The 350Z is an awesome car for precise street driving and on the track, but not very good in the snow. Fortunately, there are a wide variety of snow tire options to greatly improve the vehicle's winter driving performance.
Visit the winter section of our Upgrade Garage and easily switch between product categories to see a complete fitment guide for your vehicle. You can also create Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Packages that come with all necessary hardware such as lugs, center caps ,centering rings, etc. that will allow you to switch between your different Tire & Wheel Packages (race, snow, street). To gain a better understanding of which snow tire will work best for your vehicle, read "Which Snow Tire: Studless Ice and Snow, Studdable Winter / Snow or Performance Winter / Snow?
Given the vehicle's light weight and rear-wheel drive dynamics, I would recommend a Studless Ice and Snow tire. One of the best Winter / Snow Tire & Wheel Packages for a 2005 Nissan 350Z would be the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 in 225/50-17 front tires and 225/55-17 for the rear on 17x8" Sport Edition KV5 wheels.
225/55-17 rear sizing allows the driver to maintain a larger diameter in the rear so the traction control works properly. I like the Michelin X-Ice Xi2 tire because it is designed to tackle some of the coldest winter driving conditions and the 225/55-17 is a low rolling resistance tire that confirms the tire's contribution to reducing vehicle fuel consumption and emissions of CO2 gases. The look of the tire with the Sport Edition KV5's painted silver finish sealed with a clear coat makes for a great winter combination. Sport Edition rims combine quality, style and price to offer an exceptional value. For more information on this environmentally friendly tire, read "Michelin Green X."
When installing wheels on the 350Z you may notice a steel pin protruding from the front hub mounting surface. This pin is designed to prevent erroneous rotation of the tires. You must remove it with a 12mm wrench so your new wheels will fit flush against the hub.
It
's Indy 500 time! The pole and bump days were perhaps the most exciting in years. And then the drama really started. If you haven't been following the Foyt, Andretti, Hunter-Reay, Junqueira events, do a Google search for the latest. Regardless of who is in or out, bubbled, or booted, one thing is certain...just like the first Indy 500, the 2011 winner will be on Firestone tires.
This is the centennial running of the greatest spectacle in racing. My wife and I had the good fortune of being invited to join the Firestone Racing team for pole and bump day in an all-access experience beyond imagination. The image at left is the team hard at work in the speedway's garage area. We also had a personal meeting with Mario Andretti and brief interactions with Danica Patrick, Paul Tracy, Alex Tagliani and many others. A huge thank you to Dana, Al, Susie, Marty, Mark, Suzanne and the rest of the team for the royal treatment. We truly were not worthy!
In the two decades since Firestone returned to Indy, there has not been a tire-related failure in the race. That is one impressive track record. Taking this experience to the street, Firestone has released the
Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500. This Ultra High Performance Summer tire has a great look with the performance to back it up. Feedback from customers has been fantastic, placing it as the number one overall tire in our
Tire Surve
y Results.
Take a look at what some of our customers have to say about the Firehawk Wide Oval Indy 500:
Tire Rack Consumer Review,
2004 Nissan 350Z Enthusiast Coupe."
-- Tire Rack Consumer Review,
2008 Dodge Charger SE Plus
Want to get rid of the extra room between your fender and your tire?
Eibach Pro-Kit Springs can help give your car a more aggressive street look. Lowering springs will also help to reduce body roll under cornering and heavy braking/acceleration, offering the driver the best handling and aggressive, good looks without sacrificing ride quality.
Popular Applications for the Eibach Pro-Kit Springs*
Model
| Year | Approximate Lowering Front/Rear |
| Audi A3 | '06-'09 | 1.2" Front | 1.0" Rear |
| BMW 135i Coupe | '08-'09 | 1.2" Front | 1.2" Rear |
| Chrysler 300C | '06-'09 | 1.6" Front | 1.6" Rear |
| Ford Mustang GT | '05-'09 | 1.3" Front | 1.4" Rear |
| Mazda6 V6 | '09 | 1.2" Front | 1.4" Rear |
| MINI Cooper S | '07-'09 | 1.2" Front | 1.2" Rear |
| Nissan 350Z | '03-'08 | 1.0" Front | 1.0" Rear |
See pricing and
options for your vehicle.
