Porsche RS Spyder center lock wheels now available for the street

[teh POD]

http://www.autoblog.com/2008/10/29/p...for-the-stree/

Originally Posted by Autoblog

One of the ways that Porsche became the most profitable automaker in the world is by learning how to offer customers a wide range of customization options for their cars... for a premium prices. The latest in its line of performance-oriented parts is a new wheel available for the 911 Turbo. The new 19" forged aluminum roller has a design based on the RS Spyder LMP2 race car. Porsche has apparently devised a new center locking mechanism that uses a bolt rather than a locking nut. The wheels are certainly attractive, but they won't come cheap. Starting in January, European 911 Turbo owners will be able to get the new wheels from a price starting at €2,950 ($3,700). There's no word on whether Americans will be offered these wheels officially, but there's no doubt that anyone willing to drop enough coin at the counter at their local Porsche store will be able to get them somehow.

[Source: Porsche]

New 19-Inch Wheels in RS Spyder Design with Innovative Central Locking

Stuttgart . Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche AG, Stuttgart, now offers new 19-inch RS Spyder wheels exclusively for the 911 Turbo models as an absolute highlight in the range of highly specialised, customised features available exclusively on new models (ex works). The most outstanding feature of these forged aluminium lightweight wheels with their seven U-shaped double spokes is the unique, newly developed central locking. Instead of the wheel nuts generally used in motorsport, these very special wheels come with wheel bolts fastening the new 19-inch RS Spyder wheels firmly and safely on the wheel bearing.

The innovative security mechanism on the wheel bearing is made up of a cartridge fitted in the wheel hub with spring-mounted security bolts. Standing out clearly and impressively, the bolts on the new central locking are eloxy-plated in titanium colour and thus differ clearly and distinctly from the silver-coloured paintwork on the 19-inch RS Spyder wheels.

The special design of the new wheels is derived from the wheels on Porsche's RS Spyder racing car, the sports prototype from Weissach which only recently won all titles in the ALMS American Le Mans Series for the third time in a row.

A further outstanding achievement of the Porsche RS Spyder is that it won the 24 Hours of Le Mans in its class right from the start in its very first try and also brought home the winner's title in the European Le Mans Series.

The new wheel will be available as an option on the 911 Turbo as of January 2009, selling at a base price in the Euro countries of Euro 2,950.-. The retail price of the 19-inch RS Spyder wheel in Germany including 19 per cent VAT is Euro 3,510.50.

* Registered users of the site do not see these ads.

[Vostok 7]

Mmmmmm centerlocks.

Vostok 7

[WhiteKnightSTi]

Sexy to be sure, but whats the point? Lighter weight? I know its not for faster pitstops.

[Longinus]

Sexy to be sure, but whats the point? Lighter weight? I know its not for faster pitstops.

^interested in that as well.

[1stockwrx]

Originally Posted by WhiteKnightSTi

Sexy to be sure, but whats the point? Lighter weight? I know its not for faster pitstops.

Its fun changing wheels while filling up for gas

[AVANTI R5]

Ehh,I got set for my Blizzaks..

[boxerinside]

Originally Posted by WhiteKnightSTi

Sexy to be sure, but whats the point? Lighter weight? I know its not for faster pitstops.

well the holes on the wheel for the lugs require more mass around the same for strengthm, making the wheel heavier. I guess this system is saving some weight and it would also allow more freedom in the design of wheels if they decide to use the same system in future cars.

[Vostok 7]

I'm sure it's mostly for looks but as boxerinside mentioned it probably saves a few pounds of unsprung weight per corner, plus reduces the rotational mass which is always a good thing.

Plus it just looks dang cool.

Vostok 7

[orvtech]

Originally Posted by WhiteKnightSTi

Sexy to be sure, but whats the point? Lighter weight? I know its not for faster pitstops.

easier to change the wheels when you go to the track

[parker]

MMMMMM center locks.

Oh karp

so much better for wheel changes.

[Mariano]

Sooooo tasty!!! Yum Yum!

[White out]

Nobody will steal your wheels.

Nick

[orvtech]

Originally Posted by White out

Nobody will steal your wheels.

Nick

or... they can steal them faster

[White out]

That is one big, expensive, wheel lock.

Nick

[Ghosthound]

its so clean not having exposed lug nuts or a cheap looking hub cap.

[aschen]

Carrera gt and 959 came with center lock hubs from the factory. I believe the latter had a titanium lug wrench for the 350 ftlbs torquespec

[Chromer]

Originally Posted by aschen

Carrera gt and 959 came with center lock hubs from the factory. I believe the latter had a titanium lug wrench for the 350 ftlbs torquespec

Nm != ft*lbs...

[aschen]

Originally Posted by Chromer

Nm != ft*lbs...

they are not that different of a unit I remember 350 ft lbs, which is around 350* 4.5/3. I nave no calc handy but thats around 475 n-m. Either way I was going from memory and I could be wrong. I garentee you the torque speck is high and wrench was huge and cool.....

[AVANTI R5]

Originally Posted by aschen

Carrera gt and 959 came with center lock hubs from the factory. I believe the latter had a titanium lug wrench for the 350 ftlbs torquespec

I have Baroni wheels on my Avanti's,stock from the factory.Its funny cause a couple times I forgot to tell the Tire Tech. the passenger side is counter clockwise,man they go crazy trying to get them off.Anyway mine came with this heavy,I mean heavy hammer.The top of the hammer is made from lead so it does not damge the wheels.There a pain to keep clean and I got to run tubes in them .But they look great..

[Bryan T]

That settles it, my next car is a Porsche.

[sotti]

That kid looks like it just sort of adds the center lock into the existing 5-lug hub.

boooo....

There goes Porsche taking the cheap way out again.

[sauuce]

one more thing for porsche owners to brag about..

[thedaddyb]

next they will come out with the combo-center lock. Just put in the right combination and you can pop off your wheels. No more need for a lug wrench

[STi-MAN]

Originally Posted by Vostok 7

I'm sure it's mostly for looks but as boxerinside mentioned it probably saves a few pounds of unsprung weight per corner, plus reduces the rotational mass which is always a good thing.

Plus it just looks dang cool.

Vostok 7

agreed, from the looks of the kit, it looks like it uses the 5 lugs and locks a center lug plate on top of the hub.. if so.. its pretty lame.

oh yea also good luck finding some nice rims to rock.

[fireball_jones]

Originally Posted by aschen

they are not that different of a unit I remember 350 ft lbs, which is around 350* 4.5/3. I nave no calc handy but thats around 475 n-m. Either way I was going from memory and I could be wrong. I garentee you the torque speck is high and wrench was huge and cool.....

475 newtons meter = 350.342021 foot pounds

and the center ring in the picture above states 475 nm.