The "smaller" car theory actually has a lot to do with it. You can see it when comparing to the early Z's like the 240's. They look like compact cars when you put them side by side, though our 370Z is a lot more ridgid, safer etc... Also, looking at modern light weights like the Lotus Elise, the Z looks like a boat. Tire/wheel weight has more to do with unsprung weight, which is another topic altogether. Every ounce counts, and usually the lighter stuff is more expensive. There is a lot that goes into the design and engineering aspect, and I would suspect Nissan had to compromise on some stuff to keep the Z financially viable or retain certain design elements. They could have done better, but the Z is far from "heavy"
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[09][MB][6-Spd MT][Touring][Stillen Gen III][K&N][Borla CBE][Evo-R]
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