*Lowering and availability may differ based on your exact fitment.
The
BFGoodrich g-Force T/A KDW-2 continues to be one of the top
Ultra High Performance Summer tires on the market. It is designed for serious sports car and sports coupe enthusiasts looking for race tire-like traction on the street or for use in autocross, aggressive street driving and track events. This tire is a favorite amongst the drivers of cars like the Nissan 350Z, Mitsubishi EVO, Lexus IS350 and various other applications.
Read more about this great tire!
The
g-Force T/A KDW-2 features large tread blocks to increase dry stability, handling, and wear under high torque loads. A silica tread compound with wide circumferential and lateral grooves speeds water evacuation to improve wet traction and reduce the risk of hydroplaning. The
g-Force T/A KDW-2 tires also feature g-Control sidewall inserts to resist deflection and generate more cornering force. It also has a rim protector rib to help protect alloy wheels from curb damage.
Get yours today!
Looking for a lightweight wheel or everyday use wheel? Odds are the Enkei Racing Series RPF1 wheel will fit your vehicle. These track wheels are available in over 70 different configurations in
Black,
Bright Silver, and
Gold Painted finishes. The
Enkei Racing Series RPF1 comes in sizes ranging from 14-inch for the Mazda Miata to 19-inch for a VW Jetta. The RPF1 is typically a very lightweight wheel. For example, the 16X7 for the Honda Civic only weighs 13.7 lbs. The 18X8.5 for the Nissan 350Z only weighs 18.3 lbs.
The RPF1 Enkei wheels are manufactured in Japan where Enkei was founded in 1950. The Enkei Racing RPF1 wheels exceed the JWL and VIA strength test standards that have much higher requirements than the US DOT testing. Additionally, Enkei's MAT process allows them to reduce the overall weight 10-15%.
Check out the different color options available and see if these Wheels will
fit your car. Like the way they look? We can make it a tire and wheel package by mounting and balancing them at no charge prior to shipping out. Pick out your peformance tires and wheel at
Tire Rack today!
Looking for a combination of the perfect look and lightweight rim for track or every day use. Chances are the Enke Racing Series RPF1 will fit your car. These track rims are available in over 70 different variations in Bright Silver, Gold, and Black Painted finishes. The
Enkei Racing Series RPF1 comes in sizes ranging from 14 inch-for the Mazda Miata to 19-inch rims for a VW Jetta. The RPF1 is also typically very lightweight. For example, the 16X7 for the Honda Civic only weighs 13.7 lbs. The 18X8.5 for the Nissan 350Z only weighs 18.3 lbs.
The RPF1 rims are manufactured in Japan where Enkei was founded in 1950. The Enkei Racing RPF1 rims exceed the JWL and VIA strength test standards that have much higher requirements than the US DOT testing. Additionally, Enkei's MAT process allows them to reduce the overall weight 10-15%.
Check out the different color options available and see if these Rims will
fit your car.
Did you decide to get a new set of wheels for your toy? You know to dress her up a little. Well, it doesn't matter if you went with a big name like
BBS or
OZ Racing or went with something more budget friendly like an
ASA or
Verde style I know you want to get the most 'pop' out of your purchase. So, here's a couple of easy tips to help you get the most impact.
If your new wheels have an open design, think about the surrounding parts. Here's a couple of examples I found roaming our parking lot earlier today.
A good looking Kazera KZ-H wheel with some Sumitomo tires recently installed on a Subaru Legacy but those brake calipers detract from the car's appearance even with the upgraded wheel.
How hard would it have been to grab some
G2 caliper paint, which is available in 11 different colors, to clean things up a little and add a little flash?
Something like these OZ Racing Superleggera III wheels with
Pirellis on a Ford Transit.
There are many little details which are often overlooked like valve stems and center caps. Many wheels even have optional center caps for a more personalized look. Metal valve stems are another option to improve the overall appearance of your new wheels.
To take things another step further you can also run high-end lugs from KICS or Ray's Engineering.
As they say 'the devil is in the details.'
My name is Luke Pavlick and I am a car guy.
