Best Mods for Infiniti Q50 3.0t (2016+)

Intake…(page 5)

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Tires: or Tyres if you prefer

While most people tend to focus on the wheel side of the equation when we talk about wheels and tires, tires are actually one of the most crucial modifications for performance.

Tires are your connection to the road. All the power and suspension upgrades mean nothing without the mechanical grip of the tires to transfer power to the ground and grip the road mid-corner.

Fun Fact: The Q50 comes from the factory with runflat tires.

Not Fun Fact: Runflat Tires are horrendous for performance.

While these offer the convenience of being able to drive on a flat tire, they are a HUGE damper on performance in terms of rubber used, and also weigh significantly more than a traditional tire. The factory runflat Dunlop SP Sport 5000 DSST CTT 245/40R19 tires (on sport models) weigh about 30 lbs each.

To explain why the super-heavy run flat tires sap so much of your performance, we have to get into a little bit of physics and talk about moment of inertia. If you’re old enough to remember when playgrounds had Merry Go Rounds, then you probably remember how it was more difficult to get the merry go round to spin fast when the kids were hanging on the outer edges vs the inner area. Moment of inertia can be defined as: “A quantity expressing a body’s tendency to resist angular acceleration. It is the sum of the products of the mass of each particle in the body with the square of its distance from the axis of rotation.” The reason heavy tires have such an impact on performance is the further a concentration of mass from the axis of rotation, the greater its tendency to resist acceleration. Acceleration includes both speeding up and slowing down – “An object’s acceleration is the net result of any and all forces acting on the object, as described by Newton’s Second Law.”

Remember how we said the OEM Dunlop Sport SP50000 DSST CTT’s weigh 30lbs each? By comparison, the Michelin PS4S, Hankook V12 Evo2, Continental DWS 06, and Nitto NT555G2 are around 5 lbs lighter each. Swapping out the runflats for traditional summer or all-season tires will not only give you a better gripping tire compound, but also shaves 20lbs of weight off the wheels/tires. Weight reduction always has a drastic effect on acceleration, stopping, ride quality, etc. While 20 lbs may not seem like much, that 20lb weight saving makes the car perform like it is 60-80lbs lighter. 60-80 lbs? How is this possible? Well, rotational mass effectively has an extra component over non-rotational mass, which is angular momentum (which is proportional to moment of inertia). The angular momentum of an object requires 4-5 times the amount of energy to stop it, change its direction, or speed it up. Think of trying to stop a tire rolling down a hill vs stopping the same tire on a furniture dolly rolling down the hill at the same speed. The rolling tire will be much harder to stop because you have to deal with both the linear momentum and the angular momentum.

Michelin – PS4S – (Treadwear: 300 / Traction: AA / Temperature: A)

The Michelin Pilot Sport 4S (PS4S) is the pinnacle of Max Performance Summer Tires. As the successor to the legendary Pilot Super Sport (PSS), the PS4S improves on both wet braking and wet handling along with improved tread life and noise reduction over the PSS. The PSS had reigned over the Max Performance Summer category from the day of its release, so it is easy to understand why this new Michelin still leads the pack and is the new benchmark in its category. If you want to learn more about the Michelin PS4S you can check out our “Know Your Mods” episode on YouTube: Know Your Mods Ep16 : Tires – Michelin Pilot Sport 4 S (PS4S) or our recent Blog Post on the PS4S.

TL:DR – The best Max Performance Summer Tire on the Market, Period. If you want the best, don’t settle for anything else. You really get what you pay for with the PS4S.

Nitto – NT555G2 – (Treadwear: 320 / Traction: AA / Temperature: A)

The Nitto NT555G2 is exactly what it sounds like, it is the second generation of the legendary NT555 which was touted by many to be the best Ultra High Performance Tire on the market for years. Similar to Michelin, Nitto sought to improve upon their best selling (for cars at least) tire and made it their mission to make improvements in areas that competitors were catching up in. With increased dry traction, lateral grip, and straight-line stability as well as improved all around performance in the wet the NT555G2 continues to be a leader in the Ultra High Performance Summer Tire category.

