Hey folks,

I need some opinions on tires. What I’m looking for is personal experience on what is the maximum section/tread width tires that would fit on a 97-99 Maxima.
---
I plan to use the original rim, 16x6.5, to keep the stock appearance.
---
Right now I’m just looking to settle on the tire size, so that the speedo is not way off and they don’t rub, and after that will do some research on which brand sticks better.
---
I know most 235 and up tires recommend a 7”+ rim, but I’m sure they is some slack in that figure. So, looking for opinions on mounting 235+ on 6.5” rim. Handling is not much of an importance as getting the largest contact patch on the front tires.

 

I have 235's on an 8" wide rim, and the fit is perfect. I don't even think that its a good idea to put a 235 tire on a 7" wide rim. I am sure that on a 6.5" rim the tire would be too big and unsafe.

 

235 on 6.5"? I dont think you should. I have 235 on 7" and that is stretching it already.

 

Well, it is not really in question that 235 profiles will fit on a 6.5 rim".
---
One example being Pirelli P6000 235/50/16 will fit even on a 6" rim, per manufacturer’s recommended rim size of 6-8.5", as will Sumitomo HTR 4 245/50/16 with recommended rim 6.5-8.5". And at the extreme BFGoodrich Comp T/A 255/50/16 with recommended rim starting at 6.5".
---
One tid bit of information which I just found on tirerack.com which reinforces my previous theory that even the minimum rim width figures have slack in them:

---
What I'm looking for is personal experience, if someone tried that, and what were the results

 

Let me refrase: who's got the biggest tires here? Do they rub? If yes what did you do? Sanks.

 

IF you were planning on just getting the larger tires to drag with, the contact patch idea would be good. In an everyday situation the amount of side wall that would extend past the width of a 6.5" rim would yield terrible handling. It also looks improper, kind of like a deep dish tire with the rim way inside. I have seen 275/45/17 on stock mustang wheels and it looked pretty bad, and those are 245 stock on 8" wide wheels.

 

Mine came with 215/55 R16. Now, is the larger two hundred number a bigger tire? I am not sure what the numbers really represent.

bryan

 

I know some guys have run 245, but the rim offset might make a difference if there is rubbing or not. As for the stock rim, the biggest I've heard of on there are 225, and most tire installers I've talked to will say that you are pushing the limit of how well the bead will set, meaning if you corner hard you could loose the seating and the air in the tire. I haven't heard of that happening, but frankly, I'd be surprised if a good tire shop would even mount a 235 on a 6.5" rim, at least without trying to give you some warning.

 

Are '97/'99 tires any different from '95/'96???

 

Yes, I beleive 95-96 SE models had 15x6.5 while 97-99 had 16x6.5, so they are a bit different.

 

Ok, 215/55/16 =

215 is the width of the tread in MM. In this example, 215 mm.

55 is the aspect ratio, or the height of the sidewall with respect to the width of the tire. In this case, 55% of 215 mm, or about 118 mm sidewall height.

16 is the diameter of the wheel on which that the tire s/b mounted. A lot of times there will be a letter associated with the wheel size, like "VR16", or "ZR16". People will talk about "V" or "Z" rated tires. The V or Z (or whatever it happens to be) relates to the speed rating, of which there are many. Generally, the later in the alphabet, the higher the speed rating. The "R" used with the size and the speed rating means radial.

There are a bunch of other numbers and letters that relate to treadwear, rain traction, load, rubber compound, heat dissipation characteristics and date of manufacture (my personal favorite if you want to impress). See http://www.tirerack.com for details.

BTW, there are bunches of things that you can do that will make the tires work better without going to a +1 or +2 or whatever size. Assuming that you're after performance rather than cosmetics, tire pressure, alignment, and suspension s/b set up properly before deciding you need something else. Best way to do this is run a few hot laps and take tire temps right away to be sure the tire is heating evenly a-x the entire tread.

