Rims, tires, and VDC/Drifting

[Sentientbydesign]

I don't start new threads very often and when I do, you know I've got a lot to pack in lol.

Here's the deal. I'm not a huge fan of the Forged 19s. I love that they are one of the lightest 19s available, but that's where the love ends.

I'm also not really happy about the small selection of tires that fit the 19s.

As such, I was hoping for some input from you guys regarding lightweight 18s. I'm hoping for something with a small polished lip, but weight is a larger factor than bling.

I'm also hoping that whatever rim size I get will have a wider selection of tires that are more affordable.

VDC/Drifting

As many of you know, I'm a little scared about turing VDC off after the few bad experiences I've had (yeah yeah yeah, save the poor driver comments for another thread ).

The question is, how many of you find yourself drifting corners in your day to day driving. I've started to "speak to the spirit within my car..." ...No, really, I'm just finally getting used to having 2 more gears, 100 more ponies, and spinning rear wheels.

[Minmey15]

I don't start new threads very often and when I do, you know I've got a lot to pack in lol.

Here's the deal. I'm not a huge fan of the Forged 19s. I love that they are one of the lightest 19s available, but that's where the love ends.

I'm also not really happy about the small selection of tires that fit the 19s.

As such, I was hoping for some input from you guys regarding lightweight 18s. I'm hoping for something with a small polished lip, but weight is a larger factor than bling.

I'm also hoping that whatever rim size I get will have a wider selection of tires that are more affordable.

VDC/Drifting

As many of you know, I'm a little scared about turing VDC off after the few bad experiences I've had (yeah yeah yeah, save the poor driver comments for another thread ).

The question is, how many of you find yourself drifting corners in your day to day driving. I've started to "speak to the spirit within my car..." ...No, really, I'm just finally getting used to having 2 more gears, 100 more ponies, and spinning rear wheels.

My G is all stock, so can't help you with the rims and tires.

I never turn off VDC unless I go to twisties, but even at twisties, I have it on sometimes. Depends on the road, and condition, such as when it is raining, it does help me stay on the road.

Another word, I have it off when road is large enough and let me make some mistakes, and when road is small and I don't feel too confident, then I leave it on. Call me a wuss, but I love my car way too much, and I did not master G35 behavior like Jacko. I also leave it off when I drift, but I only do that once in a few months at a very large corner.

[Beancooker]

I leave it on when it rains, which is most of the time. When it is dry, I turn it off, and out of the parking lot at work, I always drift sideways, and keep it going as far up the road (private road) as I can.

In town, a lot of it is how much throttle you give it, and where at in the turn you are when you give it throttle. As I am coming out of the turn, it's full throttle. Going into it, or even 1/2 way through, not so much.

On straight aways, it will slide to the right some, but when I slap it up to second (yes autotragic) it usually catches pretty well, and no more slippage.

I'm getting 275's put on today, after work. I'll let you know how much of a difference they make.

As far as wheels, look at Weds Sport. Tire rack has good prices on them, and they look nice too. Not as light as Gram Lights, but less than 1/2 the price.

[zozoka1212]

I turn it off most of the time. sometimes when we get snow I do it too. As most of you aware of my playing habit in the snowy parking lots.

Dry road I can't slide it too much unless the tires are worn.

zozo

[Beancooker]

Te 275's still break free (a lot) but it feels a lot more "in control" than the 245's did.

[Sentientbydesign]

Cool, thanks for the feedback.

I'm considering some lightweight 18x8.5 18x9s. I just need to make sure there are affordable tires now.

I was searching around yesterday and fell in love with some BBS racing rims, but I don't think Magnesium race rims are in my budget. They had 18x10s that weighed in around or under 18lbs

[89'240sx]

have you ever her of Gram Lights? they are a sub company of Volk they aren't to to expensive but they aren't cheap. they also weigh in around the 18Lbs mark... personally im in love with the 57maximum. Of course you could go with Volk but idk how rich you are... they do make light weight 19's that are around 21Lbs (TE37)

if you haven't already, check out http://www.tirerack.com/

[Jacko3]

sentientByDesign:

Since I bought my car last year, I have only use the VDC when it rains. It is always permanently OFF in my car. I can't stand the way the car behaves when it is ON.

However, with the tires I have and the effect of Nitrogen on the tires, my VDC will now stay permanently OFF from here on, whether in rain or in dry conditions.

I fly through corners with the VDC OFF. I am still wondering why anyone would want to keep VDC ON all the time or for the most part. Just wondering!

As Beancooker said, "a lot of it is how much throttle you give it, and where at in the turn you are when you give it throttle. As I am coming out of the turn, it's full throttle. Going into it, or even 1/2 way through, not so much."

This is true! Knowing when to give it that input and in what gear you do so, is critical in the way the car handles. I learnt this earlier on when I lost my car after 2 months of owning it. Very scary but exciting situation.

[Sentientbydesign]

have you ever her of Gram Lights? they are a sub company of Volk they aren't to to expensive but they aren't cheap. they also weigh in around the 18Lbs mark... personally im in love with the 57maximum. Of course you could go with Volk but idk how rich you are... they do make light weight 19's that are around 21Lbs (TE37)

if you haven't already, check out http://www.tirerack.com/

Yeah, I've heard of Gram Lights, but I'm a little erked at them for not posting rim weight on the sites that I've seen them on.

The stock 19s weigh in at 19 and 21 if my memory and the source are right.

I won't be buying these any time soon, especially since most of these rims are upwards of $500/piece.

Jacko,

I like VDC staying on for one reason. Because I don't have to think when I drive. It always saves me. What I really need to do is take a weekend and blow a tank of gas in some deserted area to really get a feel for my coupe. I don't have a problem in realizing the traction slip point, it's after I lose traction, that I have a problem with.

[WhiteyClay]

I keep my VDC on most of the time. All the time when raining...Really bad personal experience...here are pics what happened when I was showing off infront of some 2 chicks driving behind me as I was trying to show that I drift in the rain ( yeah I know I'm 28 married with a baby, Please dont tell me how dumb I am cuz I heard that enough times...LOL I need to grow up,...probably i already did after this)my damage wasnt that bad but the parked car....uhhhlala

<-----Him....'98 altima.

<----Thats me...Who won?lolBut im back on the streets now with my....

[mcheddadi]

I leave VDC on most of the time. But unless there is heavy rain, light/heavy snow or that I'm driving aggressively in narrow twisties, it doesn't make much of a difference ON or OFF since I'm FWD LOL!
Modified by mcheddadi at 5:04 PM 5/8/2008

[WhiteyClay]

safety is first

[Sentientbydesign]

Thanks for the responses guys and gals. I'm finding myself pushing through corners more and more often and I'm going to have to replace my rear brakes every 6 months if I keep this up, since VDC engages them when I start breaking loose.