18"s in the back 17"s in the front

[spdr]

Not really a handling question, but rather a general tire question. Anyway, I was looking at the nissan Z car in the showroom, and noticed that the rear rim was an inch larger then the front. I believe they were 18"s in the back and 17"s in the front. It gave the car a really mean looking stance. I have no idea what (if any) the value of this could be other then looks, but it looked damn good. Has anyone done this with their eclipse? Just curious....
Thanks

-Aaron

 

[Templisk]

Not sure honestly, for a FWD car it may help keep weight from distributing to the rear so quickly, keeping the front tires from spinning.

 

[DSMSpyder99]

yea put some 225/40/18 on the rear and some 225/45/17 in the front ive seen it done on a 2G back in 2002 East Coast Shootout

 

[heavypedalmuzic]

i had 17s on the front 18s on the rear for a few weeks a yr or so ago. its looks nice.

 

[heavypedalmuzic]

the reason the 300z may have had that set up is because it it rear wheel drive.

 

[jtmcinder]

Not sure honestly, for a FWD car it may help keep weight from distributing to the rear so quickly, keeping the front tires from spinning.

Please step away from the keyboard before someone gets (their feelings) hurt.

A couple of pounds of unsprung weight and/or +/-0.05" of height at one end of the car is not going to make any difference.

- Jtoby

 

[suicidal2af]

the reason the 300z may have had that set up is because it it rear wheel drive.

Mind's in the right place, but looking the wrong way.

It's just for looks. RWD cars will oftentimes run wider tires in the rear for obvious reasons -- but different diameter won't really make a difference.

 

[Templisk]

Please step away from the keyboard before someone gets (their feelings) hurt.

A couple of pounds of unsprung weight and/or +/-0.05" of height at one end of the car is not going to make any difference.

- Jtoby

Mm, just trolling around the forums to try and learn, and help others get answers. I hate to give bad advice. Even though it was a question based on a different car that he asked more out of curiousity than anything else.

So J is right.

 

[HighPsi92GST]

just so the wrong person doesnt read this and try it on their awd.

DO NOT do this on an AWD

anyways, they do it on the z for looks, and it looks good in my opinion.

 

[Templisk]

Like it's been said before *ANY* difference in tire size, over time will lead to cooking your VC on an AWD. All 4 tires and wheels must be equal.

FWD and RWD vehicles do differences in wheel/tire sizes for some performance, and some visual appeal reasons. Ex: really wide tires in the rear, on a RWD = more traction.

 

[damnslowtsi]

As long as the roll out is the same on both front and rear tires I don't think rim size difference is gonna cook anything on an AWD.

 

[SILV BLT]

The plus size rear rims coms from performance rear drive vehicles that actually have taller rubber in the rear. They use the larger rim to keep the taller rubber at a similar height as the smaller front rubber. I'm not sure in the case of the 350Z whether or not the tire diameter is the same front to rear, but I'm guessing they do it more for looks. On a FWD or AWD it would be simply for looks, because all FWD and AWD vehicles are designed to use the same size rubber. Personally I think it would look goofy on anything FWD or AWD cuz the rear tire would have a much lower aspect ratio due to the bigger rim.