911 Carrera 991.1
- Engine
- 991.1 (2012–2016): 3.4 / 3.8 L naturally aspirated flat-six (9A1, direct injection). 991.2 (2017–2019): 3.0 L twin-turbo flat-six
- Power
- 350 hp (991.1 Carrera) / 400 hp (991.1 S); 370 hp (991.2 Carrera, T) / 420 hp (991.2 S) / 450 hp (991.2 GTS)
- Weight
- ≈3,040–3,200 lb (Carrera to GTS coupe, US curb)
- Layout
- Rear-engine
- Drive
- RWD
These are starting points gathered from the sources listed at the bottom, not a guarantee. Cars, tires and parts vary: have a reputable alignment shop set your car, check factory specs for road use, and change one thing at a time.
01On track
- +Longer wheelbase makes it more stable and forgiving than earlier 911s at the limit
- +Strong traction and braking from the rear-engine layout
- +991.2 turbo engines give big mid-range torque for faster tracks
- +Generally robust engines with no IMS or bore-scoring history in the Carrera line
- −Stock front camber is limited to about -1.6° to -1.7° on most cars
- −Factory alignment already wears front inner edges on the road, and track use adds outside-shoulder wear
- −Heavier than a 997, so pads, fluid and tires work harder
- −Cars with PDCC are reported to accept less camber
02Alignment
Where to start the alignment.
| Front | Rear | |
|---|---|---|
| Camber | -2.2° to -2.7° | -2.0° to -2.2° |
| Toe | zero to slight toe-out | toe-in, ≈3 mm per side |
| Caster | ≈7.5°–8.5° (one owner) | — |
Owner consensus. One 991 S owner with camber plates moved from -2.5° / -1.75° to -2.7° front, 1/32" toe-out per side and -2.0° rear with 3 mm toe-in per side; another ran -2.2° / -2.2° on Cup 2s. Beyond the stock limit you need camber plates or adjustable lower arms.
No 991-specific figure was found; these windows come from Tire Rack's study of 14 track tires. Start a few psi below target cold and adjust hot. [5] Work out your cold pressure →
03Tires & brakes
Tires and brakes
- 200TW endurance
- Bridgestone Potenza RE-71RS
- Yokohama Advan A052
- Falken Azenis RT660+
991.1 Carrera: 235/40ZR19 F, 285/35ZR19 R. 991.1 S: 245/35ZR20 F, 295/30ZR20 R. 991.2 Carrera: 235/40ZR19 F, 295/35ZR19 R. 991.2 GTS: 245/35ZR20 F, 305/30ZR20 RCheck 200TW availability in 20-inch sizes; it is limited for some models.
- R-compound / slick
- Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 R
Factory staggered sizes aboveSources [10]
An endurance track compound such as PAGID RSL once you leave the novice group
PAGID Racing fluid (330°C dry / 200°C wet) or Motul RBF 600 (≈401°F wet)
Street pads and old fluid are where brake fade starts on a 3,100 lb car. PCCB rotors are very expensive to replace if tracked. [11,12,13]
04Known issues on track
Fix these before they find you.
Water pump and cooling wear
Stuttcars treats the water pump as a wear item, with failures typically between 50,000 and 80,000 miles. A failing pump shows as leaks, residue at the front of the engine or fluctuating temperatures, and ignoring it risks overheating. Replace it proactively on a track car and refresh the coolant. [1]
Coil packs and misfires under load
Coils degrade with heat, especially with hard driving, and cause misfires under load. Replace the set with the plugs if history is unknown. [1]
Oil system: 991.1 vs 991.2
The 991.1 uses the 9A1 engine, and the LN Engineering 9A1 deep sump (claimed up to 40°F lower track oil temps) is listed for 991 models. The same maker says that pan does not fit the 991.2 turbo engine, which uses different parts. On a 991.2, log oil and coolant temperatures in your first hot sessions before adding hardware. [2]
PDK and suspension wear
Keep PDK fluid service on schedule (Stuttcars cites about every 40,000 miles) and check PASM dampers, arms and bushings, because worn parts make the car vague and wear tires unevenly. [1]
05Modification roadmap
In the order that pays off.
