Hi all, had my ZX TT import for 2 weeks now and loving every minute of it. Apart from loosing the back end in the wet that is, will have to get the hang of that!!

My Z has got 18inch alloys fitted and wondered what size tyres you could recommend I should have fitted. At the moment it has 265x40x18 on the back and 235x35x18 on the front. Think that's the right way round??? When I am driving round town etc the car feels fine but I have noticed that at higher speeds on motorway's etc (70-80ishmph) I always seem to be correcting the steering as if it's tramlining if that makes sense. It also seems to pull to the left and the tyre pressures are all spot on. Any advise would be greatly appreciated.

 

Thanks

Glenn:)

What width are your wheels? ie. 10 J rear 8 1/2 J front?

Hi James, to be honest I don't know for sure I will have to have a look, but the sizes you mentioned sound right as someone said that when they where having a look at the car.

I am a bit dense when it comes to wheel sizes.:confused:

Glenn,

 

Thats out of spec. The additional height on the rear tyres is probably throwing too much weight on the front tyres.

 

The rear tyres are larger so the profile should be "smaller". Should be more like 265/35/18 and 235/40/18 or 265/40/18 and 235/45/18. I believe the correct rolling radius is somewhere between the two.

 

I can tell you one thing, a comprehensive wheel alignment (optiline) goes a long way on a car like a Z. Worth every penny if you find a reputable place IMO. Get the toe-in, caster and camber checked! Also check the obvious like shagged tie rods etc.

 

Good luck,

 

Andy

Thanks Andy, is the wheel allignment a specialists job on the ZX or should an average tyre place ie National Tyres or ATS be able to do it??

Completely with Andy on the sizes there :)

 

"AMMAR"

That is what happens when you get wider tyres, go too wide and you get tramming. :(

 

I agree with Anders UK that get a full wheel alignment set up. National Tyres said that they do 4 wheel alignment but they just allign the rears with the fronts and not indipendent. I went to Thistlethwaites in Bolton who do independent 4 wheel alignment camber and caster check with lasers on a ramp. The way it is meant to be. Cost me over £25 but my car felt a lot better after it was done and well worth the money.

Thanks for that Sprae, Funnily enough I will be going over too Bolton very soon so that's handy advice.

Here is the print out I got, cant remember if it was before or after the adjustments. My tyres where balding on the outside on the rears, took it there, and even though it was too late for my tyres, the rear wheels where 1º or so out which didnt help. It also made my steering wheel straight after another place did my tracking and who only undo one track rod end. :confused:

 

 

http://www.300zx.co.uk/rides/srrae/wheels.jpg

 

 

The phone number is on there to phone them. You have to book cos it takes an hour or so. Shows they are doing it correctly.

 

Just looked at the picture and the scan is before they did the tracking. After that all the numbers where within required values.

 

Stuart

Excellent, thanks for that stuart. Interesting about your steering wheel as mine always looks like your turning right when I am actually going in a straight line. (trying too anyway!!)

 

Glenn

It felt weird when it was fixed. Because I was so used to having the wheel at an angle to drive straight when going round corners I would straighten up and hold to where the wheel used to be and nearly end up hitting the kerb. LOL

 

Its real easy to get to too. Its near Sainsbury's, Morrisons and on the other side of Machine Mart.

 

Stuart

Yep, I know where you mean as my inlaws live in Tottington which isn't too far from Bolton. I hope it is my wheels that need aligning and nothing more serious.:confused:

I keep thinking along the lines of previous accident damage etc!! It's starting to stick in my mind now so will have to get it sorted.

I know that too wide tyres cause tram-lining, but I wouldnt have thought it would happen with 235 and 265's though. I have heard the opposite when you go even further that the car struggles to stay in a straight line if you go even bigger.

 

What accident damage was thier? Where was it hit and do you know what was replaced? Where these wheels on it when it happened do you know?

 

Stuart

No sorry Stuart, as far as I know the car hasn't been in an accident (he says hopefully) it's just with the car pulling to the left and feeling a bit strange at higher speeds it's causing my imagination to run wild!! As it's the first import I have ever bought I always expect the worst. I think the car is in pretty good shape really, it certainly looks the dogs whats it's. If the mileage is correct it has only done 74000 KM about 45000 miles I think. The engine sounds healthy anyway, it's got a Turbo Timer fitted which was fitted in Japan so that will help. It's got a strange exhaust system though, it's just one big Tail pipe. Sounds well.:D

Ahhh, got ya.

 

I thought you meant it was in an accident. Damn dyslexia LOL

 

My car is pulling to the left slighty too. :( I think its my brake sticking but I need to do 1 or 2 more things on it before I look at them

 

Stuart

This is handy for working out appropriate tyre sizes :-

 

http://www.mindspring.com/~toy4two/tire.html

Thanks Andy, that's a handy link.

 

Glenn

Glenn

 

I think you'll find you have 265/35/18 and 235/40/18 - same as me. These are standard sizes on many porkers and even the new Maserati coupe.

 

Watch out for rear toe in being out of spec. When I first got mine it felt wayward and munched the rear tyres in no time. It had had new rear rack arms and not been set up properly. result was 8 - 10mm of toe in and wicked wet handling especially in heavy rain. Feel across the treads for feathering indicating excessive toe out or in.

Willie

Thanks Andy, is the wheel allignment a specialists job on the ZX or should an average tyre place ie National Tyres or ATS be able to do it??

 

Need my camber, caster and all that checking and probably adjusting, but ATS don;t seem to be able to do any except the tracking. Recommended Nissan or Gladwins. Seem to recon it will cost about £70-80 just for the check, then an hourly rate on top. Where did everyone else get there camber etc checked/adjusted?

Oops just found this post, same happened to me, swop the 235's on the front for 225' and its a different car, no more tramlining!