I am looking to buy some blizzaks for a set of the stock 17's that come with the base model coupe. The tires i have on them now are staggered. The rep and town fair tire told me that you dont need a staggered set up with the winter tires that it would actually be better for traction with the same size all around. I’m guessing blizzak doesn’t make one of the sizes. Does anyone have this set up already and could give me some info? and would the car look weird without the staggered set up or would it be pretty much unnoticeable?

 

The only real reason I have hear to keep staggered was so the VDC won't flip out, but as of late there are quite a few people running square setups for various reasons.

Personally, I would keep it staggered - only because I don't want the VDC issues that could happen.

 

if your wheels are wider at the back, running 4 of the same tires means you're gonna be stretching them at the back..

 

The staggered or lack of shouldn't throw the VDC to hit. It's the circumference of the tires.

My wife has a G35x that she drives and I've put a set of staggereds on it with Blizzacks and all is fine.

When I bought my G35 coupe, it had Blizzacks on the factory wheels. It's the size of the tires in total, not the width that will throw it.

Also, traditionally, the thinner the tire, the better the snow grip all things being similar.

I've always used this link to make sure a tire is the same size or close to another: http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

 

I would think that the width of the tires would make no difference with VDC. If you get much snow I would recommend all the same width. You could even go narrower for deep snow.

You want to cut through the snow and get to the asphalt, not push the snow which is what wider tires will tend to do.

I went to a 16 inch steel wheel for my snows which allowed me to go to a 215/60R/16. Gives me a bit more height on the sidewall as well.

This setup worked awesome for me last winter.

 

Hah! Submitted pretty
Much the same answers.! I didn't copy you, we must have been composing at the same time!

 

Thanks for all the info... I guess I will get all the same size then and we will see how it goes. Thanks again

 

any pictures of that setup on your car?

I have a set of staggered 17" Blizzacks for my stockers. I believe they're 225/55/17 and 245/50/17, but not entirely positive on that.

 

oops

 

I'll get a pic of it up. Not sure if he could run the exact same setup since I have an 03 sedan. And my car isn't lowered. But a tire shop can give you the wheel and tire sizes that will maintain your diameter within spec for your speedo readings.

I have some 19" Rays that I'll be running with 225/40/19 front and 245/40/19 in the rear. I could still run the winter setup I have with no issue.

Just will have to increase my wheel size for my new Brembos to fit next year

 

he can also use any of the online tire calculators to try to get the closest match to the speedo. I personally like www.willtheyfit.com

 

215/60R/16 WinterForce on 16" steel wheels. 2003 G35 Sedan. Stock height.

 

I've read this a lot about square and VDC, but don't get it. Au I'm not bashing on you at all, please don't take it that way but the sedans are sold with square set ups and have no issues so I wonder where the misinformation comes from. As stated above the VDC doesn't give a **** about anything other than the rolling diameters of the tires F/R. They must be within 3% and if they are you could run a 215/55/17 up front and a 245/40/19 in the rear and the car wouldn't even blink since the diameters of the tires is only 1.5% different.

Square=Happy VDC

 

I run 225/55/17 Blizzaks on all four during the winter (I think, not going to go drag the tires out to double check now). Never had a VDC issue. Looks a little different, because I'm used to seeing my 35-series 19's on the coupe the rest of the year. I'm actually not a fan of the looks, but it beats driving the Grand Cherokee, so long as the snow is four inches deep or less.

 

I use 225/50/17 all around for winter and don't really notice VDC being thrown off but I usually drive with VDC off anyways lol