Tire Size
09-26-2003 | 05:51 PM
#1
Thread Starter
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 58
From: Houston, TX
Tire Size
Well it's time to get new tires on the 280 ( 195's just don't like hard launches very well). Anyways, I was wondering what the biggest tire I could fit on the factory 14" wheels would be. I don't want any rubbing at all. I have a 82 2+2 NA. Thanks.
-Matt
-Matt
09-29-2003 | 09:09 AM
#4
The Evil Twin
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,296
From: Seattle, WA
Actually the 225 width is closer. 205/60-15 is the factory tire size for the 280ZX. 195/70-14 is the closest stock size for 14 inch wheels.
225/60-14 is only 0.2% undersize! When your speedometer reads 60 you're traveling 59.9 mph. That is basically perfect.
235/60-14 is oversize by 1.7% Still, you're only 1mph over at 60. If you want that width, it won't change your speedometer reading enough to worry about it.
245/55-14 will also be the proper outside diameter, but those are too wide for 14x6 inch wheels and might not fit inside the fenders.
If you can get some wide 15's, go with 245/50-15.
225/60-14 is only 0.2% undersize! When your speedometer reads 60 you're traveling 59.9 mph. That is basically perfect.
235/60-14 is oversize by 1.7% Still, you're only 1mph over at 60. If you want that width, it won't change your speedometer reading enough to worry about it.
245/55-14 will also be the proper outside diameter, but those are too wide for 14x6 inch wheels and might not fit inside the fenders.
If you can get some wide 15's, go with 245/50-15.
09-29-2003 | 10:44 AM
#5
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 58
From: Houston, TX
Well I am gonna stick with the stock 14's for now since I also need to get the car painted (some fading on the roof and hood hump) and don't want to put off the paint for very long. So if the 235/60/14 will fit all the way around without any rubbing then that's the way i plan on going. Thanks, Discount Tire said that 205 was as big as they could go and I wanted something a little bigger than that (hell my geo would spin 205's with no prob so I don't even want to know what the Z would do with 'em).
09-30-2003 | 09:33 AM
#9
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If you want to save money on the tires and still get good tires go to Les Schwab and get the Grand AM That is what I am running on my 78Z. I had 195-60-14 but could not keep the tires from spinning unless I used second gear. I think I paid $257.00 with mounting balncing and road hazard warranty. I ma also going to repiant my Z this winter so I went with as cheap as I could but still get the performance I wanted. Next year I am going to a 16x7 setup with a biltstein or Tokico suspension.
Good luck
Good luck
09-30-2003 | 09:40 AM
#10
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Registered User
Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 58
From: Houston, TX
Thanks, I'll have to check those out. Basically I am looking to find the cheapest price for just tires since i work at a dealership and I can mount and balance the tires myself. I won't have the road hazard warranty, but I'm also a starving college student so money is tight.
10-24-2003 | 05:39 PM
#12
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Joined: Sep 2003
Posts: 58
From: Houston, TX
Well I got the new 235/60's in the back (had a blowout and didn't have enough money for the front tires). Anyways, car now handles really funny. When I change lanes or anything at about 45ish+ mph then the back end tries to whip around. Would this be caused by the tires or is it probably something else? I was looking at the bushings and they are all pretty old and cracked so that could be part of the problem, but I didn't notice the problem until after I got the new tires. Thanks
-Matt
-Matt
10-24-2003 | 07:47 PM
#13
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There are a few reasons for that. ist you have taller sidewalls which means more flex in the tires. Second if you have bad bushings low profile tires will hide this problem the tires you are running now will amplifie this issue. Also when you get fronts go with a 225 or 215 it drops the front just a little which helps compensate for the inherent Z squat. I am running 235 in the rear and 225 in the front.
I hope this helps.
Shane
I hope this helps.
Shane
11-06-2003 | 09:14 AM
#15
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WHOA?!?!
You guys are running 235s on a 6" rim? My girl's Z has 215/60-14s and I thought that was pushing it for hte 6" rim... I used to run 235s on my 7" Probe rims..
My ladies car has 14x6" Enkei rims (the black honeycomb design with polished lip) and you're saying the best size is 235/60-14? Wow... Wish I knew that YESTERDAY when I bought a tire...
Anyway, for good cheap tires, I recommend some Kumhos, or the Yokohama AVS Intermediates... I went with Sumitomo HTR4s for my girl... at $50 each, you can't beat... and I'm on the starving college kid budget..
You guys are running 235s on a 6" rim? My girl's Z has 215/60-14s and I thought that was pushing it for hte 6" rim... I used to run 235s on my 7" Probe rims..
My ladies car has 14x6" Enkei rims (the black honeycomb design with polished lip) and you're saying the best size is 235/60-14? Wow... Wish I knew that YESTERDAY when I bought a tire...
Anyway, for good cheap tires, I recommend some Kumhos, or the Yokohama AVS Intermediates... I went with Sumitomo HTR4s for my girl... at $50 each, you can't beat... and I'm on the starving college kid budget..
11-06-2003 | 11:35 AM
#16
The Evil Twin
Joined: Mar 2001
Posts: 9,296
From: Seattle, WA
On my post, that size was suggested as a proper outside diameter tire size. It is up to you if you want to put that on a 6 inch width wheel.
However, I did have a 280ZX once that had some 14x6 inch wheels and 225/60-14 on there. They worked fine.
However, I did have a 280ZX once that had some 14x6 inch wheels and 225/60-14 on there. They worked fine.
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