soshiv

iTrader: (3)

I just thought about something... why is it that the 03-05 18" wheels have staggared tires on them when the wheels are the exact same width? I know the 06 rims are 18x8 and 18x8.5 and most people who have custom rims like 19 inch have 19x8.5 and 19x9.5... so why when all four of the stock wheels from 03-05 are 18x8 would you need 225/45/18 front and 245/45/18 rear? Reason being I am replacing tires on some 18s I have and Im thinking of just going with 225/45/18 all the way around... I think it looks better...

plumpzz

iTrader: (10)

225/45/18? thats too skinny and short. If you want nice handling, especially on a RWD car, go for something like 255/265, which the Z likes a lot. Im at 245/275 and i mildly understeer. If you want the stretched look, get bigger wheels.

soshiv

iTrader: (3)

thats the tire size that comes from the factory on the front... and i just like how it looks...

Ser-J

iTrader: (2)

Dude 225's in the back will like crap.... I hope u were joking!

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Additional Information
Location:
new orleans

Part of the puzzle is what do you drive? Without this information I may as well be chasing black bears in the dark.

soshiv

iTrader: (3)

2003 silvertone touring

Mike@IOS

I think it looks worse, but it would probably handle better as Nissan dials in understeer so you don't swap ends all the time (lower insurance).

davidv

iTrader: (2)

This is the reason: https://my350z.com/forum/wheels-and-tires/203755-will-these-tires-work-with-my-vdc-enabled-car-read-here.html.

If you want you can have wider tires in the rear.
Or wider tires in the front.
Or the same width all around.

But keep in mind that VDC is very particular about overall tire height.

I1DER

I just got an extra set of wheels for winter tires for my '06 Z. The tags on them say 2003-2005 350Z 17" and 2 are 7.5 " wide and 2 are 8.0 " wide. So is it true the 2003-2005 track and touring have 18" 8.0 all around?

Thanks davidv. That was a very helpful post.

davidv

iTrader: (2)

No. See: http://www.350zmotoring.com/modules....ex&name=Wheels.

soshiv

iTrader: (3)

I actually went outside and looked on the back of the wheels individually since I have them off of the car right now and ALL 4 say 18x8JJ Offset 30...

davidv

iTrader: (2)

Your question included Track.

soshiv

iTrader: (3)

I think im going to run 225/45/18 up front and 235/45/18 in the rear

nebolic

i have an 05 performance. it came with 18x8 all around but staggered tires.

225 in the front and 245 in the rear

nebo

o snap its eric

iTrader: (5)

i have 245 front and 275 back. I love it, i'm even considering 255 front and 275 back.

Kolia

iTrader: (2)

You have a touring.

Why do you compare rim width with the Track edition ?

md350

I have an '04 Touring AT with the 17" stock wheels.

According to that 350zmotoring article...they are 17x7.5 front and 17x8 rear? I thought all 4 were the same?

Kolia

iTrader: (2)

From the Nissan documents I have, all 17in wheels are 7.5 wide front and 8 rear.

Peak350

iTrader: (6)

Theres more to grip than just the width of tire. On a rear drive car with approx 50/50 weight distribution you will see almost even tire heating on a track, and a bit more rear heating for street driving (less aggressive cornering and more aggressive straight line). The tires being staggered helps balance the grip and tire wear accordingly so all 4 wear at approx the same rate. The shape, slip angle and "track" of the tire's contact patch are the other affected things (other than the rate at which the tire can cool and thus its temperature). A wider tire patch is more conductive to preventing sliding, so a wider rear patch will be benefitial to dialing out oversteer, a narrower front to dialing in understeer. Slip angle is something I'm still trying to learn on.

For what its worth I would run at least a 235 front. Stock cars come with room to add a set of snow chains *usually* and it appears that way on the Z as well (although I would never try it). There will usually be about 15mm of space from the face of the wheel to the fender (sometimes much more) and about 1" or more gap from the top of the tire to the bottom of the fender. A spacer all around plus some wider tires would increase track and improve cornering (but could also have negative impacts on braking).

In short there isn't a specific answer -> partially for tire wear, partially for dialing out oversteer, and partially asthetics.

FWIW I'm coming from BMW's and in 1995 the M3 had 235/40/R17 all around, in 1996 they decided to switch to a 225/245 staggered setup for no disclosed reason, the cars handled much much worse, but most drivers wouldn't notice....and they were harder to spin.

Kolia

iTrader: (2)

Considering the tire issue the early Z have had, I think it's safe to assume that tire wear wasn't very high on the list whent they designed it.

The "official" reason (read Marketing) for staggered setup was to help put the power down on corner exit.

An other important reason is good old styling. Staggered setup look faster...