TL:DR – If you are looking for High Performance Summer Tires that still do very well in the wet (not freezing, snow, or ice) and have great longevity then the NT555G2 is a great choice.

Hankook – Ventus V12 Evo2 – (Treadwear: 320 / Traction: AA / Temperature: A)

Do you want Maximum Performance at a reasonable price? The Hankook Ventus V12 Evo2 is exactly that. This tire is praised for it’s impressive lateral grip and responsive handling feel. The dry traction of the of the Hankooks is competitive with the best Max Performance Summer tires with a much lower price tag. This makes the Hankook a favorite among enthusiasts. The wet traction and road noise are the only drawbacks of the Hankooks, but they are acceptable tradeoffs for many performance oriented drivers who don’t want to break the bank on tires. Also, if you’re (un?)lucky enough to live in an area that gets snow, these make a great set of summer tires while leaving some budget for a set of winter tires as well.

TL:DR – Great performance for the price if you don’t mind a little more noise and aren’t planning on driving in wet conditions very often.

Continental – DWS 06 – (Treadwear: 560 / Traction: AA / Temperature: A)

Because not everyone can live where it never snows. The Continental DWS 06 is fantastic All-Season Ultra High Performance tire. While some people have the extra money and space to have two sets of wheels and tires depending on the season, many of us don’t want to deal with having to switch tires between seasons. For those that want a performance tire that will work from the warm weather of summer to light snow, the DWS 06 is the perfect tire. The longevity of the Continentals is also a big plus as these tires will last almost twice as long as their summer competitors.

TL:DR – You need All-Season Tires but don’t want to sacrifice performance, the Continental DWS 06 are perfect.

Understanding UTQG Treadwear, Traction, and Temperature Ratings:

Treadwear – A standardized test of how quickly a tire wears down over 7200 miles (with tire rotations, alignment checks, and pressure checks every 400 miles). The tire is tested against a standardized “Course Monitoring Tire” and its grade is assigned based on the relative wear. 100 would indicate it would last as long as the test tire, while 200 would indicate that it would last twice as long as the Course Monitoring Tire. This still only tells us so much because we don’t know exactly how long the “Course Monitoring Tire” lasts. Also, treadwear is subject to some interpretation as the wear experienced on the tire being tested is open to interpretation by the manufacturer. In general though, the higher the number, the longer it will last.

Traction – UTQG traction tests do not evaluate traction in relation to dry braking, dry cornering, wet cornering, or high speed hydroplaning resistance. The test is simply a representation of the tire’s ability to stop on wet pavement as the tire skids. So this test really only applies to those without ABS in wet conditions.

Temperature – The temperature grades are a scale that indicates a tire’s ability to resist the heat buildup produced by speed. A is good enough for speeds over 115 mph, B is between 100-115 mph, and C is between 85-100 mph.

No matter what tire you decide to buy, we recommend not letting the UTQG Rating have much influence on your purchase.

Intake…(page 5)

RSR SuperDown Springs 2016+ Q50 3.0t

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Suspension:

The Q50 is a victim of the all too common 4×4 factory suspension problem. When the ride quality engineers set up cars so they won’t bottom out when clueless people drive over potholes and speed bumps, the resulting extra fender gap added for clearance is a huge eyesore and takes away form how the designers intended the car to look. While the large fender gap and high ride height means you can scale mall parking curbs with a single bound, it doesn’t benefit the car aesthetically and makes performance worse by raising the center of gravity.

Lowering your Q50 will make it look worlds sexier if you’re on stock wheels, and if you have a nice set of wheels already, that drop will make them REALLY pop. There’s three primary ways most people lower their vehicles, and those are lowering springs, coilovers, and air suspension.

Lowering springs are the most cost effective option and will also retain the adaptive suspension that is standard on sport models (Silver Sport and Red Sport). RS-R is the only company that offers springs specifically designed for the 3.0t, as the dampers changed in design slightly, and more importantly, the valving is different than the outgoing 3.7 models because the difference in weight is enough to completely alter the handling balance.

RSR offers their lowering springs in two versions: DownSus and SuperDown. DownSus springs lower the Q50 by 1.35 inches Front and 1.2 inches rear. SuperDown Springs lower the Q50 by 1.75 inches Front and 1.5 inches Rear.

