Mounting BF Goodrich g-Force TA FDWS (245-45-WR17). Very comparable to the Michelin Sport series but with better wet traction and treadwear.


After installing Stillen Front Strut Tow Bar, Eibach springs, and Stillen rear sway bar, I think my 2k2 Max 6 speed will rock!
Will keep you posted

 

Hi there, rwbro719. Mister Tire at your service.

I see you've got Focal rims on your Maxima. I'm not sure which Focal rims you've got, but I took a quick peak at the Focal web site (http://www.focalwheels.com/noflash.htm). Interestingly, none of Focal's current 17" wheels are wider than 7.0". If that happens to be the case with your Focal wheels, you're about to make a big mistake in your tire selection.

The minimum acceptable rim width for 245/45R17 tires is 7.5". Check it out for yourself at http://www.bfgoodrichtires.com/. What's the big deal about 0.5" in rim width, you ask? You'll find your answer here:

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?postid=1022066

Good luck if your wheels are only 7.0" wide and you decide to mount 245/45R17 tires on them. You'll need it!

PS: If it turns out your wheels are, in fact, 7.0" wide and your brain is bigger than your *****, take a look at the Pirelli P6000 in 235/50R17 (NOT 235/45R17). That tire will fit properly on your rims and it seems to be very well rated in terms of both wet and dry handling. Tirerack.com sells P6000s for around $180.00 per tire.

 

Are you still out there, rwbro719? BTW, it's OK if you choose not to respond. I more than most understand the power of denial.

 

i'm going to go with the pilot sports, in the stock size cause of your posts dude. good stuff.

 

Perhaps he is doing a search on the subject of recommended rim width. Something that has been beaten to death here but well worth the efforts of everyone (esp y2kse!) if it helps stop even 1 tire failure due to improper rim/tire size combos.
l8tr -- SS

 

Congratulations on making a wise choice, victor. Enjoy the ride.

 

Good point, ssiperko. Patience is not one of my strong suits!

 

will 235's work?

 

Make that 2 of us. I am about to get rid of my Potenzas in favor of the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S in the stock size and for the OZ Racing Antares, I am getting a set of 235/40/18 Michelin Pilots.

 

I could say, "you tell me". But I'll take it easy on you this time.

235/50R17s will work. 235/45R17s will not! Unforunately, BF Goodrich does not make a 235/50R17 in the tire you're considering. Once again, if you want to go with 235s, I'd recommend you take a look at the Pirelli P6000. It's an excellent tire and one of the few tires manufactured in size 235/50R17.

 

WTF are you talking about man, 235-45-17 should be FINE.
Our stockers are 225-50-17. Why in the world would you want to go wider with exactly the same amount of sidewall. Less sidewall, more tire track for better handling. I think if you ran 235-50-17 it'd be a tad on the squishy side and possibly overstress your sidewalls.

perfect size for a 17x7 rim on a maxima is 235-45-17. It's always safer to run a lower profile tire than it is to run too wide of a tire.

 

And so it begins......

 

Did you actually READ this thread, Chinkzilla?

http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?postid=1022066 (PS: Thanks to Kevin for adding this thread to the FAQs.)

The minimum acceptable rim width for 235/45R17 tires is 7.5" regardless of the tire manufacturer. Your mission Chinkzilla, should you choose to accept it, is to prove me wrong. You'll need a written statement or published specifications from a MANUFACTURER of 235/45R17 tires to do that, by the way. A statement from a tire DEALER or one of your good buddies just won't cut it. (This should be fun, tee-hee.)

Also, you are mistaken when you say that it's better to run a lower profile tire than to increase the tire's width. Generally speaking, maintaining a constant width while reducing the aspect ratio (i.e., running a lower profile tire) reduces the tire's load rating. And reducing the load rating below that of the OEM tire is something you do NOT want to do.

 

you have gone and done it.

 

I told you this was going to be fun!

PS: As I see it, Chinkzilla only has three choices. He can disappear from this thread entirely (possibly after slinging a few epithets at me), he can admit defeat (gracefully or otherwise), or he'll prove my favorite saying: "Never underestimate the power of denial!"

 

SIGH

According to your own link..
http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html
the difference is only -2.1%

Well within the +-3% tolerance range.

on the dunlop site:
"Higher aspect ratios deliver:
Greater deflection under load
Softer ride

Lower aspect ratios deliver:
Wider footprint
Quicker response
Less tire deviation or slip angle
Lower flex rate
Less deflection under load
Harsher ride"

Now, if your goal were handling, would you not want the latter?
The increase in footprint to 235 and decrease in profile to 45 balance each other out and result in MINIMAL change in the total aspect ratio. DEAL with it. People have been running 235-45-17 FOREVER. It's not the cushiest ride, but your handling feel should improve signifigantly.


I don't see anything that indicates that a 235-45-17 is unsafe to run on a 17x7 inch rim.
In fact, it's a very popular tire size. Just check tirerack.com
I DONT UNDERSTAND YOUR LOGIC. WHY WOULD A 235-50-17 be OK to run but NOT a 235-45-17?