- 0Safety & reliability first
Safety and reliability first
- Track pads and high-boiling fluidThe first things to fade on a heavy, fast car.
- Water pump and coolant refresh if mileage is highA known wear item that can cause overheating.
- Coils and plugs if history is unknownMisfires under load end sessions.
- Harnesses only with proper roll protectionNever fit harnesses without a roll bar or cage.
- 1Tires & alignment
Tires and alignment
- Camber plates or adjustable front lower armsGets past the -1.6° stock limit.
- 200TW tires and track alignmentBiggest lap-time gain per dollar.
- 2Suspension & brakes
Suspension and oil control
- Adjustable bars and drop linksTune the balance as grip rises.
- 9A1 deep sump (991.1 only)More oil and lower temperatures in long sessions.
- 3Power & aero
Power last
- Tuning (991.2 especially)Turbo cars gain power easily, but brakes, tires and cooling must keep up.
06Performance planner
What each upgrade is worth on this car.
Pick upgrades and see the estimated lap-time change on a reference circuit, how much margin your brakes and engine have late in a session, and which changes buy durability rather than speed.
Reference circuit (fictional, 3.5 km). Late lap includes brake fade and heat derating once the system runs out of margin.
- R-compound tires−5.45%load ↑
- 200TW endurance tires−2.70%load ↑
- Street/track pads−0.92%durability ↑
- Race pads−0.92%durability ↑
- High-temp fluid−0.92%durability ↑
- Brake cooling ducts−0.92%durability ↑
- Big brake kit−0.90%durability ↑
- Track alignment−0.87%
- Splitter + wing−0.79%
- Coilovers + sway bars−0.73%
- Oil cooler + radiator−0.29%durability ↑
- Lighter wheels + seat−0.22%
- Limited-slip differential−0.13%load ↑
- Oil system (baffles / accumulator)±0
- Intake, exhaust, tune±0load ↑
Estimates from a simplified point-mass lap simulation of 911 Carrera 991.1 and 991.2 (non-GT) (3,041 lb, 350 hp) on a fictional circuit, with generic effects for each upgrade category. Good for comparing options on the same car, not for predicting your lap time. Real results depend on the driver, the exact parts, the track and the conditions. Durability starts lower on this car because of its known issues: heat.
Sources
Last reviewed 2026-10-18. Summaries are TRACK’s own wording; follow the links for the original detail. Product and brand names belong to their owners.
- [1]Porsche 911 (991) Buyer's GuideStuttcars · accessed 2026-10
- [2]BRS Billet 2.5 QT Deep Sump Oil Pan Kit MY09-16 9A1 (987.2, 997.2, 981, 991)LN Engineering · accessed 2026-10
- [3]Track Alignment Specs (991 Carrera S / GTS owner setups; owner consensus)Rennlist · accessed 2026-10
- [4]Adjustable control arms (986/987/981/982/718 and 996/997/991/992)Tarett Engineering · accessed 2026-10
- [5]Confirming optimal track tire pressures using a BMW M2 on the Tire Rack test trackTire Rack · accessed 2026-10
- [6]2025 Tire Rack Extreme Performance Track Tyre TestTyre Reviews · accessed 2026-10
- [7]2014 Porsche 911 Carrera S coupe specsCars.com · accessed 2026-10
- [8]2018 Porsche 911 specs (Carrera coupe)Cars.com · accessed 2026-10
- [9]2018 Porsche 911 Carrera GTS coupe specsCars.com · accessed 2026-10
- [10]Michelin Pilot Sport Cup 2 RMichelin USA · accessed 2026-10
- [11]Racing brake pads: Product Family RSL (endurance)PAGID Racing · accessed 2026-10
- [12]PAGID Racing Brake FluidPAGID Racing · accessed 2026-10
- [13]Brake Fluid (wet boiling points by product)BimmerWorld · accessed 2026-10
- [14]Porsche 911 (991)Wikipedia · accessed 2026-10
- [15]2014 Porsche 911 specs (Carrera coupe)Cars.com · accessed 2026-10