So after blowing through a set of tires in a few short winter months on the track with the OEM setup, I decided to move to a 17" square setup to help decrease tire costs. Picked up a used set of SSR Comp 17x9 +35 from ScottS300.

My OEM setup is:
Rays 18x9 +30, 19x10 +30
Hankook v12 255/40/18 275/35/19.

Running Hankook v12 street tires (255/17/40) but I've been very happy with their performance on the street, autocross, and track, and you can't beat the price on them. I don't have a way to trailer the Z or race tires. I'd rather work on improving my driving skills and spend money on track time for now. If there were cash prizes or podium girls up for grabs, then maybe

A quick list of pros and cons:

Pros:

• 50% lower tire replacement cost
• 47lbs lower unsprung weight
• 1-2" lower center of gravity
• Silver wheel color looks great IMO
• VDC is actually pretty well behaved for daily driving, but kicks in quickly if aggressive

Cons:

• Ugly wheel gap in the back. OEM wheels are 19x10 so 17" just doesn't cut it. I don't plan to drop it since this is a track set up.
• Car won't make it up my driveway curb so I had to make a wood helper ramp (and will have to remember use always else rip off the front)
• Wheels and tires clear the front suspension by just 2-3 millimeter, a little too close for comfort for me so I plan to buy 5-10mm spacers. The rear stance would benefit with 10mm, but the wheel gap is really the eyesore.

I'm hoping to get it out to the track this weekend, but really would like to get some spacers in the front. I will post vids and times here once I do.

Cheers!
John





OEM Rays shot:

 

If a 17 inch wheel suits your needs its all good.

 

That looks horrendous.

Just keep the OEM wheels and slow down junior.

 

+1

I'm sorry but that just doesn't look right, especially not on a Nismo Z :/
If you can afford a Nismo Z, you should not worry about tires

 

I don't want to be a jerk...But 17's done right
17x10 +12 all around, 255/40 front,275/40 rear


Hope Solidsnake doesn't mind me posting up his z.

 

^ I like 17's

 

Sweet! You can make up the gap with a 275/40 tire like I ran. I didn't use spacers with the 275s and my Brembos, but there may be room - see the pictures below.

A little drop one day down the line would help in all aspects as well, but function > form! They are super light, under 16# each IIRC. When I switched to them, the responsiveness was immediately noticeable.







Looks are subjective, the response can not be argued.

 

If that was your track setup, I'd say totally respectable. But for daily use, that looks like garbage. It reaches a point where form DOES outweigh function.

 

Curious why you bought wheels with such a high offset? wouldnt need the spacers plus a wider stance for the track.

 

17's on a stock body z is do able but not on a nismo especially with such an aggressive bodykit imo take those 17's off and put the stockers back on keep em for the track. Plus, like you said when you drive aggressive the vdc comes on so even the car isnt liking the setup Scotts300 I know your gonna defend it since he bought the setup from you but even nissan knew better than to put 17's on the nismo

 

Purpose was totally function over form, this a track day setup. I wanted 17" for the significantly cheaper tires and lightweight wheels (~16lbs) for performance. Offsets weren't great, mostly for the rear, but I knew Scott was running 275s on them without issue which I may do some day. Looks much better though on his car with the drop.

Scott, how much clearance did you have with the wheel/tire and the main vertical arm of the suspension? I'm clearing by about 2mm which is a little closer than I'd like. Wondering if there is a difference between years/models that gives you a bit more room.

Anyone know if I can put Eibach 5mm spacers without grinding the stock lugs? Seems like I've seen conflicting information on this and the math makes it pretty close in either direction. How about 10mm spacers? The SSRs do have indents between the lugs.

I did look into an Enkei RPF1 setup, but from what I read the 17x9.5 won't clear the Brembos and 17x10 you have to dial in a ton of camber (which eats the tires faster) to clear the fenders.

 

Unfortunately my employer didn't give me a raise when I bought the Nismo The money I save on tires in a year pays for about 6-7 extra track days (~$800)

 

It is a track setup... why is everyone ragging on him?

If it happens to be also for DD.. it's his car, he can live with it... I do not find it particularly aesthetically stunning by any means, but this is functional... the fact he even makes it to the track that frequently is respectable.

I'm glad the ventus are performing, definitely watch the front though if you take her into random parking lots etc... on stock wheel setup/height I almost couldn't clear getting into a random bank today... sigh, maintenance much?

Get the spaces though, that'll make it more tolerable... it's not the worst looking setup by far... infact browsing over it again, it's really not *that* bad.

imo, of course

 

I'm cool with the smaller wheel but at least get the right size tire, 255-40 are over and inch short in the rear diameter and almost an inch short in the front. I know the sizing will limit your choices but that would be my suggestion for next time.

 

Function > form still prevails. He bought these for the track. 17" tires are cheaper, the wheels are lighter, I could go on. For 95% of track users, 17s make the most sense.

You can run a 5mm spacer without issue, I believe I ended up doing that for a little bit more track. I was a few mm away from the suspension as well, but it never rubbed. The shim spacer is a good, easy, choice. You could certainly run a 10mm spacer in the rear with either extended studs or with a set of spacers with studs on them. I'd order one set for the rear, and try them on the front before ordering another set. The 10mm front may work with the 255. Of course the 275 is about an inch wider if/when you go that route.

I learned about the RPF1 17x9.5s the hard way, so they do not work without a 10mm front spacer, and then a 275 tire was too big. The barrel of the wheel hits the Brembos - I had those for autox and had to sell them (and I used the SSR Comps instead). The guys that run in the T2 class run 18x9 +35 fronts and 18x10 +38 rears. These types of offsets, of course, are common for our tracking purposes when you want to end up running big tires.







Track day expenses over all else! Most people just don't get that concept. When I was autox'ing my wife's ZR with 265FR/305RR Michelin PS2s, she was chewing up tires! Now I have dedicated wheels for everything, and have never looked back.

 

Correct me if I am wrong, but with 5mm or 10mm spacers they don't come with the other lugs. They just slide over your stock lugs and you still use the stock lugs to secure the wheels. Anthing over 10mm will either use extended stock lugs or have their own lugs attached.

 

Agree, looks much better. Unfortunately the Kooks only go up to 255 for 17". Are his fenders rolled at +12? Camber compensation? The +30 Rays aren't tucked enough for +18mm IMO but I'm no expert on offsets.

 

You can buy 10mm spacers with or without their own studs. There is not enough thread to safely run a 10mm shim-type spacer without extended studs or the built-in stud type. You can only get 2 turns on it, as I did with the pictures of the ZR above.

 

y would u do this to a nismo... god no that gap is atrocious

 

I apologize for not reading the post entirely where you stated this was a track only setup.

I detract my previous statement if it's only used for the track.