16" RIM Size long term

[BadQ45t]

I have the (hated) 4 lug rims that are only 15". while my Bidgestone S03 Pole Position are still not worn out, they are near 8 years old and startting to make me nervous...so there are not good WR or YR tires in 15" left out there. Z Motorsport have some decent 16" rims for 500 bucks, so that solves the issue to get up to 16", but how long do people think we'll be able to get good performance rubber in that size.

I am thinking of doing the 5 lug conversion and then I can get 17" or 18" 350Z rims. Since I plan to keep my 84' for another 28 years or more (if I live that long) I want to future proof..what are the opinions?

[evildky]

first of all, "wheels" they are called "wheels" a "rim" is simply the outter edge fo a "wheel", sorry just a pet peave of mine

I'm guessing we are talking about your 84 300ZX which would apparently be an n/a with 4x4.5 lug patters, which has a limited selection fo wheels in the positive offset required, in whihc case, yes a 5 lug conversion is a good idea, not only that it's pretty simple using junk yard parts and you can even upgrade your brakes int he process

on the subject of tires, I don't knwo where you are shopping but 15's have a huge slection of performance oriented tires both in R compound and ultra high perfromance street tires, hankook rs3's are the topdog right not and they offer a 15 in tires, as for kumho XS, dunlop Direzza z1 star spec and countless others (you can thank the popularity of miata's in motorsports for assuring you'll have excellent 15 inch tire choices for years to come, that being said, get the 16's, the propper 15's have a lot of sidewall, great if you want to drive granny on sunday but if you like to carve corners you're gonna want a tire with less shoulder, and the 16's came form the factory on most of the turbo z31's, 18's are too big imho, the bigger the wheel the heavier it is and the more weight your anemic 160 hp v6 will have to turn, and with such a low aspect ratio your gonna feel every bump in the road and nto in a good way

[BadQ45t]

Correct I have the old 4x4.45 lug pattern and there are replacements in 16" that fit off the shelf, luckily there is demand for them from later 280Z and ZX models that carry over.

I would like to keep the stock 15" rims, but in 225/50 15 there are WR or YR rated tires anymore. I bought this car new and have run that size for the last 20 years, so I cannot run anything bigger and the stock 215/60 15 were really weak. I can find slicks and some VR rated tires on Tirerack and only 1 VR on tires.com....I have those Pole Positions right now and love them, they are WR rated. Point me to some sites that sell YR and WR rated tires in 15", but I have not found any.

here is the set of 16" rims.....err wheels......anybody have experience with them?

http://www.thezstore.com/page/TZS/PROD/ ... 45=1211D2E

[evildky]

the s30 and s130 use a 4x4.5 bolt circle but with a +0 offset, the z31 uses a 4x4.5 with a +30 offset, this means that is you use wheels meatn for an s30 they will stick out form the body about an inch further than they should

I'm not sure why you are hung up on the tires speed rating, I highly doubt you will be raachign 168 mph (which is the W speed rated)

and if you are running the stock 6.5" wide wheels a 225 is kinda wide, especially in a ultra high perfromance tire, their section width tends to be much higher than similar size tires in lower perfromance catagories

keep in mind thta a V rated tire is rated for 149 mph, which I doubt you'll be reachign in an n/a, I think the fastest I ever had my old Z31 N/A was 125 mph, many ture performance oriented tires are only rated H or V and will outperform the higher rated Y's and W's in all maner of acceleration , braking and turning and come up short only on sustained top speed testing, so unless you plan to spend a great deal fo time in excess of 150 mph I suppest you considder a lower speed rating

back to the topic of wheels, if you convert to a 5 lug, the 5x4.5 wheels are more available in the needed offset (+30)

[BadQ45t]

Interesting that this site claimed these were Z wheels, I will have to call them.....I am also going to talk to my mechanic about a swap over to 5 lug.

I understand the differences with speed ratings, but the bigger payout for WR and YR rubber is far superior handling. I have tried many different tires and speed ratings and trust me if you want your car to handle as best it can, YR and WR are far superior to any VR tires. The actual speed rating itself is meanginglesss obviously for a car that only goes 125-130 (I have had mine up to 135 going down-hill a long time ago).......but it is very common for the Ulta-high performance tires to be far sticker and handle way better in WR or YR. I have the older Bridgestone Potenza S03 Pole Positions in WR, they are by far the best tires i have ever run and do not compare to anything in VR out there.

