16" FL wheels on front

[Rich.B]

Hi all, apologies if this has been covered before but is anyone using the 16" face lift wheel on the front to enable a wider tyre to be used?

Would this even be beneficial or dose the added weight of the 16" negate any advantage of having slightly more front end grip?

I've not even had my MR on track yet so am totally new to this, but see a common mod is to run a square wheel set up but still maintain a tyre stagger.

Any advice is appreciated!

[Petrus]

A wider tyre does not equal more grip.
A large diameter rim = lower sidewall, meaning stiffer sidewall.
I doubt that the slight weight penalty would outweigh that on a racing track.

[Dev]

A wider tyre does not equal more grip.
A large diameter rim = lower sidewall, meaning stiffer sidewall.
I doubt that the slight weight penalty would outweigh that on a racing track.

I agree however the wheel weights between the front stock 15" compared to the rear 16" are enormous.
I would choose a different 16" wheel that weighs less. 
 
  I would go square or wider tires in the front if you goal is to win races or what ever it takes to radicalize your suspension set up based on your choices to match your current suspension set up. 

If you want to have fun with the car and enjoy the quick turn in response  I would get the thinest tire possible and set up the suspension so it mildly oversteers at the limit.



 

[Beachbum957]

We have been running the rear OEM 16" wheel on the front with 195/45 - 16 tires for years.  While the wheel is heavier than the 15" (19 lb vs 15 lb) , the wider wheel and lower profile tires give a nice precise steering.  But the problem today is tire availability in 16".  At one time, there were a number of tire options, but not now.  You will find many more tire options in 15" front

[Rich.B]

Thanks for the input gents.

Tyre choice is certainly something to consider. I didn't realise the 16" was a limiting factor. I was just curious as this is a fairly common mod on the 350z scene but they are clearly very different cars.

To be honest the car feels great the way it is and I'm not even on sticky tyres yet. So it sounds like it's worth me investing in a set of AD08r in stock sizes before mucking about with the wheels.

[Petrus]

So it sounds like it's worth me investing in a set of AD08r in stock sizes before mucking about with the wheels.

It would be worth mucking about with lightweight wheels in the standard diameter.
Enkei RPF1s are the dog´s bollocks.
I have them shod on AD08r and the grip takes ´some´ getting used to.
The lighter rims give the better road contact these tyres can fully exploit.

[Dev]

A good tire in sock sizes  is always preferable to a bigger heavier and wider tire and wheel especially for the front.
Adding close to 8lbs unsprung weight not including the tires weight which could  add a bit more over stock is not trivial. 

[Petrus]

A good tire in sock sizes  is always preferable to a bigger heavier and wider tire and wheel especially for the front.
Adding close to 8lbs unsprung weight not including the tires weight which could  add a bit more over stock is not trivial.

Hence I did not follow the larger/bigger = better trend and shaved close to 10 kilos óff the wheels by going lightweight in OEM diameter.
For exclusive use on track I would go even more expensive, forged, lighter still alloys in 16 front, 17 rear with lower sidewall tyres.
But then I would opt for way stiffer suspension and less ground clearance too.

[Dev]

A good tire in sock sizes  is always preferable to a bigger heavier and wider tire and wheel especially for the front.
Adding close to 8lbs unsprung weight not including the tires weight which could  add a bit more over stock is not trivial.

Hence I did not follow the larger/bigger = better trend and shaved close to 10 kilos óff the wheels by going lightweight in OEM diameter.
For exclusive use on track I would go even more expensive, forged, lighter still alloys in 16 front, 17 rear with lower sidewall tyres.
But then I would opt for way stiffer suspension and less ground clearance too.

Unfortunately we are in the minority of opinion.  Most will keep adding more width that can fit as a band aid to understeer when it can be fixed by understanding the suspension as a whole and implementing sensible changes, not radical ones and the best part is it doesn't cost a small fortune just some basic understanding of the suspension as a whole.

[james_ly]

I went with the pre facelift tyres instead. 185/205 instead of 185/215... and this made a good impact the car doesn't really understeer, instead does that 60s classic racecar thing of neutral steering - worth pointing out that this is not a novice setup though IMO (it's combined with Meister Rs which reduce the understeer further)

[Dev]

I went with the pre facelift tyres instead. 185/205 instead of 185/215... and this made a good impact the car doesn't really understeer, instead does that 60s classic racecar thing of neutral steering - worth pointing out that this is not a novice setup though IMO (it's combined with Meister Rs which reduce the understeer further)

Thats really good to hear.  I miss having 185s up front as the 205s are just too wide and doesn't have that sharp steering response.
Most people think adding  width is the only solution but once you get the alignment settings right you find out that its not the limiting factor and you also find that the car is more lively in a good way.

Even a bone stock MR-S will not push as much if you know how to drive it. 

[1979scotte]

I went with the pre facelift tyres instead. 185/205 instead of 185/215... and this made a good impact the car doesn't really understeer, instead does that 60s classic racecar thing of neutral steering - worth pointing out that this is not a novice setup though IMO (it's combined with Meister Rs which reduce the understeer further)

Thats really good to hear.  I miss having 185s up front as the 205s are just too wide and doesn't have that sharp steering response.
Most people think adding  width is the only solution but once you get the alignment settings right you find out that its not the limiting factor and you also find that the car is more lively in a good way.

Even a bone stock MR-S will not push as much if you know how to drive it.

I agree most wholeheartedly 205 upfront spoiled the roadster for me even with turbo power.
My favourite so far is stock PFL size.
A little hairy in the wet with my current torque level but very rewarding in the dry.

[Petrus]

I went with the pre facelift tyres instead. 185/205 instead of 185/215... and this made a good impact the car doesn't really understeer, instead does that 60s classic racecar thing of neutral steering - worth pointing out that this is not a novice setup though IMO (it's combined with Meister Rs which reduce the understeer further)

Thats really good to hear.  I miss having 185s up front as the 205s are just too wide and doesn't have that sharp steering response.
Most people think adding  width is the only solution but once you get the alignment settings right you find out that its not the limiting factor and you also find that the car is more lively in a good way.

Even a bone stock MR-S will not push as much if you know how to drive it.

I hád to go 195 and the slightly wider print combined with a whiff more air did reduce the understeer.

Deleting the PAS makes everything WAY more noticeble