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1948 Porsche 356 Wheels & Rims: Bolt Pattern, Offset & Sizes

Fitting Porsche 356 wheels? This page gives the 1948 Porsche 356 bolt pattern, centre bore, factory rim size and the offset range for aftermarket and forged Porsche 356 rims: the same spec sheet ANKUSI uses when machining forged wheels for this car.

Porsche 356 (1948): 5x205 ("Wide-Five") bolt pattern. Factory wheels: 16x3J F/R. Aftermarket flush/max data coming soon.

Bolt Pattern5x205 ("Wide-Five")

Wheel Bolt/NutM12x1.5 Nut (vintage VW-derived stud)

Center BoreLug-centric (Wide-Five hub, no conventional bore spec)

Wheel Load Rating450–550 kg/wheel (Classic Sports Car segment reference)

Caliper TypeSolid disc brakes, all four corners (OEM, Porsche)

Year1948

CategoryClassic Sports Car

✓ Verified by ANKUSI's Engineering Team — IATF 16949 & ISO 9001 certified forged wheel manufacturer, TÜV/SFI/VIA compliant. See our factory & certifications →

How to Read Wheel Offset & Measurements

Use these two references before ordering: the left diagram shows where each spec (PCD, center bore, offset, width and diameter) is measured on the wheel; the right diagram shows how positive, zero and negative offset shift the wheel face relative to the hub centerline.

Diagram showing wheel measurement points: centerline, center bore diameter, PCD, offset, rim width and diameter — Centerline, center bore, PCD, offset, width & diameter

Diagram comparing positive, zero, and negative wheel offset relative to the wheel centerline — Positive vs. zero vs. negative offset

ANKUSI Engineering Expert Advice

Classic Porsches use hub and bolt hardware that predates everything in a modern fitment table, so the honest approach is period-correct sizing rather than modern flush figures. Getting the diameter, width and hub type right matters far more here than squeezing out the last millimetre of offset.

We publish the factory specification for the Porsche 356 below. We have not yet been able to verify aftermarket flush or maximum-aggressive offsets for this exact variant against a source we trust, so we are not listing any - an invented offset is worse than no offset when a wheel has to clear a caliper.

Porsche 356 OE Wheel Specs

The 1948 Porsche 356 (Classic Sports Car) runs a 5x205 ("Wide-Five") hub with a Lug-centric (Wide-Five hub, no conventional bore spec)mm register. Factory wheels are 16x3J F/R.

Why the factory spec works for most owners:

Keeps unsprung weight low to preserve the factory handling balance
Matches the wider, performance-oriented tire sizing typical of this platform
Maintains clearance for the factory brake package and suspension geometry
Balances grip with ride comfort for daily and spirited driving

ANKUSI builds these wheels — we are the forging factory, not a reseller. For the Porsche 356 (1948) we machine every wheel to the vehicle’s own hub dimensions on our own CNC line, so the wheel hub-centres on the car with no spacer rings, in whatever diameter, width and offset you specify.

IATF 16949 & ISO 9001 certified · own 10,000-ton press in Guangzhou · from a single set to a full container

Converting these ET figures to backspacing? Use the wheel offset and backspacing calculator.

The figures on this page are part of our open wheel fitment dataset — 6,436 vehicles, free to download, CC BY 4.0.

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Aftermarket Fitment Data — Coming Soon

Porsche has not published a conventional offset figure for this variant (or it runs a bespoke / centre-lock hub), so a flush and maximum-aggressive range cannot be stated responsibly yet. Our engineering team is still collecting verified data for this variant. In the meantime the factory specification above is accurate and is the safe reference point for ordering.

What we do know: Real 356 builds run Maxilite/PMB Performance/EMPI wide-5 alloys or Fuchs-look repros; outlaw 356s go 16x6 with 165/175 narrow tyres Wide-5 (5x205) is VW-derived; 4.5in backspace tight on finned B-drums, 5.5in clears both A/B drums, confirm stud length

Need a wheel for this car now? Contact ANKUSI with your target diameter, width and offset and our engineers will confirm the correct forged spec against your brake package before anything is cut. You can also use our Offset & Backspacing Calculator to work through the numbers yourself.

Custom Forged Wheels for the Porsche 356 (1948)

Everything above is reference data. If you want wheels actually built to it, that is what ANKUSI does: we are a forged wheel factory in Guangzhou, China, IATF 16949 and ISO 9001 certified, forging on our own 10,000-ton press and producing over 120,000 wheels a year. Forging blank, CNC machining, finishing, coating and inspection all happen in the same building — nothing is subcontracted and nothing is relabelled from another manufacturer.

Every set is cut to order. Diameter, width, offset, concavity, monoblock or multi-piece construction and the finish are all yours to choose.

We do not hold this pattern wheels on a shelf — they are forged to order, which is why any offset, width and bore combination on this page is buildable rather than limited to a stock list.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Do I need wheel spacers for my Porsche 356?

No. ANKUSI forges each wheel to your exact target offset, including the flush or max specs above, so you get the correct fitment without stacking spacers. Spacers are typically only used to push out an existing OE-offset wheel without replacing it, which isn't necessary when you're ordering a custom-offset forged wheel.

What's the difference between wheel offset and backspacing?

Offset is the distance in millimeters from the wheel's true centerline to its mounting face (positive offset pulls the wheel in, negative pushes it out). Backspacing is the distance in inches from the mounting face to the back edge of the wheel barrel. They describe the same fitment from two different reference points, which is why ANKUSI lists both above — some shops and tuning guides quote offset, others quote backspacing.

Can I run staggered wheels (different sizes front and rear) on my Porsche 356?

The Porsche 356 runs the same wheel size front and rear from the factory, so staggered fitment is not required. ANKUSI can still forge a staggered set (wider rear) on request if you want a more aggressive stance.