Sidewall Height on Front tires

osbornsm · 10-24-2014, 10:31 AM

Hello all,

I am running Base 18" wheels.
- OEM Front spec: 245/45/18
- OEM Rear spec: 275/40/18

Question
Any thoughts on running a smaller sidewall on the front?
- I.E. 245/40/18
...if I keep the rear size: 275/40/18

Details
This is without TPMS.
These will be track tires.
I am leaning towards Nitto NT-05

speedfreek · 10-24-2014, 10:38 AM

Why do you want to run a smaller sidewall on the front?

It will lower your front by about an inch.

245/40 = 25.7 inch tire height
245/45 = 26.7 inch tire height

osbornsm · 10-24-2014, 10:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreek

Why do you want to run a smaller sidewall on the front?
It will lower your front by about an inch.

...Nitto doesn't make the 245/40/18.

I cannot find a decent track tire in 245/45/18.

Trying to find something less expensive than Michelin PSS.

speedfreek · 10-24-2014, 10:49 AM

Can you get 275/35/18? That would keep you level front to back while lowering it overall about an inch.

OldFart · 10-24-2014, 10:50 AM

Tire Size Comparison

FPenvy · 10-24-2014, 11:07 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osbornsm

...Nitto doesn't make the 245/40/18.

I cannot find a decent track tire in 245/45/18.

Trying to find something less expensive than Michelin PSS.

did you look at RE-11's?

cheaper than PSSs and seem to have better grip so far for me.

i changed from PSSs to RE-11s and love them.

as for your sidewall issue most people have beat me to it.

if you take the size difference from F to R out of a certain percentage then the traction control light will stay on constantly as well.

my F/R are 265/35/19 - 305/30/19 and they are bang on identical overall diameters. 26.3" i believe.

DjSquall · 10-24-2014, 12:11 PM

Here's the tire size calculator

Tire size calculator

kenchan · 10-24-2014, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osbornsm

Hello all,

I am running Base 18" wheels.
- OEM Front spec: 245/45/18
- OEM Rear spec: 275/40/18

Question
Any thoughts on running a smaller sidewall on the front?
- I.E. 245/40/18
...if I keep the rear size: 275/40/18

Details
This is without TPMS.
These will be track tires.
I am leaning towards Nitto NT-05

youll want to compare load rating... and why nitto's.

osbornsm · 10-24-2014, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kenchan

youll want to compare load rating... and why nitto's.

Nobody makes a decent tire with the two sizes listed below, besides PSS, and those are too much for a Track Tire.

- OEM Front spec: 245/45/18
- OEM Rear spec: 275/40/18

FPenvy · 10-24-2014, 03:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by osbornsm

Nobody makes a decent tire with the two sizes listed below, besides PSS, and those are too much for a Track Tire.

- OEM Front spec: 245/45/18
- OEM Rear spec: 275/40/18

i thought OEM Z base wheels (the 18s) came with 225/245 setup?

i know sport packages OEM Rays have 245/40/19 and 275/35/19 tires

speedfreek · 10-24-2014, 03:13 PM

Run the 245/40/18 and 275/35/18. Problem solved.

osbornsm · 10-24-2014, 05:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by speedfreek

Run the 245/40/18 and 275/35/18. Problem solved.

Is 1/2 inch less sidewall something to be considerate of when tracking ur car?
- These are track tires btw...

speedfreek · 10-24-2014, 06:06 PM

Only if you are on coilovers and already sitting low then the lower tire height would become more of a concern.

I run 35 profile tires on all 4 corners.

gomer_110 · 10-24-2014, 08:26 PM

shorter sidewall = better tire performance, everything else being equal

The shorter sidewall helps combat the tires squirming when under cornering loads.

osbornsm · 10-30-2014, 03:06 PM

i had always run my tires at OEM or damn-near spec.

Never run a shorter sidewall than stock... learning process here.

10-24-2014, 10:31 AM	#1 (permalink)
osbornsm A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: WHAT Posts: 2,551 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Rep Power: 424	Sidewall Height on Front tires Hello all, I am running Base 18" wheels. - OEM Front spec: 245/45/18 - OEM Rear spec: 275/40/18 Question Any thoughts on running a smaller sidewall on the front? - I.E. 245/40/18 ...if I keep the rear size: 275/40/18 Details This is without TPMS. These will be track tires. I am leaning towards Nitto NT-05 __________________ 2018 Camaro SS 1LE (455hp) - 2011 Nissan 370z (333hp) - 2004 VW R32 (240hp) - 2000 Civic Si (160hp)

10-24-2014, 10:38 AM	#2 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 18	Why do you want to run a smaller sidewall on the front? It will lower your front by about an inch. 245/40 = 25.7 inch tire height 245/45 = 26.7 inch tire height __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

10-24-2014, 10:49 AM	#4 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 18	Can you get 275/35/18? That would keep you level front to back while lowering it overall about an inch. __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

10-24-2014, 12:11 PM	#7 (permalink)
DjSquall A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tottenham, ON Age: 36 Posts: 1,340 Drives: My first car Rep Power: 22	Here's the tire size calculator Tire size calculator __________________ My Z did p0rn

10-24-2014, 03:13 PM	#11 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 18	Run the 245/40/18 and 275/35/18. Problem solved. osbornsm likes this. __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

10-24-2014, 10:50 AM	#5 (permalink)
OldFart Track Member Join Date: May 2013 Location: Carlisle, PA Age: 62 Posts: 682 Drives: 2011 Wannabe Nismo Rep Power: 960	Tire Size Comparison

10-24-2014, 06:06 PM	#13 (permalink)
speedfreek A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: Huntsville,AL Posts: 1,724 Drives: '12 370Z PW 6sp Rep Power: 18	Only if you are on coilovers and already sitting low then the lower tire height would become more of a concern. I run 35 profile tires on all 4 corners. __________________ Tomei\|Berk\|Takeda\|ZSpeed\|Fortune Auto\|Swift\|Eibach\|SPL\|Carbotech\|Motul\|Powertrix\|Stillen\|Aerojacket\|Z1\|Forgestar\|Enkei\|Project Kics\|Nismo Ti\|Llumar speedfreek's journal

10-24-2014, 08:26 PM	#14 (permalink)
gomer_110 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Perrysburg, OH Posts: 17,992 Drives: '11 Nismo #528 GM Rep Power: 36941	shorter sidewall = better tire performance, everything else being equal The shorter sidewall helps combat the tires squirming when under cornering loads. __________________ '11 370Z Nismo #528 Fast Intentions \| Stillen \| Motordyne \| Uprev \| CSF \| Zspeed \| Z1 Motorsports \| AST \| Swift \| SPC \| SPL \| Whiteline \| Hotchkis \| Bride \| Schroth \| Robispec \| Cusco \| Nismo \| Volk \| Forgestar \| Hoosier \| RJM '17 Titan Bone Stock

10-30-2014, 03:06 PM	#15 (permalink)
osbornsm A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: WHAT Posts: 2,551 Drives: 2018 Camaro SS 1LE Rep Power: 424	i had always run my tires at OEM or damn-near spec. Never run a shorter sidewall than stock... learning process here. __________________ 2018 Camaro SS 1LE (455hp) - 2011 Nissan 370z (333hp) - 2004 VW R32 (240hp) - 2000 Civic Si (160hp)

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