So we have had some talk about removing the spare tire and tools to save weight.

I was wondering if it is better to have less weight and off set the cars front/rear weight distribution or to keep the spare tire in and keep the car balanced at 52/48% or whatever it is

I figure since the Z has more weight up front already you are increasing this gap more.

I am just curious as to what you guys think.

Better to save weight or have better balance

 

Whenever I'm at the track, I always take that crap out. Doesn't change the handling at all.

 

Yea, I mean the tire really isn't going to make a huge difference, but just as a general question I guess. Is it worth pulling stuff out to make the car lighter if it is going to severly mess up the front/rear weight distribution.

Especially in a car like the Z, because when you get on the gas the back is pretty quick to step out as is.

With even less weight in back is it more likely to throw the back out. As to make it harder to drive without weight over the rear tires.

So keep the tire/weights in over rear tires w/ even weight distribution = better handling?

Or

Less overall weight in the car no matter where it is taken from = Better handling?

 

overall weight and weight distribution both contribute to the handling

 

When I autocross, I leave all of that in and make sure I have at least 1/2 tank of gas.

It seems to hook up out of turns a little better with some weight over the rear tires.

 

Was this a general Z question or does it have something to do with the NISMO Z. It should be in the motor sports section.

 

Sorry I was a little confusing.

What I am trying to say is:

Is it more of a [B]benifit or hazard to remove the tire [/B](assume it is something significant like 100 lbs just for sake of argument)

Benifit would be - car is 100 lbs lighter

Hazard would be - the 100 lbs was taken from the back of the car, screwing up the balance. (a lot more weight in the front compared to the back, may cause back end to swing out and pivot more on front wheels)

Yea it's more of a general question. I just assumed those of you with the Nismo may be more likely to remove it because you guys are more performance minded.

 

At track day events, losing the spare and tools provides an obvious advantage, IMHO. Less weight equals better performance and yet it's not enough to have a large impact on weight distribution for the Z. Autocross may be different, because of acceleration in both first and second gears and the torque with VQ power.

 

removing weight is beneficial.
and you STATIC weight distribution will be changed, but you can handle the dynamic weight distribution just changing a little how you drive in, around and out of corners.

and example:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pxqt-1oZ_pQ

from 3:40.
the blue one is a twin turbo Z with a built block... I don't know how much he's pushing to the ground... but, it's over 3800lbs including big wheels, stereo, subwoofer and all the other crap... and was the owner and one instructor. so.. 4150lbs or so...
and me on my N/A, 3350lbs (with driver) nismo...

acceleration out of the corner? pretty much even.. and I was touching 125mph according to my gps telemetry.

*edit*
no spare, no tools, titanium exhaust, test pipes, no plastic under the hood, some sound deadening removed, racing seat, racing steering wheel, 17"*9.5 enkei, no rear wiper, some trunk plastic removed, some other stuff removed that I don't even remember but I have all in few box

 

I took it out permanently, and put a subwoofer in its place. Evened out the weight issue, but it looks cool because I cut out part of the plastic cover/rug around the top of the sub and looks really clean. I never autocross tho, and always listen to music, so this post was completely useless.

For your purposes though, take out the spare, equipment, passenger seat, and because I never have used a/c and am an avid window fan, I had the a/c unit removed as well.

 

This made me literally LOL

 

lmao