Wheels vs. Upgrades

I am saving up enough money for either some new wheels or some things (intake, blah blah) to increase the performance of my car. What would you guys suggest?

Also post what specific performance upgrade or wheels you would suggest please :)

I'm very new to this stuff, but i'm also saving up do make upgrades. Personally, wheels are one of the last things i would change because they seem too expensive when compared to the other things you can do. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I think its possible to lower the car w/out changing the wheels without any problems and it still looks ok.

my newbie opinion: ..engine/exhaust first, wheels/suspension later

If you think about it, the wheels that come stock aren't that bad.
At least they dont come with hubcaps.. *shudders* :devil: :devil:

Hmmm, methinks I'd go for wheels. I've still got the stock factory alloys on mine, and there's just way too many Primera's driving round town that look the same as mine. As for performance there's several no - low cost options (especially when your dad is a mechanic ;)), and since my Primera is a Te it's already a go-er. So yea, wheels... IF I had the money...

it really depends on YOU.
are you into racing??? or are you in for just lookzz?

Originally posted by le_the_thriller
I'm very new to this stuff, but i'm also saving up do make upgrades. Personally, wheels are one of the last things i would change because they seem too expensive when compared to the other things you can do. Correct me if i'm wrong, but I think its possible to lower the car w/out changing the wheels without any problems and it still looks ok.

my newbie opinion: ..engine/exhaust first, wheels/suspension later

Well, my slightly more experienced opinion is wheels/tires, suspension, brakes, engine.

Bring all the other systems' performance up before the engine IMHO because you want to have a chassis that can cope with increased power.

Wheels/tires are the single biggest way to improve the performance of your car unless you are just into drag racing. They will usually make more difference than anything else, save a turbo.

Its a personal choice lets face it nothing changes a cars appearance like a wicked set of wheels

I too was faced with the same decision and i decided to go the way of performance .I ordered a hotshot header which I installed today and the Place Racing CAI.
Once i have installed the CAI and i am able to save up enough dinero i will then purchase my 17" wheels which i have already chosen to ride on 215/45 17 tires.

The car is pulling nicely with just the addition of the headers i have not regretted my decision

Obviously, this is a personl decision.

I went for the wheels before any performance mods.

The stock wheels are nice, but if you want to turn more heads and make the car look spanky, go for the wheels. But like was asked, what are you into - looks or racing. That's what the pot boils down to.

You'll pay over $1,000 for wheels - so with that money, you could get the pulleys, cai, header and maybe throw in a strut or two. I guess you could get a lot of performance mods done to the car if you decided not to invest in the wheels.

I put $1700 into my wheels/tires - with that I could have covered the majority of performance mods. But I'm not really on a fixed budget, so I'll have enough for those performance mods soon

:flash:

i would go for chasis parts first, it'll make more difference than all the small stuff you are going to put in the engine.

Originally posted by atomicfrog
I went for the wheels before any performance mods.

Unless you are buying some heavy wheels (such as chrome wheels), wheels and tires are a performance mod. Grassroots Motorsports did a test of 15", 16", and 17" wheels/tires on a Civic on an autocross course and the car went quicker each time they increase the wheel size.

Y'all have to think beyond only driving in a straight line.

So personally P10DET,
What size of wheels would you get?

definately go with the wheels.

save up so you have money for the wheels. If you go with performance, all your gonna wanna do is get one mod after another. like you get an intake and then become broke, then you decide you need an exhaust so you save up for that. :)

Originally posted by frogg
So personally P10DET,
What size of wheels would you get?

I have 17" on my P10 and 16" on my B13.

Size is always a trade-off since larger wheels do hurt straight line acceleration, but they tend to help cornering and braking. I would upgrade wheels and tires before anything else, but now I'm repeating myself. It's OK though since I'm old an feeble. ;)

heh
Ok I was planning on getting some 17s .. by maybe Enkei or Konig

Good choice?? :confused:

There is one thing that will really get you motivated and happy about your car is wheels. If you put engine mods, only you, yourself feel it and of course your happy.

