I have an '04 G35 coupe with factory 18 in OEM wheels. I am looking to get a winter set up. I was wondering if it is necessary to have the front and back staggered like my current OEM set up has?

I have seen some for sale and a couple are just same front and back size and decently priced so i want to jump on them, but it appears if you dont get them staggered sizes then the VDC or something wont work right?

Is this accurate? If so what size tires would i need to purchase? I am looking to size down to a 17" for winter set up to save on cost.

I appreciate any help! I cant seem to find anything definitive via the search function regarding this.

Thanks!
Bruce

 

Go to www.tirerack.com and check the overall diameter of the tire sizes you have right now and then find something in a 17-inch diameter that sticks as close to that as possible for the front and rear and you should be alright. It's not the stagger that is important, it's the diameter. If you have trouble finding what you are looking for on their site just give them a call. Everyone I have talked to there is very knowledgeable and their prices are pretty good as well.

 

So right now I have these factory installed tires:

Front: 225/45/18
Rear: 245/45/18

So i should then purchased 225/45/17 and 245/45/17 if possible?

I saw some winter wheels w/blizzak for infiniti with 225/55/17 all the way around and the price is great.

Just wondering what issues I would run into if i purchased and installed those.

Thanks!

 

are the infiniti rims the stock 17's?

I had the stock 17's and upgraded to the stock 18's for winter w/ blizzaks

 

The 17s are not OEM.

They are moda with Wheel Specs: 17"x8", 40 offset and 5x114.3 bolt pattern

 

If your car came with staggered then you should stick with staggered. Otherwise you will set off your VDC...

Heres what I did over the wekend:
https://g35driver.com/forums/g35-cou...pics-info.html

 

you said you have a 04 with oem 18s, do you have brembos? if so make sure that they clear the calipers

 

o3stage2 you went with 225/50 and 225/55, so that should work for me?

My OEM tires have the same aspect but different width. It seems you went with same aspect width but different ratios.

The guy above that replied said the diameter makes the biggest difference.

I guess the bottom line is that I should not use the same size tires all the way around as it will mess with the VDC?

 

With your stock 18's the front diameter is about 25.9" and the rear is about 26.7". Whatever 17's you get need to stay as close to that as possible. The tires sizes that 03stage2 refers to in his thread with the front being 225/50/17 and the rears being 225/55/17 are sized correctly or you could use 245/50/17 in the rear as well.

 

I dont have brembos. Just standard brakes

 

According to Tire Rack, for my 2004, if it came with 17s. the tire sizes would be 225/50/17 on the front and 235/50/17 for the rears.

Ideally, these would be the tire sizes I would want for my '04 then, right?

 

yeah those sizes are what you should try to get

 

1) If you can find a 17" rim that clears your brakes, drop down a size, narrower tires will go better in the snow.
Suggested sizes:
225/50/17
235/50/17

instead of the OEM 18's - IF you can find a wheel you'd want to own, with enough clearance.

Check with where you're buying, Tire Rack didn't steer me wrong back when I bought mine in 2004/2005 Winter season.

2) If you do, ensure the overall diameter (circumference, really) of the new setup is not exceed the ratio of current F/R by more than 5% or the VDC will malfunction. Mostly, the "SLIP" light will come on, stay on and the VDC may not work properly.

Other posts will tell you to keep the stagger between ~1/2" and < 1", but that's not the only issue - it's the ratio of the sizes F/R. Plus try to stay close in overall diameter, or your speedo will be off even if you maintain the staggered size ratio correctly.

I run the OEM sizes in the 18's for Winter, because there wasn't a 17 option I could live with that cleared my brakes years ago when I first bought a second set of wheels (ASA JH3's, little bit heavy pigs but ok looking and cheap).

It's no joy to drive in more than a few inches of snow, but I haven't gotten stuck yet in 3 Winters, just realize that snow packing under the car will limit how much you can get through unplowed. Ice traction has been good with the Pirelli Snowsports, but the rears are done after 3 Winters, have to get another pair soon. It can be done, also realize at times you may need to disable the VDC if you're having trouble with traction - otherwise it just puts the brake(s) on as soon as it detects wheels slipping.

As you can see the ASA's had plenty of clearance for 18", I think the same rim later became available in a 17 that also works.

HTH

 

Yes. And since I just noticed you have the non-Brembo's, clearance won't be a problem.

I also suggest checking Craigslist and other sources, I see used Winter Wheelsets come up all the time, now that you know what you're looking for - you could save about half or more vs. buying new wheels.