Coilovers are the next level of performance suspension upgrades. Combining a more aggressive spring with a properly paired shock will not only insure better performance, it also keep the ride very civil and sometimes even better than stock. Most coilovers are height and dampening adjustable so you can setup your suspension exactly the way you want it. If your Q50 has more than 50,000 miles, your OEM shocks are due for replacement anyways. A set of coilovers are a surprisingly economical option instead of replacing the worn out OEM ones while also lowering the car,because coilovers take the same amount of labor to install as a set of springs or shocks/struts.

RS-R Coilovers are a high end coilover that focus on comfort and performance. RSR engineers their coilovers to outperform the factory suspension in handling, comfort, and quietness.

Engineered in Japan and tailored to specific vehicle applications, RSR Coilovers are the among the best coilovers for the Q50 and include features such as Titanium Springs and Rubber Dampened Mounts.

RSR Sports-i Coilovers for 2016+ Q50 3.0t

BC Racing Coilovers are a high quality, budget friendly coilover option that gives you everything you want in a coilover system. BC offers custom spring rates and valving, and come standard with 30 way adjustability, for the suspension experts out there.

At around ten benjamins as of press time, they offer a lot of bang for the buck. These can also be combined with custom Swift Springs for a tailor-made handling solution.

BC Racing Coilovers for 2014+ Infiniti Q50

There is no getting around the fact that the Q50 is a large sedan. The car does carry its weight rather well when it comes to handling, but there is still noticeable understeer present. Most cars come setup from the factory to understeer for safety reasons.

Swaybars:

In general, the average person doesn’t know what to do when a car oversteers, so they balance towards understeer – this does take away from a lot of the fun of driving a RWD or AWD car. One of the best ways to help bring that handling back to neutral balance is a rear sway bar, and both STILLEN and Tanabe offer performance swaybars for the Q50.

STILLEN Q50 3.0t Cat-Back Exhaust

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Exhaust:

Let us ask you a question. And be honest.

Why did you buy your Q50?

We’ll bet it probably wasn’t for the amazing gas mileage. The Q50 is a luxury sport sedan that competes with the likes of the BMW 340i, Mercedes C43 AMG, and Audi S4- you bought a nice sporty sedan to set yourself apart from the average person schlepping to work in their boring Camry or Accord. You bought a Q50 because you wanted a sport sedan, right? A proper performance car always has a fantastic exhaust note when you hit the GO PEDAL, right? Sadly, the noise the Q50 3.0t makes does really help the cars case as a “sport sedan” – in fact, it’s the absence of noise. If it weren’t for the badging you’d never know there were a high performance 3.0L turbo V6 under your hood. We all want that nice aggressive sound that grabs attention (some more subtly than others), and an exhaust is a change you’ll notice every time you get in the car. It announces your arrival, it frees up a few more ponies that are otherwise lost for greater acceleration, and it dresses up the rear end of the car.

A legend among Nissan/Datsun enthusiasts for decades, STILLEN is one of the long standing tuners in the Nissan/Infiniti world, so it is no surprise they were among the first to release an exhaust specifically designed for the 3.0t Q50. The Stillen exhaust features a dual into single back to dual design similar GT-R systems. Power gains on the RedSport were quite impressive making an additional 26 whp and 29 wtq at 4700 rpm. Sound levels are fairly modest, but definitely noticeable.

ARK Performance became a trusted name in the Nissan/Infiniti community for 370Z and G37 owners, so it is not surprising that the Q50 crowd have followed suit. ARK redesigned their best selling GRiP Cat-Back System to work with the 3.0t version of the Q50. Fit and finish are fantastic and the sound makes driving your Q50 far more exciting.

ARK Performance GRiP Cat-Back Exhaust System

At the far end of the spectrum, we have Meisterschaft (GT Haus), the ultimate in “look at me” exhausts. No head goes unturned when you drive by (which can be a good or bad thing). The volume is definitely on a higher end of the spectrum but is a favorite among some enthusiasts. They sound incredible and everyone will take notice… including your local constabulary, so be mindful of where you’re rolling.