BUT...

If you go with wheels, your car will look sweeter, you'll have way more motivation to do more on it (like engine mods), you'll get compliments (more motivation), the girls will dig it (way more motivation).

I just mean that if you start with wheels, you'll see yourself getting somewhere.

But like the rest said, only you can choose.

Ya, thats true.. Everytime I look at my car I would say to myself,
"Damn thats one fine piece of umm.. car :) "

I'd go for the wheels first then the engine upgrades.

Size...215/45/17 with a 30-40mm drop with a good shock/spring upgrade.

:rolleyes: depends on personal choice...........if you have 16"s standard as mine I'd go for performance/suspension first then get the wheels..by that time the wheel prices drops a bit as well Heh he :hehehe:

How much would a drop be?

Originally posted by frogg
How much would a drop be?

$400-500 for springs/struts. $1000+ for coilovers. Get rims and droppage 1st. It will change the whole look of your car. You will like it more.

So if I had $1500 total to spend..
Wheels - $640
Tires - $??
Springs/Struts - $400-500

Would I go over 1500? Pretty sure I would by a little depending on the tires I got and also would have to pay for someone to install this stuff...

Ya, it depends on what type of wheels you're getting and what type of tires. Like I mentioned, I paid $1700 for my rims ($215 each) and tires (Nankang, which mind you, were the CHEAPEST TIRES) - and then there's the labor. With $1500 you can get yourself some good wheels, but I don't know if you'd have anything left over for struts/springs :).

Originally posted by frogg
So if I had $1500 total to spend..
Wheels - $640
Tires - $??
Springs/Struts - $400-500

Would I go over 1500? Pretty sure I would by a little depending on the tires I got and also would have to pay for someone to install this stuff...

It would be pretty close. For wheels at a good price, check out www.wheelmax.com The springs you can pretty much find anywhere. Struts will be difficult. Don't make a full set-up for the P11.

for $1500 U should be able to get good wheels and tyres....with enuff left over for a set of Eibachs or H&R springs.......leave the struts til later:D :sun: ....I'm doin somethin similar.......have bought the spring...just waitin to fit them....will then save up to buy wheels and possibly koni struts all round next year......:p

I just asked someone, and they said that if I lowered my car, it would invalidate the warranty on my car. Is this true? What did you guys do?

Originally posted by frogg
I just asked someone, and they said that if I lowered my car, it would invalidate the warranty on my car. Is this true? What did you guys do?

Not supposed to. Not suspension. To my knowledge.

Originally posted by frogg
I just asked someone, and they said that if I lowered my car, it would invalidate the warranty on my car. Is this true? What did you guys do?

I just told my insurance company of all the mods i done and they was really cool about it....no extra cost.
The warranty was the same.

So if I take my car in to be serviced, they won't refuse to do it because of the fact that I lowered my car?

Originally posted by frogg
So if I take my car in to be serviced, they won't refuse to do it because of the fact that I lowered my car?

I dont see why they shouldn't....just be honest with them and tell them what you have done or going to do.

Ok, might call up my dealer to ask just in case.

I like my stock wheels, so I would go performance for sure. 2k2 Sport rims kick ass.

this is the route that i went (am going thru):
1. went thru a lot of engine work just to get it running right (used 92)
2. upgraded brakes that were shot.
3. in the process of AGX struts and Ground Control coils.

i obviously went this way because mine was a bit older and out of shape. but even if i had a brand new car, i'd "prep" it for the power that will later come. IMHO. i personally have a problem with cars that are "all show, no go" ok, wheels and tires can enhance performance. but i'd honestly get the suspension stuff first. BTW my AGX's were $370 and GC's were $460 = $830 for suspension. i'm not sure pricing on a p11.

but it's all what you like. your car should be a reflection of you, not other ppls opinions. Good luck in whatever path you take.

OK, I keep trying to tell y'all that wheels and tires are a performance upgrade. Well, I found the article I was talking about reprinted on the web.

http://www.grmotorsports.com/plustest.html

Alright, one more thing..
If something happens with my suspension, I'm pretty much screwed if I get it lowered right? They won't fix it because it's not stock?

