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Various Z tires' psi observations and questions:

Mr. Mac

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My Z NISMO's TPMS meter indicates optimum psi should be Front: 33 psi / Rear: 35 psi.

My Z Performance MT's TPMS meter indicates optimum psi should be Front: 32 psi / Rear: 29 psi.

Just acquired a set of NISMO LMRS1 wheels for my Z Performance MT (Front: 9.5x19, 22 offset / Rear: 10.5x19, 12 offset) and laser-etched into all of them reads "Max 36 psi". They are wrapped with Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 (Front (275/35/R19 / Rear 305/30/R19).

I get why the optimum psi would be different for the OEM setups between NISMO and Performance given that they are different size wheels/tires from factory, but my questions are...

Why would the optimum psi be higher for rear tires than front tires on Z NISMO and lower for rear tires than front tires on Z Performance?

What should the optimum front/rear psi be for my Z Performance MT now that it's running NISMO LMRS1 wheels and aforementioned tires instead of OEM wheels/tires?

Pic for attention. And yes, I know it looks ridiculous right now with those giant fender gaps at stock height. That'll be sorted soon when she goes in for a bunch of mods/upgrades, including tasteful lowering with coilovers, adjustable arms, etc.


Z-Performance-MT-LMRS1.webp
 
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FSUZ33

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I asked the Googlebot:

why does the nissan z performance run lower tire pressures in the rear than the front and the nissan z nismo run higher tire pressures in the rear than the front

Googlebot says: (and we get a mention as well)

The Nissan Z Performance runs higher front tire pressure to handle the engine's weight and reduce understeer, while the NISMO runs higher rear pressure to manage the higher load, wider tires, and increased acceleration forces at the rear axle. The Performance focuses on comfort/balanced street handling, whereas the NISMO prioritizes traction for high-performance track driving.

Nissan Z Performance (Higher Front Pressure)
Weight Distribution: Being a front-engine, rear-wheel-drive car, the front tires bear the weight of the engine, requiring higher pressure to prevent over-deflection.
Handling Balance: Higher front pressure makes the steering more responsive and helps balance the car's handling for standard, spirited driving.

Nissan Z NISMO (Higher Rear Pressure)
Wider/Larger Rears: The NISMO has different tire sizes and wider rear wheels compared to the Performance, which often requires higher pressures to maintain optimal shape.
Track Traction: With higher horsepower and a focus on track performance, the rear tires need higher pressure to improve structural stability and handle increased acceleration forces, avoiding the oversteer that can come with lower, soft pressure.
Performance Application: While the Performance trim is optimized for general street comfort, the NISMO is tuned for track performance, which commonly sees rear tires running higher pressures than the front, according to common forum discussions.

If you're wondering about how these different pressures affect your driving experience, I can tell you:
How to check if your tires are at the right psi for your specific model.
The recommended PSI for your Z's, as found in the Nissan Z Club Forum.
How to adjust your tires for track versus street.
 

50thZ

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My Z NISMO's TPMS meter indicates optimum psi should be Front: 33 psi / Rear: 35 psi.

My Z Performance MT's TPMS meter indicates optimum psi should be Front: 32 psi / Rear: 29 psi.

Just acquired a set of NISMO LMRS1 wheels for my Z Performance MT (Front: 9.5x19, 22 offset / Rear: 10.5x19, 12 offset) and laser-etched into all of them reads "Max 36 psi". They are wrapped with Continental ExtremeContact Sport 02 (Front (275/35/R19 / Rear 305/30/R19).

I get why the optimum psi would be different for the OEM setups between NISMO and Performance given that they are different size wheels/tires from factory, but my questions are...

Why would the optimum psi be higher for rear tires than front tires on Z NISMO and lower for rear tires than front tires on Z Performance?

What should the optimum front/rear psi be for my Z Performance MT now that it's running NISMO LMRS1 wheels and aforementioned tires instead of OEM wheels/tires?

Pic for attention. And yes, I know it looks ridiculous right now with those giant fender gaps at stock height. That'll be sorted soon when she goes in for a bunch of mods/upgrades, including tasteful lowering with coilovers, adjustable arms, etc.


Z-Performance-MT-LMRS1.webp
Looks great to me, lower ,not sure for me.
 

Invisible Man

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Looks good, but it will look better lower. I know we need to set pressures when cold, but we use the tires when warm and the psi is higher then the 32/29. Is this ok, or should I be dropping cold psi to lower then the 32/29 and have it riae when driving?
 

FSUZ33

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Yes. Cold PSI takes the PSI increase as they warm into account.
If 32/29 is recommended, they've considered normal running temps will be around 36/35. No clue, but I assume they start with optimum operating temps and back that into cold PSI.
 
 






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