Wheel Upgrade to 20s...Need advice

Eihtball99 · 04-29-2011, 08:24 PM

Hi guys, I'm a relatively new owner looking to upgrade my stock (touring) 18s.

I live in downtown Denver and use my car as a daily driver. Downtown streets are often old and rough and there are tons of speed bumps and speed dips which I'm constantly taking at an angle.

For those of you with 20s, did it lower your road clearance to the point where you have to be *extremely* careful with any and all bumps or dips. If so, would you recommend just going with 19s or is the tire sidewall going to wash out the size difference?

* By "extremely careful", I mean am I going to hate life if I put on 20s?

Thanks!

Z1804 · 04-29-2011, 08:42 PM

I have 20s on my car and love them. I live in Atlanta. You just have to be more careful driving.

PapoZalsa · 04-29-2011, 09:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eihtball99

Hi guys, I'm a relatively new owner looking to upgrade my stock (touring) 18s.

I live in downtown Denver and use my car as a daily driver. Downtown streets are often old and rough and there are tons of speed bumps and speed dips which I'm constantly taking at an angle.

For those of you with 20s, did it lower your road clearance to the point where you have to be *extremely* careful with any and all bumps or dips. If so, would you recommend just going with 19s or is the tire sidewall going to wash out the size difference?

* By "extremely careful", I mean am I going to hate life if I put on 20s?

Thanks!

Road clearance will depend if you lower your car and the sidewall you pick for the 20s.

Just by putting on 20s will not affect the clearance that much, but you will feel every bump on the road...

daisuke149 · 04-30-2011, 12:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eihtball99

Hi guys, I'm a relatively new owner looking to upgrade my stock (touring) 18s.

I live in downtown Denver and use my car as a daily driver. Downtown streets are often old and rough and there are tons of speed bumps and speed dips which I'm constantly taking at an angle.

For those of you with 20s, did it lower your road clearance to the point where you have to be *extremely* careful with any and all bumps or dips. If so, would you recommend just going with 19s or is the tire sidewall going to wash out the size difference?

* By "extremely careful", I mean am I going to hate life if I put on 20s?

Thanks!

size of wheel doesnt effect road clearance unless you go too thin of a side wall or too big (too big = more clearance)

But with a 20's the car will feel harder as the tire cant absorb some of the bumps. This also has the effect where too hard of a bump can damage the wheel, where as on the 18's the massive sidewall would have absorbed the bump.

So if you get 20's, as James said, you just have to be more careful and slower.

KillerBee370 · 04-30-2011, 02:44 AM

The terms "upgrade" and "20's" don't belong in the same sentence. It's a sports car not a donk. Stick with 19's. They will be lighter and look a hell of a lot better in that fender than 20's will. Unless you don't plan to track your car and want to achieve that hellaflush look for whatever reason and don't give a damn about unsprung weight affecting whp. But that's just me

KillerBee370 · 04-30-2011, 02:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

size of wheel doesnt effect road clearance unless you go too thin of a side wall or too big (too big = more clearance)

But with a 20's the car will feel harder as the tire cant absorb some of the bumps. This also has the effect where too hard of a bump can damage the wheel, where as on the 18's the massive sidewall would have absorbed the bump.

So if you get 20's, as James said, you just have to be more careful and slower.

Why buy a Z for that?

daisuke149 · 04-30-2011, 03:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Why buy a Z for that?

Why not buy a Z for that?

6MT · 04-30-2011, 08:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Eihtball99

Hi guys, I'm a relatively new owner looking to upgrade my stock (touring) 18s.

I live in downtown Denver and use my car as a daily driver. Downtown streets are often old and rough and there are tons of speed bumps and speed dips which I'm constantly taking at an angle.

For those of you with 20s, did it lower your road clearance to the point where you have to be *extremely* careful with any and all bumps or dips. If so, would you recommend just going with 19s or is the tire sidewall going to wash out the size difference?

* By "extremely careful", I mean am I going to hate life if I put on 20s?

Thanks!

No, moving to 20" wheels didn't lower the clearance. It did however, make the ride rougher. The smaller (and stiffer) sidewall on the tires and the fact that I went wider than OEM, made the ride rougher. I don't really mind. But when I do drive the Z, I find myself avoiding bumpy areas more than I used to.

