04 G35 Coupe wheels on :)

[CrimsonQ]

I had posted horrible pics, with an equally crappy post last night. I had been drinking all day, so that probably wasnt the best time to post:)

Putting back the piepans for winter use. Ive never had a set of "plus-sized" wheels in my life, so I have a few noobish questions.

1. I need brakes anyways, and the stock calipers/rotors look like complete A$$. Are the rotors that are always on ebay a bad bet? Im not looking for a performance upgrade from the stock peices, its just theyre ugly.

2. The rear tires need replaced in a few months. It has 245/45/18 Michelin Pilots. Is theyre a better choice than these?

3. I have no idea what tire pressure to run. They were at 34psi (cold) when I got them yesterday, so theyre still at that psi.

4. Whats should i use to clean them? They appear to be clear coated/painted. Im lost on that and really dont want to harm them.

5. My stock lugnuts also look old and crappy. Is there a certain kind or material i should get?

Ok, questions over:)

First day impressions: Over all the ride quality actually feels better. Maybe cuz im just in a good mood. Ive never even rode in a car with low profile tires, so I dont really know how to judge the change.

There is definitley more tire noise than my usual 65/70 series tires, which I expected. Also Ive always had all season rubber, which I believe these arent.

Side to side motions have dramatically decreased from the usual i was used to on the skinny stock tires. Im feeling new grooves in the road that previously werent felt. But I believe its worth the trade-off.

Best thing is: Before with the stock tires it would rip them loose, thus slow car:), after the tach passed 4k in first, then theyd finnaly hook up once the 1-2 shift completed. Now the spin is no more

Thanks to Heath for his previous post on fitting the same wheels, it helped my final decision alot, so thats why im trying to add to it, for other Wheel Noobs like me:)

Now for the pics: (note, Im waiting on the CC springs from Wes, which along with the blues should tighten up that gap)



I also am in need of the last few parts to complete my baby. Anyone have this stuff, ill appreciate it zerothread?id=157424

Modified by CrimsonQ at 3:08 PM 2/6/2006

Modified by CrimsonQ at 3:17 PM 2/6/2006
Modified by CrimsonQ at 3:31 PM 2/6/2006

[miata007]

Nice!!!Last nite, I was trying one of the 17" 350Z wheels on my Q. That's when I realize the Z wheels are much heavier than the stock 16"1997 Q45T wheels. My guess is the Z wheels are about 25% heavier. I wonder how it's going to affect the performance. For sure the MPG is going to go down now (from 19 MPG). I am debating rather or not to stick with my old wheels which has the nice Mich. Pilots on them (75% tread left).

I will see if I can post it pic sometimes this week.

007

[AZhitman]

Gorgeous!

That's gonna look beautiful with a drop.

[silentfurymm]

Looks good, and you dont have any problems with rubbing on 18x8? Cant tell, is it lowered?

Edit: ahhh, its not lowered yet. Yes it will look better when its lowered.

[3rd Q]

Crimson,Thank you! Those look awesome and are the exact ones I'm looking to put on my '90! How great to see exactly how they'll look. Yeh, the drop with the new springs will help.

I've always just used a good car wash soap (Zaino, etc.) to clean the rims and Simple Green on the tougher spots. You definitely want to avoid the acid-type wheel cleaners.

Just curious what you paid, I'm seeing those at $650-1000 on Ebay?

Great mod!

Paul

[CrimsonQ]

Looks good, and you dont have any problems with rubbing on 18x8? Cant tell, is it lowered?

Edit: ahhh, its not lowered yet. Yes it will look better when its lowered.

no not at all. maybe with the springs? i dunno yet:)

[CrimsonQ]

Crimson,Thank you! Those look awesome and are the exact ones I'm looking to put on my '90! How great to see exactly how they'll look. Yeh, the drop with the new springs will help.

I've always just used a good car wash soap (Zaino, etc.) to clean the rims and Simple Green on the tougher spots. You definitely want to avoid the acid-type wheel cleaners.

Just curious what you paid, I'm seeing those at $650-1000 on Ebay?

Great mod!

