Believe me, I do trust in physics. On a Fri. evening I was reading a textbook on the physics of radiology, though I don't consider myself a geek. Sometimes we gotta do what we gotta do.

Anyway, the 2k6 750i and iL (8 cyl. as the nomenclature has changed) has 20 and 21" (295/30-ZR21 and 255/35) rims optional on the accessory menu. So I guess with the bump to 360 HP they can offer +1 and +2 over the 19" found on the sport package.

I wouldn't be surprised if the Maxima gets 19's soon as standard equipment as Nissan always seems to be up on that. Technology, mass production, China make it all possible. I don't believe the larger rims slow the car when they are churning out the HP numbers that they are these days. Smaller is not better. Even 17's nowadays look tiny.

 

Is this the LAST revision Frank? Heavy wheels will hurt performance whether they are oem or aftermarket.

 

Absolutely true using physics. And you're smart to mention weight--many seem to dwell on diameter. Probably a 12" rim would work provided a tire could be mfg. with a sufficient load rating. A 21" rim would be impossible just 7-8 years ago. But today, not only does it look great the car can still do a 0-60 in the 5 sec range with it. That's applied physics.

 

Thing is as the wheels get bigger in dia, the tire that fit on them seem to get extremely heavy. Making the weight problem even worse. Even on a maxima that had stock 16s with a combined weight of about 38lbs can run 20s that can weigh well over 50-60lbs for the tire/wheel. Crazy.

 

But if you have a large cruising car like the BMW 7, absolute off the line acceleration is not really a requirement. Although even with 19s, my parent's 2006 750Li is really a strong performer for such a heavy car. It would def out accelerate my I35 from a dig or a roll.

 

It's more the bling bling factor over a performance factor. You dont buy a 750i to go fast.

Just like how the sport package has 19's (which I would trade for 18"s actually).

I would never put anything over 18" on a maxima. too heavy, too easy to bend.

 

Whether you have a 100hp car or a 450hp car, physics still dictates it takes xxx amount of hp to rotate a wheel/tire that weighs xx lbs each.

 

I do agree with you Jeff, but it's still amazing to me that these huge diameters are coming from the factory. And I think technology plays a huge role in making it something that is real and OEM. Since Nissan is always big on HP and these types of things, I think it's realistic to see a Z or Maxima with 19's standard.

 

22k posts...omg...

 

I haven't looked at the numbers or anything, but going off my experience, it feels like it could but doesnt.

My Dad's 98 740i feels like it pulls harder than my maxima, but one day we were playing around and thats not the case

 

This sounds like it should be in off topic?

 

Not entirely true... one surgen I know got one and he drives that thing FAST. He goes back ond forth from Albany to NYC and averages 100mph.... and never gets a ticket

He bought that car because it has bling and speed (highway queen).

 

740 will do a stock maxima on the highway

 

We have a lot of customers that buy the 7 series just for its speed. They will come in and say ok well the Mercedes dealer says this car (Im not sure which is comparable) is faster than the 7 prove me wrong. Its actually worked out once that a customer was testing a MB, and they happened to meet up with somebody testing the new 750i, and raced with the BMW winning. The customer driving the merc came and bought a 7. I have to say that for how big they are, that big car can handle and accelerate really well

 

You can already get the 2005 G coupe with optional 19" wheels. Forged to boot.

 

Interesting. 20" rims for cars have been out since about 1991. Borbet made them for the Mercedes 500SL's. 20's are ancient. Tire Rack was selling them back then.

 

Sure, but back then the technology was not what it is now. I doubt the 20" tire had the load rating back then that it has today. My 235/40WR-18 has a higher load capacity than the stock 215/55-16's that came with the car in 1998. I guess my point is that the trend is to have your cake and eat it too--i.e. go plus 1 or plus 2 with minimized adverse effects. Nowadays for $1600 not only do you get the rims, the tires that are wider in the rear, the sport suspension and seats, but you also get 19 mph more in the top speed dept. (E90 330i, limiter moves from 130 to 149) It's like the car co. can decide what performance you get by changing a chip, so bigger and wider doesn't slow the car anymore.