UK vs Jap OEM alloys

[Coolq]

is there a reason that one model has wider rears than the other, are there brake or clearance issues?? as im buying a set but not sure if i need the wider rears or not??

 

mine is a Jap import TT

[ashleydc]

You can put either on. I swapped my jdm alloys for uk ones on my jap import.

[Gio]

Stick to JDM all round. I swapped to UK once then I found that the tread is not, in fact, wider and it restricts your choice of tyre manufacturer and they're more expensive and you can't rotate front to rear. There are no brake or clearance issues between UK / JDM. Pictures that prove tyres for JDM fitment have more tread than UK are here http://www.300zxtt.co.uk/techwheelpolice1.htm

 

Oh and PS, to actually answer your question, there is no known reason why there is a difference. There's a lot of guessing and personal opinion but nothing properly referenced. Maybe it's purely cosmetic.

Edited September 18, 2011 by Gio

[Stephen]

the uk zeds have a few little things that make them more suitable for driving at faster speeds, the jap autos do not come with a seperate transmission cooler for example. apprantly this is becuase of the topography of japan they just dont have the same road structure as us. so the uk zed recived a few tweaks to keep it in line for our twisties and our motorways. how much difference it truly makes...... thats open to interpretation.

[Yowser]

I was lead to believe that the Jap has narrower rear due to laws/regulations at the time in Japan that restricted minimum tyre profile size. All other markets had wider rears.

 

Wether thats true or not I dont know, but as for the Tyre tread width issue, a wider tyre does not necessarily have a wider tread area as Gio's pics of unloaded tyres shows, but what it will have is a wider rather than longer contact area under load, providing more uniform load distribution which gives increased lateral grip for the same vertical load.

 

They also fill the Arch space better, and the offset difference gives a wider track width for more stability and increased load transfer, as well as looking slightly better.

Edited September 18, 2011 by Yowser

[toftdale]

I have a set of UK spec alloys in good condition, off my Z. If anyone is interested in making me an offer. The fronts have 2 very good condition uniroyal tyres. the rears have 2 bridgestones, which would need replacing.

 

Can upload a picture if anyone is interested.

 

Regards

Kev