I've had the 6th Gen brakes on my 2003 Maxima for more than a year. I really love the setup but this is off topic.

I just realized that i never had to use the spare tire(donut). I wonder.....with the bigger 6th gen rotor/caliper (12.8in), is the OEM spare tire/wheel going to fit? I would guess - no.

If i TEMPORARILY use a 8-10mm cheap wheel spacer in a "flat tire" situation....is this going to help me use the OEM spare wheel??

Thank you!

Try to slap on your donut. I don't see why it won't fit.

If you had Z brakes then they won't fit.

You can always slap the back wheel to the front, and put the donut to the back.

I think, i read here on the .org that even OEM 17" wheels from 2000-2001 do NOT fit over the 6th gen Disk/caliper combo. Someone posted that they were "touching". I am not sure which part of the wheel was touching....most likely the spokes.

The 17" GLE wheels fit just fine. (i have them as winter tires). They have 40mm offset.
I am not sure what is the "offset" on the spare wheel/donut.

This is an option but it will be tricky if i have only one jack.

If you get a flat in the front, jack up the back, switch to donut, then jack up the front and switch with back wheel. =) A little extra work but at least you know you wont get stuck.

I have one more problem with this idea... and it may sound funny but this is the situation. I have a winter tire setup. 4 dedicated winter tires (all Bridgestone Blizzak). 2 of them are on cheap 16" STEEL wheels and they do NOT fit over the 6th gen brakes. I put them only on the rear axle. On the front, i have 2 matching Blizzaks on 17" GLE wheels. Yap, it is not pretty but the whole setup cost me $200 total, and the tires are GREAT in snow/ice.

However, as you can see, if i get a flat FRONT tire during one of my snowboarding trips (250 miles one way) i cannot really move the rear 16" wheel to the front.

I have only a few of options left:

1. Sell my rear 16" winter tire setup and get a pair of 17" GLE/SE wheels and new 17" snow tires. This will cost me $$$.

2. Get 8-10mm spacers for the OEM spare/donut and keep my 16"/17" winter setup. Cheap.

3. Get a new spare/donut from G35/Z or 6th Gen Maxima. Not cheap...but cheaper than option #1.

doesnt fit it happenend 2 me, luckly i was at my buds house, and he had air tools and a floor jack, so the swap was easy. if it happenend in the rain or snow it would have sucked. goto the junkyard and get a 6th gen spare...

Are you 100% sure that the 6th gen Spare/donut fits? Did you test it?

Thank you!

it should since it has to fit over the 6th gen's brakes right? JUST assuming.

My vote is for #1. It costs a little bit more, but you're guaranteed everything works as they should.

Plus, you have steel wheels in the rear now, why not get a 17" steelie as replacement? That would probably cost quite a lot less than 17" SE/GLE wheels.

If you do go for the donut, make sure it also fits in the spare wheel well, especially if you already have stuff in your trunk.

no, havent tried it, but im sure it would work

IT DOESNT FIT. I have tried it already. Had a blown front tire and had to switch out back first.

So you mean to say that all 6th Gens come from the factory with a spare that doesn't fit over their front brakes? Or are you referring to the 5.5 Gen spare?

Dont the 6th gens have a full size rear spare?

I am referring to the 5.5 Gen spare. I guess its different from the one on the 6th gen.

True,

jack up the rear end, pull the tire off, put the spare on the rear end, jack the car back down.

Jack up the front end, pull that flat tire off, and put the tire from the rear to the front SOUNDS PRETTY SIMPLE ON PAPER (SCREEN) till you have to actually go though hell doing it WITH THAT crappy *** jack and iT'LL be your luck that it'll happen while its raining or something, lol