Originally posted by frogg
Alright, one more thing..
If something happens with my suspension, I'm pretty much screwed if I get it lowered right? They won't fix it because it's not stock?

I was told by Nissan that i could modify anything on the car but it would put a clause in the warranty that means if anything goes wrong with the car, and they can PROVE that it was caused by the modification or aftermaket parts installed, then they would not cover. But if its done properly, and its made for your car, then it should not harm it.

So heres an example:

I lower my car. While I'm driving it, I scrape on something hard and damage something. The dealership would not fix it because it was due to the lowering?

Originally posted by frogg
So heres an example:

I lower my car. While I'm driving it, I scrape on something hard and damage something. The dealership would not fix it because it was due to the lowering?

I recommend not modifying your car. Anything you modify could lead to that portion of your warranty being voided.

So maybe I should get wheels and something like a header or an intake? What would you guys suggest (even more than 1 thing) for around $500?

Originally posted by u4ikstilz
this is the route that i went (am going thru):
i personally have a problem with cars that are "all show, no go"

but it's all what you like. your car should be a reflection of you, not other ppls opinions. Good luck in whatever path you take.

Valid point, but just how much go does a car really need? Especially if it never sees the track - on the road a little bit of acceleration is nice, but top speed doesn't matter at all... That's why I think asthetics first.
Tho in saying that I'm always wanting my car to get up and go... Hmmm, perhaps wheels and engine first. :) If only I had infinite funds... $$$ :)

true, we don't see the track much. (or as much as i'd like) but i'm just a speed freak. now if my funds were a lil more, say . . . $50k US i'd go for go and show. it's not bad having a good lookin car either. and yes george, wheels are performance. it's just i consider that a high dollar performance part. if i had the $$ i'd get some wheels also, but i'm a bit short now, so they'll wait.

Originally posted by frogg
So heres an example:

I lower my car. While I'm driving it, I scrape on something hard and damage something. The dealership would not fix it because it was due to the lowering?

Infiniti dealer told me....anything modified will void warranty. If I change the head unit for stereo...it voids all warranty on speakers and anything dealing with the stereo. You lower you car....you get no warranty on alignment or suspension. It voids the warranty for the specific part you modified.

I personally like all go and little show. But I think Rims would be cool. I rather feel the need for speed then show.

And another note...if I don't want to drop my car...would 18's be good? or should I get 17's?

Originally posted by fuzzynaval
And another note...if I don't want to drop my car...would 18's be good? or should I get 17's?

18's would be the way to go. If your careful when you drive your car, won't be much of a problem scraping.

1 problem I see if I lowered my car would be that I have a really steep driveway and I already almost scrape on it with no mods..

Originally posted by frogg
1 problem I see if I lowered my car would be that I have a really steep driveway and I already almost scrape on it with no mods..

You gotta go up at an angle so your one of your front wheels goes over first and then you go up.

Problem is, it's flat and then slants like this:

_/

So it's really hard..

Originally posted by frogg
Problem is, it's flat and then slants like this:

_/

So it's really hard..

Hmmm. Well it would be difficult then. But I've seen a slammed GSR with a body kit go up a steep hill. You get the side of your car parallel to the slant, turn your wheel all the way over so it will be the first thing that clears, and whala. Takes time but will work.

Is it more like a curb, or is it just your driveway is really steep? B/C Iv'e seen some driveways that have a curb type thing, then it goes up normal.

It's the sidewalk and then just a really steep thing you go up and then the driveway at the top is flat.

..._____
_/

like that

Originally posted by frogg
It's the sidewalk and then just a really steep thing you go up and then the driveway at the top is flat.

..._____
_/

like that

Nice drawing. Pretty good for periods and slashes. I know exactly what you are talking about. It should work. Now if you had a body kit too> I dunno. But unless you slam your car like 3-4 inches. You could use my maneuver.:bloated: