datsfun
Club Member
Was a nipper enjoying nursery schooling in tropical Africa!
Andrew, are you running 14" or 15" wheels ? Tyre choice in 14's is limited...
-
The Z Club relies on the support of it's paid members - join the club or renew your membership here.
240z Tyres (again)
- Thread starter Andrew
- Start date
Was a nipper enjoying nursery schooling in tropical Africa!
Andrew, are you running 14" or 15" wheels ? Tyre choice in 14's is limited...
Datsfun
They are 15's, but I looked at both your suggestions Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrics and Continental Sport Contact 5's and neither of them are available in both 195/55/R15's and 205/60/R15's. So I a am now thinking about Firestone Winterhawk 3's. They have really good reviews, but are primarily a winter tyre. In truth, I don't expect to doing much winter driving, but it might be the best compromise and are available in both sizes.
They are 15's, but I looked at both your suggestions Goodyear Eagle F1 asymmetrics and Continental Sport Contact 5's and neither of them are available in both 195/55/R15's and 205/60/R15's. So I a am now thinking about Firestone Winterhawk 3's. They have really good reviews, but are primarily a winter tyre. In truth, I don't expect to doing much winter driving, but it might be the best compromise and are available in both sizes.
datsfun
Club Member
Can I ask why you want to maintain the odd profile size set up ?
I would have a look at other members' cars and see what tyre set up is being commonly used on 15X7 or even 15x8 wheels.
205/50/15 is a very popular size but probably works best with a slightly lowered set up.
toopy
Club Member
I guess it depends on wether it is say 50 profile front, and then 55 rear which you might not notice, but 60 rear, IMO would be noticeable, assuming same tyre width
try this calculator for width versus profile comparisons http://www.willtheyfit.com/
Can I ask why you want to maintain the odd profile size set up ?
I would have a look at other members' cars and see what tyre set up is being commonly used on 15X7 or even 15x8 wheels.
205/50/15 is a very popular size but probably works best with a slightly lowered set up.
Well as you know, I have only just realised that the profiles were different. The only reason for now wanting to maintain that is that I think the car looks good as it is. Not saying it couldn't look better! It has been lowered a bit (not by me), and I might well change the suspension at some stage (but keep it lowered a little). I agree that seeing a few other cars would be good but I don't know anyone else with a Z! I should have paid more attention when I went down to Fourways, but at that stage the tyres weren't on my mind.
datsfun
Club Member
So you like the "rake" look with a higher rear end?...
Have a look at other members cars on here which give you an idea of how different tyre sizes and profiles look on a car in 15".
Plenty of really nice look examples on forum to hopefully give you some idea.
But we await to see pictures of your car first!
Have a look at other members cars on here which give you an idea of how different tyre sizes and profiles look on a car in 15".
Plenty of really nice look examples on forum to hopefully give you some idea.
But we await to see pictures of your car first!
Tony 260Z
Club Member
My 260 has 225/60/14 on the back and 195/70/14 on the front and drives fine (although parking is a good arm workout!). It looks suitably beefy from behind and level from the side. I think part of the issue regarding the feeling of confidence on the M25 in a downpour is what the driver is used to the rest of the time - ie unconsciously comparing the Z to a modern car in the same conditions. I love my Z to bits but I wouldn't call driving on the M25 in heavy rain a massive laugh. Poor windscreen wipers, average ventilation to keep the screen demisted, limited all-round visibility and an awareness that almost every car and truck around me has anti-lock brakes, power steering, better lights, crumple zones and multiple airbags doesn't inspire confidence. Add to that lot the fact that the M25 seems to be full of idiots half the time and it gets a bit scary. So, sad to say, if I get caught in the rain on a motorway I'm pretty quickly wishing I was driving something else!
To be honest the handling aspect was cornering and roundabouts in wetter conditions. But i take your point. I did learn a bit of a lesson.
My car doesn't have a raked look at all. But that's possibly due to the lower suspension set up at the rear.
I know I'm going to be nagged about photos soon so I'll shut up. I promise I'm working on it.
