Porsche 981 Cayman Wheels

Porsche 981 Cayman Wheel Performance

The 981 Cayman and its various trims of S and GTS are excellent vehicles but are held back by the wheel and tire sizing Porsche chose to install. With just a 235 tire up front there is a lot to be desired both from an outright grip perspective and tire availability. Going to a wider wheel allows for a wider tire to be used and supported correctly to give you the best performance possible. Our Flow Formed SM-10 and Forged EC-7RS, VS-5RS, and SM-10RS offer this wider and lighter alternatives for the 981 Cayman. Be sure to read up on exactly which 981 Cayman wheels are right for your application in our Porsche 981 Cayman Wheel and Tire Fitment Guide.

A Brief History of the 981 Cayman

The second generation Cayman was unveiled at the Geneva Auto Show in March of 2012. This new 981 Generation of Porsche’s originally unloved entry level soft top was updated in conjunction with the new 991 Generation 911. This is clear with the increased use of aluminum in the body structure. This generation is also the first time we got an oil pressure readout on the dash which for anyone looking to track the car is a huge benefit. The 981 had a newly revised chassis from the 987 which offered a roughly 40% increase in torsional rigidity as well as a small reduction in weight, and a small increase in wheelbase.

This 981 generation came with some revisions to the existing “S” trims 3.4L flat six and Porsche’s own 7-speed PDK. Shift speed was further reduced compared to the first generation seen in the 987.2 and the delay between pulling a paddle and the actual gear change was much improved. The Direct injected 3.4L for the S received some small tweaks to give a marginal horsepower increase over the previous generation as well as an all new Direct Injected 2.7L for the Base trim. This is the first generation the Boxster or Cayman received the GTS treatment which had increased power to 325hp and specific front and rear bumpers giving it a much sportier look. The GTS trim of this generation is loved by many not only for the updated looks but also the suspension option exclusive to it as well as the incredible leather and alcantara GTS interior trim. Sadly we could not option in the 997 style carbon bucket seats in the US while Europe had them as an option.

Why We Think It's a Good Track Car

The Cayman has been the entry point for many Porsche owners looking to start tracking their car. The 981 Cayman, S, and GTS are all incredible options for someone looking to dip their toes into the HPDE world. This is an incredible chassis right out of the box and requires very little if anything in terms of preparation for your first event. Basics like a brake fluid flush with high temperature fluid is generally advised but that should be plenty as long as your car is in a well maintained state. Once you are ready to increase the performance of your Cayman or stop wearing out your street tires at the track, there is nothing better than a good set of aftermarket 981 Cayman S GTS wheels with some performance tires. We offer everything from 18”-20” for this chassis all of which decrease rotational mass and open you up to wider tire sizing. Give our 981 Cayman Wheel and Tire fitment guide a read for all of the available options but 19x9” ET50 and 19x10.5”ET44 is by far the most popular option. This not only reduces unsprung weight but opens you up to a much broader range of tire options to push the limits of performance even further.

What EVO has to say about the Cayman GTS