Hello

Have a 2012 G37 vert base with the performance wheel and tire package. The rims are 19x8.5 front and 19x9 rear.

The OEM tires are 225/45/19 (F) and 245/40/19 (R) and are close to needing replacement.

I want to lessen the gap between the tire and fender. I read on this forum about upsizing the tires to 245/40/19 (F) and 275/35/19 (R) to help accomplish this. I am looking at the Michelin AS/3 tires. The tire shop I use was a bit concerned the sidewall on this tire were too soft to do this. They thought it could produce too much roll. I know many of you upsized with the Michelin Pilot Sport summer tire but have many done it with the all season version of the tire with success? Just looking for some confirmations.

Alternatively, would I be better off just going with OEM tire sizes and adding a wheel spacer to remove the gap between tire and fender? If you have done this what size and brand spacer did you use to get a flush look? I don't plan on lowering the car.

Thanks for any help and advice.

 

You will be going from a standard tire mount to more of a pinched mount so this will result in a bit more sidewall roll. Luckily you're running fairly low profile tires so the sidewall will roll less than the same tire in a 45 or 50 series for example. I don't think you'll notice much of a problem and the wider tread block will give you a more planted feel overall. You may still want spacers for a flushed fit since the fit will still be sunken in a bit, especially in front.

 

By going flush without reducing the vertical gap from tire to fender, you end up actually accentuating that gap. So you'd be solving one problem while creating another. Granted, both problems are subjective opinions, but if you feel the OEM tuck looks awkward, odds are you'll feel the gap looks awkward too, once you call attention to it by going flush.

While not exactly an answer to your question, it's still something you should consider.

 

the "correct" way to reduce the gap is to lower the car...

 

I am using 25mm spacers both front and back w/Eibach springs with stock tire sizes. I recently purchased new tires and increased rear to 255/40 and have some tire rub over bumps.

 

That's the typical gap most people talk about, I think the OP was referring to the "spacing" from the outer edge of the tire to the inner fender edge.

 

Thanks for the clarification. In that case, there are a few options:
1 - Wheel Spacer - measure the distance that you want to move the wheels out and buy the appropriate spacer.
2 - Buy rims with a different offset. There is some math involved in this method and its expensive since you need 4 new rims but ultimately this is the "best" solution.
3 - Buy a wider tire - this is limited by the size of your current wheel width.