18" or 19" wheels on my 91, would I be banned here?

[HeavyDuty]

OZ & BBS (among others) both make some real aggressive fitments for the Q. Like 18x8.5 f & 18x10 r.

One or the other also offers 19" in the same staggered width.

I know about the detrimental effects of adding unsprung weight, but it's not a race car.

I'm thinking like Opera II's or Superleggerra III's, or any of the BBS wheels in that fitment RXII, CH, etc. I like a monoblock wheel but my co workers think the Opera II would be like saying "I want to be a Mercedes! I want to be a Mercedes!"

I have a pair of Brembo F50 calipers sitting around & I can get the Schtealin' rotors for a decent price, but I gotta have at least 17's. If I buy wheels, I'm going forged. I haven't bought wheels for any of my cars since.....like....1986. :rolleyes

J, with asbestos underwear & nomex suit, wondering your thoughts.

[Rex]

19" BBS RS-GT weighing in at only 21.5lbs. Works for me

[lessthanjakejohn]

I th ink it would look great... 19 may be a little too large, 18 would look nice

[maxnix]

Look at tire availability and price. Unless you go to the largest Brembo rotors, 17"x8.5" with 255/45-17 seems to be the best size load carrying solution to me.

[911/Q45]

I don't think you can get 18 or 19" tires that have enough load capability and don't really hose your speedometer and acceleration.

[HeavyDuty]

Thanks for the replies,

Dammit Rex! That RS-GT in diamond black is just beautiful. So is the RGR, but they're not listed on BBS's site yet.

Funny what you get used to after seeing it enough, I thought this looked like the 19" BBS LM's that ate a Jetta but I got used to it soon enough.

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....d.jpg

[Rex]

I was looking on tirerack, and they don't list the RS-GT's in 18's.

911/Q45 makes a good point, 19's don't offer muany tire options with the right load rating. The 18's offer a few, like the SSR Competition (grey 6 spoke) in the 16/17 lb range with the Kumho's having 96 to 100 load rating. 17's would give you LOTS of size/weight/load rating options.

What color is your Q? Is it lowered?

[HeavyDuty]

It's a 91, lowered with new Pro-Kits & Tokico Blues, the same color *all* first gens are, pearl white, yellow, whatever. It's exactly the color on TireRack.com's wheel wizard thing. So wheel choice is a little tougher with that color car. I'd like a bronze center w/polished lip, but I can do that later.

I'm not much of a tire guy, I need them so seldom that I look when I need & don't keep up with them otherwise.

With respect to the RS-GT in 19x8.5", tire rack lists a 245/35/19 as the correct tire fitment. In a Pilot AS here's the specs;

245/35YR19 89Y SL 400 AA A 1279lbs. 51psi 11/32nds 8-9.5" 8.5" 9.8" NA 25.8" 806

What factor do you guys use as a reference of stated load rating vs vehicle curb weight or fully loaded weight (5 passengers, full tank, full trunk)

They have a stated combined load rating of 5116 lbs, (1279 x 4?) tire pressure makes a difference, etc, but let's say with a fully loaded car, it weighs 4500 lbs, is a ~90% load max an acceptable buffer? Or, what formula should you use?

tia

[Rex]

245/35YR19 89Y, the 89 is the load rating and I thinkt he Q needs 94 or 95 as a minimum. The risk of going with an under-rated tire is excessive stress on the sidewall, leading to a potential blowout.

[SmithSR]

From the Tire & Rim Association Inflation Tables

Load type: standard loadLoad Index: 89Tire size: 245/35R-19Load carried @ 26PSI: 1060Load carried @ 29PSI: 1135Load carried @ 32PSI: 1208Load carried @ 35PSI: 1279

As Q45tech has posted many times, added load index(numerically higher) can be considered safety margin. Higher load index = good.

Is a higher load index necessary? You decide. The TRA is a credible source of info for inflation recommendations.

The Q will eat tires anyway, so it shouldn't come as a shock when your tires are done at ~20k miles. Starting out with exotic sizes means more money up front, AND more money for replacements...

