Newer Member, did a search but cannot get a final consensus on a few things for fitment and tire sizes with VDC and stock suspension.

Details:

-03 350z, stock suspension.
-wheels are 19x9.5 +22 and 19x10.5 +22 ( staggered width, with same offset). 22 should be perfect for stock suspension and no rubbing I believe
- do not want to roll fenders, do any fender work or install camber arms. Will lower car later and will do that when I do lower it

Looking at:
Tires in 245/45 front then do 275/40 rear,
OR if not -- then do 245/40 and 275/35. (255s/285s will rub).
Prefer not doing 35s rear, do not want stretched look.

QUESTIONS:
1--Will the 245/45 fit with stock suspension and not rub without fender work? from what I read, it shoudl be fine? I know a 40 is, but 45??
2-- Will 275/40 fit with no issues on stock suspension?
3-- Which is best for keeping the VDC happy and also having the tires equal all around? I read that having a '5' lower sidewall in rear is best/needed? Is this right?


I want a non-stretched look, so I ideally want to go with 40sidewall for the rear.. would it then be best to run a 45 sidewall up front? Will it fit?

From what I have read in other posts:
-Generally do a 5 size lower in back for sidewall? (ex: 245/40 front and 275/35 rear) Is this correct?

-Have tire sizes that are within 3% on VDC car to keep it happy -- correct?


Thank you all for your help!

 

Absolute train wreck, lets try get you going in the right direction

First of all the 40 , 35 etc etc part is called aspect ratio. Doesn't have much to do with stretch, it is your tire height.

First number 245 , 255 or 275 is the width of the tire. If you have a narrow tire like a 245 and want to mount it on a wide wheel like a 10.5 , it will be stretched.

The simple answer 255/35-19 front and 275/35-19 rear will be what you want

 

^^^^ Yup. This. (What Terrasmak said. ) Here's why....

225 45% 18 25.97 Stock Front 18s
245 45% 18 26.68 Stock Rear 18s

235 35% 19 25.48
245 35% 19 25.75 Front
245 40% 19 26.72
245 45% 19 27.68
255 35% 19 26.03 Front Optional
255 40% 19 27.03
265 30% 19 25.26
265 35% 19 26.30
275 30% 19 25.50
275 35% 19 26.58 Rear
275 40% 19 27.66
285 35% 19 26.85 Rear Optional
285 30% 19 25.73
295 30% 19 25.97
295 35% 19 27.13
305 30% 19 26.20
305 35% 19 27.41

245/35 (or 255/35) and 275/35 are pretty much the "go-to" 19's without clearance issues. This maintains relative height and best width fit for wheels in sizes spec'd.

 

My overexplanation and wording made it sound like a trainwrecK Thank you for your response!

I know that first number is width, middle is sidewall height-an aspect ratio and last is wheel diameter.
Given that the middle number is sidewall height/aspect ratio -- when I say not wanting stretch I meant that a shorter sidewall meant it had to stretch more on the wheel.

I thought that a 255/35-19 would rub on the front? just a hair to wide, or will it not rub?

Also, do you know why many people run a 40 sidewall when running 35 in the rear? (or 35 front and 30 rear- 5 difference)

I much appreciate the math breakdown , It truly did help me understand it a bit more. Now that I look at the numbers breakdown, I see how 35s are the best.

Will a 255 fit in the front with no fender or suspension modification?
Same with a 285 rear- everything I have read, I do not believe a 285 will fit without fender roll/pull.

Lastly, As I asked Terra - do you know why you see many people running a 40 up front and 35 rear?

I am most likely going to do 245/35 and 275/35 but just want to clarify and confirm before I pull the trigger.

 

A 255 front with your offset wheels will fit perfectly fine.

People run the 40 front and 35 rear for 2 main reason. First they own a 370z and that is what it is setup for. Second, that is what a tire company thinks they need, discount , big O and a bunch of other places are pretty stupid and think the 350 requires same height tires front and rear.

 

That is good to know, I may try to go with 255, or stick with 245. Still deciding.

I appreciate you answering the question for the sidewall difference, many local Z guys did tell me to run it like that. I guess they were going off of what shops told them, or had 370s like you said.

Where do you usually buy your tires? Either retail or online?

 

The 245/35-19 is a perfectly great tire size too. I prefure the 255 front, as I don't like the idea of adding more understeer.

Tires, mine are typically bought at Discount Tire thru a local hookup or from tirerack.

 

Tire Rack is easy and quick if I don't need tires TODAY. Prices are good; however, I have a set of S04s purchased locally for less than what TR would have been net with shipping and install. But I'm still a loyal Tire Rack customer.... have been since they first started advertising in Rodent Track, Barn Driver and other sports car publications.

I used to use their "Certified Installer program" but usually get them shipped to my usual local shop (that does most of my other work besides tires).

 

Locked in my order, after researching further, I did decide to switch and go with the Bridgestone S-04 pole position. From Discount tire/Americas tire locally. Best overall price installed with everything.

Had no shipping charge, and also a cyber Monday/Black Friday special.

Their website was being finicky Monday night and not showing the sizes I needed, and the $100 back deal expired at midnight -- so I twisted their arm and they were able to get me the $100 mail in rebate that expired. Also waived the charge for swapping over the tire pressure sensors.

There is a backorder of 30+days on the rear 275 width tires-Bridgestone is waiting on a shipment from overseas, and confirmed 30 days wait!
Luckily, Discount tire was able to find one of their locations in North California and in Texas that had the rears in stock, and is getting them from northern California with no 30 day wait.

Anxious to get them installed, now to find a good alignment shop.


Do you guys usually do a 2 wheel or 4 wheel alignment?

I am thinking all 4 because of the wheel change, not wanting to chew through tires and also not sure last time the car had a 4 wheel

 

Always 4 wheel. Most shops only do 4 wheel alignment on cars that CAN do rear alignment.

Note that there isn't a lot they can do on the rear anyways... Just minor toe on factory suspension.... Which is helpful/critical.

 

They like to do 4 wheel alignments even when the rear has nothing to adjust...

Solid axle with leaf springs let us align that for you.

 

That is what I was thinking, I know that there is not much to do in the rear, but anything is better than nothing- especially with the toe.
So camber cannot be adjusted in the rear? because of the rear setup?