no longer feelin the 15' BBS love

[captainluigi]

suspension re-build will happen this wknd. overcast & winds 20 to 30mph.no fishy fishy. tok. blus., boots, etc. new spring seats & isolators on 4 crnrs. tension rod bushings, re-build of fr. lwr. con. arms w/ energy susp. bushies & spicer ball j,s. done did sway bar bushies & end links. now comes the tire decision. could go w/ mich.pilot ex. on stock t wheels but i'm kinda liking the 18'' 10 spoke G35. searched for pics of such but no luck. any body runnin those? am i opening a can o worms? good idea? bad idea? help out the southern most Q.

[maxnix]

Some are running the forged 18 forged. Wes or Rex may have some pictures up. I think they have both moved on to ther wheels.

Rex did have a wheel data thread for the G50.

[Rex]

Here's a thread with a few options.

zerothread?id=223195

Hope that helps,

[Woot!]

I have the 7 spoke G35 wheels (see my signature) and they seem to do good.

[qship96]

I go back and forth with the idea of ditching the stock 15" wheels for 18" with 245/45/18 tires....here are my 2 main concerns

1. How much will ride deteriorate with the 18" compared to stock,especially on less than perfect roads?

2. How do they look with stock springs? I have no interest in lowering springs.

Anyone have experience with ride quality,and pictures posted here with 18" wheels/tires on stock springs on a 90-96Q ?

[Woot!]

Yes, I switched from 15" stockies to 18" G35 wheels and yes it does kill the ride.

I don't know about lowering springs I have never had them on my car.

[qship96]

I have the 7 spoke G35 wheels (see my signature) and they seem to do good.

What size tires are on your car in the picture in your signature? Car seems lower than stock to me?

[Q451990]

There's a couple of pics here of first gens with 18" FX35 wheels. From an asthetic standpoint, I think they're perfect on the Q. Can't coment on the ride quality...

Heath

[ddrumman]

There's a couple of pics here of first gens with 18" FX35 wheels. From an asthetic standpoint, I think they're perfect on the Q. Can't coment on the ride quality...

Heath

Agreed. Check out 3QJ's Q with the 18x8s from an FX35.

[Rex]

I go back and forth with the idea of ditching the stock 15" wheels for 18" with 245/45/18 tires....here are my 2 main concerns

1. How much will ride deteriorate with the 18" compared to stock,especially on less than perfect roads?

2. How do they look with stock springs? I have no interest in lowering springs.

Anyone have experience with ride quality,and pictures posted here with 18" wheels/tires on stock springs on a 90-96Q ?

There should be a link somewhere of my original Q with both the 350Z "Track Wheels" and the Murano "5 Spoke". All in all I didn't think it hurt the ride at all, but make sure you have good shocks/springs. If not, you'll feel the extra load in the old suspension parts.

[96Qowner]

I'm old school and like the comfortable ride along with the handling, so I'd urge you to go no bigger than 17s.

For one thing, you can fit a wider tire in the 45 aspect ratio. The 17s will take a 255/45 whereas the 18s have to go to a 40 ratio to get 255 - the other choice is 225/45. And if you'll settle for a 225 width, you can get in a 225/50 for the 17s.

I'd much rather ride on a 50 ratio than a 40.

There's a 17" 6-spoke G35 wheel and a 7-spoke Nissan Z wheel that have perfect offsets for the G50. 17" tires are cheaper, too.

[Haitian_King]

Really? How's it kill the ride? Is it harsher?

A good thing I stumbled on this thread before I went and bought some 18's without examining the suspension first.

The other day, the car was a on a lift and I had the rear driver's tire off. I looked at the springs and shocks. The shocks were quite shiny. I didn't know if they naturally look like that or if it was an indication of a replacement of OEM before I purchased the car. I can't really complain about the ride.

[captainluigi]

im not sure ''shiney'' is to indicative of anything. mine are toast and shiney because the oil is leaking from them. yes im sure the ride becomes more harsh as profile lowers. at least thats what i experience in my gear head friends cars.

[Peterofdevon]

I'm running the 99/01 5 spoke OEM 17” wheels on both Qs and the ride is fantastic, PS2s on the garage queen and Exaltos on the daily driver.

I think the car looks great with these OEM 17s.

Not too custom like and not so old farty.

Peter

[maxnix]

I'm old school and like the comfortable ride along with the handling, so I'd urge you to go no bigger than 17s.

17" tires are cheaper, too.

The Michelin PS2 disproves this concept that I had prior to using them. Also, with and 18x8 and the correct offset, a 245/45-18 may be employed if the car is not dropped.

Few performance tires in 17" even, and 17x8.5 wheels that are strong enough and have the correct offset without weighing to much are rare.

Hence, if you are going to put up the cash, I say go to 18.

[qship96]

I am considering the ASA AR2 in a machined finish 18 by 8 wide with +40 offset as rec. by Tirerack with 245/45/18 tires {any fit issues? TR lists 245/40/18 for the Q,however I want slightly taller tire on stock springs for less wheelgap and ride quality}.

Does anyone here have any experience with ASA wheels? I believe they are an offshoot of BBS,wonder if quality is near that of BBS?

Tirerack has these on closeout sale for only 169 each.Guess I would order an extra wheel as a spare in case one got damaged later on.

[Rex]

I am considering the ASA AR2 in a machined finish 18 by 8 wide with +40 offset as rec. by Tirerack with 245/45/18 tires {any fit issues? TR lists 245/40/18 for the Q,however I want slightly taller tire on stock springs for less wheelgap and ride quality}.