Paul

thx, I paid 700 with tires. The two rears need replaced in awhile, but they are all worn nice and even:)Bought them off a local guy, new to Nico, so I got to save by not paying the extra for shipping. They were in the Infiniti parts section.

[Falkdesigns]

Looks beautiful man! You shouldn't have any rub even lowered.

1. best way to cheaply dress up your brakes is just paint them black. Paint the calipers and the rotor "hat" (the rusty part around where the lug nuts are) with high heat Duplicolor. Makes it look much cleaner, and it's not like you're painting them red, which just makes it look like Brembo-wanna-be.

2. I'm extremely happy with my General Exclaim UHP's. Great price that Tire-Rack says will be going up, an old American brand that's owned by Continental.

3. Look for the "max load at XX psi" on the sidewall, and go something around there, I run about 44 psi, roughly.

4. Clean them with the same stuff you wash the car with, but get a sponge, or mitt that you ONLY use on wheels, lower trim and engine area. Those wheel cleaner sprays tend to etch the clear-coat and NEVER use that stuff on unfinished wheels, or you'll be polishing for hours to get them back to normal.

[CrimsonQ]

thanks, the max psi on the tires says 51, so 44-45 cold is about right? if so, im really low lol. thanks for all the nice replies. I hope to get er all done soon
Modified by CrimsonQ at 4:15 PM 2/6/2006

[Q_SHIP]

Hahaha, You can tell it's tax time.

Looks great Crimson! It really gives the car a fresh look.

[Rex]

I had posted horrible pics, with an equally crappy post last night. I had been drinking all day, so that probably wasnt the best time to post:)

Putting back the piepans for winter use. Ive never had a set of "plus-sized" wheels in my life, so I have a few noobish questions.

1. I need brakes anyways, and the stock calipers/rotors look like complete A$$. Are the rotors that are always on ebay a bad bet? Im not looking for a performance upgrade from the stock peices, its just theyre ugly.

2. The rear tires need replaced in a few months. It has 245/45/18 Michelin Pilots. Is theyre a better choice than these?

3. I have no idea what tire pressure to run. They were at 34psi (cold) when I got them yesterday, so theyre still at that psi.

4. Whats should i use to clean them? They appear to be clear coated/painted. Im lost on that and really dont want to harm them.

5. My stock lugnuts also look old and crappy. Is there a certain kind or material i should get?

...

1) The cheap rotors on ebay are just that cheap, you say you're not looking for more stopping performance, but the cheaper rotor may warp *easier* and thus cost you more in labor/re-trues.

2) There are a lot of 245/45 options out there. I'm not over-impressed with the RE040's on mine, I'm looking at Yokohama AVS ES100's when it's time to replace them.

3) I'm running 40 up front, 37-38 in the rear.

4) Like Falk said, basic mild cleaner and a specific sponge/brush ... to keep the lower car grime off the balance of the car.

5) I'm using Gorilla lug nuts on my wheels.

Can you verify the width and offsets?

Looks great BTW .

[elwesso]

Im not going to read all that stuff as it looks like your covered... but if you want me to put Z32 brakes on, come on up to my crib and we can make an afternoon out of it.....

[CrimsonQ]

thanks for the lugs link. Im not sure of the offsets, but the width:

front are 7.5 inch with 225/45/18rear are 8 inch with 245/45/18

and nope its not tax money. I do designs for a local group who has sold a few cd's around here, so I got some $$$. Now I am waiting for Uncle Sams money,, so HURRY UP GOV'T!!

[CrimsonQ]

Im not going to read all that stuff as it looks like your covered... but if you want me to put Z32 brakes on, come on up to my crib and we can make an afternoon out of it.....

Hmm, what price ranges are we looking at? Ill stick with stock and paint as per Kevins reccomendation, if its too much. Im thinking Id like to put 300-400 at most into brakes.

Of course I may just be an idiot:)

[CrimsonQ]

bump Wes!!

[elwesso]

we could get er done for under $400 most likely, i dont see any reason why we couldnt.... I got my entire setup for about $500, but that included about $20 in pins and clips that i shouldnt have had to buy, $40 in pads, and $100 in SS lines. plus you could get $100 from your stock Q brakes.....

email me sometime. or call me.

