Old Q Wheel/Tire Upgrade: 15"?, 16"?, 17"? - Really Frustrated!

[John Nordling]

I'm trying to get a wider tire on the ground, but I want to maintain the same ride heighth in a VR or higher rated all season performance tire. No luck, so I'm hoping for some feedback about combinations you think will help me meet my objectives, or why I should try something different.

Stock tire size: 215/65VR15

First Choice: Keep stock (but chromed) HICAS wheels, then use: 235/60VR15 tires - None available in TireRack or DiscountTire listings

Second Choice: Upgrade to '97-'01 Q factory wheels, then try: 235/55VR16 tires - Nothing available from TireRack - Nitto NT 450 available from DiscountTire??? - Falken Ziex ZE-512 available from DiscountTire???

Third Choice: Upgrade to '97-'01 Q factory wheels, then try: 255/50VR16 tires - I am afraid these tires might 'squirm' because the section width is so great relative to the 7" rim width, but at least some tires are available - Yokahama Avid V4S available from TireRack - Yokahama YK420 available from DiscountTire - Falken Ziex ZE-512 available from DiscountTire???

I really don't want to go to 17" wheels because of the open wheel styles used by Nissan (my brakes are ugly!) and the aspect ratio needed would degrade the ride.

I've been working on this for a week and want to make a decision so I can put the car back on the road. With new tires and the new driveline I just got from Joe and all of the other suspension work just completed, the car should drive great.

Your comments greatly appreciated.............John in Seattle

[maxnix]

Well, as usual, there are previous threads with the best posts by Q45tech.

Ask szhosain for his spreadsheet.

Don't get the YK420.

Give us a budget, and we'll give you some choices.

The best tires right now are 255/40-18 in certain speed ratings for Michelin and Pirelli. They are not cheap, and neither are the wheels.

If you want to stick at 16", consider the Z32TT rear wheels as they are available new from Joe.

In a nutshell, there are very few 15" performance tires left (XGTV). Not many more 16" ones. And even only a few 17" with yesterday's technology.
Modified by maxnix at 9:31 AM 6/10/2005

[John Nordling]

Thank you Brian for responding so quickly. I have tried to find some posts about tires, but I must not know what key word is used to bring up the thread. Also, some of the older posts that I did look at last year mentioned tires that are no longer available.

Anyway, I want to stick with 16" because of aspect ratio and ride. i can pick up a set of '97-'01 Q rims for about $400. Do you have a picture of the rims you referred to?

I would like to stick with tires up to about $150 apiece. I guess my budget is around $1,000. Got a tire/rim combination in mind???

Thanks again.............John

[maxnix]

Also, some of the older posts that I did look at last year mentioned tires that are no longer available.

Anyway, I want to stick with 16" because of aspect ratio and ride. i can pick up a set of '97-'01 Q rims for about $400. Do you have a picture of the rims you referred to?

Yes, technology marches pretty rapidly in tires.

Look at any Z32 for the look, look at a 300ZXTT rear for the particular wheel (16x8.5).

Buying used is a crap shoot. Q45tech rejected 50+% of the used TT wheels he purchased for not meeting OEM specification. The TT rear wheels from Joe will cost you just over $1K. So.

Best bet is to keep your stockers (spin them up and check them for run out in two planes and balance). If they are good, the best tire is the XGTH 235/60-15 for fit. Two V rated tires are the XGTV in OEM or in 225/60-15 or the Yokohama AVS dB S2 in the latter size.

AZHitman ran 255/50-16 on his 16x7 OEM rims, but it is close to the limit in narrowness. Here, my only choice on tirerack is the XGTH, but you do pick-up an extra point of load rating over the 15. My wife runs 245/50-16 Firestone SZ50 EP (for not much longer), another sorely missed tire by those who came to know them. But while slightly short, you have a nice array of V rated tires from which to choose. Best choice that is not a Michelin for me would be the Avon Tech M500 (not 550).

Read at the yokohama website.

What you are doing is trying to buy a good Pentium III in a 64-bit dual processor world. It's a tough choice, but anything below 18" and about $2.5K for wheels and tires is going to be yesterday's technology. I wish it were different, but even 17" in 255/45-17 is using 2 year old technology now. Who knows how much longer it wil be around.

Get szhosain's spreadsheet.

[John Nordling]

Manix, I am trying to learn how to use the quote box, but fouled it up and don't have any more time today, so I'll just reply the hard way.

Good advice. I had looked at the the Official Tire Review Thread, but not since March. Should have know that new material would be present. Is this the 'szhosain's spreadsheet' you are referring to, because I was referred to this NICO post via GooGle when I did a search? Anyway, here's what I plan to do:

1) Have my wheels tested. I would put the XGT HRs on but in our wet Seattle climate many Michelins don't perform well. Still, I have never had any trouble with them. QUESTION: What about siping the XGTs? If that doesn't work, I will upgrade to 16" rims.

2) My wheels are suspect because one has a scribed message noting the repair date on it. I can buy the '97-'01 Q wheels subject to inspection, so I could check them out first. If they are alright, I would choose the Falken Ziex-512 235/55 R-16 96V B based on the information from the Official Tire Review Thread thereby keeping the stock ride heigth.

I would rather go with option 1), so I will wait to hear what you think about siping a tire...............John

[maxnix]

I never siped my tires when I lived in Seattle. So I don't really know. Seems like not a good thing for summer.

I moved away from the XGTH on another car because of their bad rain behavior. I now have them on both my G50 in TX.

The rain here is different, especially in summer. It rains buckets all at once, and the oil that's been seeping out of the asphalt for a couple of weeks then floats on top. Nothing can save you until it's all washed off. So far (<2K miles) the SGTH are OK, as tehy should be.

I liked the Yokohama's a lot (but no other tire from them!), and they were good in the rain. The one I would buy over again is the Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP, absolutely great in the rain and dry, high performance and quiet.

Best of luck.

[John Nordling]

Thanks again Brian. The Firestone Firehawk SZ50 EP are still available by special order from my Firestone/Bridgestone dealer in 225/60X15 VR rated, but not in a 235/60X15 VR. I was going to use Yokohama AVS dB S2 in the stock size if nothing wider worked so it's good to get confirmation that they work well.

Guess I'm goint to bite the bullit and try those used 16" rims with the 235/55X16 VR Falken tires. That way, at least I have more choices in the future.

Greatly appreciate the advice.................John

[94q45t]

You might want to consider Goodyear Eagle DS1 FS3's. I put 245-50-17's on 17" wheels from a 2003 Q. It gets lots of compliments for looks, but the ride, handling, noise, wet/dry performance are the best I have ever experienced on this car. My BMW E36 (3 series) is my benchmark for smooth, and this Goodyear set up is as close as I've come (I like the Q better than the BMW).