I have an '04 Z with 18" stock rims. My car has 225 up front and the rear are 245 (typical for the Touring?). Well, I would like to move down to 17" wheels and was wondering what you would suggest as a good combo, offset/tire wise. I am looking for cost effective yet still good performing all seasons, a friend recomended either Kumho ASX, or Continental Extreme Contacts, anyone had any experience, good or bad with those, or other recomendations? Also should I stick with stock sizes, or can I run something like 215 front and rear?



I talked with some guy at Bridgestone and he told me that I'd have to adjust my camber, speedo and ABS to comphensate for going with 17" wheels from 18" wheels... Is that true?



Lastly , has anyone had any premature feathering/cupping problems with the '04 model? I know that the '03 has this problem, but I 'd like to know if I need to do something, like a re-alignment, for my '04.



Thanks in advance!


Sven

 

dont listen to bridgestone their all retarded! so are most people at shops like tire rack, discount tire....ect. they think they know it all and they just bs you. come here for answeres dont even bother with them.

why do you want 17's?

 

I agree with you about the tire companies. I'm new here obviously and have found some answers in the search that I found to be pretty helpful.

I want to change down to seventeens for cost, and since I live in Colorado, I would like to stick on some all seasons (which are less expensive on 17). Would it be true that 17s with narrower aspect perform better in the snow? I will probably keep my eighteens for summer driving, however, If I decide to sell them, I would offer them up for a great price since they're used. They're stock eighteens.

Thanks again!

 

a better question is why do you want 215's all around? is this for snow/all-season tires?

no problem going to 17's but you should try to best match the outer diameter of the tire/wheel combo with those of the original setup. so 17" tires with same width as original tires will need a higher aspect ratio to match the 18's.

i wouldn't be comfortable with 215's in the back. too big of a difference to 245.

 

215's were a thought, but I would also consider a 225 all-round. Since this is my only driver, I will need to run my car through some light snow, what would you recommend? I don't plan on getting Blizzack's since it only snows a few times in the winter season over here, and the dry pavement would eat up those tires with a quickness.

 

i like your idea.
i have a WRX i tuned similarly for my wife. it actaully made the car more fun to drive.

any how, narrower is better in the snow, and better mileage wise. i would try to get a tire with a sidewall (aspect ratio) that stays as close to stock as possible. the taller side wall will take the bumps better. what you are concerned with is the tires circumferences being as close as possible to stock, since you have the VDC. but i belive the VDC is concerned about differences between the front and rear tires, so as long as the ratio of change is the same, for the associated tires, you should be ok. E.G. if you drop an inch in the front, drop an inch in the rear.

 

^^^egsMachine. Is your avatar a picture of a racetrack?^^^

 

Thanks for the advice, my last concern is the tire feathering. I haven't heard of many '04s having this problem (mosty the '03), but I wonder if I need to get a re-alignment sometime down the road. I just bought the car so I've only put on about 3k miles on the new tires.

If I have 17s with a narrower tire, like 225, would I have the tire wear problem?

Thanks

 

which one wheel u r looking for??? i am driving a track pack. i want to change 17's size wheel for my car too.

 

???? Whose retarded...."they're" not going to appreciate you saying that!

 

I'm looking for some Conti Extremes all season tires for 17" rims with 225/~40 aspect.