4S Cross Turismo - 21" wheels for rough roads?

[Stan]

One dealer told me that 21" wheels shouldn't be installed on the CT because the low aspect ratio tires on the 21" wheels (30% rear, 35% front) aren't suitable for rough roads. He suggested 20" wheels (40% rear, 45% front aspect ratio) as a good compromise as larger wheels look better. But then another dealer said that 90% of the CT's that the dealership sells are 21" because people like the larger wheels and he didn't think that they'd be a problem on rough roads.

Porsche must think that 21" wheels are ok as they offer this option (and in fact, is probably quite popular).

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Stan

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[W1NGE]

One dealer told me that 21" wheels shouldn't be installed on the CT because the low aspect ratio tires on the 21" wheels (30% rear, 35% front) aren't suitable for rough roads. He suggested 20" wheels (40% rear, 45% front aspect ratio) as a good compromise as larger wheels look better. But then another dealer said that 90% of the CT's that the dealership sells are 21" because people like the larger wheels and he didn't think that they'd be a problem on rough roads.

Porsche must think that 21" wheels are ok as they offer this option (and in fact, is probably quite popular).

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Stan

How rough?

Tyre choices are limited due to the N0 rating of the tyre.

Larger rims and style choice will be more prone to chipping when on gravel tracks.

Apart from the cosmetic debate 20" rims would be more practical as well as enhancing the ride.

 

[MoniqueDenver]

I'm very interested in this as I live in Colorado and take it 'soft roading"
This includes gravel roads, dirt roads with pitting and snow & ice covered roads.


Bought my car used with 21" rims and immediately bought 20" rims and Blizzak snow tires. Bought the cheapest rims because they:ll get beat up. I can't speak technically but Im told that the smaller rims use less energy (and in the winter here that's an issue) and the extra firewall provides more padding
VERY interested to hear what you learn. (I couldn't find 19")
Should I be using other tires in the summer if I want to go soft roading?

 

[RAHRCR]

When the CT was released, Porsche went out of their way to demonstrate the off road use case for this model. The vast majority of their demos (including several YouTube reviewers) had the 21”. While it’s doable, having more sidewall just makes sense. I would not consider taking my painted 21’s off-road but props to those who do.

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

20" or 21"...love em all.
20 inch is my winter and travel wheel, 21 for cafge-racer.
Wouldn'nt particularly say, that any of them is appropriate for rough stuff.

 

[jakeCT]

One dealer told me that 21" wheels shouldn't be installed on the CT because the low aspect ratio tires on the 21" wheels (30% rear, 35% front) aren't suitable for rough roads. He suggested 20" wheels (40% rear, 45% front aspect ratio) as a good compromise as larger wheels look better. But then another dealer said that 90% of the CT's that the dealership sells are 21" because people like the larger wheels and he didn't think that they'd be a problem on rough roads.

Porsche must think that 21" wheels are ok as they offer this option (and in fact, is probably quite popular).

Thoughts?

Thanks,
Stan

Which wheels are on your Model Y? You should use that as a comparison. On my previous MYP with 21” all-seasons (also driven on 19” equiv. tires forged 20” wheels), driving around Vancouver and Burnaby area was very firm (ok on 19”) but doable. The suspension on the CT especially in Normal mode is superior and with the original 21” Good Year all-seasons will feel similar to a Model Y on 19” wheels. On Sports Plus it will be firm but still refined and softer than a Model Y on 21”. The Jekyll and Hyde personality (I think Autotrader said this) of the Taycan CT with 21” wheels is one of things I love about it, it’s comfy on Normal mode and with a twist of the Sport Chrono dial, drives like a real sports car on Sports Plus. Another thing- Tesla’s 21” uberturbines are very heavy wheels which ruins and causes heavy steering and worsens the ride. The CT 21” wheels are much lighter and stronger forged wheels.

The cons of the 21” are more expensive tire replacements (do some research ex. tirerack) than smaller tires, and there’s more road noise. To me those are worth it for how it completes the car and for the driving dynamics.

Buy the wheels you want, and don’t have buyer’s remorse.

 

[ngkgb]

My two cents. 21” wheels with Goodyear Summer tires on my CT. I live in Orange County California. On surface streets there’s really no issue. On freeway it depends on the surface. We drive from Irvine to Dana point a a couple weeks ago and my son sitting in the back was asking why it’s so loud. The road noise can be very loud with that combo of wheel and tire. One of the reasons I’m switching to Continental all seasons.

 

[BjörnfromHamburg]

Coming from 2 Model Y, Performance and Long Range, Taycan is quite a different cup of tea with air-suspension.
It succeeds in flattening out anything in normal mode.
But the OP question about vulnerability of the rims while doing some gravel or off-road with a Taycan can be resolved with: both wheel sizes will be affected, 21 for sure more than 20.
But I'd say: be more worried about the 3 mm dents in the battery case, rather than scratching up a rim.
Taycan CT in gravel-mode does a really fun job off road, though!

 

[Stan]

My "off-roading" would be to access campsites and parks. Some of these access roads may have wash-boards or pot holes. Obviously, if the road is too rough (lots of pot holes, large pot holes, etc.), we wouldn't drive it. I can probably control risk to the wheels to some degree by driving slower, but I agree with an earlier post that damaging the bottom due to pot holes or other irregularity could be a bigger issue.

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