Is this an option on a 2001 GLE? I am negotiating right now and was thinking of accepting the offer that is on the table if they would swap the 16's for 17's. Has anyone else done this?

 

17" are reserved for the SE's only.. if u really want the 17" wheels, you can go for the fully loaded SE model. it has everything that the GLE has plus the 17"ers and a better suspension.

 

nope, not an option, but can be installed after you buy the car. Do this as soon as possible: find someone here or anywhere that will sell their 17's, because if you buy them from the factory, youll pay to much, Sell your GLE 16s here for the same you paid (since theyre brand new) and you will have free (but used) 17 inch rims.

 

Unless you really like the looks of the stock 17's, you could probably get some aftermarket 17" rims for a decent price. The stock 17's are only 7" wide, which makes it tough to put 235/45/17 tires on them. Get the standard 16" GLE rims and get some aftermarket 17" x 8" rims with 235/45/17 tires. My car came with the stock 17's. so I am going to stick with them for now.

 

i was told that i could put 245/45/17 on my stock 17" rims

 

Since the stock rims are only 7" wide, the largest width tire that fits nicely is 225. Some people have put 235's on the stock rims with no problems, but 245's would be a bit too much. I would say don't put anything larger than 235 on the stock rims.

 

I would like to see who fit a 245 on their 7inch rim and got away with the tire not popping off the rim on hard turns. Plus the weight will be on the side walls and make the tire weak. Even 235 is a IFFY, I think Toyo 235z may fit b/c the way the measure side walls. but Most 235 would be too much for the factory rim. I'ld go with OEM 17" rim. Only if the Nissan Rim was 17x8 I would've stayed with it.

 

Fair warning "Better" suspension is a matter of opinion in this case..

Personally, I like the SE suspension MUCH better than the GLE/GXE suspension, (it gives you that "connected" feeling with the road)

SE suspension for the driver... You learn to hate the way other sedans feel after you drive around in an SE for a bit..

GLE/GXE suspension is for the passengers!!!

-Tom

 

For two grand more. You dont think nissan is dumb do you. I went to do the same thing, but the GLE cost less, so I bought it.

 

?

In canada the 2001 SE AE 5spd is the same price as the GLE.
The automatic AE runs about $800 more than the GLE. I
can't think of anything the GLE has that isn't included
in the AE ...

 

$800 ??? only??? that's impossible...!!!

 

Don't forget... the Canadian model doesn't have the ground effects.

 

Oh... i take that back then... I would still prolly get the AE over the GLE.. (mostly for the suspension)

$800 isn't a lot, when your talking close to $30k!!!

 

In Canada the AE runs 35400 for the 5spd. The automatic
is approx 36200. While you're right we don't have the
body kit, it's value isn't that high (~$500). Anyways,
do the exchange and you'll see we get a much better deal
on the Maxima AE (at list, which I didn't pay).

 

Are the suspension diffs between the SE and GLE cancelled out if you put the FSTB, Tokicos and Eibachs on the GLE?

 

Damn... if it's only $35k Canadian I should exchange my good old American money for some of that Canadian Kleenex cash and go on up there to buy a Max!

 

helllllllzzzzzzz yeahhhhhhhh
u still got enough to put on a stillen body kit painted (which IMO looks much nicer than AE kit) and a stillen SuperCharger and it will still cost less than an AE here in the states... damn canadians... lol... im going to Montreal soon so ill stop into a nissan delearship there and check it out...

 

When I ordered my Max it was the first shipment with the 17s,so I never saw them until they arrived. I wish I had never bought them. They look fine, but Nissan ripped us all off by specifying 17 by 7" rims, forcing us to either stay with the riduculous 225/50 size or you have to buy new wheels. Has anyone squeezed 235/45s on their stock rims? How have they been? Let me know....sorry about the rant.

 

well, since the width of the stock rims are only 7", putting 235/45s are a tight squeeze....personally, i wouldn't do that unless i got wider wheels.. i thought of buying those stock 17" rims for my car, but then i gave up after finding out its super-thin 7" width.
u should just buy a set of after-market 17 inchers for your car. besides....225/50s do look little odd for 17s..

-peace