need some opinions/help with wheel and tire choices

[nix300zx]

Hey everyone! I'm new to the forums. Just as a brief intro, I own a 1990 black TT. I have had the car for about 3 years now and had a silver n/a before that one as my first car.

I am looking at preordering enkei kojin wheels. I've gone back and fourth and can't decide if I want 17s or 18s. My z seems to have around 0.5-1" drop done by previous owner. It is my daily driver but a bumpy ride don't bother me. I would prefer performance and wheel clearance over show. The tire sizes ive been trying to accommodate are 265 or 275 on the rear and 235 or 245 in the front but I am open to other sizes. For the 17" I was looking at 17x8 +35 and 17x9 +35. And the 18s were 18x8.5 +25 or +35 and 18x9.5 +30. I am on a budget so that's a factor too. I'm sorta at a stand still now, I've looked all over the web and this forum seems to have the most help(great article ffrpwner!). My main question is: will those 17's clear hicas and will that be a wide enough wheel? Looking for opinions as well, just having a hard time deciding, but preorder will end soon... Thanks all!

[Ace2cool]

Here's a setup with 18x9.5 +35 front and rear, to get an idea of how 9.5 +35 will look:

http://www.rimtuck.com/photo/view/1311804852.jpg
This is TYL3R hez on here. More pics:
http://www.rimtuck.com/setup/view/1425

Generally every half inch of width should add or subtract about 5 or 6mm. (1/2" =~12mm) So if you do 9+35, it'll be a little more sunken than that setup. Won't be terrible. Likewise, the 18x9.5 +30 may poke a little.

Rimtuck is a great site to go to when you wanna know how certain fits will look.

[nix300zx]

Thanks Ace, rimtuck helped a lot, especially visually. I am starting to lean to 17s, but I feel like to get a wide tire for the rear I need 18s. What do you think is best? I need at least 265 on the rear, other than that I'm open to suggestions. Preferably don't want to roll fenders either

[BigTDogg (MA)]

17x9 +35mm all around with 255/40/17 all around will be an amazing set up, with no rolling.

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp ... mpare1=yes

The star specs are on clearance now too.

[nix300zx]

That is one reason I want 17s so I can get better tires(with the budget I have). And those dunlops seem like a solid tire. I haven't been on a dyno but I think I'm probably putting out around 550-600. I was thinking I would need wider than 255s, although if a nice pair or 255s will grip I really like that size on the rear. Its very loose all they way through 2nd and I am hoping to get a ton more grip with a new set up. I am running 225 all the way around right now, but that's what I had laying at the house from the old n/a.

[300ZXttZMAN]

Welcome to NICO!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Got a mod list?

The star specs are a very sticky tire

[nix300zx]

Thanks for the welcoming! I don't have a list made, but some things off the top of my head are:
Wesco pistons
740cc injectors
Stillen intake (single )
Gt2860r turbos
Southbend clutch
Borla exhaust
Stillen side mount ICs
Don't remember what downpipes I have
SpecialtyZ chip
48p heads
Bigger radiator
Greedy boost controller (18.5psi)

Well that's all I can think of ATM. That should be the majority of things.

[zswap0429]

Hey im rolling on a 275/40/17 rear 245/45/17 front setup that i got from a buddys supra. I love the look and the rear never slips unless i want it to.

Just a good setup in my opinion. Plus no clearance problems like you see with 18s that are put on wrong.

Thats my insider opinion.

[nix300zx]

What is the wheel with and offset Zswap? Also do you have hicas on your Z? Thanks!

[BigTDogg (MA)]

Welcome!

Get a Selin Dual MAF system ASAP. Specialty Z offers tested, used MAFs along with the kit.

You'd be at about 550 with a solid tune and 93 octane. 525-530 with 91.

Also, the Borla is more restrictive than a true 2.5" exhaust, so you may want to consider an SZ cat back in the near future if you want to maximize power.

[nix300zx]

Thanks bigT, and the dual intake is next for performance for sure. I already have a SZ chip for twin pop. The exhaust was already on the car when I got it. My down pipes are 3" , so should I look at 3" the rest of the way out? I do always run 93 octane. Also I'm curious to what boost I could safely run with my set up. As for wheels, I saw in another thread about getting 17x9 all the way around. So I was wondering what would be the widest I could run in the front? Being able to rotate my tires would be nice.

[BigTDogg (MA)]

17x9 all around +35mm offset is ideal, IMHO, depending on wheel design. This allows a 255-275 tire and tire rotations.

Definitely look at 3" all the way, and contact Greg at Specialty Z for the product. The quality and service is second to none.

If you're not local to them, when you're done modding try to get in on a group dyno day with SpecialtyZ or Ztuner. Groups fly them all over the country (and to Canada) for tuning sessions. A custom dyno tune is better than any off the shelf chip.

[nix300zx]

I'm in NC so not close at all. Greg is who I was referred to before when I ordered from SZ. I do want to dyno tune rather than order a chip. I think enkei kojin 17x9 all the around will win it for me. Especially since I can get 275s and rotate.

[zswap0429]

No I dont remeber the wheel sizes off the top of my head and i'm in Japan right now so I can't look at it to check. And I drive a convertible z so no hicas for me.

Also you should try to dyno it down at z1 in ga. About a 6 hour drive but its worth it. They are the best i've found in this part of the country

[nix300zx]

Yeah z1 is much closer to me, around 4-5 hours from me I think. Did you dyno there? Also there used to be a place called knightdale Z and I think they upgraded buildings but unsure if they have a dyno. They are around raleigh NC. It would be awsome to ride down with some other east coast members to dyno or to z nationals.

[zswap0429]

No i havent dyno'd there yet. Im pretty much sitting on a stock z so i wasnt going to waste the time. I havent heard of knightdale z before. But it would be interesting to look into.
Once i get my engine swapped im going to z1 to let them do a dyno tune so i can finally have some real power in my z