RedZ85 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 Im doing a V8 240 conversion. I have a 400+ hp Chevy and i know im gonna have traction issues. I have a LSD R-200 that i will be using...its 3.9:1. Im thinking of 17' rims, but i know that there are many other people here who know best, so im wondering How wide of a tire can i go and how wide a tire do i really need to go? Thanks! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
jonzer12 Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 You need to post more information, first of all what is your goal, if you have 400hp in your Z I assume you are more street/drag oriented then autocross/road racing. Must the tires fit in the stock wells? Fitting 17 inch wheels in a z requires some hefty suspension work, figure out what will fit, then decide on a rim, then figure out how long your tire must last you, then simply buy the most aggresive tire that will meet your specs if grip is your only concern. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love-my-V8-280Z Posted February 15, 2004 Share Posted February 15, 2004 I wouldn't do 17" rims. The stock is 14 every size you go up to ride gets worse. Its aready a 30 yr old design. What I have done is copied tons of other peoples comments and pics detailing what they say and how the cars look with the different sizes. So make a tires folder and copy things into a word doc and start saving. I have a ton., so when it comes time to buy tires and rims I can deside on size, rimes etc,,, wheel spacers? change lug pattern to honda, lots of things to consider. So at this eary stage Im thinking 15" and wheel spacers so I dont have to use datsun rims, very few to pick from.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love-my-V8-280Z Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Also they will most likely move this post to a different area... This is for V8 questions and answers... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Hey - 195/70-14 = 205/60-15 = 215/50-16 = 225/40-17 when it comes to tire diameter. Just depends on how low of a profile you want. Without modifying your suspension or body, if you want to be able to rotate your tires, then 225 width is about as wide as you can go. If you install coil-overs then maybe you can get to 245's. If you add flares then you can really get up there. Just depends on how far (think $$$) you want to go. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 I am running 245/45-16s all around. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 well Phantom thats not always true.. my 275-40-ZR17 is just a Tad.. im talkin TAD bit higher then my 195-70-HR14's that came on my car. check on tirerack.com for sizeing on different wheels and etc. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Mike, I took another look at Tire Rack. Your 275/40-17's are about 1.5" taller than a stock 195-70-14. There is minor variation from manufacturer to manufacturer but it is not more than .1" on diameter on the same size. If you vary the rims and go from a narrow to a very wide that can affect it but if you use the specified rims the numbers come out. Tim, Stock springs? no flares or rolled fender lip? front and rear? If so - what backspacing/offset are you running? I want to go there!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 my 195-70-14 was 25.4inchs tall.. my 275-40-17's are 25.7.. not a big difference at all. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tim240z Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Tim' date='Stock springs? no flares or rolled fender lip? front and rear? If so - what backspacing/offset are you running? I want to go there!![/quote'] I have 16x8 rims. 5 inch back space. I have 8inch coilovers, with about 1/4 inch of gap between the tire and spring. No rolled or flared fenders. I would guess that these would fit on a stock sprung car. Tim Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Thanks Tim. I think the stock spring is at least 1/2", if not a full 1", bigger in diameter than coil-overs? I'll check into it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BayAreaZT Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 Shouldn't 195-70-14s be 24.75"? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Danno74Z Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 The stock rear spring is 4.40" in dia. and a coilover spring is 3.35" (call it 3.40") in dia. Measurements were made with a micrometer. Danno74Z Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest ON3GO Posted February 16, 2004 Share Posted February 16, 2004 i dunno.. mine werent.. mike Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Thanks for the dimensions Danno. That 5/8" eats up the 1/4" clearance that Tim has and then goes into the tire. The good news is that I can get to 245's if I go to coil-overs without having to do body modifications - I just have to buy new wheels - OUCH! But then again - if I flare the rear I can probably get to 275's. Decisions, decisions. This one will take a few years. I need to put the car on the track with some good 225 width tires first and see what happens. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
madmanadam Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Hello, I was running 205/70/14 with no problems till I switched to coil overs and 245/45/17. Adam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phyte Posted February 17, 2004 Share Posted February 17, 2004 Thanks for the dimensions Danno. That 5/8" eats up the 1/4" clearance that Tim has and then goes into the tire. The good news is that I can get to 245's if I go to coil-overs without having to do body modifications - I just have to buy new wheels - OUCH!But then again - if I flare the rear I can probably get to 275's. Decisions' date=' decisions. This one will take a few years. I need to put the car on the track with some good 225 width tires first and see what happens.[/quote'] Phantom, I just got my Kuhmo ecsta 712 in, I'll let you know how they do when I get them on. I got 225/45/17's. Phyte Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
love-my-V8-280Z Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Phantom, I have a nice pic of a car with 225-50-16 on 16x7 3 piece Modular wheels If you would like a copy email me at steenhagens(at)triton(.)com Terry Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Phantom Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Terry, Thanks for the offer. I'm actually running 16x7 Center Lines now with 225/50-16 yokohama S306's. It's just that they have a '0' offset and I'm going to have to go to a +10 mm offset if I go to larger tires. That's why I'm going to try a very sticky set of 225/50-16's first. The S306's are OK V rated tires with a high mileage rating but they don't stick for do-do. Probably Kumho Ecsta V700's. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spdsk8r Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 Just got my new wheels and tires. ADR Fuel Lites, 17x7 with Kuhmo Ecsta Supra 712, 225/45ZR17. This is what they should look like, once I get spacers from Ross ( I have to save up for them). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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