Meisterschaft GT Haus Q50 Exhaust

If you are looking for extra sound and more power (and don’t live in California)? Apart from tuning, lower down pipes give the biggest performance gain for the dollar and are pretty easy to install. Because they do not remove the primary catalytic converters they are considered EPA Legal (just not CARB Legal). It is typical to see 20-30 hp gains from these pipes and a nice increase in exhaust volume. Be forewarned though, it adds a raspy tone as well.

If we are going to talk about performance there is no bigger name in the Nissan world than Alpha MotorSports (AMS). AMS is well known for their GTR performance parts (they also work with Audi, BMW, McLaren, Mercedes, Mitsubishi, Porsche, and more) so it only makes sense that they would take on the Q50 VR30 motor.

The AMS Lower Pipes are made of stainless steel and are a direct bolt on modification. No check engine light (CEL), no tuning required, just pure power and sound.

AMS Red Alpha Lower Pipes

Intake…(page 5)

AMS Red Alpha Cold Air Intake System

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Intake: suck, suck, suck

As with many cars, the factory intakes on the Q50 are a bit restrictive to begin with, and given the Q50’s positioning as a ‘luxury’ vehicle, they’re also very quiet. Loosening up those restrictions will not only enhance power, but also allow you to hear the engine. Since one of the most viscerally satisfying parts of the “Turbo Car” experience is the howl of the turbos when they’re spooled up and making boost, which means that an intake is a particularly fun upgrade.
In terms of performance, upgraded intakes on the 3.0t Q50 have been shown to produce noticeable gains in the middle of the rev range, with the benefit of delivering a bit of much needed engine noise. If you don’t want to sound like a Eco Box when you drive by, intakes will definitely do the trick!

The AMS Red Alpha Intake System provides everything you want from an intake. Power gains, turbo spool sounds, and no drivability issues. Designed to be fully compatible with OEM ECU tuning or AMS’s optional Red Alpha Tuner.

Going back to another familiar name, STILLEN was also the first to release an intake system for the 3.0t Q50. The STILLEN Q50 3.0T Intake System is a nice short ram setup that comes with all new plumbing to the turbos, as well as some heat shields with some slick STILLEN logos, so people know your engine isn’t stock when popping the hood.

STILLEN claims a power gain of 17 whp and 28 wtq gains from their intake on the 300hp version of the 3.0t Q50 (RedSport numbers are not yet available), so we can be sure that regardless of which version you have, you’ll be putting more power to the wheels.

These are just a few of the options available for the Q50, since it’s a new power plant, it will take the aftermarket a while to offer the same selection as we enjoyed with the VQ35 and VQ37, so we’ll be updating this article as more systems become available.

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Exterior:

The body of the Q50 is definitely a big selling point for the car. The flowing, organic curves are both sexy and aggressive while managing not being over the top. However, just because the car looks great out of the box doesn’t mean you can’t add a little extra something to make it stand out a little more. Make it yours, so to speak. While you don’t have the problem BMWs have of being one in a sea of many with a more unique car like the Q50, adding that little bit of extra spice can have quite the impact.

STILLEN offers several body components that really spice up the Q50’s looks. Parts like the Front Splitter and Rear diffuser really grab attention and give the car a very aggressive and classy look. A special mention for the Side Skirts as well which are a little more rare to see. Since releasing their body components, Stillen has fallen victim to the ever present cheap knock off companies. So make sure you are getting the real parts if you want the best quality and proper fitment.

Intake…(Page 5)

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Tuning:

If you’re in California, sorry, this part isn’t for you as CARB strictly prohibits the use of ECU tuning on vehicles.

We have just learned that Burger MotorSports (Burger Tuning) just finished their Stage 1 Performance Tuner for the VR30. They are legends in the BMW tuning world and if anyone knows turbo tuning, it is Burger.

Red Sport owners are seeing numbers in the 400 whp range (translating to over 500 HP at the crank), and not too surprisingly “Silver Sport” owners are seeing close to the same numbers. There is still a lot to learn about these motors but from the information we have on the turbos, these numbers are probably going to be the limit until someone makes replacement turbos.

Intake…(Page 5)