[HeavyDuty]

Aha! Ok, thanks. That's wierd, why, from a liability standpoint, do they recommend a tire that's wrong?

I have seen too small of a tire on a given application & the sidewall stress causes ruptures along the sidewall.

Edit: I was typing when SmithSR posted before I did.

[911/Q45]

The clue on the tire specs you listed was the 51psi, sure sign that the tire is marginal for load when you have to pump that much pressure to get it.

[maxnix]

Anything less then 1521 lbs carrying capacity is asking for it, both from a safety and liability standpoint.__________________Brian1995 Q45 & Q45t & 2000 Q45

Discover the power of the button!

[AGM]

For something different, but still conservative enough for a Q45I went for Mak Stings on my 1994 Q45.

It is an open spoke style which vents really well the brembo brake upgrade.

I have 19 X 9 on the rear and 19 X 8.5 on the front.I ordered a set direct from the factory in Italy with a 60mm offset on the rear and 45mm on the front. I really like the look with the low profile 275/30/19 on the rear and 245/35/19 high performance Pirrelli Rosso's.

The fitment is spot on and I did not have to roll the guards at all.Handling and grip is improved significantly

When I finish the car, pics will be available.

http:http://www.makwheels.it/

Regards

AGM

[HeavyDuty]

Hey guys, I'm sorry for this getting into a tire conversation that I know you've been through a thousand times, it wasn't my intent.

911/Q45, the 51psi listed is the max pressure, and as I read it, not what is required to achieve the 1279 rating, per SmithSR's post as well as the Michelin site on the 245/35. The way I had to cut & paste it didn't show that very well, though.

maxnix, What formula are you using to come up with that 1521 figure? I'd like to know so that I can apply it to other applications.

AGM, the MAK wheels are very well made, they used to be aligned with TSW that had a large warehouse here in Orlando, I'm sure you'll be happy with them for a long time.

As long as we're on this though, I went back to the Pilot AS spec sheet & found this;

345/30YR19 98Y SL 220 AA A 1653lbs. 51psi 11/32nds 8-9.5" 8.5" 9.8" NA 25.8" 806

It appears as though the dimensional aspects are the same, yet it has a roughly 25% increase in load rating, although the treadwear is a lot lower. :rolleyes

A good friend of mine here in Orlando is the GM for O.Z. North America & was Nat'l Sales Director for Toyo Tires for years, I think I'm going to run some of this by him just for some feedback.

Please post pics, AGM, when you can. If anyone else has pics of 18's or 19's on their 1st gen, I'd really like to see them as well.

Thanks

[Q45tech]

One cannot just look at static weight on a tires! 1200 pounds sitting still with nobody in car or nothing in trunk.

Braking adds 3 x 2 x 146 pounds to the front or 438 pounds per tire..........the springs compress 3" + inches a stop.

Not unusual to see the same amount added to a front tire in aggressive cornering..........................1600+ pounds.

The factory chose 95V [1521 pounds with 35 psi or 44 psi] as a decent compromise KNOWING that the Michelin Sport XGTV would be worn out and changed out around 17,000 miles at most!.Hopefully before the amount of internal destruction became evident [increase in balance weights] and risked a blowout.They knew the camber would eat the inside edge forcing owners to change tires before safety became an issue.

Unfortunately other tires may not be the same strength with age and miles.

Always the safe bet to upgrade factory minimums when changing tire types and brands.

I get scared with 51 psi tires as they usually don't have multiple ply sidewalls...........sure the single ply is stronger [than each of the older style 2 plys] but it makes the sidewall extremely sensitive to damage............it really was created as a cost saving measure and to reduce rolling resistance to help fuel economy [1%]..................REAL rugged performance tires may have 3 ply sidewall and 6 ply tread/carcass not 1 and 4 like most generic [sold to public]...............look at the construction of a 225/60/16 Police car tire..........[even those made by Firestone or others].............you try to do better when people who buy your product carry guns for a living!

[Q45tech]

A 255/60/16" will probably out handle and surely ride better than an 18-20" combination.

