20 inch wheels

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 03:14 PM

I've had my 20's on my car before but it didn't drive all that great..it pulled within the grooves of the road alot. I think I had a discussion about this before but I kept getting different answers, so I figured I'd go for it again. Anyway..the offset is 45..does that mean I should get spacers? And what mm? I bought hubcentric rings because someone told me I needed them but Im still so confused. If I can't get this handled soon, I'm just gonna sell the wheels and put 15/20mm on my stockers.

ChrisSlicks · 03-09-2010, 03:35 PM

Spacers aren't going to improve the handling, it just changes the track width (which may change the handling characteristic but that's a different issue).

Hubcentric centering rings are required with any aftermarket wheel, but this is to help keep your wheels centered and balanced. If you are having a handling problem it could simply be the fact that the wheels are lower profile and wider than stock, wide wheels have a tendency to follow every groove in the road. You could try to counter it by increasing the amount of toe-in, but I think it is always going to do it to a certain extent.

Where your stock wheels 18" or 19"?

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 03:37 PM

18s...its just weird tho because I had these wheels on the 350 without any issues

ChrisSlicks · 03-09-2010, 04:39 PM

20's will definitely track more than the 18's. My 19's with wide tires track like crazy on certain bad roads.

Do you have the same tires installed as before?

Find a shop that will do custom alignments and tell them that you want to increase toe-in to max stock spec. My shop does custom alignments for $70, same as a regular one.

TipsZ · 03-09-2010, 04:59 PM

Also, I have noticed differences between the tires themselves. What I mean by this is I've experienced some aggressive/sticky tread patterns tend to track along grooves in the road, while other "touring" type threads did not.

6MT · 03-09-2010, 05:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

20's will definitely track more than the 18's. My 19's with wide tires track like crazy on certain bad roads.

Do you have the same tires installed as before?

Find a shop that will do custom alignments and tell them that you want to increase toe-in to max stock spec. My shop does custom alignments for $70, same as a regular one.

You may want to consider the tire life (shorter) if you max out the toe.

jmlenz · 03-09-2010, 05:36 PM

IMO the overall diameter of the wheel has nothing to do with 'tracking' (OPs complaint). It has everything to do with the tires tread pattern, contact patch, tire width, and alignment. Obviously Z rated performance tires are going to track more than non-directional all season tires due to their aggressive, directional pattern.

Suggestion - Since you already have hubrings, get a proper 4-wheel alignment like Chris said and maybe even have the wheels rebalanced.

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 06:23 PM

Thanks for all this information guys!
I just got back from getting the 20's put back on. And to my surprise, these tires are actually BETTER than the stock 18s. I don't know if it's from the hub rings, Stillen sway bars, or from changing the tire psi to 45 (max is 50). But overall I am very happy compared to how the car felt a few months ago with these wheels. I actually like the way they feel and sound which is quieter than stock..I can hear the exhaust more

But it definitly needs 20-25mm spacers for the rears and some coilovers and I'm set! I'm shocked I didn't even need a balance or alignment

ChrisSlicks · 03-09-2010, 06:42 PM

Considering you were missing the centering rings before it may have helped.

Now that you've got it riding how you like it, try dropping the tire pressure some. 45 psi is pretty extreme, stock is 35 psi cold.

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 06:46 PM

But that is for the stock tire. My wheel states ''50 max psi". If I end up having problems, I'll take your advice

thanks

ChrisSlicks · 03-09-2010, 06:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SophiaZ

But that is for the stock tire. My wheel states ''50 max psi". If I end up having problems, I'll take your advice

thanks

The stock tires state "max 50 psi" also, but you don't go by what is on the tire, you go by what is recommend for the car and stamped on the emblem on the drivers door B-pillar. Anywhere is the 35-40 range will work ok, but 35 is stock ride comfort.

And remember, pressure increases with temperature, so as it gets warmer and with the friction of the tire on the road you could easily exceed 50 psi if you start at 45.

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 07:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ChrisSlicks

The stock tires state "max 50 psi" also, but you don't go by what is on the tire, you go by what is recommend for the car and stamped on the emblem on the drivers door B-pillar. Anywhere is the 35-40 range will work ok, but 35 is stock ride comfort.

And remember, pressure increases with temperature, so as it gets warmer and with the friction of the tire on the road you could easily exceed 50 psi if you start at 45.

Oh, I got what your saying. But how quickly does a tire lose pressure? It's only in the 30-40s here in NJ, and when the sun comes up it's about 50-60. Is that really warm enough to expand them over the max?!! I guess I could take it back to 40? I think the tires were tracking like that to begin with becuz maybe all tires weren't even psi. I'll give it a whirl..THANKS

ChrisSlicks · 03-09-2010, 08:12 PM

As a guide you should generally expect a 1 psi change in pressure for every 10 degree change in the tire temperature. Note that under normal driving your tire temperature will be 10-20 degrees higher than the air temperature after several miles, and under aggressive driving it could be 40-50 degrees higher.

Try dropping down to 40 all around and see how it does. With the stock metal valve stems I haven't seen any pressure loss at all, just fluctuations in pressure due to temperature. With cheap rubber stems you might lose a tiny bit but probably not enough to notice.

Daishi · 03-09-2010, 08:13 PM

yes sophia def bring your tires back down to 40. dont exceed that.

