This coming spring I will be looking to spend some cash on new wheels/tires for my 2006 Enthusiast. My goal is to have the same width/offset wheels on all four corners, but push the rears outward a bit using spacers. The benefit as you probably guessed is to have uniform tire size all the way around, allowing me to rotate wheels/tires front to back. I believe I read somewhere in a Z magazine article that they achieved very balanced handling when they had equal tire size all around, but used spacers on the rears. Supposedly it dialed out most under and over steer and made the car's handling very neutral. Although more important to me is trying to minimize the cost of this (foolish) purchase.

Can anyone offer any first-hand input on this type of setup? Specifically I am eyeing up Volk SF Challenge 19 x 8.5" on all 4 corners. I think the offset is +22, although I have to double check that. The 8.5" width wheel has a decent lip on it so I think it will look decent in the rear. Whether I end up with the Challenges or not, I will size the wheels to fit nicely without spacers in the front, and then get the necessary spacers for the rears. All input is appreciated!

 

First, you can achieve desired handling through the tires. Wider, narrower, different brands, etc... Also, what may have seemed balanced to them, in their Z, may feel completely different to you, in your Z.

Second, an 8.5 setup on all four corners is not desirable for the Z; your going to want to stagger it up a bit. Look around and you will see that 9.5 in the rear and 8.5 in front is pretty common.

Third, if your going to spend the $$$ on some Volks, please get a fitment that doesn't include spacers; they have plenty of options to choose from.

 

It seems are though you are trying to stay performance oriented.

That being said, I think you should go with 18s, rather than 19s. Tire choice (performance wise) is much easier in 18's imo.

In 18s however, they only make whole sizes, 18x8, 9, 10...so no 8.5.

Anyhow, I think a staggered fitment would be a better choice, in order to reduce oversteer (more grip in back):

Brembo
18x9+21 F (Face A)
18x10+22 R (Face B)

Non Brembo
18x9+22 F (Face B)
18x10+23 R (Face C)

Here is a sizing chart for reference:

http://www.rayswheels.co.jp/cgi-bin/...?modelName=SFC

Hope that helps, and as Pacman said, don't use spacers if you can avoid it. No sense you spend hard earned money on a set of Volks only to resort to spacers.

Also, don't believe what you read in magazines. Just do it and try it yourself, then you can determine actual result. A lot of factors go into their opinions, and obviously those factors might and will not be the exact same in your case.

 

The car comes with a staggered setup from factory. If you start making your own wild ideas with wheels and spacers, your going to have a car that handles like a pig. Get a staggered setup, you'll be better off. By the way, the Z wasn't designed to be able to rotate it's wheels, it's a sports car, not a civic. Also, if you buy asymetrical tires, you can't rotate them properly anyway. So it's pretty much a loose-loose situation. Just my advice.

 

recommended wheels for Z is 18x8.5 front and 18x9.5 rear. Nismo wheels come in this size

 

steve, to get the look of a staggered setup IE. 8.5 +22 and 9.5 +22 without a spacer your rear wheels offset would have to be 8.5 +9 but then that would defeat the purpose of rotating the tires (only front to back of course), the balance he wants, etc.

effectively you would need a 13mm spacer...aka 15mm to get that 9.5 +22 fitment.

i don't see anything wrong with running a spacer as long as it's hubcentric, in fact you shouldn't need longer studs with a 15mm spacer. and if you're really **** you could get a wheel centric and hub centric spacer.

 

you will need longer studs with a 15mm spacer for sure.

the only downside to spacers is that when the car is parked you can totally tell its using spacers.

the same size all around can lead to good handling or poor handling - its certainly not a cure all. All depends on the rest of your setup