Are Carbon Fiber Wheels Worth It?

History Repeats Itself

Porsche isn’t the first manufacturer to offer performance lightweight wheels, but they are the first to do it with braided carbon. In a complex process where carbon fiber reinforced polymer transforms into a lightweight, 7 spoke wheel the optional extra cost a whopping $18,000. We all know how competent the engineers behind this technology are, now the question is whether or not they deserve your hard earned cash.

image courtesy of Porsche 

Science of Unsprung Weight (pro)

What’s the big deal about these trick wheels? Super lightweight wheels that reduce unsprung mass. In plain English, that means anything that isn’t above the springs: wheels, tires, brake rotors, calipers, pads, lug nuts, etc. The lighter these components are the easier it is for the suspension to keep the tire from deforming which increases grip and therefore handling. Reductions in unsprung weight are noticeable to even the most casual of enthusiasts. 

Image Courtesy of Porsche  

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

Lap Times (pro)

From a lap time standpoint, these wheels are absolutely worth it for someone who is dead serious about performance. If your class allows factory carbon fiber wheels to be run then you have an unfair advantage on everyone in the field. How much? According to data acquired by Dieter Heinz Kijora behind the wheel of a GT-R—arguably the 911 Turbos biggest rival on track—the use of carbon fiber wheels dropped over 2 seconds on the stopwatch at Chuckwalla Valley Raceway. Big race teams spend millions to find that kind of time. 

Image Courtesy of Porsche 

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

$18,000 (pro and con)

Each second these wheels chop off the clock costs roughly $9,000 which is both expensive and inexpensive if you consider what other components contribute towards lap times. A turbo kit (or upgrade) to your 911 can easily run into the tens of thousands in a hurry and that’s assuming everything goes right the first time around. When you’re deep in a build and searching for time this is actually a bargain.

image courtesy of flickr.com 

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

Something For Everyone? (pro)

For those that don’t race these wheels make zero sense until you factor in Porsche mania. Buying these and then switching them out for an inexpensive factory or aftermarket wheel could be a sound financial decision. As this is the only manufacturer in the world who offers wheels of this caliber they will likely be tremendously valuable in the future. This has happened with particular sized vintage Fuchs that have become both rare and valuable to find in good condition. Not everyone options these so those that do have something unique.

image courtesy of automobilemag.com 

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

Adds up Quick (con)

Porsche says these wheels are 20% lighter and 20% stronger than their basic counterparts, but that doesn’t mean they’re indestructible. Accidents happen on the track when you start ripping through gears which means any contact with the barriers or other obstacles won’t be cheap. And, just because you can afford a 911 Turbo S, doesn’t mean you can afford to buy 4 sets of wheels at $18,000 to go with it. So, are carbon fiber wheels worth it in summary? 

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

Catch-22

Reducing unsprung weight is noticeable on the street and the track, but it’s done in the name of ultimate performance at the end of the day. If you can afford these wheels you may find it’s a better financial decision to race on lightweight aftermarket wheels or even worse, you might not even be allowed to run them as they are banned from your class. So really, these wheels make sense for two types of people: uber rich track day drivers and collectors who are looking to make a buck down the road. Hope you enjoyed reading. Let us know what you think about these wheels in the comments. 

>>Join the conversation about if the cost of carbon is worth it right here in Rennlist.com.

For help with your maintenance and repair projects, please visit our How-to section in the forum.