SophiaZ · 03-09-2010, 09:02 PM

Ok, I'll change t tomorrow and hope the ride feels the same. Thanks guys

03-09-2010, 03:14 PM	#1 (permalink)
SophiaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,463 Drives: 2020 50th anniv 7AT Rep Power: 6733	20 inch wheels I've had my 20's on my car before but it didn't drive all that great..it pulled within the grooves of the road alot. I think I had a discussion about this before but I kept getting different answers, so I figured I'd go for it again. Anyway..the offset is 45..does that mean I should get spacers? And what mm? I bought hubcentric rings because someone told me I needed them but Im still so confused. If I can't get this handled soon, I'm just gonna sell the wheels and put 15/20mm on my stockers.

03-09-2010, 04:59 PM	#5 (permalink)
TipsZ Track Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Lithia, FL Age: 51 Posts: 552 Drives: 09 Nissan 370z CS M6 Rep Power: 186	Also, I have noticed differences between the tires themselves. What I mean by this is I've experienced some aggressive/sticky tread patterns tend to track along grooves in the road, while other "touring" type threads did not. __________________ Dynojet 285 HP/245 TQ (pre CBE)// Agency Power CBE // GTM Test Pipes // JWT Pop Chargers // B&M Short Shifter // Eibach Springs // Powder-coated Akebono's // Powder-coated Strut Bar // Black Chromed 19" Rays // // Redline Designs Graphics TipsZ journal

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03-09-2010, 03:35 PM	#2 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Spacers aren't going to improve the handling, it just changes the track width (which may change the handling characteristic but that's a different issue). Hubcentric centering rings are required with any aftermarket wheel, but this is to help keep your wheels centered and balanced. If you are having a handling problem it could simply be the fact that the wheels are lower profile and wider than stock, wide wheels have a tendency to follow every groove in the road. You could try to counter it by increasing the amount of toe-in, but I think it is always going to do it to a certain extent. Where your stock wheels 18" or 19"?

03-09-2010, 03:37 PM	#3 (permalink)
SophiaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,463 Drives: 2020 50th anniv 7AT Rep Power: 6733	18s...its just weird tho because I had these wheels on the 350 without any issues

03-09-2010, 04:39 PM	#4 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	20's will definitely track more than the 18's. My 19's with wide tires track like crazy on certain bad roads. Do you have the same tires installed as before? Find a shop that will do custom alignments and tell them that you want to increase toe-in to max stock spec. My shop does custom alignments for $70, same as a regular one.

03-09-2010, 05:36 PM	#7 (permalink)
jmlenz Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: San Diego Posts: 645 Drives: a car Rep Power: 643	IMO the overall diameter of the wheel has nothing to do with 'tracking' (OPs complaint). It has everything to do with the tires tread pattern, contact patch, tire width, and alignment. Obviously Z rated performance tires are going to track more than non-directional all season tires due to their aggressive, directional pattern. Suggestion - Since you already have hubrings, get a proper 4-wheel alignment like Chris said and maybe even have the wheels rebalanced.

03-09-2010, 06:23 PM	#8 (permalink)
SophiaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,463 Drives: 2020 50th anniv 7AT Rep Power: 6733	Thanks for all this information guys! I just got back from getting the 20's put back on. And to my surprise, these tires are actually BETTER than the stock 18s. I don't know if it's from the hub rings, Stillen sway bars, or from changing the tire psi to 45 (max is 50). But overall I am very happy compared to how the car felt a few months ago with these wheels. I actually like the way they feel and sound which is quieter than stock..I can hear the exhaust more But it definitly needs 20-25mm spacers for the rears and some coilovers and I'm set! I'm shocked I didn't even need a balance or alignment

03-09-2010, 06:42 PM	#9 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	Considering you were missing the centering rings before it may have helped. Now that you've got it riding how you like it, try dropping the tire pressure some. 45 psi is pretty extreme, stock is 35 psi cold.

03-09-2010, 06:46 PM	#10 (permalink)
SophiaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,463 Drives: 2020 50th anniv 7AT Rep Power: 6733	But that is for the stock tire. My wheel states ''50 max psi". If I end up having problems, I'll take your advice thanks

03-09-2010, 08:12 PM	#13 (permalink)
ChrisSlicks A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North East Posts: 6,203 Drives: 09 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 653	As a guide you should generally expect a 1 psi change in pressure for every 10 degree change in the tire temperature. Note that under normal driving your tire temperature will be 10-20 degrees higher than the air temperature after several miles, and under aggressive driving it could be 40-50 degrees higher. Try dropping down to 40 all around and see how it does. With the stock metal valve stems I haven't seen any pressure loss at all, just fluctuations in pressure due to temperature. With cheap rubber stems you might lose a tiny bit but probably not enough to notice.

03-09-2010, 08:13 PM	#14 (permalink)
Daishi Track Member Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: NJ Posts: 683 Drives: 09 370z 6Speed Rep Power: 17	yes sophia def bring your tires back down to 40. dont exceed that.

03-09-2010, 09:02 PM	#15 (permalink)
SophiaZ A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: South Jersey Posts: 1,463 Drives: 2020 50th anniv 7AT Rep Power: 6733	Ok, I'll change t tomorrow and hope the ride feels the same. Thanks guys