20" Rims...Why or Why not?

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Jan 16, 2009 | 10:55 PM
  #1  
I have had 20" TSW Vortex on for the last 6 months (no rubbing or problems other than replacing bald rear tires!!). I want to switch to Advan Model T5's. Can I stick with 20's or is there a reason I see a majority of G35Driver members with 19's?????

BTW- I have installed all my mods on my own with little "mechanic" knowledge thanks to the help of the DIY posts on this site. MUCH LOVE TO ALL...
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Jan 16, 2009 | 11:39 PM
  #2  
There is nothing wrong 20's its whatever you want, it depends what look you are going for , most of the time people go for the 19 instead for they are usually lighter and you can fit the a higher profile tires , the advan T5's are pretty sick wheels my dude has them on his NSX, the only thing is that tires usually cost more for the 19's for its an odd number size, but either way you go I'm pretty sure you will like the wheel
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Jan 17, 2009 | 12:01 AM
  #3  
Thanks for the reply...I should have been more clear The actual cost of tires/rims aside, do I need anything to improve or counter the fact they are 20" (i.e. camber kit, suspension mod, etc). It just seems stange to me that 20's would not be the defacto standard instead of 18"/19".
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Jan 17, 2009 | 12:12 AM
  #4  
people go for 19s cus of performance and maybe cheaper tire? and as stated tire size...most 20s are heavy...but its all preference,
when i bought my 20s from this guy, i asked why he's selling em, he said cus it slowed him down, performance wise...

i think 20s are the perfect size to our big wheelwells...it looks good, i can't wait to get some new rubber for them, as they are sitting in the garage beggin to be installed.
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Jan 17, 2009 | 12:22 AM
  #5  
its just personal taste - people get the style & size that they like. 19" tires DO cost more than 18/20" ones on average.
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Jan 17, 2009 | 12:40 AM
  #6  
bigc- I went to your cardomain. Your ride is sick chief! I can't even take pictures like that on Forza 2
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Jan 17, 2009 | 01:03 AM
  #7  
thanks man, i appreciate that. i can't take credit for all the pix though - grant (gdup35sedan) took the really nice ones
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Jan 17, 2009 | 01:33 AM
  #8  


On a side note- I bought a GTR eblem and cut off the GT. Does anyone like this or is it ricer-ish?
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Jan 17, 2009 | 01:39 AM
  #9  
your pic won't load, but IMO, save yourself the hassle and put that emblem in a drawer.
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Jan 17, 2009 | 01:56 AM
  #10  
Quote: your pic won't load, but IMO, save yourself the hassle and put that emblem in a drawer.
This might sound silly but...here in Salt Lake I have only seen 5 or 6 G35 Coupes in the last year. I thought it might be an intimidating factor for all the "mid-life crisis" guys in SLC who buy stock 350Z's and don't mod them at all but love to give me looks on I-15 and Bangerter Highway...
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Jan 17, 2009 | 02:25 AM
  #11  
Hopefully we dont get much more snow here this year!!!
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Jan 17, 2009 | 02:35 AM
  #12  
Quote: Hopefully we dont get much more snow here this year!!!
I hear that! What rim size do you run? Do you have separate summer/winter sets?
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Jan 17, 2009 | 03:28 AM
  #13  
Think about it...
A larger wheel and tire package can actually decrease maneuverability and will increase braking distances. Your gas mileage and acceleration times will definitely suffer. Trend-based thinking is that, by dropping the sidewall height of the tire and increasing the diameter of a wheel, an improvement in steering response and lateral handling can be found. While this is true to a certain extent, there is a point of diminishing returns.

In theory, an improvement in handling comes with an up-sized wheel and tire package. Decreasing the tire aspect ratio, or the percentage of tire width to tire height, also decreases side-to-side tire flex. While crisper handling is possible with a shorter tire, the pneumatic cushion between the road and car is less effective. The difference can be as dramatic as dozing off on an overstuffed mattress or trying to get cozy with a 1/2-inch thick foam camping pad.

Increased mass of larger wheels causes other problems. The body of the vehicle sitting atop the suspension is sprung weight. The wheels and tires are bolted to the ends of the suspension are unsprung weight. Anyone who remembers playing with a gyroscope as a kid can recall how difficult the toys were to tilt or move around once they got spinning. Unsprung weight like 20inch wheels can overwhelm the ability of a suspension to maintain vehicle control.

Big wheels want to keep on turning. Added rotating mass of bigger wheels can overwhelm brakes designed for smaller diameter and usually lighter wheels. I am starting to read and hear of more and more suspension part and wheel bearing failures in the G35/350z cars with larger than factory sized wheels. Engineers submit a vehicle to long hours of development and testing to determine the best wheel and tire combination. Suspension and brake system are designed for the wheels and tires the factory bolts on. Anything else is style-based guesswork and will hurt the performance of the car.
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Jan 17, 2009 | 04:30 AM
  #14  
20's will be heavier, meaning worse gas economy, slower acceleration, and longer braking distances. The thinner sidewalls will mean a rougher ride and higher chance of a bent wheel.

However, the G35 coupe begs for 20's to fill its wheelwells. I've had a couple sets of dubs on my coupe, and they definitely looked more proportional than all the other 19's I've had.

No matter what size TSW's you have, they are lame and look like ass. Good thing you're getting rid of them.
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Jan 17, 2009 | 05:34 AM
  #15  
Quote: ...stuff cut/pasted from the internets...
all that stuff is true, but unless you're willing to drop some serious coin on your wheels, you're gonna have to make a tradeoff between looks & performance. again, its all about your priorities and personal taste.
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