My car doesn't have a raked look at all. But that's possibly due to the lower suspension set up at the rear.
I know I'm going to be nagged about photos soon so I'll shut up. I promise I'm working on it.
datsfun
Club Member
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Never had any fear to wet-weather drive in mine and I was on Toyo semi-slicks.
Here's a laugh....cool-ish lap to warm up and then.....:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrrlJTec9t0
Here's a laugh....cool-ish lap to warm up and then.....:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yrrlJTec9t0
datsfun
Club Member
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
Wrong type of rain?
Got a tadge wide on the synthetic grass they have on the edge of the track thinging it was plain, old boring concrete......game over !
Attachments
Oops, does look like a good laugh though
Now more importantly how did you get you windscreen wipers to work that well?!
Mine move at only about 30% of that speed at best Oops, does look like a good laugh though
Now more importantly how did you get you windscreen wipers to work that well?!
It probably wasn't raining at all. He just put them on to make it look tougher
It probably wasn't raining at all. He just put them on to make it look tougher
He's got to salvage his ego somehow :lol:
SeanDezart
Well-Known Forum User
I had/have a wiper motor that works and greased the mechanism.
The ego is intact - I went on to do another 2 1/2 hrs getting quicker :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mngDUa7Eg
but ultimately, FWD with wet tyres IS quicker.
The ego is intact - I went on to do another 2 1/2 hrs getting quicker :
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=43mngDUa7Eg
but ultimately, FWD with wet tyres IS quicker.
Thanks the the reply Sean, sounds like mine is in much needs of some TLC
Looks like the OEM option can be good if properly maintained. I've got to get out on track once I've got the car setup
bluejon
Club Member
My tyre dilemma is as follows, which I need to resolve as I get the car out of the garage ready for spring. I'm running 14x7 rims. I'm not intending to change these given their rarity (70's period Chowini branded alu-rims manufactured by Hayashi Racing), but this limits tyre choice.
At the moment they are wearing 195x60 tyres which are fine for width (maybe slightly narrow) but are too slim in profile versus OEM. They look slightly small in the arches and it affects the speedo/odo accuracy. So I want to go up in size and as two tyres need replacing due to age/cracking that is my preference rather than a full four swap. Options are:
- go up to 195x70. This gives me some choices (Falken Ziex, Vredstein and Dunlop StreetResponse) and is a close match to OEM. BUT, I think the 70 profile might be noticeable, say on the rear, versus 60 profile on the front. How good/bad that would actually look I can only guess ... the difference overall is 1.5 inches in wheel height (and 0.75 inches axle v axle)
- mid option is 195x65. It still leaves me short of OEM, but avoids the possibly noticeable difference to the current tyres. And there is some choice in this size
- go up to 205x65. Again close to OEM, but there are almost no makers of this size if the cheapy brands are excluded. The only one I can see that might be considered a mid-range tyre is NEXEN, but I'm not feeling so enamoured with that. The tyre width would look slightly better on the rims though.
At the moment they are wearing 195x60 tyres which are fine for width (maybe slightly narrow) but are too slim in profile versus OEM. They look slightly small in the arches and it affects the speedo/odo accuracy. So I want to go up in size and as two tyres need replacing due to age/cracking that is my preference rather than a full four swap. Options are:
- go up to 195x70. This gives me some choices (Falken Ziex, Vredstein and Dunlop StreetResponse) and is a close match to OEM. BUT, I think the 70 profile might be noticeable, say on the rear, versus 60 profile on the front. How good/bad that would actually look I can only guess ... the difference overall is 1.5 inches in wheel height (and 0.75 inches axle v axle)
- mid option is 195x65. It still leaves me short of OEM, but avoids the possibly noticeable difference to the current tyres. And there is some choice in this size
- go up to 205x65. Again close to OEM, but there are almost no makers of this size if the cheapy brands are excluded. The only one I can see that might be considered a mid-range tyre is NEXEN, but I'm not feeling so enamoured with that. The tyre width would look slightly better on the rims though.
