I'm looking to get new tires and need someone's opinion on what I'm planning on doing.
I currently have 15" sawblades from a 96 max and I think they look pretty good on the car. They are about 4months old. Problem is I was contemplating doing a big brake upgrade because I do a lot of 100-20 braking almost daily (thats dangerous but I cant help it). I also know that a big brake upgrade requires at least 17" rims which I currently cant afford and wont be able to afford for the next 6months at least due to some upcoming major expenses. I also happen to like doing 180s in snow but for some reason it's kinda difficult to do. I attribute that to the high profile tires I currently have.(not that it's a deciding factor but just a thought) My questions are:
what's the largest size rotor I can go, with 15s? I'm assuming the stocks are the widest possible?
what's the widest and lowest profile on tires I can go with the same 15s (widest being a major concern cos of the amount of rubber in contact with the road surface at any point in time)? What side effects will this have if any?

 

you saw the brakes under my car, and I'm only running 16s. those are 11.8" rotors. I COULd fit 12.2" rotors on there if I switched calipers, but then I'd need spacers for caliper/spoke clearance.

for tires, look at 215/60/15 on yours... dunlop or nitto both make nicce tires that'll fit and ride well. Kelly's using Nitto 460 on her Altima and they're great. 60k miles on them so far, and they STILL have half the tread left. they brake and accelerate well, and are amazing in the snow (compared to my "max performance summer only" tires). the sucker is like a billy goat.. I've only gotten it stuck once in two years.

I highly suggest going to at least 16" wheels though. that will make a difference in your handling in all forms.. acceleration, braking, cornering, etc.

 

ok I'll have to wait till I can get 16s or 17s before I do the brake upgrade. I'm about due for a brake job and will probably have to change rotors as well hence my questions. I think i'll just get regular stockers for now since these have been pretty okay so far (except the incessant fading ) but they get me to stop pretty quick anyways. Later on, probably at the end of the semester, I'll then do my full upgrade if I have got a new set of wheels by then. Wont make any sense to spend a ton on overpriced regular size rotors only to toss em out in two months. Good stuff those nittos. discount tire has free shipping so I might just go with those.

Thanks for the info matt.

 

if you can't afford 17's how can you afford the big breaks?

Just thought I would ask.

 

i would think you would be able to get pretty substantial brakes to fit behind your 15 inch wheels. if your replacing stock brakes you would be surprised at how just some ventilated disks of the same size compare to the old ones of the same size. just a thought/

 

my problem is needing big brakes not big brakes AND big rims. I'll break it down into very simple terms so you can understand.
Say I have $500, i can either get rims OR upgrade my brakes...hmm I can afford either one but not both. so what do I do? go for one OR the other....ever taken economics? I believ the term is opportunity cost. SO the opportunity cost of getting the brakes is what? GOOD! getting the rims. Youre learning pretty fast.


oh and btw, I was looking at upgrading my brakes and not exactly going fo a "big brake kit".

 

hmm thats something I think I'll look into, thanks for the idea. Are you thinking along the lines of brembos? (even though I am NOT going with brembos)

 

so in other words you plan on getting one break I mean with $500! lol

 

haha funny kid. on the real though, that would probably be the cost of doing the rear driver side alone if you go with the kits.