[TgduMg]

Searched 255/35R-19 on the Tire Rack and it pulled up 13 choices between the Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, Goodyear, Michelin and Pirelli brands. Much of the spec data was incomplete not showing any information in some of the categories. The ones that I did find that that had a load index of 96 with the overall diameter of around 26 inches were the Bridgestone RE050, Dunlop SP Sport 9000, Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3, Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 and the Pirelli P Zero Rosso Asimmetrico. The Pirelli P Zero System Asimmetrico had a load index of 96 but the overall diameter was listed as 26.5 (possibly a typo). Some of the other tires in this 255/35R-19 size had a load index listed at only 92, such as the Pirelli P Zero Rosso Direzionale. Tires, even if you could find some off brands wont be cheap. 18's would be much easier. 255/40ZR18 all around or those with 285/35ZR18 on the rear (if you still wanted to do a staggered fitment) would be very close to the OEM tire diameter of around 26 inches.

[HeavyDuty]

Ok, so basically one uses the original load rating as specified on the door jamb as a reference for what, at minimum, is required for a multitude of reasons. Understood & agreed.

The increase -or- movement of weight further from the center of rotation resulting from a larger diameter wheel will decrease acceleration, increase braking distance, but will yield better turn in than a smaller wheel, larger sidewall.

Even an ultra light wheel like the Volk Gram Lights, TE37, RH CP37's, or the like will exhibit some of these symptoms, but to a lesser degree and and allow one to utilize a larger caliper/rotor offsetting the detrimental effects felt by any brake distance increase. A good lightweight tire choice (preferably a spec tire) will negate the effects further.

Lightweight larger diameter wheel & tire, better handling, loss of ride quality, trade off, as usual, no argument there.

I'm sorry, but camber vs toe related to inner tire wear is one of the biggest misconceptions in existence, particularly relative to a lowered rear steer car.

[NY94J30]

I have the OZ Opera I on my J. I really like the way a closed wheel looks on a sedan. You should take a look at the new Opera PL I love that deep lip on a big sedan. (I think also they have clearance prices on 18" Opera I - maybe $139?/per).

Heres a picture of my J w/ the Operas:

http://www.nissaninfiniticlub....age=1

[HeavyDuty]

I really like the look of that, ny94j30, wheels are such a personal decision. I don't like many wheels because they all seem to look alike after looking at them for too long. I like a closed wheel on a sedan, too. That's why I mentioned the Operas too.

[OLU40]

OZ & BBS (among others) both make some real aggressive fitments for the Q. Like 18x8.5 f & 18x10 r.

One or the other also offers 19" in the same staggered width.

I know about the detrimental effects of adding unsprung weight, but it's not a race car.

I'm thinking like Opera II's or Superleggerra III's, or any of the BBS wheels in that fitment RXII, CH, etc. I like a monoblock wheel but my co workers think the Opera II would be like saying "I want to be a Mercedes! I want to be a Mercedes!"

I have a pair of Brembo F50 calipers sitting around & I can get the Schtealin' rotors for a decent price, but I gotta have at least 17's. If I buy wheels, I'm going forged. I haven't bought wheels for any of my cars since.....like....1986. :rolleyes

J, with asbestos underwear & nomex suit, wondering your thoughts.

I'll put it to you like this Heavy, I'm one of the few that has 18's on my 94 Q. Unfrtunately I wish they were wider but I love the aggressive looks it gives. I'm at 245/40/18. I will go to a 45 series as it will fit and give a slightly better ride to to a thicker sidewall. My wheels are 18x7.5. You shouldn't go any wider than say 8 or 8.5. As far as the load rating goes you can find tires with the appropriate load rating but it may cost you if you dont shop around. My tires are made by a newer tire company called Nankang. Excellent all season tires and much smoother than Kuhmo's. My load rating is at 97. More thatn enough for your car. 19's and 20's will fit but that is a personal issue. You have great roads down there and I am in NY. You should be fine with the 18's. You will love the look guranteed. I will post my pictures soon but you may still see my old ones on here.

[Nebraska240sx]

well i learned somethig new today...

[SmoothCriminal]

Scientifici hub-bub aside, 18's would look nice, 19's a little over the top.