BTW, 225 runs just fine on the 6.5 stock wheels...I have been running that size since 1993 without a hitch on a variety of tire brands. Back in the day this was a very common size to run to replace the lamo 215/60 15 that the car came with.

Not trying to be a smart-a** here, I appreciate you taking the time to help me out.....

[evildky]

S30 = 70-78 240Z, 260Z and 280Z
S130= 280ZX
so yes they are in fact Z wheels, but to state that they fit 70-85 is misleading, and they may in fact still fit but they will stick out more than stock and increase scrub radiues, unless they have them in dofferent offsets

the speed rating has no reflection on handeling, I assure you that certain Z rated tires will outperfrom pretty much any Y or W rated tire you can find (Z is in fact lower than W and Y) Large tread blocks and stiff sidewalls is what makes a good handeling tire

and yes I know the 225's will fit, I ran them on my stock wheels on my 85 n/a years ago, as a matter of fact you can fit wider with the propper wheels and even wider in the rear

[BadQ45t]

Your right in that it really depends on the tires that you buy. Since I only buy tires for my Z about every 7-9 years (the last set were replaced for age not tread wear) I want a premium set of tires. If I could find a set of Michelin's Pilot Sport or Bridgestone S03 in ZR I'd take them....there aren't even any ZR tires left in 15"...some lower quality VR's, that is my issue.

Thanks for the tip on those rims, I will pass on them, I think I will start to look for a junker turbo to strip for the 5 lug conversion.

[evildky]

Kumho ecsta ast, are H rated, good street tire decent in the rain, not gonna be as grippy in the dry as your pole positions

BFG G force sport, these are V rated and likely pretty similar to your pole positions

hankook ventus RS3's, these are W rated, but they are a 45 aspect ratio so your ground clearance will be a bit less, these things will leave your pole positions in the dust, not great for wet and kinda greasy when cold but you'll have a hard time finding a street tire with more latteral grip, and if you want entertainment watch your tire installer try putting these on a 6.5 wheel, they'll go but it's gonne be a fight with such short stiff sidewalls

Mishelin Pilot exalto PE2 are going to be similar to the BFG's but only available in a 195 width, a bit narrower than stock but thill an acceptable size for the wheel, and they score better in the wet

this is all going by the stats, I think for your needs the BFG's would be the pick of the litter, I have the hankooks and love them, they are a borderline competition tire, made to fit the scca's street tire class, but they are not ideal for a daily driver in the wet and cold, I'm gusiing as little as you drive the car and being in california thats not really an issue for you but I worry that like competition tires they will age quickly

[BadQ45t]

Thanks, I might just try the Hankook's where do you guy those? I don't find them on Tirerack.com?????

[evildky]

tirerack, they are the tire of choice for classes requiring a treadwear of 140 or greater, greasy and slick when wet or cold but with some heat they stock like an R compound

[BadQ45t]

So where can I find the tires your talking about????

[evildky]

tirerack sells the hankooks
http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... entus+R-S3

[BadQ45t]

thanks, those look nice, but they only have them 225 45 15.......do you think that would fit on my rims?

[evildky]

they'll fit on your 15x6.5's but your installer will cuss you, they are a bit wider than most 225 wide tires and wiht the lower aspect ration and the stiffer than the average sidewall it's just a bit challenging

[BadQ45t]

Thanks, I have a great installer and he'll do it.........I am worried about the Bridgestones as they are now 8 years old, while they have some tread left I don't running tires this old. I have a call into my mechanic in LA (Z Expert) to see if he is up to a 5 lug replacement, but this is a way cheaper and easier solution.

Thanks for you advise and help.

[evildky]

beign a 1 owner car I suspect your car is very nearly stock and in very good condition, and since this isn't a race car I'd be inclined to keep it stock, fortunately the conversion uses OR parts and can be put back later of you choose, and if you do the 5 lug conversion do the complete brake upgrade as well to later model turbo parts

[BadQ45t]

Thanks, your correct on all fronts. My baby is in very good condition. Motor is 100% stock but in 100% perfect condition. The suspension of course has been completely re-done, Eibach springs, 2nd set of KYB shocks, bigger sway bars, eurothane bushings (with custom lub fittings so they do not squeek) and a nice cat back exhaust and nice stereo. But for the most part I do like the old rims (they are still straight, look good and balance well). My installer told me he can do those tires, but my mechanic in LA is also looking into finding a good donor for the 5 lug, plus also giving me a price on what he thinks it would cost.

Thanks dude, your a wealth of information........