9" Wide All Round On 33 Gtst

[75coupe]

I am running a staggered 17x8 & 17x9, but I do have another 2 17x9s in the same style, same colour at 38 offset with 255s on them (they were rears).

I've put them on the front with the theory of more rubber on the front can't be bad, yep they practically clear everything except a small rub when on full, full lock.

My questions are:

Would there be any negatives too running 255s all round on a GTST.

Will that upset the balance of grip or as I'm thinking can you never have enough rubber on the front.

Will I need to get an alignment setup again if I run the 9" with 255s on front (I'm about to install hicas lock bar anyway)?

I have bilstein struts, low king springs 355-345mm from centres to guards, with whiteline adjustable sways and whiteline offset upper front and rear bushes

-1degree camber on front.

When running the 225s on front I was getting uneven wear as you would expect from camber setting. Will the wear be more noticeable when using 255s on front?

With +38 offset on 9" on fronts would I be better off using a 3mm spacer and lipping the guards to avoid the slight rub on full lock? I don't like the thought of using spacers usually.

BTW the +38, 17x9" rims on front look like the perfect size as it lines up perfectly with guard edge though I haven't done any over the top hard cornering as yet...

[JMW]

I remember reading an article about centrifical force and wheel size.

Correct me if im wrong anyone!

But going to that size on the front would be overkill unless on a GTR, your tyre wear might get worse, your steering will be a little more heavy but you may find it will be more direct.

Still surprised that they fit on a R33 GTS-t! Let me know how you go with them though

[75coupe]

Well steering is no heavier...

But I am experiencing understeer which is strange cause I haven't had an understeer issue before. Maybe the crappy sumitomos arn't as good as the crappy nangkangs... Damn I want semis...

It may be the alignment is out slightly after a heavy track day though. I can't imagine hitting ripple strips around Oran park would do it any good, though the instructor thought it was necessary, so I kept taking the line he showed me.

The 9" inch rims only just fit I'm thinking I will get some 2mm (if possible) spacers, with an alignment check and a fresh balance on the fronts and see how it goes.

Anyone have anything else? I can't see how having wider tyres would be a bad thing? Is overkill even possible in terms of front end traction?

Come on, heaps of people reading but not many have any thoughts... is it really that much different to having 255 tyres all round on a gtr...?

[LotusGTR]

Quality not quantity......

[NickR33]

I got sick of running through rear tires quicker than the fronts and then just replacing the whole set (I'm a bit anal about tires)... so I now run 18/9 +30 rims with 235's all round... if you go with a bit skinnier tire you may get rid of the scrubbing without having to run spacers

handling is excellent but I have decent tires (same suspension as you)... yum cha tires are a waste of money unless you just like doing skids... remember if you have adjustable sway bars you can tune the under/oversteer to suit

BTW the Bilsteins are great for hopping ripple strips, I reckon there too soft for serious trackwork but they do let you take the odd 'shortcut'

[DECIM8]

Sumitumo is a great brand.. It is the best cost/performance tyre. For handling the HTR is up with the likes of V103, Potenza etc. Only issue is its directional and this is only based on Dry circumstances.

As for oversteer/understeer most likely related to your alignment.

Yes, a 255 will present more wear. Yes it will cost more for little reward.

Also for future reference buy a A-Symetrical tyre when you have excessive camber on one side (make sure its still legal) and you can swap the two back tyres (each side and start a fresh on the newish tread.

Edited January 7, 2009 by DECIM8

[WARLORD]

Well steering is no heavier...

But I am experiencing understeer which is strange cause I haven't had an understeer issue before. Maybe the crappy sumitomos arn't as good as the crappy nangkangs... Damn I want semis...

It may be the alignment is out slightly after a heavy track day though. I can't imagine hitting ripple strips around Oran park would do it any good, though the instructor thought it was necessary, so I kept taking the line he showed me.

The 9" inch rims only just fit I'm thinking I will get some 2mm (if possible) spacers, with an alignment check and a fresh balance on the fronts and see how it goes.

Anyone have anything else? I can't see how having wider tyres would be a bad thing? Is overkill even possible in terms of front end traction?

Come on, heaps of people reading but not many have any thoughts... is it really that much different to having 255 tyres all round on a gtr...?

good stuff how did the car feel over all was it more or less stable than be for ? could you push it in corners and exit quicker than be for ?

im up for 255 fronts and 265 or 275 rears on 10'' wheels f&b on my gtst

[75coupe]

good stuff how did the car feel over all was it more or less stable than be for ? could you push it in corners and exit quicker than be for ?

im up for 255 fronts and 265 or 275 rears on 10'' wheels f&b on my gtst

Let me know how you go with the 10" on rear, would love to do that...

[alr33x]

i've got 265/35/18 on 18x10 +20 fits fine although had to roll the guards and run lots of camber.. il be going 255 next time round.

[bradsm87]

18x9 +38 physically WON'T FIT. The rim/tyre will strike the upright on the inside before you can even get the wheel nuts done up. no problem with 255's at all but they really want to be on around about a 9.5 wide +20-ish offset.

[75coupe]

But I already have on 17x9 +38 front and back with 255s slight rub when on full lock.

does 18x9 +38 work out different and not fit?

[simpletool]

Set your rear bar a bit harder to get rid of understeer.

Get your toe set at 0mm front and rear (much more responsive now).

I currently have same suspension but Sumitomo Z3 (ZIII) - the Z2 are all-round not as good as Z3 and they understeer (I had them on for one day).

My sway bars are set as front medium/hard. Rear medium/soft. No understeer unless we are talking about <50km/h hard corner.