Introduction
The Cayman and Boxster share their bolt pattern, hub bore and lug hardware with the 911. That fact sells a lot of wrong wheels. A 911 wheel will bolt onto a Cayman without complaint — and then sit in completely the wrong place, because the two cars were designed around opposite rear-axle geometry. This guide covers the verified factory specifications for the Cayman 987 and Boxster 981, and explains exactly where the 911 comparison breaks down.
Section 1: OEM Wheel Specifications
Both cars share the same core hardware: 5×130 bolt pattern, 71.6 mm hub bore, M14 lug bolts, 130 Nm torque. Like all modern Porsches they are staggered front to rear.
| Model | Generation | Years | Variant | Front Wheel | Rear Wheel | Front / Rear Tyre |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cayman | 987 (facelift) | 2009–2013 | 2.9 | 7Jx17 ET55 | 8.5Jx17 ET40 | 205/55R17 · 235/50R17 |
| Cayman | 987 (facelift) | 2009–2013 | S 3.4 | 8Jx18 ET57 | 9Jx18 ET43 | 235/40R18 · 265/40R18 |
| Cayman | 987 (facelift) | 2009–2013 | R 3.4 | 8.5Jx19 ET55 | 10Jx19 ET42 | 235/35ZR19 · 265/35ZR19 |
| Boxster | 981 | 2012–2017 | 2.7 | 8Jx18 ET57 | 9Jx18 ET47 | 235/45R18 · 265/45R18 |
| Boxster | 981 | 2012–2017 | S 3.4 | 8Jx19 ET57 | 9.5Jx19 ET45 | 235/40ZR19 · 265/40ZR19 |
| Boxster | 981 | 2012–2017 | GTS 3.4 | 8Jx20 ET57 | 9.5Jx20 ET45 | 235/35ZR20 · 265/35ZR20 |
The number that matters is the rear offset. Across every variant above, the rear axle runs ET40 to ET47. Compare that with the 911: the 997 Carrera runs ET58 at the rear, and the 991.2 Carrera runs ET77. Same 5×130 pattern, same 71.6 mm hub — but up to 37 mm of difference in where the wheel actually sits.
This is a geometry consequence, not a styling choice. The 911 carries its engine behind the rear axle and pulls the wheel inboard with a high offset. The Cayman and Boxster are mid-engined, and their rear wheels sit much further outboard. Any wheel sold as “fits Porsche 5×130” without an offset figure is a wheel you cannot evaluate.
Section 2: Recommended Fitment Ranges
Factory-Faithful
Front: ET55–ET57. Rear: ET40–ET47. These are the verified factory figures for the variants in the table above.
- Front stays high, rear stays low. That split is consistent across 17, 18, 19 and 20-inch fitments
- Widths are modest by modern standards — 7J to 8.5J front, 8.5J to 10J rear. These are light cars and the factory did not need extreme sections
- Buy staggered sets. A square set of four will sit wrong at one end of the car
Aftermarket Fitment
- 911 wheels are the classic mistake. They bolt on. They will tuck too far inboard at the rear, especially anything from a 991
- Spacers are a legitimate tool here, but because Porsche uses bolts rather than studs, any spacer requires correctly lengthened bolts with full thread engagement. This is a safety item
- Load rating is rarely the constraint on these cars — they are light. Clearance and offset are what limit you
- These ranges describe factory practice. Anything beyond them should be measured on your own car
Instagram Search Keywords
Post counts verified July 2026:
Model Tags:
- #PorscheCayman (618K) #PorscheBoxster (361K)
- #Caymans (169K) #BoxsterSpyder (39K)
Chassis Tags:
- #987Cayman (34K) #981Boxster (23K)
Wheel Brand Tags:
- #BBSWheels (1.1M) #RAYSWheels (776K)
- #WORKWheels (1.9M)
Section 3: Selection Tips and Cautions
- 5×130 with a 71.6 mm hub bore. Shared with the 911 and Cayenne — but offset is what decides fitment, not the pattern
- Lug bolts, not studs. M14. There is nothing to hang the wheel on while you align it, and bolt length must be recalculated whenever wheel thickness or spacers change
- 130 Nm torque. Use a torque wrench — the threads are in the hub, and stripping them is expensive
- Centre-lock wheels exist on some Porsche models. Those are a completely different mounting system with a 101 mm hub and no bolt pattern at all. Nothing in this guide applies to them
- Brake clearance. The Cayman R and Boxster GTS carry larger brakes — verify before dropping to 17 or 18-inch
Fitment verification checklist:
- ✓ Confirm the offset for each axle, not just the bolt pattern
- ✓ Confirm the wheel is not a 911-specific high-offset rear
- ✓ Confirm bolt length and seat type, especially with spacers
- ✓ Check caliper clearance before reducing diameter
- ✓ Confirm the car is bolt-on, not centre-lock
Conclusion
The Cayman and Boxster are straightforward cars to fit wheels to, provided you stop treating “5×130” as the answer. Front offsets sit around ET55–57 and rear offsets around ET40–47, and that rear figure is what separates these cars from the 911 they share a bolt pattern with. Work axle by axle, and treat any listing without an offset as incomplete information.
Looking for genuine 5×130 staggered sets from Japan? Submit a Request and we will search our networks in Japan for the sizes and offsets you need.
Related Fitment Guides
- Porsche 911 — same 5×130, opposite stagger
- BMW M3 E46 — the rear-out approach
- Lexus GS350 / GS F — a Japanese car doing the same thing
- Nissan 370Z — rear-out at its most extreme
Every guide in this series is built the same way: verified factory specifications, an offset diagram, and an honest account of what fits and what does not.