What_the_heck

I'm looking for winter tires for 2003 C4S. I have stock turbo twists 18x8 fronts and 18x11 rears. Does anyone have a winter tire setup that fits these wheels they recommend.
I've looked at a few threads and I can't seem to find a definitive answer.

Scott at Team Harco

You can probably find what you are after by visiting Tire Rack.

Maybe you can help further:
Where do you live? What are your winters like? Can you fit 17" wheels (assuming you will really see a fair amount of snow).

What_the_heck

I’m in Chicago so Winters can be pretty harsh. I'd like to keep them on the 18" wheels.

PacNW3

I searched and searched for all-season tires for my C4S, and I kept finding the answer that there aren't any all-season tires that fit the rims and keep the front/rear circumferences within 1%. As a former Chicago resident, I know how what you can face, and I'm guessing that those fat tires on the rear of the C4S won't be very good, regardless of the tread pattern and rubber composition. I think you may need to invest in another set of wheels in order to make your car a year-round vehicle in that climate.

riguardli

i have the same issue with 4s

Porsche recomends 265/35R18 with 10Jx18 for winter rears. Or 295/30R18 with 11Jx18. Both are expensive.

so I have solved it this way:
225/40ZR18 - 8Jx18
275/35ZR18 - 11Jx18

already 4 winters done

Scott at Team Harco

There are a lot of good reasons for going with the smallest diameter wheel you can get to clear the brakes.

If you insist on staying with 18" wheels, it will be a compromise. The only thing I can suggest is to go with Continental DWS 06 "all season" tires. I have these on my car. They're fine for most conditions - but I would not recommend them for severe winter conditions.
For that purpose, I bought a set of Pirelli Sottozeros. There are places that have your (Pirelli) 18" rear tire in stock. Finding fronts may be a problem.
Should you decide to go with 17" wheels your options increase.

What_the_heck

So I guess I have not found my answer because there really is no answer without a change in setup or go to all season. I’m not planning on driving in really bad weather, mostly I care about just cold weather and some lighter snows. Maybe in that case the all season will be ok.

jhynesrockmtn

I have a set of Dunlop winter sports on turbo twists I bought for my C4S in 2015 I think. I bought them from a Rennlister who had sold his car and had never used them, they still had the stickers on em. I'm running them now and have put them on every winter since I bought them. They are 285/35/18 and 235/40/18. I just recently put my C4S into daily driver status so we'll see how they do as the weather gets worse and colder/snowier. I have a 4*4 truck for the deep nasty stuff. I guess the big question is whether they still make them?

PacNW3

FWIW, I just checked Tire Rack, & it says that those Continentals won’t fit a C4S, & when you select “see what tires fit my car,” all the results are summer or track tires. If anyone finds all-seasons that will work with an AWD widebody 996, please post them.

Scott at Team Harco

Tire Rack is full of **** when they say it won't fit. They have their computer and if you ask for something that differs from what the computer says, they say it won't fit.

I'll not bore you with the stories of disagreements I've had with them. Suffice to say, I know how to use a tire calculator and if I know the wheel dimensions that work on the car, I can make my own decision on what fits. I actually got paid to make decisions on tire and wheel selection at a prior job.

Attached is the Porsche approved winter tire guide. Page 10 lists the 996. If I am reading it correctly, 17" wheels can be fitted to the C4S. Edit: I wasn't reading it right. It looks as though 18" wheels are the only way to go. If I owned one, though, I sure as hell would confirm this.

If you can provide your wheel dimensions and current tires sizes, I'm pretty sure I can find a good set of winter tires that will suit your needs. And as a reminder - I always suggest going to the smallest diameter wheel that will ft, when assembling a winter wheel/tire package. There are solid reasons for this.

Optionman1

i ordered Pirelli Scottozero 3 winter tires for my 2003 4s on 11/5 from a hotrod shop, and they are due in anyday now. 225/40/18 and 265/35/18. About a grand all-in, mounted and balanced.

Scott at Team Harco

Summit?

Optionman1

? If your asking Summit, NJ....no

Scott at Team Harco

No - hot rod shop.

What_the_heck

I think I am going with Continental Extreme Contact DWS 06. 225/40/18 on the fronts, and 275/35/18 on the back. They also make 285 and 295's, but I've heard thinner is better in the winter. Should should fit on my current C4S 18" turbo twists. They won't be great snow tires, but I'm not looking to daily this in the snow anyway.

I'm guessing on TireRack they say it does not fit if it's not the exact recommendation from the manufacturer, but I think it should be ok.