I just picked up a 2004 G35 Coupe with the Premium, Performance and Tire Package, and Aero Package. I noticed that all four tires are sized 225/45R18 and they are supposed to have P225/45R18 tires front and P245/45R18 tires on the rear; a staggered setup.

1. How, if any, will this affect the overall performance of the G (handling/power, etc.)?
2. Is there any particular benefit to having the staggered setup that would suggest I look into getting the P245/45R18 for the rear?
3. What tires are you running or would you recommend when I do decide to change them eventually?

Thanks for the imput!
JD

 

I think the staggered setup creates more understeer. Correct me if im wrong, but im just throwing this out there. I know the 95 BMW M3s had 8" (might have been 7.5") all around where the 96-99 had 8" up front and 8.5" in the rear(could have been 7.5" and 8". i just know the rear rims were 1/2" wider than the fronts.). I read that they made the setup this way because to many inexperienced drivers were overcorrecting or just oversteering through turns. Once again, im not sure if this is correct or not.

Personally, im not racing my car. Right now, i need it to be as economical as possible so when it comes time to buy tires, im gonna look at getting 235s all the way around so i can rotate from corner to corner.

 

having wider tires on a RWD car is a huge advantage. Theres more of a "footprint" holding your to the road. Generally the wider the tire, the more traction you will have.

As for being staggered, im not exactly sure why its done.

 

1. A non-staggered setup might trigger the VDC prematurely because the stock configuration has a staggered setup. I don't really know but you may want to do some more research.

2. don't know

3. pilot sports and S03s are great tires.

 

I think the 225/245 staggered setup is only avaliable on the SPORT PACKAGE, not PERFORMANCE PACKAGE

 

Your also going to find out that there is a pin in the front that will prevent you from rotating the fronts and backs. It's in there with a bolt so i'm sure it can be removed.

 

What is the difference between the Sport Package and Performance Package for 2004?
I know that the sport package for 2006 is essentially Premium + Aero + Performance Package w/ 19" rims.

 

Looked into it....It is considered Sport Coupe 5AT Leather w/ Premium + Performance + Aero...the staggered setup is on all models, but the 17" are 225/50 & 235/50 while the performance 18" is 225/45 and 245/45.
The only thing missing on mine is the Brembos that come on the 6MT and navi (working on aftermarket as we speak - Digital Wheelz vs. DD: undecided) and a decent sound system (I have Bose 8 speaker, which is begging to be replaced!)
Still trying to figure out all the benefits of the staggered setup...but thanks for the replies up this point. They've been helpful!
JD

 

Generally speaking (rather than speaking of the G specifically), a factory staggered tire setup is part of the overall suspension design/engineering of the car.

Let's say your engineering a car. You want it to handle/corner as neutrally as possible, but since it's a mass production car, you don't get custom weight springs, a-arm lengths etc. (Unless it's a complete model redesign, like corvette does every few years) You get to choose from what's already in production for other cars. So you (mr. engineer) run the math, do some testing, try different spring rates, ride heights, alignment settings (camber,caster,toe). And maybe you find that 1" wider tires on the back gives you that extra control of oversteer you couldn't tweak out any other way.

So, the question is, how would having non-staggered tires on a car designed to have them? I would say (hypothetically) that it would make the car more prone to oversteer at the cornering limits, especially under acceleration.

Are you going to encounter those limits driving on the street? Probably only in an emergency maneuver situation.

Is it unsafe to drive it without the factory stagger setup? No.

Should you buy the factory/OEM sized tires? Sure if you've got the cash to drop. I'd probably wait until the next time I needed to replace them though.

 

Their is no such thing as a sport suspension on a 2003 or 2004 coupe. Owner's get confused at Infiniti's marketing wording telling us that the car has a "sport tuned" suspension. The only way any G35 coupe has a genuine sport suspension is if your coupe was delivered on oem 19's, this distinct suspension can be I.D. via specific shock part numbers and measuring the rear spring wire diameters (.57"). Any coupe delivered on oem 17's or 18's has the regular suspension regardless of build year and that regular suspenison is NOT called a sport suspension.

 

are you sure about that? the 19" wheel and tire package was not even offered on the 2003-2004 models. I was under the impression in buying my 04 a/t coupe that buying the performance package gives you the 18" wheel/tire combo and its gives you stonger shocks and upgraded springs from stock.

 

as much as i know this is true, it's too bad i always have a hard time undersatnding it.

friction isn't a function of surface area.

 

Not sure whre your information is from but the '04 6 speed coupe and sedan comes with firmer springs and shocks (sport tunede suspension) and it is included with the aero package on AT's.

 

In the US, the 03/04 coupes had a single suspension setup. The 05's offer stiffer rear springs, with the suspension package(OEM 19's).

 

1. How, if any, will this affect the overall performance of the G (handling/power, etc.)?

Staggered setup looks nice. (better stance) Staggered setup gives the car more understeer (safety) and staggered setup make sense since the power is driven to the rear wheel exclusively.

2. Is there any particular benefit to having the staggered setup that would suggest I look into getting the P245/45R18 for the rear?

The rears are already 245/45. If you want a more neutral handling, and better stopping power, I would actually suggest you get 245/40R18 for the front tires. The stock rear tires are sufficient for 280hp.

3. What tires are you running or would you recommend when I do decide to change them eventually?

I heard good things about the following: Bridgestone Potenza Re050A (same as OEM 19"), S03 (expensive), Michellin Pilot Sport PS2 (expensive, but maybe the best) and the Toyo T1R (light)