Time for some fun tires! I'm trying to decide on a wheel / tire combo for my 1982 Datsun 280zx. I plan to do a couple of autocross events and a track day each summer for the next few years. I don't care about being competitive - just having fun.
Stock tire size is 195-70-14; I'm running 205-70-14 all seasons right now.
I am thinking about some Konig Rewind's 15x7 4x114.3 0 offset with Nitto NT05 205-50-15. This is significantly shorter than stock. I could go to 16x7's with 225-50-16's but I don't see quite as wide of a tire selection.
So - What Would GRM Do? Thanks!
Woody
MegaDork
3/8/15 5:49 p.m.
Good choice on the Rewinds. I think 16s will look too big on that car.
I like the rewinds in 16's instead of 15's because the spokes are different. What kind of tire are you looking for? I see a few options for a 225/50/R16 on tire rack.
As a Datsun guy I would actually go with a 60 series tire 205/60-15. The lower gearing would be an advantage at autocross and on track but not so nice on the highway. On my 1200 vintage race car I run a very short Hoosier (20.6) but my extra set of wheels have Dunlop ACB9s (21.6) and if my car was a street car I would run the taller dunlops. The extra give in the taller sidewall makes a noticeable difference in the ride especially with non-race lateral loads.
Tom
Sounds like I have a decision to make.
If I wanted to run these for events only, 205-50-15 are a good idea because of the lower gearing and wide tire selection. If I wanted to run these all the time, 205-60-15 or 225-50-16 are better due to the larger overall diameter.
My all-season Yoko Avid T4's that I have now got a little bit rough around the edges last time I ran them at an autocross. I think I need to get better tires anyway for a track day, just for safety, I don't want them to chunk or fall apart.
I'm leaning towards NT05's since they're 200tw and I know sticker tires can hide driving mistakes.
Thanks for all of the input
I run a 280zx as a combo dd/autocrosser. I am currently running 215/60r15. It works fairly well for my use and im on 400tw all seasons.
225's on a 7 or 8" wheel will give you a little more contact and more tire choices. keeping in mind anything wider than the stock 6" wheel isn't legal for stock ("street") class.
I always thought 16's looked really good on the ZX, and I'd opt for that. Conversely, I thought 16s were too big on the 1st gen cars.
I also think you could run 8's on the ZX and it would look pretty good. I think they had more wheel well than the 1st gen cars, too.
I miss my Z-cars, but The Answer is making me forget pretty easily. Sometimes I think I'd like to pick up a ZX. Done right they have a cool vibe.
In reply to OldGray320i:
Holy crap...those Zx are sexy.
I'm already way out of stock / street classing anyway. Turbo + megasquirt made that happen quickly!
