I was tired of my 16" SE wheels, so I recently got a set of 18" 6th gen wheels off eBay. Before I put them on I was really wondering how the lower profile tires would affect the perceived wheel gap. I got 225/40/18s, which are 99.7% the same size around the outer edge as my old tires on the 16" SE wheels.

Anyway, the reason why I'm posting is I'm wondering what other org members (possibly my toughest critics) think about how it looks without a drop. I've pretty much decided that it's not worth the expense and the problems it could cause w/ the ride, camber, etc. And I know I'm talking to some guys who love to slam their cars (which I personally would never do).

Secondly, I'm posting this just to contribute some pictures of how the Maxima looks with 18s and no drop... because I had a lot of trouble finding any when I was trying to decide which tire to get and how it would look on the car.

Let me know what you think... thanks.

 

I had 18's w/o drop for couple months. Nothing wrong w/it, as long as you're happy w/the ride quality. I like the color of your car, and the mudflaps are cool.
Jae

 

the rear doesnt look super bad but the gap is too pronounced in the front.
you NEED a drop

 

i like it. what r u going to do with ur 16" se rims?

 

You can match the front gap to the rear, actually a slight bit smaller, with a set of OEM 5 speed front springs.

This can only be done if your car is has an automatic transmission.

See for yourself....

 

I'd try to do what NJMax said and see how it comes out. But they do look really good on your car.

 

I agree, the front defenitely needs to come down a little bit but the rear looks fine.

 

mmm... definately diggin that 4x4 look

 

looking clean, keep up the good work with that car.

 

Looks good, but on stilts for sure.

 

needs a drop, maybe 1in in the back and 1.5 in the front, get it aligned, and u should be fine. theres a slight chance u might need front camber bolts if it doesnt fall within spec once u get it aligned.

 

YES! I didn't even know the 5 speed had a different set of springs. That does look good... I thought the front looked like it was bigger, but I thought I might just be seeing things.

Where could I get a set of oem 5 speed springs? I'll check the F/S forums, but are there any other places I could look? Will this have an adverse affect on any of the other components... such as the stock shocks?

Everyone else... I appreciate your honesty. I still think it looks a little high, but I'm getting used to it... enough that I don't want to spend $500 or whatever it costs to fix it (the cost is something else I haven't exactly determined despite much searching).

 

I was wondering the same thing. Where does one get oem front springs from a manual SE? I've checked the classifieds but nothing so far. Any other places to look?

Any ideas njmaxseltd?

 

No Drop!! YESS!!!!! AWESOME!

 

The 18" look good btw. But a slight drop would look sweet.

 

4x4!!! looks good, love the rosewood! maybe if u drop it a lil bit, ill looks even better

 

I'm going to disagree with most and say that the car looks pretty good without the drop. I think it looks pretty good. I guess it depends on the rims, but yours are all right.

 

yes, i do have a good reason for getting new rims. i like the 16" se rims... the previous owner had them chrome plated. i don't know him, and i don't know where he had it done, but the chrome is flaking off. the rims look good from a distance, but if you get close you can see it flaking off. they look good in the sunlight and under the streetlight at night, but i needed new tires, so i looked into getting new rims.

the rims and tires are for sale, but i'm going to offer them to my neighbor first... unless i get a good offer. i'll warn you that you'll just be inheriting my problem, but i'd take them any day over hubcaps or honeycombs.

 

Looks very clean and sleek, but I would personally drop it. I know you don't want the problems of slamming it, but a small drop with the right kit would make it perfect, maybe the tokico illumina kit.....but if you don't care...then disregard this message...

 

I drop around on 18s for over a year without a drop. I finally decided to spring some extra loot and just go for it...I must say I wish I dropped it before I even spent money on rims, it truely does make a hell of a difference, performance and style wise. But hey, just like everything else that you do to your car, "To his his own"

 

that truck looks pretty good haha j/k need a drop man

 

So true.....

 

I like the way it looks so far but would look 10x better with a drop. your car looks clean man keep it up. Where did u get your tail lights from if you dont mind me asking that question. I cant seem to find them anywhere besides Custommaxima but they are going for $215 which is ridiculous.

 

Go to ebay, All you need is the outer corners, you can keep your inner stock lights becuase they're already red/white. Heres a quick link

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/97-98...68392264QQrdZ1

 

I would have went with 225-45-18 instead. A lil bit of meat might have hidden the gap a bit more.

 

this would belong in the members ride, but still... nice addition

 

or you could do it yourself for ~$5 instead of paying $80. Check it out here
http://www.brianv.net/mods/taillights/

I think the car looks good with 18 those wheels and the tint is perfect, BTW.

 

Looks good, a drop would be perfect though Anyway, try the SE springs, they look good on NJMAXSELTD's car.

BTW, seems like your windows alone are tinted, not the back glass? I want to tint my dark blue Max with a similar tint, back glass included. What's the percent of the tint?

Thx

 

if you're referring to me, the back is tinted. i'm not sure what percent it is. i knew at one point, but not anymore. legal in ks is all i know.

you're saying the springs look good on my car... are you referring to the picture of my old wheels? i have an se, but not a 5 speed. do the lower front springs come on the 5 speed or the SE? or does your car have to be both (SE and 5 speed)?

i thought about getting bigger tires, but an odd size such as 225/45/18 is more expensive, so i figured if i really want it i'll put the money i'll save in tires towards a drop. yeah, i'd like a drop, but i also think the money could be better spent elsewhere, such as on hids, which i've always wanted.

also, my first set of red/clears were the homemade brianv style. i liked them at the time, and i was proud of my handiwork, but i got the "real" read/clears like the ones on ebay as soon as i found out about them. i actually got them at custommaxima i think, for around $80.

the homemades are ok, but they don't integrate with the inners quite as well due to the pattern of the plastic uv lamp shade inserts. plus, the major reason i didn't like them was that during the day the signal looked like a little orange ping-pong ball, rather than filling the whole housing. made me a little embarrassed to signal, as strange as that sounds. i also wasn't wild about what cops might've thought if they were looking for a reason to pull me over.

 

holy wheel gap batman...

 

I drop on 18s all the time as well.

 

LOLz, I do know what you mean though.

 

Yesterday's Italian was hotter. Today is still hot, just not as hot.

 

damn that sits high! haha, im gettin 18s next week...i guess ill have to save up for some springs huh?

 

I kind of like the way it actually raises the car a little higher than stock, mine's the same way but with 215/45/17 altima rims.

makes it look like its struting when its cruisin slow.



<edit> notice how little wheel gap I have, and thats on stock SE springs with 120K miles . . . almost looks lowered, cool

 

Darn not bad lookin at all, I thought the 6th gen wheels' rounded spokes looks bad but it turns out to be okay. I woulda perfered the 5 spoke G35 rims though

 

Bah...sorry! I meant NJMAXSELTD's Max looks good with the SE springs (I've edited the original post, guess I should never try to look up names while I'm in the middle of posting ). I believe he swapped out his original springs which were for an auto & used the 5-spd stock springs which are lower.

Anyway, nice colour, nice tint, nice wheels. The drop is cosmetic unless you're into tossing the car around. I just put on some 17" mags & I do need the drop. I lucked out & grabbed an Eibach/Illumina combo that wasn't abused from a member that upgraded to KSports. Just waiting on time/money since I need to also replace my LCA's & endlinks. The joy of owning an old car I guess

 

try h-tech from tein---- i just recieved a set and will post pics very soon

 

your car+18's+drop=SEXINESS.

 

IMO 6th gen wheels just dont look right on a 4th gen, drop or no drop