I have so many questions for you guys ... lets start with this one :

I have the 16" spokes stock on my 99 SE, I was told not to drive them in winter time, mainly due to a risk of hitting a pothole or pigeon's nest and it may easily bend the mag. Anyone out there agree or disagree with this ?

PS. I HATE RIMS.

 

I wouldn't go as far as to say don't drive on the rims, but depending on where you live it might be a good idea. i.e. I live in Texas, so there's no point in buying steel wheels w/ snow tires to protect my good wheels/tires. As far pot holes and other hazards go be careful. Your tires will do a decent job of protecting the wheel, but if you do damage your wheel it will be expensive. Refinishing a wheel is usually $150+ and the OEM Nissan wheels run a whopping (are you ready?) $444 a piece. I have aftermarket wheels with low profile tires, so I have less sidewall flexing to protect my wheels if I curb it. Watch those curbs too.... if you scrub 'em you can take the finish off the wheel pretty easily.
Hope that helps.
-hype

 

Very good advice, thanks Hype. I guess i'll have to find half-decent looking covers! I tell you, I've had my Maxima for only one week now, and it is just great. The acceleration (even for an automatic) is amazing ... love that leather. Thanks again.

 

Remeber, your driving a family sedan made for the continential united states, not some crazy foreign super sports car with a bunch of rules to it.

Normally people only get winter tires if they purchased expensive aftermarket rims. Personally I like the 16' 5 spoke a lot, and I don't think it's worth the time nor the months without them on to swap them with winter tires.

If bending an alloy does ever occur, don't buy them from nissan, look on e-bay or a junk yard for one, or post a message on this board; people are always swapping out their stock 5 spokes for aftermarket.

My only advice if you have 5 spokes is to wash them all the time because brake pad dust loves to build up on them, and they look so good when they're clean.

-Nate

 

from what I have seen on hear about having a winter set of rims/tires is for the salt and corrosion and if you have an expensive aftermarket set use them in the summer and other times of the year which is actually very smart you fork out lage amounts of cheese($$$$)on a nice new rim/tire package and them it is snow season salt on the road or what ever,you don't "care" about messing up your "stock" rims/tires in the snow or "looking good rollin'" in the winter now when summer comes around it's on get out that still nice looking tire/rim package you got and roll..........I live down yander in da south......Snow....what snow he,he,he,........the only thing white on the groung round' here in these here parts is cotton.....

 

Thanks guys

 

I used to have those rims on my 95 but I hit a pothole (but I recall it being a HARD hit) and ended up bending the rim. And this was also when I did not have lowering springs (stiffer harsh ride). So be careful. By the way I live in San Antonio, TX so tell me.....What in the hill is a pigeons nest (mind you I,m thinking of trees.

 

a pigeon's nest and a pothole are the same thing... I live in Canada, you see.