Crazy Thought on Tires

nismo2evox

This one is out there but...

Anyone ever consider going with tires that are less grippy than the OEM tires?

The reason I was wondering is because I primarily drive my car on the street and for all practical purposes will never be able to get close to the cars limits. However, if you put on less grippy tires you can have a bit of fun sliding the Z around here and there. (Think BRZ on their stock tires as an example. I wonder if the people driving on those are having more fun than with super sticky tires?)

Especially with the Nismo's incredible chassis I wonder if this would be more fun on a day to day basis, not to mention much cheaper on the wallet. Hell even if it's just for a year to see how it goes and if it's awful, just toss them and get RE-11's or whatever.

Thoughts? Anyone have a BRZ/FRS and drive on stock vs aftermarket tires?

GZ3

crazy thought is right

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DarkJak

Relevant video:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPh90yNX-mY

Definitely have thought of it. Other cars I've driven on less grippy tires have been super predictable at the limits and easy to drive at them because of how gradually they give out in comparison to the Z.

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nismo2evox

^ DarkJak, you pretty much hit the nail on the head. Perfect example video! Love that it's Chris Harris as well so it's vettable and look at the fun he is having. A less grippy, super predictable tire. Any suggestions? (haha maybe not the space savers though )

I think the Z is one of the highest rated cars to be in an accident with based on an article I saw on Carbuzz a few months back. I wonder if people drive the relatively sticky tires on the Z to the limit and when they let go people crash.

I would never put tires on that were even moderately unsafe or drive like an *** hat. A little slip is fun. I'd actually argue all the posts about people spinning the stock tires on the Z or getting the tail loose are a bit unsafe because you have to be going pretty hard to do that.

On normal road speeds the Z's stock tires should never be breaking loose unless it's wet.

SouthArk370Z

On a closed track? Sure. For a DD? You'll just be a menace to other drivers and pedestrians.

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kenchan

there was a guy recommending some bicycle tire sizes.. forget who dat waz...

AdamRacer

Sounds like some slicks in the rain is what you are looking for.

ssmoked

It will be fun til the Z comes around a corner and can't clear a tree while sliding

POS VETT

This is surely an out-of-the-box thinking and, strangely, I can see that. With my background and experience in anything automotive, I have actually been doing that except, maybe, not in an extreme level like the OEM tires that come with Scion FRS. Sometimes, after being exposed to grip that road-course slicks provide, I want "looser" tires (not sloppy suspension) for the streets (no, I won't die in a fiery crash or wrap my car around a tree anytime soon). Most of my selection of street tires reflect this.

With this kind of thinking, you better know what to expect and how to properly respond. IMO, it's a reward to be able to drive a car at its limits; it is not easy and you have to be very mindful on the street. Proceed with caution.

JARblue

I would never put less grippy tires on the Z just in case I need to make an emergency maneuver.

For a little fun sliding the tires, I wait until it rains or my tires need replacing before finding an empty parking lot to practice

Please don't practice power sliding on public roads

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SouthArk370Z

^ This ^

Sub-par equipment can be lots of fun - just don't do it on the street.

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nismo2evox

Just to take a step back for a moment to put this into perspective (I think perhaps I wasn't clear) ... I'm comparing the experience with a bit lesser tire on the Z to a BRZ/FRS with their stock tires, which even according to top gear are a hoot because it allows you to have some fun.

You don't see warning threads telling every BRZ/FRS owner that they have sub par equipment so don't drive on the street. It's not like I'm planning doing what they did in that Chris Harris video either. Hell even cheap all season tires would still be better than the stock BRZ/FRZ tires. I'm looking to exploit the Nismo's phenomenal chassis on a street level. I don't plan on taking it to the track or driving at speeds that I could utilize a semi-track tire.

I do fully agree that a semi-track tire would give you the best response in an emergency situation so +1 for that, but comon its fun to kick the tail out a bit pulling away from a stop sign on to those those 40 mph ish back roads To do that on even the stock tires you really have to commit. The Dunlops according to tire rack have a less extreme compound than the stock tires and seem predictable which is why I am leaning towards them.

But I wouldn't put poor equipment on my car that would leave me a chance of having a crash just to do this. I'm basically reiterating what Chris Harris is saying at the end of this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HPh90yNX-mY

JARblue

You can find tires with plenty of grip that don't suddenly break grip. Less grip is not necessarily what you want. You want tires that give good feedback as traction decreases and have predictability as the tire starts to slip.

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nismo2evox

^ Correct, any suggestions on tires like this?

JARblue

I wish I could.

Have you tried the RE-11? That's the only real performance tire I have used on my Z that I can say had very good feedback. My biggest complaint was they needed optimum conditions to perform up to their potential. Also, the window of good predictability was pretty small. It got much worse as the tread wore down.

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