Please put your superior attitude away Mister Tire. Master of all things rubber.

 

Well folks, the choice is up to you. Either follow Chinkzilla's advice or believe what every tire manufacturer in the world is telling you . . . that it's not acceptable to mount 235/45R17 tires on 7" wide rims.

BTW, I think it's fair to note that Chinkzilla chose option number three, to wit:

Never underestimate the power of denial!

He didn't accept my challenge because he couldn't do so and win. And the reason he didn't find an indication that 235/45R17 tires aren't safe to mount on 7" wide rims is because he didn't bother to look. I'd advise you not to follow in his footsteps.

Also, I don't really know why a 235/50R17 tire will safely mount onto a 7" wide rim while a 235/45R17 won't. I suspect it might have something to do with a relationship between sidewall flex and aspect ratios. But I'm not a structural or mechanical engineer. I've simply learned how to read specifications.

Let me make this REAL simple for you, folks. Before you purchase tires, go to the MANUFACTURER's web site and check out their specifications. Then make up your own mind whether you want to abide by them or ignore them. And NEVER accept anyone's word on what those specifications are, not even mine. Check them out for yourself.

Remember. The life you save may be your own.

PS: This has nothing to do with my attitude, Chinkzilla. I'm simply stating the facts. Regardless of your protestations to the contrary, NO TIRE MANUFACTURER WILL APPROVE MOUNTING THEIR 235/45R17 TIRES ON 7" WIDE RIMS . . . PERIOD. Once again, I challenge you to prove me wrong. Until then, you have nothing further to say to me on this subject. Convince others of your logic if you can.

The Master of All Things Rubber is signing out!

 

Please at least address me directly instead of as if you're presenting a caged animal to an audience. Your attempts at belittling me are having no effect on my self esteem.

Turns out we are BOTH wrong. I just called kumho tire and their representative said that both 235-45R17 and 235-50R17 are too wide to mount on a 17x7 rim. He recommended that I run 225-50R17 at most, which incidentally would be the size of our stock tire.

Like you said, you don't know why it would work.. well I guess you're not infallible after all. And neither am I nor did I imply so.

The guy I spoke to might not have known WTF he was talking about but I doubt that. If I am wrong please post a link exactly saying where it would be ok to put 235-50 on a 17x7.

Also I do NOT appreciate being accused of trying to influence people to death by tire failure. If your recommendations are off you would be guilty of the same, no? or perhaps we're just having a discussion about tire sizes on an automotive forum.

 

All right, Chinkzilla. Before we begin this exercise, there's something you need to know about me. If I say something is so, it's so. The reason I can say that with such authority is that I ALWAYS do my homework, as you're about to find out.

Let's begin with Kumho's assertion. Unfortunately, Kumho does not manufacture a tire in size 235/50R17. Therefore you were correct in pointing out that your "guy" might not know WTF he's talking about. In this case, he doesn't.

Pirelli and Michelin manufacture tires in size 235/50R17. To the best of my knowledge, they are the ONLY tire manufacturers that make high-performance tires in that size. Pirelli makes both the P6000 and the P Zero Asymmetrico in 235/50R17, and Michelin makes the Pilot Sport A/S in that size as well.

Now this time I'm going to let you do the footwork. Go to the Pirelli and Michelin web sites and locate those tires. Bring up their specifications and take a look at the rim width range for the 235/50R17. Then let us know what you find out.

I appreciate the fact that you are at least willing to look at the possibility that you may be wrong, and that by stating your opinion so forcefully, you might influence others to make dangerous purchase decisions.

I'll wait to hear back from you.

 

However, they DO manufacture a 235/45R17 yet he recommended a 225, this tells me that 235's in general are too wide and a 50 aspect tire might even exacerbate the issue.

Quote:

Pirelli and Michelin manufacture tires in size 235/50R17. To the best of my knowledge, they are the ONLY tire manufacturers that make high-performance tires in that size. Pirelli makes both the P6000 and the P Zero Asymmetrico in 235/50R17, and Michelin makes the Pilot Sport A/S in that size as well.

Now this time I'm going to let you do the footwork. Go to the Pirelli and Michelin web sites and locate those tires. Bring up their specifications and take a look at the rim width range for the 235/50R17. Then let us know what you find out.

I appreciate the fact that you are at least willing to look at the possibility that you may be wrong, and that by stating your opinion so forcefully, you might influence others to make dangerous purchase decisions.

I'll wait to hear back from you.

Hahaha dangerous purchase decisions? Half this board is running 235-45R17's. However, I will concede this point to you, due largely to the fact that I've lost the inclination to argue further. Take that as you will.

I was unable to find the web pages that you are referring to, none of the tire manufacturer had very navigable sites. Please post the link and finish this discussion once and for all.

