Question I can't find an answer to about fitment!! Please help.
So I have a question
First off I have an 08 Z not sure if that matters but
what I want to do is sit on
18x9.5 +12
18x10.5 +15 wheels
As far as tires go im aiming towards 245/35r18 265/40r18 not sure yet tho.
I plan to roll the fenders and drop the car and adjust the camber ofcourse
Now my question is with that set up how low can I drop the car with little to no rubbing and staying within stock alignment specs I'm trying to stay as close to stock specs as possible don't mind if it's off by a little but want it to be low good looking and functional with stock alignment specs.
I hope I worded this right. Thanks for any help and sorry for the thread wasn't sure where to post. Seems like all the threads on the subject are outdated.
First off I have an 08 Z not sure if that matters but
what I want to do is sit on
18x9.5 +12
18x10.5 +15 wheels
As far as tires go im aiming towards 245/35r18 265/40r18 not sure yet tho.
I plan to roll the fenders and drop the car and adjust the camber ofcourse
Now my question is with that set up how low can I drop the car with little to no rubbing and staying within stock alignment specs I'm trying to stay as close to stock specs as possible don't mind if it's off by a little but want it to be low good looking and functional with stock alignment specs.
I hope I worded this right. Thanks for any help and sorry for the thread wasn't sure where to post. Seems like all the threads on the subject are outdated.
There is literally libraries of information on this site in the suspension and wheel section...
There are hundreds if not thousands of pictures on wheels/tires/lowered setups in the wheels section and the media share section....
If you read in Suspension 101, you'll find out that lowering the car will change the suspension geometry and specs. You'd need adjusting bits to get it back into stock spec, so per your post, plan on getting atleast camber arms....
As for if it'll fit and will it be good looking, that is a matter of opinion. You may have rub issues in the rear and may need a roll depending on how low you go. Will it look good? That's opinion. Stretched tires are not my thing and 265 on a 10.5 is too stretch for me.
Why not look in the media share section of all the wheel/tire setups and their listed specs to get an idea...
There are hundreds if not thousands of pictures on wheels/tires/lowered setups in the wheels section and the media share section....
If you read in Suspension 101, you'll find out that lowering the car will change the suspension geometry and specs. You'd need adjusting bits to get it back into stock spec, so per your post, plan on getting atleast camber arms....
As for if it'll fit and will it be good looking, that is a matter of opinion. You may have rub issues in the rear and may need a roll depending on how low you go. Will it look good? That's opinion. Stretched tires are not my thing and 265 on a 10.5 is too stretch for me.
Why not look in the media share section of all the wheel/tire setups and their listed specs to get an idea...
Last edited by Nismo350z#0310; Feb 24, 2016 at 05:01 AM.
A good tip is to find the wheels you want.
Hit the search button and then click on advanced search.
Type the wheels into the search bar and click go.
More than likely there will be a thread with different fitments and setups that will allow you to choose the one you like and know if it'll fit properly.
There is also "meaty tire and wheel thread" and "stretched tire and wheel thread", with tons of pics and specs listed to show the fitment.
There is also a "wheels and tires" section that will literally answer all your questions.
Edit: and I see a mod moved your thread. so you are in it now. Search away.
Hit the search button and then click on advanced search.
Type the wheels into the search bar and click go.
More than likely there will be a thread with different fitments and setups that will allow you to choose the one you like and know if it'll fit properly.
There is also "meaty tire and wheel thread" and "stretched tire and wheel thread", with tons of pics and specs listed to show the fitment.
There is also a "wheels and tires" section that will literally answer all your questions.
Edit: and I see a mod moved your thread. so you are in it now. Search away.
Last edited by Nismo350z#0310; Feb 24, 2016 at 05:16 AM.
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GENERALLY speaking, if you lower your car < 1.0", alignment specs will stay within stock range. HOWEVER, this can vary from car-to-car so best to go ahead and lower to your desired ride height then add camber correction. (FUCA and adjustable camber arms/toe bolt out back.)