I recently bought a new Pontiac G8 GT that was fitted with the
Bridgestone Potenza RE050A summer tires. The car is a decently sized four-door sedan with the 19" wheels and tire option, but I must admit that the Bridgestones make the car handle like it weighs half as much! Road noise is acceptable (at least so far), and wet traction is very good. I have a set of winter tires for the car in case I need it, as I've already found out that the tires are very slick in temperatures below 40 degrees (F).
This Bridgestone is used as Original Equipment for high perfomance cars like the Nissan 350z and 370z, as well as BMW sedans (in a run flat version).
Like most high performance summer compound tires, I'm expecting around 20,000 miles of life (assuming I can keep them rotated often). After these are used up, I'm planning on going to the
Bridgestone Potenza RE760 Sport in an effort to get a little better life span out of the tire. The 760 is not quite as "sticky" as my current tire, but still should give me more than enough grip to handle well.
If you're considering a high performance summer only tire for your Pontiac (or any other hight performance sedan), the Bridgestone is worth a look!
As you know,
Tire Rack keeps a large number of
consumer surveys on hand. This is strictly for your benefit during the purchasing process. You'll find tire reviews for a number of popular manufacturers, which means you can read
Hankook tire reviews,
Sumitomo tire reviews,
Uniroyal tire reviews...of course the list doesn't stop there.
To make it even easier for you to sift through our database, we also keep them organized by specific vehicle. You might be looking for Chrysler tires, or maybe you need Chevrolet tires. Perhaps you need 350Z tires. Regardless of your search criteria, we'll produce a list of reviews that represents appropriate tires for your vehicle.
It's just another way we attempt to streamline your purchase. An informed purchase is a better purchase, but the best kind of purchase is the one that has you driving away with a smile. And that's what we aim for every time.
Start your search.
Are you looking for more initial bite and grab with your brake pads? Do you always buy the best in tires like
Michelin,
Bridgestone, or
Continental? The
Hawk HPS pad is the pad for you!
From a heavier vehicle to a sporty compact, the
Hawk HPS pads are some of the best pads money can buy. Best-in-class stopping power, initial bite, and livable road manners! Low dust, quiet and long lasting. Perfect pairing for your BMW, Miata, 350Z, Mustang or even the family sedan or mini van!
"I wanted something that would perform better than stock and this combo fit the bill." -- Tire Rack Consumer Review
"Stopping distance in my VW Golf has been reduced from 164ft@60mph to 133ft@60mph (G-Tech readings)" -- Tire Rack Consumer Review
Now that there are some real options in the right sizes for the 350Z, it is interesting to see which 350Z tires get the highest ratings from our consumer Tire Reviews.
In the 225/45-18 and 245/45-18 size combination, the top non-winter tires (a couple winter tires actually achieve the highest ratings) are the
Bridgestone RE960AS Pole Position and the
Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus
In the 245/40-18 and 265/35-19 tire sizes, the tires with the highest reviewer's rankings are the
Continental ContiSportContact2 and the
Pirelli PZero.
And, of course, you can also use our
Tire Test Results,
Consumer Survey Data and
Consumer Tire Reviews to get all the information you need to choose the right tire for you.
The Nissan 350Z came in quite a few configurations: Base, Enthusiast, Gran Touring, NISMO, Touring and Track (not to mention Coupe or Convertible in several of these configurations.
The Base, Enthusiast, and Touring models came with a 225/45-18 Front tire and 245/45-18 rear tire. In 2003, these were quite unique sizes and there weren't many tire options available. Tire Rack now has 35 different tire models from brands like BFGoodrich, Bridgestone, Continental, Dunlop, General, Goodyear, Hankook, Kumho, Michelin, Pirelli, Sumitomo and Yokohama.
Click here to view the best selling 350Z tires in the above tire sizes.The Gran Touring Coupe, NISMO and Track versions came with a 245/40-18 front tire and 265/35-19 rear tire. There are currently 9 tire models available from 5 different tire brands with matching tires in these sizes.
You can see the best selling 350Z tires in these sizes here.The options for 350Z tires have really opened up over time allowing for a selection with varying price points and tires with different performance characteristics.
2003 Nissan 350Z Performance
This tire won't take the place of a
