[Scott]

I'm in the process of restoring a 1980 Datsun 280ZX, and I was wondering if anyone had any experience upgrading the wheels and tires. I'd like to move up to 17 x 7.5 wheels and 225/45-17 tires. Is that feasible? Has anyone had any problems with fenders rubbing or anything like that on an old Z-car? The car will probably be lowered an inch or so sometime in the near future.

 

[Unknown User]

I doubt that you'd be able to find a 17 wheel to fit on the Z. Stay with 7 width, you can still put 225's on it. You'd have better luck finding 16 wheels. If you really want 17 inches, your best bet would be to buy wheel spacers to get it to the correct offset.
Usually people buy wheels with zero offset, this is fine but with 225 tires it'll rub the fender lip. So if you don't feel like bending the fender lip a little bit buy a wheel with 10-12mm offset. BTW, 225 is the widest you can fit on the front.

> I'm in the process of restoring a 1980
> Datsun 280ZX, and I was wondering if anyone
> had any experience upgrading the wheels and
> tires. I'd like to move up to 17 x
> 7.5 wheels and 225/45-17 tires. Is
> that feasible? Has anyone had any problems
> with fenders rubbing or anything like that
> on an old Z-car? The car will probably be
> lowered an inch or so sometime in the near
> future.

 

[Doug Dawson]

> I'm in the process of restoring a 1980
> Datsun 280ZX, and I was wondering if anyone
> had any experience upgrading the wheels and
> tires. I'd like to move up to 17 x
> 7.5 wheels and 225/45-17 tires. Is
> that feasible? Has anyone had any problems
> with fenders rubbing or anything like that
> on an old Z-car? The car will probably be
> lowered an inch or so sometime in the near
> future.

Be aware that lowering the car by installing lowering springs causes several degrees of negative camber on the rear, and that this becomes an increasingly severe problem the wider the tires you're using.

Doug Dawson
[email protected]