Note: there's a thread here somewhere about extreme lowering; that is, ~1.2" or "more", discussing the altering of roll centers that is pretty right on. Only ONE of the issues with this is how badly the car will handle... the other aspects discussed are about tire fit and how much camber or stretch is needed to clear fenders. Neither of which really help the handling.
As for tire sizes.... s'far as HEIGHT/DIAMETER (only):
225 45% 18 25.97 Stock Reference Size
245 45% 18 26.68 Stock Reference Size
245 40% 18 25.72 Front-Best Alternate
255 35% 18 25.03
255 40% 18 26.03 Front-2nd Best Alternate
255 45% 18 27.04
265 35% 18 25.30
265 40% 18 26.35
275 35% 18 25.58
275 40% 18 26.66 Rear-Best Alternate
285 30% 18 24.73
285 35% 18 25.85
285 40% 18 26.98 Rear-2nd Best Alternate
295 30% 18 24.97
295 35% 18 26.13
295 40% 18 27.29
305 35% 18 26.41
305 40% 18 27.61
With the offsets and tire sizes you plan to run (or the above) with a lowering of ~1.0", there is a good possibility that you will need to roll your rear fender lips. However, again, this will vary car-to-car, suspension type to suspension type.
FWIW, a very common (and good set up) is 9.5/10.5 +15 F&R and some have rolled, some have not. Ambiguous and covering my bases? YES.
In any event, be prepared to "adjust" - suspension, fenders - the car around your chosen wheel/tire setup.
Note: there's a thread here somewhere about extreme lowering; that is, ~1.2" or "more", discussing the altering of roll centers that is pretty right on. Only ONE of the issues with this is how badly the car will handle... the other aspects discussed are about tire fit and how much camber or stretch is needed to clear fenders. Neither of which really help the handling.
As for tire sizes.... s'far as HEIGHT/DIAMETER (only):
225 45% 18 25.97 Stock Reference Size
245 45% 18 26.68 Stock Reference Size
245 40% 18 25.72 Front-Best Alternate
255 35% 18 25.03
255 40% 18 26.03 Front-2nd Best Alternate
255 45% 18 27.04
265 35% 18 25.30
265 40% 18 26.35
275 35% 18 25.58
275 40% 18 26.66 Rear-Best Alternate
285 30% 18 24.73
285 35% 18 25.85
285 40% 18 26.98 Rear-2nd Best Alternate
295 30% 18 24.97
295 35% 18 26.13
295 40% 18 27.29
305 35% 18 26.41
305 40% 18 27.61
With the offsets and tire sizes you plan to run (or the above) with a lowering of ~1.0", there is a good possibility that you will need to roll your rear fender lips. However, again, this will vary car-to-car, suspension type to suspension type.
FWIW, a very common (and good set up) is 9.5/10.5 +15 F&R and some have rolled, some have not. Ambiguous and covering my bases? YES.
In any event, be prepared to "adjust" - suspension, fenders - the car around your chosen wheel/tire setup.
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Ed, I installed aftermarket shocks and springs, dropping my car 0.6”. Surprisingly the alignment was almost unchanged (my car has the stock alignment stats), and I did not add any additional alignment parts.
The information here on suspension isn't outdated (as you mentioned). In fact we are very current here on this subject.
The information here on suspension isn't outdated (as you mentioned). In fact we are very current here on this subject.
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
MY350Z.COM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 10,316
Likes: 3,379
From: Northern California
Ed, I installed aftermarket shocks and springs, dropping my car 0.6”. Surprisingly the alignment was almost unchanged (my car has the stock alignment stats), and I did not add any additional alignment parts.
The information here on suspension isn't outdated (as you mentioned). In fact we are very current here on this subject.
The information here on suspension isn't outdated (as you mentioned). In fact we are very current here on this subject.
https://my350z.com/forum/brakes-and-...coil-over.html
Lots of good info. (Never mind that I'm in that thread.... it's still good.
So I have a question
First off I have an 08 Z not sure if that matters but
what I want to do is sit on
18x9.5 +12
18x10.5 +15 wheels
As far as tires go im aiming towards 245/35r18 265/40r18 not sure yet tho.