BTW you had better save these guys from their own ignorance...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread.php?threadid=113363

Glad I could contribute to your signature

 

Actually, if you complete the homework assignment I gave you, you'll find out that you were right the first time. The guy at Kumho doesn't know what he's talking about. And that should raise the obvious point that it's senseless to talk to a tire manufacturer about specifications for a tire that they don't manufacture.

Yes. And many of those that are running 235/45R17s have upgraded to wider rims as well. Those who have not are in my prayers.

Why thank you, Chinkzilla. I humbly accept your concession.

Do you think you can navigate your way around Tirerack.com? If so, you'll find the information you're looking for there. I sent you to the manufacturers' sites because I prefer to get the information directly from the manufacturer rather than from a dealer. But in this case, I'll make a concession of my own. And besides, what fun would it be if I gave you all the answers?

Me too!

 

I had to respond. This quote just had me rolling!

 

Kul! Thanks for bumping the thread.

 

Well it looks as if Chinkzilla baled on this thread. Just to put a bow on the package, here's the information Chinkzilla could not or would not find:

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...em+Asimmetrico

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...ot+Sport+A%2FS

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/Spec.j...li&model=P6000

As you can see, the acceptable rim width range for the 235/50R17 is 6.5" to 8.5". On the other hand, the acceptable rim width range for the 235/45R17 is 7.5" to 9.0". Argument over!

Interestingly, the difference in sidewall height between the 235/45R17 and 235/50R17 is only 4/10ths of an inch. It's amazing to me to see how much of an impact that 4/10ths of an inch has on rim width requirements.

 

D@mmit, I was just getting my popcorn. When's the next showing?

 

I received an e-mail from an Org member stating that he had reviewed the information in this thread. He thanked me for my insights and then went on to say that he had decided to mount 235/45R17 tires on his OEM 7"-wide rims. In closing, he gently attempted to make me challenge his decision.

I replied to him (as I have stated here in the past) that his decision is none of my business. My responsibility begins and ends with a recitation of the facts. My only concern is that he and other forum members be in possession of those facts before arriving at a decision.

Frankly, I don't care what anyone does to their vehicle. I do, however, take exception when someone states their opinion as fact. And I always find it amusing when an individual confronted with the truth chooses to either deny it or disregard it.

Enjoy the ride!

PS: A little salt for your popcorn, maximawanabee?

 

Your posts are OPINIONS also, you are beginning to humor us all that keep on reading them. Why are you implying Chinkzilla stated his opinion as fact? The only fact that I can see from his post was that numerous org members have run 235/45/17's on their stock rims. Now you have implied that org members have actually switched to larger size rims due to your information. Do me two things: Give the names of any org members that switched and give the names of any org members that currently run 235/45/17's and have had tire problems. I have done extensive tire research, related to 235/45/17 posts on this org for over 6 months, and have yet to see any problems related to that size.

 

So whadya think, folks? Should I reply to this or just let it slide on by? I'll let you make the decision.

PS: Sorry, Blackgums100. You don't get to vote.

 

question is, how "dangerous" do you you equate 235-45-17 tires on 17x7" rims to be??

If you add an aftermarket intake, it might filter worse on the micron level and damage your engine(maybe)

If you DIY your suspension you might do the install wrong and risk potential injury(maybe)

If you add a Y-pipe that's not equal length or tuned for equal exhast pulses, you might be doing stress on the engine that we don't know about(maybe)

If you drive above the posted speed limit around a freeway off ramp, you risk injury to one's self/others.(maybe)

If you use a cell phone while driving, you risk injury to others(maybe)

If you smoke, you risk injury(maybe)

 

Now Jeffrey. Am I going to have to bring you up short again for not staying on topic?

PS: I don't have to decide how dangerous mounting 235/45R17 tires on 7" wide rims is, Jeff. Nor am I interested in anyone's "research" on the subject. The manufacturers of the tires are in a much better position to make that decision than anyone on this forum. I think I'll let them.

 

I have not "bailed out" of this thread. I still had to go out after work, sleep, wake up, go to work etc... I'm not going to continue this game just for your amusment though. I'll let you have it out with Jeff, enjoy.

 

People want to believe what they want. If someone is going to deviate in size and not pay attention to the mfg specs, there is nothing you can do. Nothing you can do for anyone who would believe a min-wager at a tire shop that it's safe regardless of what the mfg says.

Dont worry y2kse, alot of people here like me will check the specs before deviating because of the info you have brought 'to the table'.

I hate to see these long flame threads go on every 2-3 weeks, but I dont like to see misinformation taken as fact just because nobody has gotten killed yet doing it. There is obviously a margin of safety, and wider tires dont seem to be flying off left and right. But if I were to be the first and take out myself and others, I'd have no one else to blame but me because I knew the facts.. Its a risk not worth taking to *me*..

 

Don't be controversial, just answer the question

 

Ah. A voice of reason in the wilderness . . .

All right, Tim. My suspicion is that most people will act rationally when it comes to making sure that their tire selections meet manufacturer specifications. And thanks to Kevin, I've always got the FAQs to fall back on. So I'm outta here!

Thanks for playing, everybody!