Hi has anyone on here fitted 20 inch wheels to there z ? I am in the process of fitting a set of wheels on my Z covetable that came off a 350z the fronts are 8.5"j rears 10"j just wondered if any one had fitted any and if so the problems they encountered thanks Alan

It can be done - providing you get the right off-set and tyre profiles.....

 

...Personally I would not go above 19s; tyre prices will become prohibitive and getting the profile right on the rears to preserve the running diameter will be tricky.

 

Stock (UK spec) = 245/45/16

17 inch upgrade = 255 (or 265)/40/17

18 inch upgrade = 255 (or 265)/35/18

19 inch upgrade = 255 (or 265)/30/19

 

So it only follows that for 20s you need a "25" profile if you keep the width - you'd have to use a narrower tyre if you can only get a "30" profile....

 

Richard:)

I have some original wheels here Richard that I borrowed and they have a 50 profile, I always thought my 17 fronts needed a 45 profile although I've gone with 40.

 

So based on this shouldn't 19's have a 35 aspect ?

Hi has anyone on here fitted 20 inch wheels to there z ? I am in the process of fitting a set of wheels on my Z covetable that came off a 350z the fronts are 8.5"j rears 10"j just wondered if any one had fitted any and if so the problems they encountered thanks Alan

 

20" wheels look waayyy too big on a LWB, let alone a SWB/Vert chassis. Proportions are just completely wrong. Makes it look like one of those silly donk cars from the US. I say DON'T do it! :)

 

 

I wouldn't go any larger than 19" on a LWB and 18" on a SWB. It all depends on wheel style too. I have 19" wheels on my Z, but they look in proportion due to the design and the bodyshape.

20" wheels look waayyy too big on a LWB, let alone a SWB/Vert chassis. Proportions are just completely wrong. Makes it look like one of those silly donk cars from the US. I say DON'T do it! :)

 

 

I wouldn't go any larger than 19" on a LWB and 18" on a SWB. It all depends on wheel style too. I have 19" wheels on my Z, but they look in proportion due to the design and the bodyshape.

 

They don't look too bad, but that's probably because they are thin. Normal chunkier ones will look silly.

doesn't the handling get worse with anything over 18"?

I have some original wheels here Richard that I borrowed and they have a 50 profile, I always thought my 17 fronts needed a 45 profile although I've gone with 40.

 

So based on this shouldn't 19's have a 35 aspect ?

 

Nope - as the 50 profile is for a J-spec running 225/50/16 all round mate..... UK spec goes wider on the rear, hence the profile drops to 45 on the 16s..... And you are right with your 17 inch fronts - they "should" have a 45 aspect ratio; assuming you have 235 width.

 

19s would have a "35" profile for the fronts if you stick with 235 - the wider rears of 265 would need to drop to "30"

 

Hence with 20s, if you can't get a "25" profile, you could go narrower with 235/30/20 all round:wink:

 

But Si is dead right for another reason - 20s will look out of place on a Z32 anyway.....:biggrin:

They don't look too bad, but that's probably because they are thin. Normal chunkier ones will look silly.

doesn't the handling get worse with anything over 18"?

 

Look again, look real hard. It looks stupid! :lol:

 

I noticed no difference between ride and handling when I went from 18" to 19". Optimal wheels and tyres are supposed to be 17s.

Are the fronts bigger than the rears?

Are the fronts bigger than the rears?

 

....perspective dude.....

And you are right with your 17 inch fronts - they "should" have a 45 aspect ratio; assuming you have 235 width:wink:

 

But Si is dead right for another reason - 20s will look out of place on a Z32 anyway.....:biggrin:

 

I do have 235 at the front.

 

If I could choose from scratch I would of got 18's for my SWB, but I am not loosing sleep over having 17's fit, with the right set up they look nice.

 

I did see a SWB a few years back with 19's fit, they did look big but not too bad.

 

Never fit 17's on a LWB, they look too small, 18's or 19's is the way to go.

....perspective dude.....

 

thought I was looking for something really wrong.

I wouldn't go bigger than 18, 19" just look wrong ?

....perspective dude.....

Thanks or all the comments be nice to me lads this is my thirst Z but I think it is all a matter of preference and being a convertible the performance side was never going to be my goal I do sheet metal fabrication and restoration for a living so the intention is to drop the suspension and modify the wheel arches front and rear so it doesn't look like a kids hot wheels car ill start a build thread in a couple of weeks when I've got the car on the jig then you can come back and really slate me if you don't like the results just try to bear with me a bit I was originally going to go bigger wheels :scared: that was when I brought the car last year I take it that would have been a big mistake :biggrin:

Thanks or all the comments be nice to me lads this is my thirst Z but I think it is all a matter of preference and being a convertible the performance side was never going to be my goal I do sheet metal fabrication and restoration for a living so the intention is to drop the suspension and modify the wheel arches front and rear so it doesn't look like a kids hot wheels car ill start a build thread in a couple of weeks when I've got the car on the jig then you can come back and really slate me if you don't like the results just try to bear with me a bit I was originally going to go bigger wheels :scared: that was when I brought the car last year I take it that would have been a big mistake :biggrin:

 

Car modification is all subjective. If you like it that's all that matters

Thing is, the arches and visual appearance of the Z32 are not one with measurements and design perspectives that match huge 20" wheels, no matter how good you are at sheet metal fabrication. Z33s and Z34s have much bigger wheel arches, different proportions and bulging bodylines. 300zx doesn't which is why 20" wheels look too large in diameter.

 

Just thoughts there....I've seen it done in the US a number of times and it just doesn't look right IMO and to many others'.

 

My vert with 19s on.

It would be a hell of a lot of work to make it look good. You'd be in serious risk of having tyres like elastic bands that cost the earth. If you want that hard as nails, wheels blushing out te arches look then I suggest focusing on the over stance rather than the wheel size per say. Don't forget your overal diameter won't change, just more metal less rubber. I wouldn't go bigger than 19 and I personally would run 17s if they would fit over the brakes.

Hi Toolbox how wide are your wheels and what size tyre are you using looks nice mate .

i have to agree 20 inch wheels make it look like a clown car

Fab Tanks, what style of wheel are you thinking of getting, got some 19" six spoke wheels I'm thinking of selling,

 

Pictures of them on my SWB Slicktop.

Hi ZEDX thanks for the offer but I've already brought my wheels they are 20"TSW Thruxton wheels 8.5 front and 10" rear hopefully once I have made the body alterations it will be ok only time will tell.

Hi ZEDX thanks for the offer but I've already brought my wheels they are 20"TSW Thruxton wheels 8.5 front and 10" rear hopefully once I have made the body alterations it will be ok only time will tell.

 

Hope it works out mate and look forward to some pics of your progress :thumbup1:

Hi ZEDX thanks for the offer but I've already brought my wheels they are 20"TSW Thruxton wheels 8.5 front and 10" rear hopefully once I have made the body alterations it will be ok only time will tell.

 

Do you know the offsets?

Do you know the offsets?

 

Not off the top of my head Joely, will have a look tomorrow evening and get back to you.

Yes the fronts are 20 rear 35 mate.

Not off the top of my head Joely, will have a look tomorrow evening and get back to you.

 

Sorry dude I was asking fabtanks. I'm sure those wheels will sell easily though. I think they've been well received ever since Apache fitted them to his. Offsets will help a prospective buyer but in this case your pics show exactly what fitment they're getting so may not be as relevant.

What are you looking to replace them with out of curiosity?

Replaced with these wheels Joely,