Winter set up help

zcoupe09

Here are the specs:

front: 18X8.5 +35
rear: 18X9.5 +35
tires: 245/45/R18 all around.

will these be good fitment for a winter set up with all season tires....im in NJ so i dont wanna get blizzaks as it doesnt snow that much...

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Chris_1

You really shouldnt waste the money on staggered for a winter setup. Its actually worse to be very honest. The offsets are in my opinion pretty weak for this car.

370Z_Fan

What's the ideal offset for 18 inch steel wheels? I'm planninng to get 225/50R18 all around.

kenchan

wow, that's narrow for rear...but you can use ET20-30 all around. since the tires are so narrow your car's going to look like a redneck crab. you know, old TA's with sedan tires with super aggressive offset style.

kenchan

but i would be very cautious if your winterset clears the akebono's if you have sports package.

Red__Zed

I would go staggered if he doesn't deal with much snow, as he said....

spearfish25

That will give you minimal improvement in performance and then make it impossible to rotate the tires around the car to lengthen the lifespan of the snow tires.

Having used a snow tire setup on the Z last winter, I'd suggest you throw any performance notions out the window. I don't care what width or stagger you run, your car is no longer a performance vehicle with snow tires on it. Save yourself some cash down the road and get a setup that will allow you to rotate the tires around the car and get the best bite possible in snow (narrow and square...I went with 225 all around). If you don't like how the rear tires look (too sunken in), you can always run some fat 25mm spacers in the rear during the winter. Also, get 18" rims to save yourself the cost of buying 19" winter tires. Tire Rack has a nice selector which will give you plenty of options with or without the sport calipers.

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kenchan

^^ wat spearfish said.

SeattleLion

I've been researching this for a while. The Potenza's definately get stiffer in sub 50 deg weather. Also, if I am in an accident with the summer tires on, it could be a liability issue (improper tires for the weather).

Here in western Washington, we don't get much snow or super cold weather. I am getting Michelin Sport Pilot A/S Plus tires for all four wheels. I am getting the same size as the stock Bridgestones. Everyone I have talked to who owns the Pilots love them. They won't give the same feel as the Potenza's in the summer, but should be fine for anything but tracking.

I just can't see my Z as a car for snowy days. We don't get that many and my wife can drive me around in her 4X4 pickup.

It seems odd to me that Nissan's stock tires are the Potenza summers. Even for people who don't drive in the snow and live in temparate climates, stock summer tires don't seem sensible in North America.

Instead of opting for new wheels and snows, I am just going to replace my new (only have 1500 miles on the car) summer tires, with the Michelin all weathers.

Jeffblue

The best winter wheel setup IMO would be the base 18's with 245/45/18s's all around after 2 seasons, swap the tires front to back and across, and they should last you a while. Honestly, i think the all seasons are good if you don't drive the car at all in snow. Then again, the idea of having a winter setup that you can't drive in snow seems kind of pointless. if i was you i'd drop the extra money on real winter tires. if you get stuck in a snowstorm with all seasons on our car you're almost as screwed as if you had the summer tires. Now, of course the all seasons are much better for dry/wet cold weather driving than summer tires, but the idea of spending all that money for a separate setup, but not getting real winter tires just to save 200 dollars (you wont be saving much if you get a good all season) seems like a waste of money.

zcoupe09

thanks everyone for all the info...reason i ask is because a friend of mine sold his 350 and has these leftover and will sell them to me for a great price with all season tires on them....if it snows im not gonna drive far anyway...just something to replace the summer set up .... just wanted to make sure fitment and offset is ok and i DO NOT have the sports package...if i take them ill post pics...

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Red__Zed

I wouldn't throw the notion of performance out the window with all-seasons, which he's planning on using. I would agree with you for a snow setup, but not for AS tires...

zcoupe09

i have another option of the 350z 18s with all seasons for $500 cash? u think thats a better deal ? with the sensors....does those fit better?

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jbuzz

After several weeks of research Im going with Hankook iPike W409 225x50x18 all the way around.

Im in north NJ too and the car was undrivable last winter! Ill sacrifice performance for safety.

I bought 6 5zigen FN01R-C Hot Version Matte Black wheels, 4 - 18x8.5 and 2 18x9.5. Wheels, tires, tpms rebuild, mounted balanced, lugs, caps and shipping $2099.

Will run the 9.5 with 275's until the first storm or icing then throw the 8.5 225 snow tires on.

I ran the stock staggered all season setup last winter, with the stock 245's there simply isnt enough lbs per sq in on the tires to grip effectively.

If your Z is your daily driver like me, I would highly suggest rethinking the 245's.

Jeffblue

I'm not sure what 'stock' staggered all season setup you are talking to. all the stock setups on this car are summer tires. if you were running an all season tire setup, that would probably result in your inability to grip more so than a 245 vs a 225. i am going ot run a dunlop wintersport M3's 245/45/18 all around on the stock Enkei 18's. theres only about a 3/4 inch difference in tread with, and indeed, narrower is better in snow, but i don't think that .78 inches is gonna make much of difference in 'cutting through the snow' power. i dont really feel comforable having a 225/50 on the rear of this car. seems to narrow. maybe its just in my head tho.

how much did you get the Ipikes for? i read good things about them.