Another Wheel Question

[lucaswh]

I have looked around and only confused myself with the wheel discussions. I own a 95 Q and am looking at some 7 spoke 350Z OEM wheels for it. They are 17x7.5 front and 17x8 back. I was just wondering if anyone has these on their car and if they would look good on my stock Q? There has been a lot of talk about offset and other things that I know nothing about so I am paranoid that I am going to buy them, put the tires on, mount them, and have them look strange. Thanks for any information/pictures.

Lucas

[elwesso]

They will fit fine...

[maxnix]

Hey, welcome to the club.

Suggest you think first of which tires you will have to mount to get minimum 95 OEM load rating and at least H speed rating if you are a conservative driver.

[lucaswh]

Would it be hard or expensive to find tires that fit and meet those standards?

Lucas

[CrimsonQ]

Not at all, just a commonly overlooked aspect of wheel purchase.

You dont want a weak tire on the heavy beast

[Meaux]

94Q, w/ 350Z 18x8 all the way around, 30mm offset.



Opps, sorry, wrong wheels... IMO, I like the 17's better... When I wear out these 18" tires, the wheels are gone.

[Q_SHIP]

I might be a player on those 350Z wheels when you are done. Keep me in mind.

[lucaswh]

Thanks for everything so far. Just so I have some sort of idea, what tires would you recommend (size, brand, etc...)? The car is a daily driver and I have winter tires so all seasons are not necessary. I am a college student though, so money is a bit short. I do want something fairly nice though and I would be willing to splurge on the tires... somewhat.

Thanks again,Lucas

[maxnix]

The car is a daily driver and I have winter tires so all seasons are not necessary. I am a college student though, so money is a bit short. I do want something fairly nice though and I would be willing to splurge on the tires... somewhat.

Good, you understand tires and their uses.

Unfortunately, income sensitive tires have not been engineered yet. And even the young deserve protection.

The closer you can get to to a Tier one tire supplier's top summer maximum performance tire, the better off you will be. Try to avoid anything with a UTQG of more than 280 or so. Avoid the 400 rated billiard balls.

One of my cheap favorites is the Avon Tech M500, but I don't know if they make it in a 17". Fewer and fewer heavy duty performance tires are made in that size.

Read Q45tech's posts on tires and research your choices on tirerack. There is also a sticky post in Infiniti General.

[elwesso]

can you give us an idea on what your willing to spend on tires (if your not factoring in mounting and balancing, plan on $50-100 for the entire set to get mounted and balanced)...

[lucaswh]

I would probably be willing to spend between 400 and 500 if it would take that much. Cheaper would be better but I don't want to get bad tires.

[szh]

I would probably be willing to spend between 400 and 500 if it would take that much. Cheaper would be better but I don't want to get bad tires.

I'd recommend a 245/45-17 size for those wheels. At Tire Rack, the Avon M500 and Avon M550 are both $116 each - which one of these to get is not entirely clear (Brian ... maxnix ... likes the M500 better, I believe).

The Continental Extreme Contact is $108 and the Yokohama AVS ES100 is $104. I probably would not recommend any other of the cheaper tires listed there!

Another possibility is the Falken Ziex 512 - I have tried those with good results, but you will have to find a supplier other than Tire Rack.

BTW, tires are one area that I do not recommend skimping too much on - this contact between the car and the ground is where all that performance and acceleration and braking and everything comes into play!

Z

[maxnix]

plan on $50-100 for the entire set to get mounted and balanced...

Plus alignment.

If you haven't upgraded your suspension to as new OEM, better start there. If it is loose or worn, tire wear will be mcuh more rapid.

[maxnix]

I'd recommend a 245/45-17 size for those wheels. At Tire Rack, the Avon M500 and Avon M550 are both $116 each - which one of these to get is not entirely clear (Brian ... maxnix ... likes the M500 better, I believe).

BTW, tires are one area that I do not recommend skimping too much on - this contact between the car and the ground is where all that performance and acceleration and braking and everything comes into play!

Z

Well, if you had an 8.5" wide wheel, the 255/45-17 would be ideal.

Read the tests at TR for the M500 vs. M550. Pure summer tires almost always better than AS within same brand and model level.

Tires are the only component of the car that interfaces directly with the road. Skimp here and all else is lost. But great tires won't save a worn out suspension and/or brakes.

If worse comes to worse, skip the wheels and buy some Exaltos for the stock wheels. 225/60-15 is a little short, but better than a 3rd rate tire on any other wheel.
Modified by maxnix at 9:44 PM 12/19/2006

[szh]

Tires are the only component of the car that interfaces directly with the road. Skimp here and all else is lost. But great tires won't wave a worn out suspension and/or brakes.

I think you meant "save", but, yeah, I entirely agree ... I was assuming that all else is fine with the car.

Z

[szh]

Read the tests at TR for the M500 vs. M550. Pure summer tires almost always better than AS within same brand and model level.

Yes, also true. But I based my "tough to decide" comment with regard to the fact that the M550 will probably last longer than the M500 - given the UTQG's (from the same manufacturer, so is comparable). I.e., if one does not push the car hard, and/or does not drive fast a lot in rain, etc., then the decision between these two is tougher. Same price and one last longer but does not do as well in all conditions equals tough choice.

For most people, and most driving conditions, either tire would work well, I think.

FWIW, in my situation, I consider wet handling/braking to be the most important concern, so I drive on the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 because of its excellent wet weather characteristics. Now that the Michelin Pilot PS2 is available in 245/45-18, I may try that next time ...

Z

[maxnix]

if one does not push the car hard, and/or does not drive fast a lot in rain, etc., then the decision between these two is tougher. Same price and one last longer but does not do as well in all conditions equals tough choice.

FWIW, in my situation, I consider wet handling/braking to be the most important concern, so I drive on the Goodyear Eagle F1 GS-D3 because of its excellent wet weather characteristics. Now that the Michelin Pilot PS2 is available in 245/45-18, I may try that next time ... Z

If it stops you 5 feet shorter from 70mph and keeps you out of someone's trunk, it is worth much more than one pays. He has winter tires for snow, so no need for AS. "All Season" is a marketing euphemism for compromised summer performance tire and not very good winter snow tire.

Unfortunately no one I have ever met is capable of predicting emergency manuever incidents where the little extra margins of performance mean so much when one is at the limits of control.


Modified by maxnix at 10:28 PM 12/20/2006

[szh]

Good points ...

Z

[lucaswh]

Thanks everyone for all of the information. It has been very helpful. I was going to get new shocks on the car because mine are very worn. When you all are talking about a suspension upgrade are you talking about new shocks or is there more to it that I need to be upgrading?

Lucas

[hannibal]

I think the Q guys normally replace the rubber bushings (swaybar end links, etc) if theyre worn as well. And maybe the ball joints if theyre cracked and cruddy looking.

[maxnix]

Upper links, tension rod bearings.

Worn shocks (or any other malfunctioning suspension component) will accellerate tire wear.

[szh]

Upper links, tension rod bearings.

Yes, upper links should be replaced every 25k to 30k miles. My experience with my 1991 and 1995 Q's where that this had a significant difference in handling (and presumably tire wear) compared to almost anything else short of the shocks/struts wearing out!

Z