You won't "hate" the 20's. Have a look at my pics of the Volks that I chose. If you do the offset correctly, the look is much better than 19's. Good luck!

ImportConvert · 04-30-2011, 09:09 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

The terms "upgrade" and "20's" don't belong in the same sentence. It's a sports car not a donk. Stick with 19's. They will be lighter and look a hell of a lot better in that fender than 20's will. Unless you don't plan to track your car and want to achieve that hellaflush look for whatever reason and don't give a damn about unsprung weight affecting whp. But that's just me

I agree 100%, but some people buy the 370Z because they like how it looks and could care less about performance, and to THEM, a 20" rim looks good.

c41006 · 04-30-2011, 09:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

The terms "upgrade" and "20's" don't belong in the same sentence. It's a sports car not a donk. Stick with 19's. They will be lighter and look a hell of a lot better in that fender than 20's will. Unless you don't plan to track your car and want to achieve that hellaflush look for whatever reason and don't give a damn about unsprung weight affecting whp. But that's just me

20's are too big for the Z

6MT · 04-30-2011, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by c41006

20's are too big for the Z

Eihtball99 · 04-30-2011, 10:15 AM

This is all great info, guys. Much appreciated, and definitely helping me make my decision.

Mt Tam I am · 04-30-2011, 10:29 AM

You can find better places to put your money performance wise. If this is all for looks, go for it.

VCuomo · 04-30-2011, 01:52 PM

If you have 18" rims and are going to 19" or 20", that will increase the car's bottom clearance.

6MT · 04-30-2011, 02:18 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by VCuomo

If you have 18" rims and are going to 19" or 20", that will increase the car's bottom clearance.

04-29-2011, 08:24 PM	#1 (permalink)
Eihtball99 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 68 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 14	Wheel Upgrade to 20s...Need advice Hi guys, I'm a relatively new owner looking to upgrade my stock (touring) 18s. I live in downtown Denver and use my car as a daily driver. Downtown streets are often old and rough and there are tons of speed bumps and speed dips which I'm constantly taking at an angle. For those of you with 20s, did it lower your road clearance to the point where you have to be extremely careful with any and all bumps or dips. If so, would you recommend just going with 19s or is the tire sidewall going to wash out the size difference? * By "extremely careful", I mean am I going to hate life if I put on 20s? Thanks!

04-29-2011, 08:42 PM	#2 (permalink)
Z1804 Premium Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: GA Posts: 784 Drives: 2009 370Z Sport M6 Rep Power: 15	I have 20s on my car and love them. I live in Atlanta. You just have to be more careful driving. __________________ Z1804 ------ Z1804 ------ Z1804 ------ ------ Z1804 ------ Z1804 ------ Z1804 Fairlady Z 2011 Calendar Now on Sale!!!

04-30-2011, 10:29 AM	#13 (permalink)
Mt Tam I am A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: California Posts: 10,709 Drives: 370Z T/S/N 6MT & XKE Rep Power: 3842	You can find better places to put your money performance wise. If this is all for looks, go for it. __________________ "Does the carpet match the drapes? NO!!! I don't date bald women." Nissan Motorsports 34R Oil Cooler. Stillen CBE. Hotchkis Sport Sway Bars. KW Variant 3 Coilover System. Stillen Gen3 CAI. Michelin Pilot Super Sport. Stillen Brake Ducts. Carbotech™ XP10/XP8 Pads. Z1 Front Rotors. Z1 Stainless Brake Lines. Two degrees of camber

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04-30-2011, 02:44 AM	#5 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 51 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 321	The terms "upgrade" and "20's" don't belong in the same sentence. It's a sports car not a donk. Stick with 19's. They will be lighter and look a hell of a lot better in that fender than 20's will. Unless you don't plan to track your car and want to achieve that hellaflush look for whatever reason and don't give a damn about unsprung weight affecting whp. But that's just me

04-30-2011, 10:15 AM	#12 (permalink)
Eihtball99 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 68 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 14	This is all great info, guys. Much appreciated, and definitely helping me make my decision.

04-30-2011, 01:52 PM	#14 (permalink)
VCuomo Track Member Join Date: May 2009 Location: SoCal Posts: 887 Drives: BMW 335i Sport Rep Power: 16	If you have 18" rims and are going to 19" or 20", that will increase the car's bottom clearance.