370z MEATY TIRE THREAD

[edconline]

I'm not sure I would agree it NEEDS a square setup for 'handling purposes', but I will concede that some people might prefer the way it handles with a square (or close to) setup. I'm sure Nissan engineers tried a tire size or two and played with the stagger front to rear before settling on a 30mm offset F/R. I find the balance to be pretty neutral on the track, with maybe a hint towards oversteer with 275/305 and my suspension settings the way they are.

If you want the back end to come around even more easily though, I can see why you'd want that. I think a couple of members here have tried a totally square option just to have the flexibility of rotating all the tires as well. Totally agree the larger rears aren't needed from a traction perspective with NA builds though, RE-11's or the like in stock sizes would give you more than enough grip.

I hope that setup works well, feedback when you get it all installed and on the track

[cavemancan]

Originally Posted by edconline

I'm not sure I would agree it NEEDS a square setup for 'handling purposes', but I will concede that some people might prefer the way it handles with a square (or close to) setup. I'm sure Nissan engineers tried a tire size or two and played with the stagger front to rear before settling on a 30mm offset F/R. I find the balance to be pretty neutral on the track, with maybe a hint towards oversteer with 275/305 and my suspension settings the way they are.

If you want the back end to come around even more easily though, I can see why you'd want that. I think a couple of members here have tried a totally square option just to have the flexibility of rotating all the tires as well. Totally agree the larger rears aren't needed from a traction perspective with NA builds though, RE-11's or the like in stock sizes would give you more than enough grip.

I hope that setup works well, feedback when you get it all installed and on the track

Well the use of need I guess was more personal. From my experience thus far with the car and stock suspension (with exception to Swift Springs) it has a tendency to understeer and plow through very tight turns therefore more grip was needed up front. I feel I have to fight it in order for it to bite more in a tight course like AutoCross. I also take it as a clue when some of the more popular racers on the board seem to like a more square setup.

So in an effort to see what I think works best I am increasing my contact patch up front. In stock form the car appears to have a tendency to understeer not oversteer which is why I said it needs a square setup but then again changing suspension may cure this issue as well as I feel the car needs a lot of negative camber up front. Who knows perhaps all it needs is negative camber and not the huge tire I am putting on now but I dont have camber arms yet so I am trying this first.

[cavemancan]

So I am riding on the 275/35/19 front and 285/35/19 rear. I was actually afraid of how "beefy" the tire was going to look up front. Thankfully it almost looks stockish so I am very pleased. I would say 275/35 is at the size limit for the front 9 inch wide stock Rays. Any wider would prob be a waist without going with a wider wheel to make use of the extra wide rubber (pun intended).

Driving characteristics: very responsive at all speeds but perhaps too responsize at highway speeds? I can feel how affective the extra wide tire will be at an autocross but it comes with a slight down side in that it makes you work extra hard to keep the car strait above 70 mph. The slightest input or road inperfection will cause the car to quickly go in that direction which in turn requires you to have fast reflexes to control the car. I would not suggest it for the novice driver.

Another way of seeing it: imagine if your power steering assist was boosted at higher speeds. You would want it slower at those speeds not faster.

To be honest I felt this issue slightly from stock but bigger tires up front seemed to make it more apparent. Unless I am imagining this. Keep in mind my alignment shop does drift cars, race cars, etc so I trust those guys and everything is good to go in that respect. They made sure to tell me I was setup for neutral toe during my last alignment this past weekend.

I would be interested to get feed back from the track guys running a more aggressive tire up front. Have you all noticed this? What have you done to improve this? Etc.