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, 02:46 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?

AllForTheCash · 04-30-2011, 03:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

Why not buy a Z for that?

Roll with the 20's

. You should ALWAYS becareful driving with expensive rims anyway...a pot-hole that is large enough to wreck a 20" will most likely do the same to the 19" with low-profile tires.

KillerBee370 · 05-01-2011, 09:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

Why not buy a Z for that?

Hey listen I'm not saying you can't. I mean people are gonna do what people are gonna do and I'm the last one to tell them to do with their money. I'm merely suggesting that there are other options for a blingy cruiser rather than transforming a sport car born for another purpose.

It's like visiting the DUB booth at a car show and seeing their assortment of supercar "cruisers".

LunaZ · 05-01-2011, 03:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by daisuke149

...you just have to be more careful and slower.

If I was going to be more careful and slower, I could just get a used Camry for the price of a nice set of 20's and the rubber to go on them.

daisuke149 · 05-01-2011, 03:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by KillerBee370

Hey listen I'm not saying you can't. I mean people are gonna do what people are gonna do and I'm the last one to tell them to do with their money. I'm merely suggesting that there are other options for a blingy cruiser rather than transforming a sport car born for another purpose.

It's like visiting the DUB booth at a car show and seeing their assortment of supercar "cruisers".

Quote:

Originally Posted by LunaZ

If I was going to be more careful and slower, I could just get a used Camry for the price of a nice set of 20's and the rubber to go on them.

Since when did driving slower and carefully become a bad thing on the streets of denver? Would you guys prefer he race his car around town cus its a sports car?

I hope both of you always redline your cars, hit turns fast, power out and go hard on the brakes. Cus its a sports car, why drive it any different. I mean if you arent gonna drive it like i said above in the city of denver, go buy a camry.

Id be careful myself with any wheels i have. I sold my sports rays after 7 k miles no cub rash on em. I always go over bumps slowly even though im not lowered. Should i trade my car for a camry too? Or is it possible i wanna take care of the car and then when i go to a track or mountain cruise (just got back from one) i can drive it "like a sports car". P.s people throw that phrase around alot and i bet they dont even really think about what they are implying.

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

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.

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: 15	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: 17	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!!!

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04-30-2011, 02:44 AM	#11 (permalink)
KillerBee370 A True Z Fanatic Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: So Cal baby! Age: 52 Posts: 5,964 Drives: with passion Rep Power: 322	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	#15 (permalink)
Eihtball99 Base Member Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Denver Posts: 68 Drives: 2010 370Z Touring Rep Power: 15	This is all great info, guys. Much appreciated, and definitely helping me make my decision.