My friend as a set of 4 blizzaks 225/50/18 from his Maxima that he is trying to get rid of, and I was just wondering do you think this could work on my 03 Performance Z. I have the stock 18inch wheels that I would mount in them. I think I read somewhere that it was okay to run 225/50/18 on the rear, but I'm not sure about the front. Pros/Cons? Any advice is appreciated! Thanks

 

That’s good question and you are wise asking since the 2003 Performance Model Z has a very fussy VDC component.

The tire size (225/50-18) you ask about has an overall diameter of 26.9” and will work perfectly on your 2003 Performance Model Z.

I can say this with absolute certainty because I have run this size (all-square 225/50-18), and I am now running all-square 225/55-17 (overall diameter is 26.8”, about the same as your all-square 225/50-18) on my 2003 Performance Model Z. I have not had any problem with this tire size (overall diameter) as an all-square setup.

Incidentally, running 225/45-18” all-square on your 2003 Performance Model Z does not work. VDC does not “like” this all-square setup. I tried it, and VDC engages inappropriately with this setup.

You’re go to go with the 225/50-18 you ask about… Been there… did that… it works perfectly.

--Spike

 

Wow thats exactly what I was hoping for!! Thank you so much!

 

^^ Glad to see that was helpful.

After posting my response (and receiving a PM from a my350Z.com member asking more questions), I think I should add some additional information.

You are located in MD, and therefore you do not get much in the way of the arctic blasts the people in the middle of North America experience. Since you do not experience excessive temperature variations in MD, you are fine with 18” wheels and dedicated snow tires.

However, winter drivers in the middle of North America should probably avoid 18” wheels. That is simply because the winter temperatures in some USA states (Montana, North Dakota, Minnesota, and Wisconsin) and central Provinces (Alberta, Manitoba, Ontario, and Quebec) become excessively cold and swing greatly during the winter months. Maintaining proper psi in tires on 18” wheels is a challenge in these areas that experience very diverse ambient temperature variations. 17” wheels are a better choice when you experience very cold temperatures and a wide variation during winter months.

I have a dedicated winter wheel/tire setup that is all-square (225/55-17” tires on 17x7.5” wheels). I’m using true snow tires (Dunlops now, but have also run Blizzaks… either works great).

Additional points:

1) 17” wheels are better than 18” wheels for snow tires. 18” snow tires are expensive and do not work as well (i.e., it’s nearly impossible to maintain proper psi with 18” wheels in a climate where temperatures can vary greatly during winter months).

2) 225 is the best width for snow tires (245 is too wide). You can mount these tires on 17” wheels that have widths of 7”, 7.5”, or 8”. I’m using 7.5” wide 17” wheels.

3) The ideal size for snow tires is 225/50-17” front and 225/55-17” rear. I went with an all-square setup (225/55-17” front and rear) to allow rotating the tires. If your car has VDC and you go all-square, do not go with 225/50-17” all around (you want 225/55-17” front and rear).

4) A conservative offset (around 30) is best. This doesn’t look great since the tires are tucked well inside the wheel wells, but that’s what you want. Keeping the tires more “inboard” protects the car’s paint from “sand-blasting” during winter driving.

Pics of my car with snow tires.




“It ain’t purdy,” but it gets the job done (driving a Z on ice and in snow during the winter).

--Spike

 

and hows the set up working for you?

you have enough good traction to get you moving around, with no slipping problems?

 

^^ True snow tires will move the Z through snow and on ice. In fact, the Z with 4 snow tires runs much better in winter than my FWD Saab-95 with all-season tires.

It's all about the tires. Off-road drivers say the same.

--Spike

 

Hey there,
I know this is an old thread but I am needing this exact question answered about my 2007 350z Touring. My boyfriend is not being much help either Right now on Tirerack they are having a closeout on the 225/50-18 on the LM-25. I know that tires have to be within 1% of each other which I already checked and it showed that the rear would be fine but not the front. From reading this post I am wondering if people somehow made it work? Sorry if this question has been asked over and over I did do a search this was the only one I could find. Thanks to anyone who can help!!

Jen

 

^^ Hi Jen,

You can run 225/50-18” all-square winter tires on your Z. It works great even on VDC-equipped Z’s. I prefer all-square for winter setups since this allows rotating tires and extending the life of your winter tires. Another good winter wheel setup for the 350z is 225/55-17” all-square.

Avoid 225/45-18” or 225/50-17” all-square setups. These setups do not work well if your car is VDC-equipped.

Of course winter driving results in occasional VDC-activation, but that is expected when driving on frozen roadways, on ice, and in snow. VDC makes winter driving safer.

--Spike

 

I used 225/45R18 square Blizzak set up for several winters on my 03 Track and 07 Grand Touring, both with VDC and no issues.

 

Thanks for the info; good to know. I did not have the same success with this setup that you report. My problem with VDC and all-square tires that had <26” overall diameter happened on dry wide sweeping roadways (specifically, running at moderate speed while slowing on Exit expressway ramps that had a progressive reduction in radius). The problem went away when I switched to an all-square setup running tires >26” overall diameter.

Anyway… Niiko’s question asks if a VDC-equipped 350z can run all-square LM-25’s in size 225/50-18”. The answer is yes.

--Spike