Does anyone know what the biggest wheel and tires will fit on an early 260z without making it look like crap. I wanted to put wider tires on the back.

Thanks Mars23z

With no modifications at all, you can run 225/50/15 on 15x7 zero offset wheels. Panasport or Konig Rewinds are good, affordable wheel choices.

I'd recommend looking through the gallery for setups that look good to you, and then asking the owners what they have. Because 'crap' is totally subjective. What I think looks like 'crap' may look damn good to you.

Do you think a 16 or 17 inch rim would work?

not without body mods (front lower cowl) and suspension mods (coil overs). With coilovers and replacing the cowl with an air dam, you can run 16x7 up front shod w/ 225/50/16 and 16x8 out back w/ 245/45/16. The issue is with clearing the stock spring hence the coilovers.

As mentioned coilovers do provide you with additional width clearances. People are running 15", 16", 17" and yes 18" wheels on the series 1 cars. The discussion about wheels/tires is likely the most asked question and with a little searching of the archives, you will learn of the many ways people have installed larger than stock tires/wheels under their Z. I'm running 17"x 8" (f) and 17"x 9" ®. Yes I have coilovers and wheel spacers...but no rubbing issues. Take a look at my photo album (240ZX). Tell me what you think.

240zx that is one of the nicest z's i have seen i love the classic look thats what i am going for I have the basket wheels on mine but they're only 14" I want at least 16" Do you have any more pics of yours?

240zx that is one of the nicest z's i have seen i love the classic look thats what i am going for I have the basket wheels on mine but they're only 14" I want at least 16" Do you have any more pics of yours?

I do have a ton of pictures I took during the redo....unfortunitley, I am not a digital camera owner. A friend of mine loaned me his digital camera so I could post the pictures you looked at. Sorry! If you have questions however, please feel free to ask!

Smaller diameter wheels are lighter, 225/50/15 would be the best choice. 17's are going to weigh more potentially making stoping distances longer and probably not feel as good or handel as well (with identicle tread compound). The money saved on 15's over 17's could be used toward very nice and light 15" Volk TE37's 9.2 lbs each, very nice forged wheels. A little sidewall is not a bad thing in a Z, 225/50 is still a low profile tire. Stay with the same size tires front to rear, it will handel better.

After all that in original response to your postings, yes you can run up to a 17x7 wheel with proper backspacing, without the use of coil overs just fine.

I would say concidering that 15 inch wheels will soon be as hard to find as most 14 inch in a good tire size, you might want to go for at least a 16x7 wheel.

I run 225x45x15 tires on 15x7 front and 15x8 rear. As I've learned the 45's leave quite a gap between the tire and the wheel well...so coilovers are next.