I plan to roll the fenders and drop the car and adjust the camber ofcourse
Now my question is with that set up how low can I drop the car with little to no rubbing and staying within stock alignment specs I'm trying to stay as close to stock specs as possible don't mind if it's off by a little but want it to be low good looking and functional with stock alignment specs.
I hope I worded this right. Thanks for any help and sorry for the thread wasn't sure where to post. Seems like all the threads on the subject are outdated.
First off I have an 08 Z not sure if that matters but
what I want to do is sit on
18x9.5 +12
18x10.5 +15 wheels
As far as tires go im aiming towards 245/35r18 265/40r18 not sure yet tho.
I plan to roll the fenders and drop the car and adjust the camber ofcourse
Now my question is with that set up how low can I drop the car with little to no rubbing and staying within stock alignment specs I'm trying to stay as close to stock specs as possible don't mind if it's off by a little but want it to be low good looking and functional with stock alignment specs.
I hope I worded this right. Thanks for any help and sorry for the thread wasn't sure where to post. Seems like all the threads on the subject are outdated.
You want a 245/40-18 front , the 245/35 you mention is really short.
After about 3/4 to 1 inch drop up from the geometry goes to hell and unable to be corrected ( roll center) and the rear is good for a little over an inch. Same as it was in 2003
thanks for the help guys.i got the info i needed, i guess you can say i worded that a little wrong i would search keywords in post and it would shoot me to things posted a couple years back that's why i said outdated didn't mean the info was outdated i just felt i couldn't ask a question to a post from 2012 lol. and yes i am a long time lurker what can i say lmao
As for tire sizes.... s'far as HEIGHT/DIAMETER (only):
225 45% 18 25.97 Stock Reference Size
245 45% 18 26.68 Stock Reference Size
245 40% 18 25.72 Front-Best Alternate
255 35% 18 25.03
255 40% 18 26.03 Front-2nd Best Alternate
255 45% 18 27.04
265 35% 18 25.30
265 40% 18 26.35
275 35% 18 25.58
275 40% 18 26.66 Rear-Best Alternate
285 30% 18 24.73
285 35% 18 25.85
285 40% 18 26.98 Rear-2nd Best Alternate
295 30% 18 24.97
295 35% 18 26.13
295 40% 18 27.29
305 35% 18 26.41
305 40% 18 27.61
Last edited by rearranged; Feb 26, 2016 at 06:54 PM.
350Z/370Z Tech Moderator
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Joined: Oct 2014
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From: Northern California
Just looking at the tire sizes here brought up a question. My car came with 17's. Specifically 225/50f and 235/50r. So that would make the front 25.9" and rear 26.3". When I switched to 18's I tried to get tires as close as I could to those diameters. Is that line of thinking correct or should I go by what you posted?
When I got my originally 17" tired car (Enthusiast), the previous owner had already swapped up to 18" Touring V1s so I had no basis to compare. But I did have the same thought so I worked it out on paper.
If you look at the mathematics, the 18" fronts are a negligible amount taller (less than 3mm so we'll call that a wash) and the rears, while a fair bit taller (~0.43" or 11mm) still amounts to only a 1.6% increase in height so....
...based on this, I wouldn't stress a lot about the delta and go for the upgrades that are closest to the 18" OEM sizes since for all intents and purposes, they are the same as the 17s.
225 50% 17 25.86 - Stock 17" Reference Size Front
235 50% 17 26.25 - Stock 17" Reference Size Rear
225 45% 18 25.97 = +.11" or < 3mm - Stock 18" Ref Size Front
245 45% 18 26.68 = +.43" or 11mm - Stock 18" Ref Size Rear
So, based on such assumptions....
245 40% 18 25.72 Front Alternate 1
255 35% 18 25.03
255 40% 18 26.03 Front Alternate 2
255 45% 18 27.04
265 35% 18 25.30
265 40% 18 26.35
275 35% 18 25.58
275 40% 18 26.66 Rear Alternate 1
285 30% 18 24.73
285 35% 18 25.85
285 40% 18 26.98 Rear Alternate 2
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