yet another "what size tire" thread

[Astrosfan]

So, ive done some research using the search tool on this site and im still unsure as to what size rear tires to go with.

Currently I have fairly new Hankook v12 245/40/19 on the front and almost bald oem tires on the rear.

Im thinking about the hankooks for the rear but im not sure what size? i was considering either the oem size or possibly going wider in the back. Since I have the oem size on the front, what can i expect with going wider on the back? What size is reccommended if id like to go a bit wider?

They currently have the following sizes in Hankooks:
275/35R19XL 100Y SBL
275/40R19XL 105Y VSB
285/30R19XL 98Y SBL
285/35R19 99Y SBL
295/30R19XL 100Y SBL
305/30ZR19

Also, Ive always been a fan of having matching front and rear tires but the soft sidewall with the hankooks have me a bit weary....

-This is my DD with some "spirited driving" mixed in.
-I live in Houston, so snow is almost never an issue.
-I currently dont have spacers but am considering some within the next year or so.

Thanks for the input!

[m4a1mustang]

I would go OEM size, which is 275/35 I believe.

Since you have 245s up front I would not go any wider than 275 in the rear... The car will plow if you increase the stagger over stock.

Also, since you have the Hankooks up front, definitely stick with them for the rear as well. You don't want to mix and match tires.

[Astrosfan]

what do you mean by plow?

Like your avatar btw....

[m4a1mustang]

By plow I mean push/understeer. The stock sport package tire widths are 245/275 front/rear. The stagger is the difference between the front and rear widths. If you increase the stagger by going with a wider rear tire, the car will understeer more, since the rear tires will have far more cornering grip than the front.

[joshs09slvrZ]

Seems like a good thread. I too wouldn't mind throwing on wider tires in the back. I plan on putting 20/25mm spacers F/R in the future so maybe wider tires isn't the best choice? I would think it would plow even more.

[m4a1mustang]

It depends on how much understeer you want to live with. Stock stagger is 30mm per side. I wouldn't want to go any more than that, and if anything I'd like to bring it closer to square.

One more thing to consider about the OEM sizing on the Z is that the tires are stretched just a bit to fit the rims. This helps with keeping a very sharp and responsive steering feel. A wider tire on the same size rim will lose some of that sharpness (since the sidewall will roll more).

[joshs09slvrZ]

Heck...I'll just keep the stock tire size. With spacers pushing the wheels out a bit...it's going to act like I have wider tires any ways.

[m4a1mustang]

Originally Posted by joshs09slvrZ

Heck...I'll just keep the stock tire size. With spacers pushing the wheels out a bit...it's going to act like I have wider tires any ways.

Yeah, the wider track will definitely make a little bit of a difference in how the car handles.

[tjlazer]

I would go a little wider, 285/35R19 in the rears... 285/30 would be too small, but this will also be a little bigger but it will look mean!

[Astrosfan]

Think im staying with the stock size too. Especially if a wider tires gonna make the side roll more since im getting the V12s.

Thanks for the help mustang!

[joshs09slvrZ]

Originally Posted by tjlazer

I would go a little wider, 285/35R19 in the rears... 285/30 would be too small, but this will also be a little bigger but it will look mean!

285s will fit on stock sports rims? Do you have a Nismo body kit on your car?

[roy'sz]

if you throw spacers on the car might want to look at getting another set of wheel bearings. You are changing the contact point of the tire causing more stress on the bearings. Just an idea. I personally won't run spacers.

[Kandy OrangeZ]

Originally Posted by joshs09slvrZ

285s will fit on stock sports rims? Do you have a Nismo body kit on your car?

Yes they will

[joshs09slvrZ]

Originally Posted by Kandy OrangeZ

Yes they will

Sounds good to me!! Would I be able to get away with 295s in the back and 265s in the front with spacers?

[m4a1mustang]

The front wheels can fit up to a 275 and the rears can fit up to 295 while still staying within tire manufacturer specs. Some people run a 305 out back, though, and seems to work fine for them. Even though it's out of spec. Tire manufacturers typically recommend a minimum rim width of 10.5" for a 305 width rear.