Tire Replacement

Shocks, springs, sway bars, coliovers, bushings, brakes, wheels, tires - This is the place to discuss G-Series suspension modifications!
The G35 Spot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:34 am

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Just wanted to throw this out there cause I am a little pissed. I had a little bit of road noise at low speeds and then a hum above 60 mph or so. So when I took it to the dealer, they told me that the front tires were "cupped" from being out of alignment and are worn unevely and that is what is causing the noise. Ok fine. Then he told me that my tires are pretty much worn out anyway. The car only has 12,000 miles. I understand that these are high performance tires, but this isn't my first time with Z rated tires or a high performance car, and as much as I like the car, I think chewing through a set of tires at 12k is a little extreme. If it were a Ferrari or an NSX I could understand. Anyone else have this problem? Any recommendations on tires? I have been looking at tire rack and it's looking like I won't be able to put tires on this car for less than $1000. Ouch. Especially if I am going to have to do this every year?!?!? I really don't drive that hard. Just wanted to throw this out there and see what everyone has to say.

Thanks,

Jay


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DenverG35c
Posts: 83
Joined: Wed Apr 30, 2003 3:40 pm
Car: Motor sports, computer solitaire...

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For what it's worth, my salesman warned me about the Michellins. He said be prepared to replace them around 10,000 miles. I still would have gotten the 18s but I couldn't wait when a coupe became available with the 17s.

Check out TireRack.com Bridgestone, Pirelli, and Yokahama have tires around $200. (less for the Yokahamas)

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GeeThreeFive
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:43 pm

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I bought my back to tires at 16,000 miles but my front tires are still good. I got mine at America's Tire Co. for $286.50 total for 2. I put Yokahama 255/45ZR/17's on the back.

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rydwhite
Posts: 3271
Joined: Fri May 30, 2003 3:43 am
Car: 2003 G35 Coupe

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That seems to be rather quick tire wear. I have the 17 inch Goodyears and I still have plenty of time to go before I need to replace tires and I have 25,000 miles on my car.

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GeeThreeFive
Posts: 319
Joined: Thu Oct 02, 2003 6:43 pm

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How can that be? Does the hot weather in Cali have anything to do with it? I drive hard but I don't lay any rubber.

Q45tech
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Posts: 14365
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl

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Study the 50 to zero wet/dry braking distances compared to oem, after all that is what is most important.

You can purchase tires that will have a stop range of 88 all the way to 100-107 feet.Whether you chose to redesign the stopping performance is up to you and your insurance company.

Obviously the faster the tire stops the faster it wears out.

Ambient temperature [your location] has a lot to do with wear/aging rates as does ozone perecentage in your area.

When a car comes with Ultra/Max performance tires you must expect that tires will be the major maintenance cost and 18" means you pay a penalty.

The G35 Spot
Posts: 8
Joined: Mon Aug 11, 2003 11:34 am

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Ok so I have been doing some reading. It seems like the best idea is to change from the stock tire size of 225-45-18 in front and 245-45-18 to a new size of 235-40-18 and 255-40-18. I am doing this mostly because of availability of tires. There is a much bigger selection of tires in these sizes. So far the Continental Extreme contacts look like they are gonna be the winners. They are pretty cheap and seem to have good all year performance (I could get away with summer tires all year in CA, but not now that I am back on the east coast.) I am also considering the Kumhos... Ecsta ASX I think. Treadwear is a big deciding factor. I am willing to sacrifice a little performance to not have to buy new tires every year. Any comments on these tires? Recommendations?

Jay

reply to Q45 tech... Where can I find info on stopping distances for tires?

Q45tech
Moderator
Posts: 14365
Joined: Tue Apr 30, 2002 3:19 am
Car: 1990 Q45 342,400 miles 22 years ownership with original engine
1995 G20t 5 speed 334,000 miles 16" 2002 wheels - 205/50/16 Sr20ve vvl

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Look at the 50-zero wet/dry graphs in the Tire Rack tire tests.http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/tes ... s/....html

Only recently have they added braking to the regiem.

ABS systems are calibrated to a certain ragged edge stick/slip ratio.......to minimize the number of brake releases per second.When a tire doesn't have the same coefficient of tire/road friction the ABS just compensates but each engagement can increase stopping distance..........each 1/10th of a second [of no braking] in a 3.5 second stop adds 9-4 feet [depending on speed when brakes cycle.

Not sure if it makes sense to buy a car that stops better than 98% of the units on the road and redesign it so that it is average or worse. But the same logic with changing brake pads to reduce dust and change stopping distances [ABS calibration].

I always believe owners would be better off ungrading the load index and going to faster wearing tires.........as one accident will negate any perceived savings.

People want the IMAGE of performance not real performance when it has a reoccurring cost. [tires, brakes, premium gasoline, alignments, rotating , radial force balancing, flipping and rotating, changing the oil, maintenance of any kind].

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AZhitman
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Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
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Pffft.

I only get 10K out of my tires... I've put 2 sets on my Q in 2 years and she's due for a third.

Dennis is right. If you look at tires as a disposable commodity (like brake pads, fluids and gas) you won't feel as bad.

Two words to keep in mind when you shop for tires: Cheap and sticky, NOT in that order.

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desertq45
Posts: 87
Joined: Mon Jan 19, 2004 11:59 am
Car: 1990 Q45

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Yep... none of the tires I've used wear much beyond 20k. Tried Michelin, Yokos (when cupped they howled), Continentals, Pirellis, Dunlops, and now Kuhmos (on 1990 Q).

Why so many brands? Because they all wear out so fast I could keep trying others. Each time I did all the research and got the best recommendations at the time... and then replaced them at less than 20k. Actually the Michelins and the Dunlops lasted the longest but you have to be religious about rotating them.

I just replaced the wheels w/17" aftermarkets and took a page from the hitman playbook and went with the Kuhmos (the one you are considering) after a friend of mine with a Z08 Vette recommended them to me. Dollar vs. performance vs. wear he said they were a solid buy for a disposable commodity and so far I have to agree. I figure at $400/set, it is just part of the annual maintenance bill, but way cheaper than the $700-1000 for Michelins.

BTW, I have an alignment done each time I buy tires and probably should do it more often and I rotate the tires w/every oil change.

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AZhitman
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Posts: 71061
Joined: Mon Apr 29, 2002 2:04 am
Car: 58 L210, 63 Bluebird RHD, 64 NL320, 65 SPL310, 66 411 RHD, 67 WRL411, 68 510 SR20, 75 280Z RB25, 77 620 SR20, 79 B310, 90 S13, 92 SE-R, 92 Silvia Qs, 98 S14.
Location: Surprise, Arizona
Contact:

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Ditto that.

I told the shop guys I'd feed them the Yokohama's if they wouldn't take them back (actually, they offered to take them back after 8 balances in 7 months).

I've had Michelins (crappy in the wet), the Yoko's, and the Falkens, and I'd buy the Falkens again in a heartbeat.

I'd also buy Kumhos or Nittos as well, was happy with those on my prior ride.

vq35de
Posts: 211
Joined: Fri May 16, 2003 4:20 pm
Car: G35 Sedan Leather 6MT

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good luck, and yes rubber is expensive but it is the single most effective performance upgrade you can make to a stock or near stock vehicle.

spring for michelins if you want the treadlife. I don't know why your tires went so fast but in my experience the michelins will last longer than any other tire. by the way I am running goodyear F1 GS-D3 rubber on my sedan and I should see 20k miles. I don't know the availabliitly in those sizes but consider the goodyears (nice and quiet even at 49 psi)

good luck.


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