Is there any downside in having same sized rims front & rear?

[Hawker180]

Just a quick question

Is there any down side to having the same sized rims front and back?

17x8's with 235/45 tyres

thanks

[BHDave]

Nope, not really.

Slightly less rear end grip on corners, near enough to the same when taking off, You can rotate the tyres and get a longer life out of em. Wider rears will also reduce grip slightly in the wet. Only things i can think of either way really.

8s aren't a bad size either consitering the stockers are 6.5 wide all around.

[Hawker180]

thanks BHdave you more than answered my question, looks like 8's all round

[StraightSix]

There was an interesting article in the latest issue of Sport Compact Car, don't know if you guys get that magazine down under. They were trying to make a 350Z corner at 1g. They found that the conventional wisdom of suspension tuning that car (with big wide rims in the back and whatever will fit in the front) to result in an unbalanced car, even if you tuned the resulting understeer out it just didn't feel right. They ended up fitting the widest rims and tires under the front arches that they could, and using the same width at the rear. Between that, some sway bars, and some sticky tires, they got their 1g - and a nice balanced handling feel.

Moral of the story is that tire width should be matched to your weight distribution if you're looking for optimum handling. Wide meats in the back work well for a 911 or an Esprit. Skyline is close enough to 50/50, so use the same width front and back.

Cheers

Jason

[GTRgeoff]

I use larger at the rear on the same size rims (235 and 255) due to the incredible front traction I have with my current setup. The fronts are Continental Sportcontact 23540ZR17 and the rear are 25540ZR17 Goodyear Eagle F1 of the very latest release and they juuuuust control the oversteer nicely.

[predator]

Same sized rims on back and front is generally standard practice!

but many will go for the wider on the rears with a RWD to give slightly better grip and contact where you need it.

[xRHETTx]

I think all 4 wheels the same would always be the best, but usually there is a compromise between size, grip, cost etc.

The only reason to put smaller wheels on the front is if the bigger size on the rears wouldnt fit, or if you wanted to save money.

Your 8 would go well on your 32, ive got 17x8 with 225 on the front and 17x9 on the rear with 235 on my 32 and they look and feel good, but my rears do rub sometimes (as there is only 1cm clearance from guard to my tyre), but only over big bumps.

[Hawker180]

thanks heaps for your help guys!

[lwells]

I think all 4 wheels the same would always be the best, but usually there is a compromise between size, grip, cost etc.

The only reason to put smaller wheels on the front is if the bigger size on the rears wouldnt fit, or if you wanted to save money.

Your 8 would go well on your 32, ive got 17x8 with 225 on the front and 17x9 on the rear with 235 on my 32 and they look and feel good, but my rears do rub sometimes (as there is only 1cm clearance from guard to my tyre), but only over big bumps.

I was under the impression that a GT-R has to have the same size front and back unless you have a torque splitter?

LW.

[sigsputnik]

The GTR tyre placard the compliancers fitted to my GTS says different tyre sizes front and back - that was one reason the rego people defected my car.

[snake]

Ive got 17x10s on the back of mine and 17x8s on the front, 255s on the back are a bit of a stretch. Gotta be careful in the rain, sticks well in the dry.