Porsche 997 Carrera & Carrera S Wheels

997 Carrera Wheel Performance

One of the highlights of Porsche 911 generations, the 997 is a highlight of power, size, weight, and styling. That said, the factory 997 Carrera wheel setup leaves a bit to be desired. If you are looking to maximize the performance of your narrowbody 997 we offer a number of lightweight chassis specific wheel options from our Forged VS-5RS and EC-7RS as well as Flow Formed SM-10. Find out what fitment is best for your use case on our Porsche 911 997 Carrera & Carrera S Wheel & Tire Fitment Guide.

A Brief History of the 997 Porsche 911

First going on sale for the 2005 model year, the 997 generation Carrera was well received thanks to its modern styling and high quality interior. The new model was 3.5 in. wider than in back vs the outgoing 996 model and aerodynamics were improved to net a drag coefficient of only 0.28 for the base model. Classic Porsche fans rejoiced at the return to oval headlamps which gave a more classic 911 look. This model was offered in the traditional coupe form, a cabriolet, and targa version in 2006. Both RWD and AWD were available, as well as a standard 6 speed manual transmission and optional TipTronic 5 speed automatic.

In 2009, Porsche gave the 997 a major facelift consisting of a new direct injection engine, a variety of exterior and interior changes, and replaced the tiptronic transmission option with the new PDK dual-clutch gearbox. With a variety of special edition models available, the Porsche 997 did a lot to modernize the 911 in the eyes of the consumer vs the more traditional 996 model before it.

Why We Think It's a Good Track Car

There’s no denying the 997 generation is an epic car both on and off the track. The styling represents a return to form after the controversial 996 and its performance is just as good as its looks. Many people consider the 997 to be the last “mechanical” 911 chassis where the driver still yields full control. There is a sense of connection that simply doesn’t exist in the newest and faster 911 models. Just like the chassis before it, the 997 Carrera offers an unmistakable driving experience that can only be had by driving a 911. What this means is rear end grip in spades that will help you shoot out of tight corners and set blistering lap times.

While there are some weak points to address in the early models like the IMS bearing and bore scoring issues, as long as you set aside money for repairs and keep up on maintenance, the 997 will keep on rewarding its stewards both on and off the track. If you have the budget, the later 997.2 cars will be even better in this respect for that extra piece of mind banging around your local road course. No matter what model or year you choose, these cars greatly benefit from added front end grip. A good set of 997 Carrera wheels from Apex will get your car turning in the way it should have from the factory!

If you’re still interested in learning more, checkout this 997 911 buyers guide from FCP Euro:

Porsche 911 997 Buyer's Guide (2005-2013)