I have a 08 Z that sees track days sprinkled in here and there, would like to do more but limited by my job. Currently running 275/40/17 Nitto NT05s all around on 17x10 +25 5Zigen FN017RCs for summer/track and stock wheels w/ snow tires for the winter. Other mods include 13" Stoptechs all around and an OS Giken LSD. eventually plan to get coilovers and throw a roll cage in the car once I get a second car.

I have been contemplating going up to 18s for no other reason than that seems like 18s will give me much more tire choices especially as eventually this will be a more track oriented car. Always wanted the Enkei RPF1s (although to be honest have not been up to date on current hot wheels and tires, so suggestions welcome) and probably will have to go back to a slight stagger seems like. Talk me out of this, is this worth it or should I just stay with 17s? TIA.

 

18's are very common for track cars to fit 14" brakes. They won't be much heavier than your 17's but their moment of inertia may be slightly higher. I don't have much to say to talk you out of it...

 

I'd go for the 18s cause with my 18s I have like 2mm if clearance inside the barrel


For the streed one day I'll probably go to 19s with cheap junk tires (cause 19s are expensive) just cause I think the car looks good on 19s
But my track wheels will always be 18s

 

Tire selection is the only reason I am on 18's.

If they ever make sticky 17inch "street" tires in 275 or 285 tread width, I will be on 17's.

 

Well I have 275/40/17 Nitto NT05s which aren't bad, but I've been out of touch with what's going on for so long I have no idea if those are considered sticky anymore.

 

The NT05's used to be toward the slower end of the fast street tire group. Now that BFG and Bridgstone have put tread paterns on race tires and wrote "200" treadwear on the side, they are not even in the same zip-code. RS3's, ZII's etc used to be fast street tires, (still good tires IMO) but now they can't keep up with the new air-quote 200 treadwear tires from BFG and Bridgestone.

 

What tires are these? As far as the track side of this forum everybody and their moms are running RS3 on their track cars

 

Out of all the wheels i had on my Z ie: 17", 18" then 19" Volks i actually loved the feel of my 18's... Same with my S14 18's felt the best. I may now try a 18's in the front and 19's in the back for my sc300! We'll see

 

Ditto, which tires from Bridgestone and BFG?

 

Bridgstone RE71R and BFG Rival S.

RE-71's are about a second faster on a 60 sec course than RS3's, the Rival S's are almost as fast as the RE71's.

 

Never heard of them. Curious on cost vs the NT01 and RS3

Edit, all around the same prices for 275s

 

Thanks. Leaning heavily towards going 18s just for the tire selection. Now just need to find the right set of wheels.

 

I like your set up in the 18" wheel and tire thread. Are you running 18x10.5 +15 with 285/35/18 all around? Any issues with rubbing? I see your rears are rolled, what about the fronts? Thanks.

 

18X10.5 +15 yes.

In the pics on page 112 of that thread, I'm running 285/35 18 RS3's. The front fenders were also rolled but I don't think it made much of a difference up front because they are rolled from the factory.

The rears had to be rolled though.

I'm also running about -2.75 camber up front and about -2.5 in the rear.

No rubbing.

 

As a point of reference, one of my competitors, at Dixie this year, was on NT05's for day one and co-drove my car on Rival-S's for day two.

~He was 3 seconds faster in my car, which he "just met", than he was in his own car on NT05's.

There were other setup differences that contributed, but tires were definitely the main factor between our two cars.

 

How's the turn in and response with 285/35/18 fronts? How lowered is your set up? Also do you find 285/35s relatively easy to find? Thanks.

 

Compared to my SSR 17's with modest offsets, the steering feels a little heavier. Turn in is still sharp, but my alignment, and suspension setup, factor into that too.

I actually need to note where the bottom of stock Z's sit next time I see one. I may be somewhere between 1 to 1.5" lower than stock (from the coilovers, shorter tires also bring me lower still), but it's just a guess since my Z has not been at stock height for a long time.

 

Thanks for your replies, you've been very helpful.

 

If you can get away with 285s and +15 then so can I!

 

I posted that last pic from the back with me turing to show how tight of a fit it is with my specs.

Tight, but it does fit.