ssmokeyy

So I have 450 whp right now and by the end of the summer she will be pushing over 550 whp. Building new race motor for her. So I would like to find a tire setup that's going to put that kind of power to the ground. Tire size I have been thinking about is 285/35-19 for the rear and 255/35-19 for the front.

First option I was thinking is bfg GeForce sport2 tires front and rear. $900
Second option Mickey Thompson street comp for the rear and cooper rs3-s for the front. $900
Third is mickey Thompson street comp rear with bfg GeForce sport2 front. $900
Any one have a better tire setup option around $900 bucks.

My last setup was pilot super sports on the front with Bridgestone re760 sports and that was a fun setup but only had 350 horse so didn't take much.

ssmokeyy

Has no one used Any of these tires before on a z model?

travlee

iTrader: (8)

i had the bfg's, liked em... but wouldnt you want something wider than the oem wheel to get that power to the ground?

MicVelo

Z34 Sport Rays are 9" and 10" wide.

travlee

iTrader: (8)

Ah, makes sense.

ssmokeyy

I was thinking 295/30-19 but haven't found any tires I like at that size and if I go 305 it might be to wide. I just got done spraying my car. So I don't want to roll my fenders with fresh paint. I'm thinking it's going to be Mickey Thompson in the rear with the bfg in the front should be a nice setup.

MicVelo

How are you using the car? Without knowing what you want to do, no one can make any real recommendations.

I'll say this though.... I don't advise mixing different brands on the same car for performance driving; that is, pushing hard in the hills or track. There's just enough of a difference in handling characteristics between different makes and even different models by the same company that you can get yourself into trouble from the imbalance.

If all you're doing is going A-to-B, freeway, city, not a big deal..... but with high horsepower, you definitely want the most perfect balance you can find.

What's your suspension setup? Environmental considerations? (Wet, dry, etc.) Those are key as well in order to make a sound recommendation.

ssmokeyy

This car is all weekend show / drag / back roads. Summer only car. Here is wa state that means June - nov I can drive this car if nov isn't crazy wet. I have a full Mismo setup right now. Sway bars, springs, struts. All bushing have been upgraded to full poly. Rear diff has a tomei 2 way lsd in it. I mint to get a 1.5 way but they sent me the wrong part. So I'm going to try it out. I have been looking for good sets of tires but 255/285 there isn't many to pick from. Nitto only has the invo line for that size. Bridgestone has the s-04 pole position but I think both sets I would have to much power. Mickey Thompson only has the street comps in my rear tire size. The cooper rs3-s are as close to the same tire I could find but I think the street comp is still better for traction than rs3-s.

RobPhoboS

Mixing - avoid, especially with a powerful car !
Michelin Cup 2's is what I'd have on it.

MicVelo

OK, good summation.

With the power and drivetrain you have (and will have), you do want as much tire as is practical but you MUST keep it balanced (as I and others have said already but bears repeating).

Limitations given the wheel set (sizing) keep you at a maximum front tire size of 275 section width and 305 on the rear (using the 1.2 Factor or tread width not to exceed 120% of the wheel width) but even that's pushing it and would recommend dialing that down to 255/285 as you mentioned in order to minimize tire squirm when putting down the power.

You mentioned that there are limited tires and sizes in that combination. Nahhh, there's a good selection in that combination that meet your pricing criteria:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/TireSe...earDiameter=19

Unless you're all about drifting and/or smokey burnouts, any of the Max Performance tires in that list will suit you fine. I say that based on personally having run the Sumitomos (2 sets; and dare I say it, my favorites, regardless of their low price and in direct comparison to all of the following), Bridgestone S-04 (2 sets) and RE050As (2 sets), the BFG Comp Sports, Michelin PSS (2 sets) and PS A/S-2, Yoko AD08R, and others I've forgotten. (These are all, for the most part, "dry/summer tires only" but do OK in wet s'long as you mind yourself on the pedals.)

No, not all on my Zs (90% though); but in an even better comparison, my same configuration (front engine, RWD) Benz puts down roughly 375whp (conservatively, assuming as much as a 25% drivetrain loss) and I have no problems pushing that car with ALL SEASON Pilot Sport Michelins with a 255/285 combination.

Tires today are pretty damm capable when compared with just 20 years ago and if you were considering a set of S-04s (I only mention this particular tire because you expressed a no-confidence position on these), I'd tell you otherwise.

Have fun shopping.

steven350

iTrader: (11)

i don't have 370z wheels, but i do have same size wheels.. with bridgestone potenza re-11. live it..

ssmokeyy

Is it a really bad idea to install 305/30 Toyo r888 on the rear sport wheels being only 10 inches wide. I can get these tires for a great price for the next 4 hours.

MicVelo

Sizewise, you're right at the limit of practicality (or 1.2x the rim width before performance flushes down the loo and it gets more unsafe) but I'd be more concerned with matching the traction of the 888s with something equally sticky and wide (correspondingly,, not same size) up front else understeer like a cow.

Only thing that understeers more than a cow are hippopotamii.

ssmokeyy

I just got my hands on a like new pair of front tires this week. There 255/35-19 Bridgestone s-04 tires. Two for 180 couldn't pass that deal up. How bad would my understeer be with 255/35 and 305/30? I have two hours to make up my mind. I'm probably only going to get to the track once this year. Mostly going to be shows. I'm still two months behind haven the car ready.

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

I would probably throw an R888 on the rear , 275/35-19. Then find a set of 17x10 wheels for a proper drag radial

ssmokeyy

Does 17 inch wheel fit with 4 piston calipers? I got Bridgestone s-04 tires for the rear in 285/35r19. Should be wide enough for me. Kinda sucks those 305 r888 sold for 250 for both. Damn good tire for cheap there. Thank u to every one who helped me pick the right tires.

terrasmak

iTrader: (8)

What 4 piston and rotor size.

I ran 17's over my wilwood 6 piston kit and 14 inch rotors

ssmokeyy

Nice good to know that I can with my Brembro calipers.