If its for looks however, just disregard the previous paragraph and do what you want.

 

Well, so far I have not got a single response to my original question as to what tire size you are running. This is tougher than I thought

 

I know what you wanna know, but I'm not using anything out of the ordinary so can't help much. I'm running 225/50/16's on the stock SE rims if it helps, I think that is the widest you can go on those rims without any problems. Plus I don't think it'd be practical to put a wider tire on a narrow rim like that.

 

4 out of 8 responses specifically said what they are running, though that was not in your original question ... Anyway, I've run 235/45zr17 and 215/55zr16. The 17's are rougher because the sidewall is lower (especially noticeable with my coilovers), but they corner tighter for the same reason. I'm on the 16's now for daily use, keeping the 17's if I autocross again.

 

Sorry to be so OT, but a question came to mind. I have Borbet Type Es in 16x7.5, wrapped with Potenza RE730s 225/55/16. First of all...do not get these tires! They're great for perforamnce but that's about it! They're really harsh and noisy.

Anyway, it still looks like my tire is wider than my wheel. I know that my style of wheels are slighly deep dished, but despite this, it still looks like the tire is 1/4 too thick on one side.

is there an exception for the Potenzas I bought? could they possibly be wider than a normal 225? Should I get 215s on my next set of tires?

thanks

 

Check specs on Tirerack. Not all tires are created equal, even different models from the same maker ...

 

I had 225/50's on my 16x6.5. Fit fine but bad flex under hard cornering. Street I run 235/45's w 35 offset - getting large and rubbing the plastic fenderwall at full lock turns.

Again, anytime you mount a wide tire on a narrow rim and get < 75% ratio watch for the air leaks and sidewall flex. For cornering power I'm actually going opposite - trying to get > 85% ratio using a 215 tire on a 7.5" rim.

Here's a really helpful tool to help figure fitments
Tire/Wheel Combo Calc

 

Interesting idea going with a smaller tire on a wider rim. Maybe that would mean a 225 on a 17x8, but I wonder if that would induce more sidwall rollowver in autocrossing?

 

Dont be cheap and stay with a 6.5" wheel if you want a size 235 tire.

It will handle like crap
you will have mushy steering response
It will look stupid

If you want to judge the contact patch, turn your wheels left and right on a dry concrete surface... While keeping the wheel turned, move the car a few feet and look at the white scrub marks from the concrete -- you get a nice judgement of your contact patch just from that -- Generally, you want a nice square-ish shape that should be wide and long... not too narrow and circular in shape like typical super low profile tires provide.

Going beyond, get an IR temperature sensor and drive around for a while... Immediately when you are done, take a temperature probe of your tires on the inside, middle, and outside... If the temperatures are balanced, your camber angle and inflation pressure is O.K. If not, then you got some work to do.

Hope this helps
cjvurnis

cjvurnis

 

Avg sect width on 225's is about 9.1" (fitted on 7" rim). Fit that over an 8" gives you 9.5". 8" / 9.5" = 84%. Very responsive handling.

 

Thanks, but the whole point was to keep the stock look, and not being cheap; and as I mentioned handling was not an issue. I'm just considering if a Maxima is a good platform for what I'm trying to do.

 

That's a similar footprint to the 235 but would cost less. My question wasn't so much about the footprint, however, as sidewall flex and rollover. I guess you could go lower than 50% on the 225 ... after all, if it's an autocross tire, ride isn't much of an issue since it would probably be changed at the event site, or at least just put on for the day ...

 

Me too.

235's on 6.5" wide is kinda pushing your luck. On my 7" wide rim, you can visibly see that the curve of the bead surface is slightly too large as it meets the sidewall of the tire on this wheel. I personally wouldn't try this same tire on a 6.5".

I think 7" wide is as low as you can go and still maintain a reasonable margin of safety (especially driving "at the limit" w/ 235's). Sorry, I know it's not what you want to hear.