browne

hey all, im planning on buying some 17x7" rims for my 98 maxima se. i was wondering what tire size i need. i read in Maxima.org FAQ that i would need 215/50-17 but im reading on this forum that i could use other sizes such as 225/45-17 or 225/50-17.

any suggestions? thanks.

Black Maxima

I have 215/50-17's on my 17" x 7" wheels. No problems here.

roo97ss

215/50 will work fine.

the 225/45 will fit but be a bit short.

you can stretch a 235/45 to fit, but handling dynamics are probably compromised a bit. I have snows on my car with these ( had on a different car before).

225/50/17 are nice, but selection is pretty limited.

Joe

Ammi

iTrader: (26)

225/50/17 is 5th gen OEM size

browne

thanks guys.. i think ill settle for some 215-50-17.

Bry

NTB's book shows the 235/45/17 fits on the 17" x 7" factory 02 SE rims as a plus size 0, but elsewhere everyone say's don't do it. All the stores say it fits fine that I've gone to or called in Dallas. So...if you have the tire you wanted in either size mounted, how would they handle differently? The advantage of going to the 235/45/17 would be easier to find a replacement if your on the road traveling as it's a very popular size. Anybody???

ja1997max

I just got (yesterday) 235/45/17 Kuhmo ASX on my 17x7 Motegi MR7s. I went from a 225/50/17 and was worried the 45 would look small in the wheel well....definitely not, the best decision I made.

Handling has improved with the wider tire, and this is going from the much more expensive Michelin Pilot Sports to the Kuhmo's...so handling dynamics are definitely not compromised.

Go for wider and lower pro if you are lowered, you won't be disappointed though 225/50 looks great in the wheel well and handles great as well.

Maximus_95

iTrader: (8)

is not too good to overtire. the best size for a 7" wide rim will be a 215.
if you go 225, that will be ok but 235 is a little too much. even though it will be ok, as you drive around on them, you will get this slugish feel when you go back and forth quickly while driving, because the side wall of your tire bulges out too much you wont feel as in contact with the road as you will when you have a 215 tire.
Good luck.

Maximum Depth

iTrader: (1)

Too often, I hear owners wanting to upsize their tires without any concern for the size rims that the tires will be riding on. The tire/wheel works together, and although there is some flexibility in sizing, there are limits too.

Some *general* rules for tire/wheel sizing (for 17" wheel with 45 Profile tire):
================================================== =======
- a 205mm wide tire will fit on a wheel 6.5-7.5", but prefers a 7.0" wide wheel.
- a 215mm wide tire will fit on a wheel 7.0-8.0", but prefers a 7.0" wide wheel.
- a 225mm wide tire will fit on a wheel 7.0-8.5", but prefers a 7.5" wide wheel.
- a 235mm wide tire will fit on a wheel 7.5-9.0", but prefers a 8.0" wide wheel.
- a 245mm wide tire will fit on a wheel 8.0-9.5", but prefers a 8.5" wide wheel.

This is from TireRack's website, for their vast majority of tires sized "xxx/45-17" (there are a few exceptions). You can see that as your tire gets wider, it needs a wider rim.

WARNING: WARNING: WARNING:
These above sizes are only for 17" wheels with 45 profile tires, and is provided to show changing wheel size requirements. You should look-up your own specific size on TireRack, and click the "Specs" icon for that tire.

Hope this helps.

CCS2k1Max

iTrader: (2)

The info does help, however, as an engineer, I am all too familiar with the use of (cover your a$s) "safety factors." IMHO, safety factors have increased considerable in the tire industry to counter your garden variety ambulance chaser (and I don't mean they make the tires any stronger, I mean they narrowed the usage specs. they still got to keep their margins).

After a long time researching the choices and reading reviews here in the net, I decided to take a calculated risk to run 235/45R17s on my OEM SE 17x7JJ wheels. I haven't had a problem in the short time I've had them (but I've pushed them hard a few times). I don't expect to have a problem as I check my tires weekly.

THT

iTrader: (8)

225/45/17 and 225/50/17 tires work fine on my 17x7 SSR GT1 rims. I prefer the look of the 45s though.

~THT