Rear tire/wheel - how wide can you go?

[Nealoc187]

Does anyone know how wide of a rear wheel and tire you can fit under a J30? I still can't get this crazy idea of a turbocharged and swapped J30 out of my head but if I do it I'm going to do it big and I'll need some meaty DRs on the rear. If you know approximately how wide you can go, please indicate if your response is considering stock fenders or with the fenders rolled (I've actually never inspected the rear wheel well of a J30 in person so I don't know how much room there is to be gained by rolling the fenders, but I'm just trying to get an idea of how limited I'd be with regards to tire and wheel size).

[driverdriver]

Is your model HICAS equipped?

[Nealoc187]

I don't own one yet as I haven't decided whether or not to tackle this project. If I had easy access to one I'd just go do some measuring and bolt some of my many many wheel/tire sets on there and see how wide I can get, but unfortunately I don't have one yet

Any idea on approximate max widths for both HICAS and non-HICAS models?

[driverdriver]

HICAS is the 4 wheel steering system. If you put wide tires in the rear you will have to purchase and install an HICAS disable kit, otherwise you'll destroy the 4 wheel steering system and possibly your new tires.

[Nealoc187]

HICAS is the 4 wheel steering system. If you put wide tires in the rear you will have to purchase and install an HICAS disable kit, otherwise you'll destroy the 4 wheel steering system and possibly your new tires.

I see, that's good to know, thanks.

Any ideas how wide you can go with tires in the rear?

[driverdriver]

I don't think anyone on this board has installed wide rear tires on the J.

Just as an FYI...on of the infinti techs on this board had brought up questions regarding suspension stress with fatter tires.

If and when you do it, please report back with your results.

If you buy a car with HICAS, I wouldn't recommend putting fat tires or big tires on the J. The HICAS systems lets the car handle like its on rails with no body lean. You'll love the "I didn't know that car could do that" look that newer Bimmer, Audi, Mercedes drivers get when you pass them on a curve or switchback without slowing down while in full control of the car.

[Nealoc187]

I don't think anyone on this board has installed wide rear tires on the J.

Just as an FYI...on of the infinti techs on this board had brought up questions regarding suspension stress with fatter tires.

If and when you do it, please report back with your results.

If you buy a car with HICAS, I wouldn't recommend putting fat tires or big tires on the J. The HICAS systems lets the car handle like its on rails with no body lean. You'll love the "I didn't know that car could do that" look that newer Bimmer, Audi, Mercedes drivers get when you pass them on a curve or switchback without slowing down while in full control of the car.

Thanks for all your help thus far driverdriver

Can you tell from the VIN if a car has HICAS or not? From what it sounds like, it would be not optimal for my purposes. If I buy a J30, it's going to end up with a turbocharged VH45DE or VH41DE in it making somewhere in the 600 wheel horsepower range most likely, so big tires are going to be a necessity unfortunately (I'd like to get a 275mm wide tire under there, since that's a very, very common tire width among max performance and drag radial tire manufacturers). I know i'd be pushing in to virtually uncharted territory, but any insights people can provide help cross just one more question off the long list of questions that need to be answered when it comes to a project of this magnitude.

[yodawill2000]

A level 10 or equivalent transmission will be needed if your gonna put down that much power.

Or a Heavy duty Manual transmission The stock J transmission like go out quickly as one of our members found out when he put a twin turbo 300zx engine in his.

[Nealoc187]

I worked for 3 years at one of the premier race transmission shops in the country. Transmission won't be an issue once I've gone through it (it will be a manual, most likely an MRA70 Z33 6speed with PPG 3rd and 4th helical cut gears, of which I have the first set in the world in my posession finally after a bit of waiting. Just gotta get time one of these weekends to put it together). though it may end up being a Z32TT 5spd if that ends up being a significantly easier swap - I have yet to compare the bellhousing bolt patterns side by side - probably mated to an R230 rear end and necessitating a custom driveshaft. No issues with the drivetrain other than the time it will take to fabricate all that's needed (adaptor plates, perhaps mounting brackets, etc).

[yodawill2000]

Should be a Beast !!!

[Nealoc187]

Should be a Beast !!!

If I ever do it that is lol, it's all a pipe dream right now but I've got the tools at my disposal but whether or not I'll decide to tackle it is another question. If I'm limited to some skinny little tire, that could be trouble and is a major factor in how the car would perform.

[Victor]

Look under the car at the rear suspension. If you see a mechanism attached to the wheels for turning them it has HICAS. Would probably have a factory installed spoiler and forged wheels too.

[yodawill2000]

I think the 94 "T" Was the last of the Hicas models ..Someone correct me if Im wrong

Roll the fenders and put some big A$$ drag radials on it !!!Pics are a must !!

[Kalypso]

measure it...

[Nealoc187]

measure it...

I would if I had access to one. Hopefully I see one parked somewhere and I can poke my head underneath and get a quick look to make an estimation. Does no one run wide tires on the back of these, if even just for looks? I'd have thought this would be a fairly common practice, the stance of the J30 is just begging to have a nice wheel and tire put under it.

[salaguinto]

I got a J30t with 18" G35 rims (225/40/18) and then I swapped them with staggered rims from a 370z (235/45/17 front and 245/45/17 back). So far I haven't had any problems with it. Didn't know that the HICAS would be a problem.

[driverdriver]

1993 and 1994 J30 "t" models are the only ones with HICAS. It was discontinued for other model years.

[salaguinto]

Yeah, mine is a '93. How do you disable HICAS?

[yodawill2000]

Why would you want too ??If you rear wheel isnt rubbing when you turn you should be golden.I would LOVE to have a T model.Turns on a dime !!

[salaguinto]

OK, I though there was a possibility of damaging the HICAS with the use of wide tires, especially in the rear. If its just a question on whether the tires are rubbing on the wheel well/fender, then its not a problem then. Thanks.

[driverdriver]

If you want to play it safe, there is a HICAS disable kit. It isn't expensive. It's much cheaper than any HICAS repair which are notoriously expensive.

Cheapest place to find it is:

http://www.everythinginfiniti.com

If you can't find it, in the online catalog, call the number and ask to speak to Joe. Tell him your a nicoclub member.

[SuicidnS13]

If I ever do it that is lol, it's all a pipe dream right now but I've got the tools at my disposal but whether or not I'll decide to tackle it is another question. If I'm limited to some skinny little tire, that could be trouble and is a major factor in how the car would perform.

Tire size is never limited my friend. You are only limited by your budget and skills at body work and simple offset calculations. If we can fit 315/30/18's under the back of factory body 240's, we can get pretty close to that on the back of a j30. I notice in the j30 section of nico there is alot of negativity when it comes to peoples ideas. This section needs more positive support.

BTW I cleared 275/35/18's with a 18 x 9.5+24 offset wheel with ease. If I get bored this weekend I will pull the rims of my 240 and remount them to my j30 and take some pics.

[Nealoc187]

Thanks, if you get a chance to try those on there I'd seriously appreciate it. I'm mostly curious about fitting them under stock or just rolled fenders. I'm not huge into wide body setups and I don't know how to do body work myself, so I'm most concerned with what fits under the stock fenders with maybe a bit of rolling.

thanks again.

[SuicidnS13]

My 18 x 9.5s cleared with ease and not even rolling at all. Im sure with a mild pull and a good roll some 18 x 11's with 315's would fit pretty easily if the offset was pretty high.

[Nealoc187]

sick, thanks dude.

do you have any reason to believe there would be significant interference issues under hard cornering or launching when the suspension compresses?