Ok i have a 2002 Se with stock everything on the outside except for the HID Fogs. I want to put either 18in or 19in wheels on but i really dont want to lower the car. I know of the 4x4 look but is it really noticable? The reason i dont want to touch the suspension is since i feel it is still new. If anything i will buy just springs, no struts. Im more concern with looks than perforamnce so this is why im not worried abot struts..
i really need help and all of your opinions.
Please leave the childish BS out of your responce.

 

lower the car. thats the first mod that needs to be done to a max.

 

Dude, you have GOT to search.

http://www.forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=281189

http://www.forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=281194

http://www.forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?t=390183

 

It will definitely look higher. Smaller sidewall will increase your wheel gap

 

Care to elaborate about the "everything" you have done to the outside of your maxima? This will determine how much drop you need...if you run 19s...you will need at least the progress drop (1.7/1.5rear) IMO.....if you go up to 19s or even 18s without dropping the car it will be VERY obvious and plainly put it will look stupid and take away from the look of your wheels.

 

 

Everything is stock on the outside. Actually everything is stock on that car except for the HID Fogs and the Wood trim in the interior. Read my post again

 

if one keeps the same aspect ratio for the tire - say a 17" rim in 45 to an 18" in 45 what affect does that have on the wheel gap's appearance?

 

the sidewall is a percentage margin of your overall tread. You'll have to increase the tread width on a 17" rim if you want to maintain the same sidewall height as a 18" rim (given that you want both with the same sidewall, although I couldn't imagine why)

Basically, since you want to keep the overall diameter of the wheel+tire close to stock....
bigger wheel = smaller sidewall
smaller wheel = larger sidewall

This is just generally speaking since wheel width and tread width affect the sidewall

 

I agree that even if the total wheel/tire diameter of the 18's or 19's is equal to stock, your wheel gap will appear larger.

I would also not recommend using lowering springs on your stock struts. I put Maxspeeds on my 2k2 with about 10,000 miles and the OEM struts were starting to go at about 32,000. I'm figuring your struts have at least that many miles.

 

drop it first. I just got springs because I didn't want to put in the extra money for struts when I was doing the drop and everythings been fine for about 7k miles. I decided to wait till my stock struts blew before I replaced them and theyre still goin strong almost at 80k. So it isnt necessary to change struts when changing springs, unless you want to change the whole set up all at once so you dont have to go through the install two times.

for wheel size, I think 18s look small on any mild drop but 19s have a rough ride. For 18s I'd go with the G35c wheels because they always look good. I think any other 18 in. wheel will look small unless youre on coilovers, S techs or maybe a Progress drop. thats just my opinion.

 

18's ...19 to big if it's performance you ah look for

 

19s with a 245/35 tire are almost dead on to the stock diameter, but just by the look of the 19" wheel, the gap willappear even bigger than it is, but yes a drop is needed. check out housecors site where he has pictures of all the springs...but without a drop, unless you really like that ghetto look, its going to look goofy.

 

Hoping not to thread hi jack but I think my questions belong here and not in a new one. I've read through quite a few posts around this topic but still need some clarifying.

My SE has the 17" stock wheels with 245/45/17 tires (yes, I know these are too wide but I've had no problems in over 50,000 miles). I recently installed maxspeed springs on the front only. With a full tank the fenders are almost exactly at the same height front to back at about 26 1/2", so I'm content (at least at this point) to leave the stock springs in the rear as I like the way the car sits soooo much better now that the front end is more in line. When I bought the car used 2 of the rims had considerable curb rash so I've been considering either repairing them or replacing them with 18's - maybe G35c's or 04/05 Max SE's.

From what's being said, it sounds as if going to an 18 will make the "appearance" of the wheel gap increase as Maxspeeds are considered a mild drop, and of course the rear is stock (for now). Correct?

Will 18's ride rougher than 17's?

Should I be at all concerned about potential rubbing going to either of the above-mentioned 18's on the maxspeed front/stock rear or with the maxspeeds all around?

Am I talking myself into sticking with the 17's

Apologies for the long post and thanks in advance for any insights.

 

yes it will look gehtto if you dont drop it, even with 18's. get soem H&Rs, they are most comfortable and can be used with stock struts for some time. but eventually your struts will wear faster than normal.

 

Im looking at the Tein H Tech. The drop seems pretty even when i checked out housecor websites. Few questions though.


1.Now what will be wrong with getting 40 sidewall instead of 35 for 19s. I know 35 is recommended but what will be a negative afffect of a 40 series or is there little affect.

 

if you get springs, please get adjustable struts, and if you live in a area where there are potholes do not get 19's they will get ruined..

 

A 35 series isnt necessarily recommended over another aspect ratio. Basically, the 35 means the sidewall will be 35% the width of the tire. Like it was said above, a 245/35/19 would be dead on according to stock diameter. If you go with a 245/40/19, the sidewall will be slightly thicker, and the overall diameter would be 3.3% larger than stock. This is because the sidewall will be 40% of 245mm's.

If you go with a 255mm or larger tire width, the aspect ratio will have to be lower (ie. 35 or less) in order to bring it within specs.

I have 245/40/19's for the only reason that Toronto roads are horrible and I'm worried of cracking or bending a rim.

 

if you lower your car.. doesnt the ride quality go down.. as being more bumpy? im thinkin of lowering it.. but i dont really want to sacrifice bumpyness cause roads are pretty crap here in toronto.. we dont have fundin like the americans