[DrewQ45]

Crimson,

It's funny cuz I've been looking on ebay for those wheels. I get to see EXACTLY how my car would look except for my having window tint.

Drew

[CrimsonQ]

Crimson,

It's funny cuz I've been looking on ebay for those wheels. I get to see EXACTLY how my car would look except for my having window tint.

Drew

And ya got fender trim

Thats cool that you can see that look and I can see what mine looks like with tint. (which is up next for mine)

Having twins?

[silentfurymm]

Ill have to keep an eye out for your car when Im home Crimson, Im from Lenexa. Its just that Im not there very much because I go to KU and have a house up here in Lawrence now.

[CrimsonQ]

Sounds good man. I have a buddy goin to school and lives up there, a few blocks up after the bridge at mass street.(i dunno street names in Lawrence, just by sight) Ill also be at the next regional meets.

[Heath]

My god she looks almost as good as mine... I agree about the roters and brakes by the way... Ride on mine was more a bit stiffer, but I also only went from a 55 series to a 45 series tire being as I had 17" wheels before... I'm suprised you don't think its much worse of a ride, but I do agree, more than worth the trade off...

As for rub, I get a bit in the rear on occasion, especially when I have the trunk loaded down... I need to roll my fenders this summer when I put the new drop springs on...

[irax]

that looks freaking sweet! thats how it should come from factory! LOL! definatly NOICE!

[szh]

2. The rear tires need replaced in a few months. It has 245/45/18 Michelin Pilots. Is theyre a better choice than these?

Nice look!

Here is a listing of 245/45-18 (ignore the 19" tires mentioned) tires. Click for larger image. Yes, it is for the M45, but these will fit your rims.

My personal recommendation (I have not tried all them, of course) would be:

1. Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 in a 100W load index. Great wet weather performance, slightly high-cost.2. Michelin Pilot Sport. High cost.3. Michelin Pilot Sport A/S. High cost.4. Avon Tech M550. Very low-cost and I have been wanting to try these out!

3. I have no idea what tire pressure to run. They were at 34psi (cold) when I got them yesterday, so theyre still at that psi.

I'd stick to around 34 to 36 psi cold. All around.

Z

[CrimsonQ]

Cool thanks Zman!Maybe try the avons out.

I sadly put the Q to rest for the summer. Y33 is coming my way and will be the new daily beater:)

[szh]

By the way, I forgot to mention that the speedo errors in the image I posted above are not applicable to the G50 - they were based on the Y50 OEM tire size calculations. I will post the G50 image in a little while!

Regardless, the 245/45-18 tires will work just fine! Note that 255/40-18 would be a better fit from a speedo perspective, to the original OEM tire diameter tires, but a 8.5" min rim width is needed for these sizes. You could get away with 8.0" probably, but I would certainly not do it for anything less.

Z

[szh]

thanks, the max psi on the tires says 51, so 44-45 cold is about right? if so, im really low lol. thanks for all the nice replies. I hope to get er all done soon

No! Don't do the max psi listed (51 is seriously too high and 44 is too high for good wear). That is just the maximum allowed pressure for that tire.

Tire load indexes are measured standard at 36 psi, and derated below that. Of course, higher load index above that, but the ride gets harsher.

So, a reasonable balance between handling and wear is best. I would stick toaround 36 psi for your tires. A few more psi (up to 38 or 40) will not hurt, per se, but not needed either. At the 34 psi to 36 psi range, the ride will be much more comfortable too.

Z

[szh]

Okay, here are various 18" tire sizes in the correct range for 7.5", 8.0 and 8.5" rims. Prices may not be current or accurate!

As usual, click the picture below to get the higher resolution image! Enjoy.



Z

[RAQ45t]

The car looks really good with those rims,will be better when it's dropped a bit. I've been reluctant to go to plus rims on my '97 t ,as I have on many of my former BMWs,as I really like the 16"5 spoke design rims the Q45t comes with,and I even would like a few more of them,if someone has a few,even one extra sitting somewhere.Here in S.Fla.,it's so flat you can't push the car around decent turns,as there are none!