Porsche 986 Boxster Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide

Are looking to dial in the wheel and tire fitment of your 1997-2004 Porsche 986 Boxster? Our 986 Boxster fitment guide has the wheel and tire information specific to your Boxster. This guide is applicable to both the 986 Boxster and Boxster S models. This guide will help you pick the fitment that best suits your needs from Performance Street oriented setups all the way to hardcore track fitments. Our Flow Formed SM-10 represents a great entry level option that will decrease unsprung mass as well as provide better sidewall support for wider tires. The Forged VS-5RS, EC-7RS, and SM-10RS increase performance even further with less weight and added strength in key areas.

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter.

These bolt-on wheel fitments are ideal for 986 Boxster enjoying their car day-to-day on the street, and they are typically paired with All-Season or performance oriented Summer tires. These wheel and tire configurations will improve the appearance and performance of the car without requiring modifications or adjustments to the factory alignment. Just bolt-on and enjoy!

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x9” ET46
• • Available in SM-10
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick : 
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Direct Fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
• Alternative:
• • Front Tire Size: 225/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Factory 986 Boxster S tire sizes
  • Direct Fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)

These fitments are our most popular fitments for the Porsche 986 Boxster. They focus on usable performance with relatively minor modifications and allow 986 owners to use the same wheel and tire setup on both the street and track. Some modifications may be required depending on the tires run. Ultra-high-performance summer and extreme-performance summer tires are commonly used on these setups.

Wheels

• Front Tire Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• Rear Tire Size: 18x9” ET46
• • Available in SM-10
  • Popular fitment

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick: 
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Direct Fit
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer - Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100TW), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R (100TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW)
• Alternative:
• • Front Tire Size: 225/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Factory 986 Boxster S tire sizes
  • Direct Fit
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• • Available in SM-10

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Direct Fit
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100TW), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R (100TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW)
• Alternative:
• • Front Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Typically a direct fit, but negative camber is encouraged up front
  • Ultra High Performance All-Season: Michelin Pilot Sport AS4 (540 TW)
  • Max Performance Summer: Michelin PS4S (300TW)
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (240TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW)

These wheel and tire configurations are best suited for hardcore track 986 Boxsters and club racers competing for a spot on the podium. Everything from Extreme Summer tires to full Racing Slicks are commonly used depending on your experience behind the wheel, class rules, etc. Some configurations may require negative camber and fender rolling to fit properly. See fitment notes under each tire configuration below to see if modifications are required.

Wheels

• Front: Tire Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• Rear Tire Size: 18x8.5” ET45
• • Available in SM-10

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Direct Fit
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100TW), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R (100TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Pirelli Trofeo R (60 TW)
  • Semi-Slick: No options currently available
• Alternative 1:
• • Front Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Typically a direct fit, but negative camber is encouraged up front
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (240TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW), Hankook Z214 C51 (40 TW)
• Alternative 2:
• • Front Tire Size: 255/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 255/35-18
  • Negative camber with camber plates and fender rolling is required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Yokohama AD08R (200TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo Proxes R888R (100TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW), Toyo Proxes RR (40TW)

Wheels

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9" ET46
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x9" ET46
• • Available in SM-10, ML-10RT, EC-7RS, VS-5RS, SM-10RS, VS-5RE, SM-10RE

Tires

• APEX Staff Pick:
• • Front Tire Size: 255/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 255/35-18
  • Negative camber with camber plates and fender rolling is required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Yokohama AD08R (200TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW), Toyo Proxes R888R (100TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW), Toyo Proxes RR (40TW)
• Alternative 1:
• • Front Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Camber plates and fender rolling may be required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (240TW)
  • R-Compound: Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 (180TW)
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW)

Wheels:

• Front Wheel Size: 18x9” ET46
• Rear Wheel Size: 18x10” ET36
• • Available in SM-10, ML-10RT, EC-7RS, VS-5RS, SM-10RS, VS-5RE, SM-10RE

Tires:

• APEX Staff Pick : 
• • Front Tire Size: 245/35-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
  • Camber plates and fender rolling may be required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Continental Extremecontact Force (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: No options currently available
  • Semi-Slick: Hoosier R7 (40TW), Hoosier A7 (40TW), Hankook Z214 C51 (40TW)
• Alternative 1 :
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 275/35-18
  • Negative camber and fender rolling may be required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW)
  • R-Compound: Nitto NT01 (100TW), Toyo R888R (100TW), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R (100TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW)
  • Semi-Slick: No options currently available
• Alternative 2:
• • Front Tire Size: 235/40-18
  • Rear Tire Size: 265/35-18
  • Negative camber and fender rolling may be required
  • Extreme Performance Summer: Hankook Ventus R-S4 (200TW), Dunlop Direzza ZIII (200TW), Yokohama A052 (200TW), Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 Connect (240TW), Falken Azenis RT660 (200TW), Nankang CR-1 (200 TW), Yokohama AD09 (200TW)
  • R-Compound: Toyo R888R (100TW), Goodyear Eagle F1 Supercar 3R (100TW), Nankang AR-1 (100TW)
  • Semi-Slick: No options currently available

Brake Clearance Information

In the engineering phase of wheel development we 3D scan factory brakes and review 2D aftermarket brake templates in order to optimize our barrel profiles and spoke curvatures. As a result, our wheels offer massive brake clearance so you can run the smallest possible wheel diameter. The following brakes have been tested and confirmed to clear our wheels.

• Brembo 1B1.8016A, 355mm 4-pot - fits all
• Brembo 1M1.8002A, 355mm 6-pot - fits all
• Brembo 1P1.8503A, 365mm 4-pot - fits all
• StopTech 83.780.4700.61 355mm 4-pot - fits all
• StopTech 83.788.6700.71 355mm 6-pot - fits all
• AP Racing 13.01.10054 355mm 6-pot - fits all

Still have questions?

Fill out our Fitment Recommendation form Call us: 925-245-0773 Email us: support@apexraceparts.com