I've driven stock setups all my life except for lifted Jeeps/trucks. There, it is important to lift first...then buy wheels/tires to fill the hole. You still leave a good bit of clearance for articulation during 4WD time.
On the 280ZX (regular driver, no racing), I'd like to lower it from stock and fill the wheel wells with 16 or 17s...bringing the tires almost flush with the body lines. Wheels/Tires or suspension first? What set up would you recommend?
(And if anybody wants to recommend the Racing Labs Rota RB Stagger Package...you're gonna have to tell me what it means to "roll the fenders". No habla usted el zdriver lingo yet.) I'd love to say "price is no object", but there's no need to drop endless amounts into a 30-yr-old car. I'd figure I'll have to drop $500-$1000 on wheels, $500 on tires, plus the suspension. (Note: The tires on my lifted truck are $560 each...so this is CHEAP!!!).
Save a 280ZX from looking crappy...help a newbie!

 

Well, I'll just tell what I'm calculating and somebody tell me if I'm wrong. Please?

The two tires I find that came on the 280ZX were the 195/70/14 and the 205/70/14. Outside diameter range was approx 24.9" to 25.5". If I move up to a 16" wheel and keep the outside diameter constant, I'd be looking at 225/50 at 24.9", 225/55 at 25.7" or 235/55 at 26.2". My ZX has the 205/70s...so I'm looking at the closest as being the 225/55/16 (which requires a rim width between 6-8").
Rota RBs come in 16x8 with a +4, +10, +20, and +38 offset. I think the closer to 0 is best to get closer to flush with the body; therefore, I come to 16x8 +4 RBs with 225/55/16 tires.
But, the way I calculate the offset, if a 17x9.5 -19mm is almost flush on the back and -13 is almost flush on the front, this set up I've just described would be about 0.85" inset on the front and 1.35" inset (from being flush) on the rear. Not a huge issue on paper, but it would be huge visually, I think.
It just seems like, with 16" wheels with the offsets available out there, that you cannot make the wheel flush with the body (unless you use a spacer).
Anyone have any comments, help, criticism, or want to mark up my math? Thanks.

 

The great thing about these forums, is the opportunity to talk to yourself. I did the calculations using a calculator instead of my head and I came up with insets from the body of 1.17" (front) and 1.67" (rear). 16s just don't make it flush without spacers and I don't want to change that geometry and put additional stress on the bearings, etc.

If I settle for the 16s and the 1.67" inset...I can get wheels and tires for $1000.
If I go for the 17x9.5, flush with no inset...I can get wheels and tires for $1600.
But dadgummit...everytime I get in the car, I'll wish I'd gone with the flush 17s.

Thanks, OLD SOB for listening.
No problem, man. Anytime. Good luck...whatever you decide.
Yep...it's only money. Adios.

 

I'm running the the Racing Labs rota RBR staggered wheel setup on my car.. in fact they're using my car on there webpage.... ROTA Wheels RB Stagger Package (Datsun 1975-1978 280Z, F: 17x9, R: 17x9.5)

if you go with the same package as i got you wont need spacers to make it look flush.. but you will have to roll your rear fenders heres a link on rolling your fenders
RollYourFender.Com - Home - Fast, Easy, & Affordable Professional Fender Lip Roller Rental

the 16x8 you were looking at wont look as aggressive as the 17x9.5... you also might want to lower your car too.. you can get the tokico lowering package with springs ans struts

 

The pics of your setup was what led me to desiring this kind of set up. Totally changes the look of the car...making it much more aggressive.
Thanks for the info on the fender roll. Gotta admit, I'm a little reluctant (scared?) to bend it simply because I don't want to have to repaint and worried about damaging the paint.
Going with the 16x8 would be slightly less aggressive...would be 30% cheaper...and would not require the fender rolling. I would not be quite as happy with it...but I might be satisfied.
Does anyone out there have any pics of Rota RB 16s with 235/55s...or a setup close to that?

 

every time i see those rotas i want them!!! stop doing that ice. lol they always use your car to show off stuff weather its with your permission or not on the net it seems. lol.

 

Here are 16x8 XXR's. Zero offset, w/ 225/50-16 Yokohama S-drives.




It's exactly what I wanted, but it may not be as flush as you're looking for. Zero fitment issues, both on stock suspension (in pics), and now on Tokico springs & shocks:


For what it's worth, a tire any wider would start to get AWFUL close to the strut on the inside. I didn't measure, but I can barely fit one of my fingers between them. 5-10mm more negative offset (or spacers) might work without fender rolling, but I'm done fiddling.

 

Roll the fenders and get the Rota RB-R 17 x 9.5 with -19mm offset for all four corners. It's the perfect fit for the S130. Here's a pic of my NA. I'm running the Yokohama S-Drives 235/255 front/rear

 

Oh and don't forget Yasin's car - he's a little braver than I with 255/275 Yokohama S-Drives

 

Perfect fit . . . is subjective. e.g. perfect fit for me involves not rolling the fenders, and it looking like it could have been a factory option.

Don't get me wrong, 17's look great - but I'm not a fan of any sort of tire stretch, nor do I like the look of the front wheel/tire sticking out past the fender.

 

True it's subjective. I'm sure some people like the stock look where the tire looks like its inset by about four inches into the wheel well. Some people also like the watermelon on a skateboard look like the 4th generation Camaro.

Personally I like the look of the tire as close to the outside of the fender at the top of the fender. None of the cars posted here are sticking out past the fenders at the top.

The OP was asking specifically for a solution to the wheel fitment of the S130. There aren't a lot of choices and the Rota RB-R 17 x 9.5 -19mm are the only wheels I know of that bring the wheel out where he want's it without spacers.

 

Perfect in my book did you lower it?

 

We're do you get the rims and off sets from?

 

Car is sitting on the HPK255 Tokico springs/struts kit. I bought the Rotas from the HybridZ group buy.

 

How much do the Tokico springs lower the car?

 

I would like my z this low. Do you guys now what he Might of used?
ROTA Wheel Grid 16x8 (4x114.3+10mm, 67.1 Hub)|Rota Racing Wheel

 

https://www.zdriver.com/forums/280zx...eh-lulz-28955/

 

i know the owner of that car and hes running coil overs

 

Do you know his full set up? Like what type of coilovers and stuff like that?

 

this is his car on HybridZ
Ressurection and Build of my 280zx - HybridZ

 

Thanks alot!