RonCT

I posted a while back with some details on this - try a search for "technology wheels RonCT" and you should find it. A few images easily found on my computer below.

The Porsche Tequipment® Technology wheels first appeared on the 993 Turbo, and soon thereafter became famous for their light-weight, hollow spoke design. Porsche says of the Technology wheel and tire set, "Hollow aluminum alloy spokes are inseparably fused to the rim using a patented friction welding process, resulting in a weight reduction of 25% over conventional wheels. High-performance tires add unshakable confidence for pouring power onto pavement."

Code 408 18" Technology Design Wheels [1996]
Front; 8J X 18 H2 ET 52.0, 19.95 lb
Rear; 10J X 18 H2 ET 40.0, 25.13 lb

nr1416

Question;

Aesthetically do both hollow and solid look identical from the front?

Mark Harris

I am working on a deal for a set of BBS wheels presently. It's going well and based on closing that deal I will have a set of hollow WB option 408 wheels for sale. Price - $2,400. Should know by the weekend.

PRSWILL

nr1416, yes- they look identical. Pirahna, why would the value of chrome drop 50 %? You may not care for the look ( and I am on the fence myself- my other set are the standard Porsche silver) but there's no performance difference and to some, they are appealing if not rarer than the basic silver.

Allen

Chrome twist wheels are definitely more "rare". I would venture to say that at least 95% of 993 owners would "say no" to chrome wheels...therefore the value is significantly reduced...50% sounds about right.

Question...were the hollow spokes a factory option on the Narrowbody?

OverBoosted28

The depreciation would come from the need to remove and refinish the wheels, if one were to want the rims w/o the chrome.

Todynot

One would think so, but as I've already stated my NB came with the 408 option and the wheels are solid spoke. I think others have noted getting hollow spoke with the 408 option code when ordered on a WB...curious.

pirahna

I say 50% because chrome is almost universally disliked by 993 owners and would require stripping the chrome and refinishing, not a cheap process. Also some have said that the process of chroming weakens the wheels. I personally would not ever consider a set that had been chromed even at the 50% discount.

PRSWILL

Chrome twist wheels are definitely more "rare". I would venture to say that at least 95% of 993 owners would "say no" to chrome wheels...therefore the value is significantly reduced...50% sounds about right.

Hmm- Funny. When I first bought the car and posted it out here, there were a few that really didn't are for the chrome look and like I said, I am on the fence. I did however, get a couple offers to purchase them if I was selling and the prices were right in line with what I was seeing for silver Twists- I thinks it's all in the eye of the buyer. I agree with the refinishing remark- costs more to take chrome off than refinish regular wheels too. But it also costs more to put chrome ON wheels. regardless, I'll keep them for now....

Allen

This is true...if you like them, that is all that matters

RodKnock

Yes, I have set of NB hollow spoke wheels with 993 part numbers. They're pretty rare though.

Bradford

Helped a friend sell his turbo with chrome hollow spoke wheels a couple years back. Since most (not all ) enthusiasts prefer painted wheels over chrome, I had them stripped and repainted. I probably could have bought a good used set for the same price as it cost to refurbish. Here are some sample photos.

Before


Chromed stripped off



Repainted

cmat

My '96 NB coupe came with option P32 which is "Sport Chassis w/ 18" Wheels". This was a coupe only option. The wheels are hollow spoke and the package cost $3901.

Eric in SD

Confirming Rod's report. I picked up a set of NB hollows that came from a 1997 993 NB coupe. They were an OEM option for that vehicle. I don't know the original option code but found this:
408 18" Technology wheels (lightweight hollow spoke)
413 18" Turbo-look (Technology-look) wheels (not hollow spoke)

They are out there but very hard to find at a decent price.

bw993

Here's another bit of hollow wheel trivia. Porsche actually made a hollow spoke 18x9 ET 52 wheel (P/N 993.362.138.00), which I think you can use in the front a 993 in place of the 8" wheel.