Anybody who drives a G35 knows that its clearance is much lower than just about any other production car out there (just compare to any BMW series including the M). I guess this is the price one pays for in terms of having 0 lift such that we are not wasting horsepower using down-force to hold the car down to the ground as we drive fast. That said, having 0 lift almost equates to 0 clearance sometimes. We've all become experts at how to stop short of curbs and tire stops in parking lots.

My problem is I live in the Pacific Northwest and my house is down a hill. Because the street rain runoff needs to stay out of my driveway and away from my house the driveway entrance raises up from the street, crests at the sidewalk, and then the driveway goes down hill to my garage. This creates a nice hump that my car just cannot get over--it high centers right over the sidewalk...



So I figured out if I could just get 1.5" more elevation in the leading edge of my driveway, I could clear the sidewalk. I tried laying 2"x8"s in my driveway near the sidewalk, but they proved to be too slippery & dangerous. I then went with the same solution that is used by folks who want to run electrical and sound cables across parking lots.




I laid out two strips in my driveway, being careful to measure the width to match up with my tire tracks. I also made sure that the length of each section was as long as my wheelbase--too short and the front tires are not raised high enough as the back tires come off the crest of the sidewalk.


I did drill some holes and counter sinked them in the plastic/rubber cable guards such that I could use cement bolts to anchor the system to the driveway. Now, as you can see I have just enough clearance to get my car in to the driveway and down in to my garage. Happy days!






-Mark

 

Just get 19'inch wheels , that will lift you a few inches

 

Very innovative. was it not possible to enter your driveway at an angle? I think that would have solved your problem as well.

 

Didn't want to screw with 0 lift. Raising the car any messes with traction... It is a driver's car afterall.

 

That pretty good but if your just going to stay stock then get the stock 19

 

He means OEM 19s

 

^ditto oem forged 19's

 

Whaaaaah??? How does raising your car have anything to do with traction? OEM 19s >>>> OEM 17s in regards to performance.

 

I see what he is saying, raising the car means more air going under and less downforce..
although I doubt you see a difference at the speeds you are going.

the forged 19's probably weigh the same as the cast 17's so no performance hit there.

only thing that sucks is tire cost for the 19's

but really you won't be raising it if you keep the wheel with tire diameters similar. I think the 17's use a 45/50 profile tire where the 19's will be around 35

 

One of the things on my checklist for my future house is a flat driveway for my future slammed car...ness.....haha. (:

Cool idea though!

 

Great idea! So do you have to lay down that strip every time you drive in and out of the driveway? I had a similar issue when I had a slammed car and had kept 2x4's at the side of the house. It was painful but got used to it.

 

I think he bolted them in the concrete..

 

If you raise the car at all when going from 17in -> 19in ur doin it wrong.

Very wrong.

 

According to my calculations a 245/40/19 tire is 1.2" taller than a 215/50/17. However a 245/35/19 is only .3" taller so Massios is correct.

 

oem 19 with larger tire size.