels in red.

Step 3 – Choose your wheel size

Most Porsche 997’s are equipped with a 19-inch wheel, but that doesn't mean you have to stick to that size. Depending on why you’re in the market for a new set of wheels, you can go bigger for a bolder look, or you can go smaller for better handling and cornering.

Figure 3. 20"+ wheels are a highly debated option.

Step 4 – Choose style and performance

Why are you purchasing new wheels for your Porsche 997? Is it for style, performance, or perhaps a little bit of both? Determine your car’s needs. Also, determine how invested you are in installing it right, so you can get it to look as well as perform the way you want it to. This is probably the most important thing to consider because a new set of wheels, whether they’re from the store or if they’re aftermarket, is probably the worst thing to have buyer’s remorse over.

Figure 4. Some people elect to use dedicated winter wheels and tires.

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