Does anyone here have any experience with ASA wheels? I believe they are an offshoot of BBS,wonder if quality is near that of BBS?

Tirerack has these on closeout sale for only 169 each.Guess I would order an extra wheel as a spare in case one got damaged later on.

I think Jeff Williams is running those. Might try searching to see for sure.

[captainluigi]

well it seems i'll have more time to decide on wheels & tires. suspension parts shipment delay. did get the ball joints today, the rep that asured me they are a U.S. product mightn have been wrong. the box & label say japan, now i don't know.. is the box & label made in japan? joint does not say. looks to be quality made. went to spicer's web site & for $1.95 per min. i can talk w/ a tech. i've been thru 3 world wars, eaten yellow snow to survive & seen goats f*ck in the market place but never have i ever heard sh*t like that before.

[maxnix]

I am considering the ASA AR2 in a machined finish 18 by 8 wide with +40 offset as rec. by Tirerack with 245/45/18 tires {any fit issues? TR lists 245/40/18 for the Q,however I want slightly taller tire on stock springs for less wheelgap and ride quality}.

Does anyone here have any experience with ASA wheels? I believe they are an offshoot of BBS,wonder if quality is near that of BBS?

TR will reveal weight and strength data if it is not on the website. Ask. +40 mm is a little tight to the upright.

ASA are not BBS. but the BBS will cost 4X as much. Not adding weight and maintaining strength is critical for suspension durability and ride, not to mention safety.

Look at all the wheels. I had to work with Blake to custom fit a non-specified wheel to my wife's FY33. They have drawings of all OEM suspensions.

Your BBS weigh about 16.5 lbs. So go from there.
Modified by maxnix at 10:52 AM 1/18/2008

[Haitian_King]

I thought about the ASA's as well. They look like BBS's. Same for the HP Evo.

I know I don't want a 5-spoke wheel. 8 spokes or more in a basketweave/BBS style is just fine. Either that of a broad faced wheel.

[Q45tech]

Here is an important educational article especially for younger members.Has little to do with cars, we'll maybe. But jokingly appropriate 15" BBS LOVEDon't read if you might be offended by human commerce.The Economist is far from porno."For an audience facing an evening away from home in the Big Easy, there was much to ponder. "

http://www.economist.com/finan...33877

[Haitian_King]

Good read. I read Freakonomics. It's quite interesting. Makes you look at things in a different light.

If these ladies of the night didn't have such high overheads (pimps, bail, drugs, abortions) I think they'd be able to afford Q's and proper maintenance. I just hope they wouldn't use the backseat as an "office". That backseat is comfy as hell though.

[captainluigi]

luving feelings returning. after all the # crunching, reading pro & con i am now somewhat leaning towards a set of michelin pilot exaltos on the old bbs wheels. they are in good cond., straight & true. oh yeah, i already own them. going to put off decision till susp. rebuild finished. i was undecided & now i'm not so sure. my new years resolution was to quit procrastinating but i put that off till 2009.

[qship96]

Captainluigi,I too may just stick with the stock wheels, as I just got a new set of Exaltos waiting in the garage for when the current Exaltos need replacing{45,000 miles on them so far} , cant decide whether it makes sense to buy new 18" wheels/tires for a car that I may only keep for the next 24-36 months, especially when the Exaltos work soo well and I am concerned with ride quality deterioration that may result from going to a 18" combo.

[captainluigi]

DITTO! of topic. serious question Qship. is timonium a rare metal? could not find in my periodic tables.

[maxnix]

luving feelings returning. after all the # crunching, reading pro & con i am now somewhat leaning towards a set of michelin pilot exaltos on the old bbs wheels.

Good choice unless you want to spend a lot of money.

Rehabilitate the suspension first. Upgrading the wheels is the last thing done after the car is perfect OEM as new.

Last I looked, the Infiniti price for the BBS wheel was $865, Think about that.

[qship96]

DITTO! of topic. serious question Qship. is timonium a rare metal? could not find in my periodic tables.

Timonium is a suburb in Baltimore County just north of Towson, and about 10 miles north of the inner harbor of downtown baltimore.Home of Nationwide Infiniti,one of the first Infiniti dealers!

[Haitian_King]

Timonium was mentioned in the latest episode of HBO's "The Wire". I hear it's a very nice place.

[jjbuzzman]

I bought Robert's '93 Q about a year ago (the ECU guy). It came with 18 inch 350z touring wheels with BF Goodrich G Force T/A RDW-2 tires in 245/45/18 on all 4 wheels. I recently swapped out these wheels for 350z 17 inch wheels with Bridgestone Potenza tires, all straight off a rather new 350z - the fronts are 235/50/17 and rears 245/50/17.

The G Force tires were far noisier than the Bridgestone. I also had tire rub in a dip on the front. No tire rub with the new tires/wheels.

My '90 Q has stock size 15 inch Michelin Hydroedge tires. These tires are absolutely silent and smooth as silk. Of course, they also are not speed rated performance tires. Yet, they hold the road pretty good - I've tried to break them loose and lost my nerve on some high speed corners trying.

My '93 has a Q45a rear bar and some ployurethane bushings, etc., so I feel that a higher performance tire is needed there to hold the added stiffness to the road. Maybe not so with my 90 which is all stock except for Tokico struts. As the size goes down to 40 or 45, the sidewalls get stiffer and the ride gets harsher, and as the tread design gets more aggressive it gets noisier, but it both make it corner tighter - tough choice!