metallic97gxe

iTrader: (3)

I have a 1997 GXE. It is lowered 1.5" with springs with stock size rims I have Enkei 15x6.5" on 205/65R15. I want to change tire sizes or profiles,I love the lack of fender gap I have now,but I want to go wider and lower,225/60R15 or 225/65R15. I'm looking for the aggresive stance that we all like. Is this the widest size that I can get? If I go just one size down in series from 65 to 60 I don't want the gap to be back in my fender or do I just go with 225/65R15 for a wider look,or 215/65R15. Also by me running the stock tire size my car will sit lower by having a 15" rim. Thank You William.

Shingles

The "series" is a percentage of the width of the tire... mean if you have a 100/50-17 tire for example, then the side wall is 50% of the width or 50mm. You can't just randomly pick a profile. You make the tire wider, the profile has to go down, but guess what? the height is still the same. BTW, you can't and should go wider than 205 or 215 on stock 6.5" rims. I run 205/40-16 on my crx and they are on 7" rims. 225 on 6.5" is way too wide for the rim.

-Shing

metallic97gxe

iTrader: (3)

So 205/65R15 or 205/60R15 should work then? Are you saying it won't work the 225 or you would not recommend it? What size 60 or stay with the 65 and just get a 205/65or60R15.

Shingles

Don't do 225. not a good idea.

60 or 65 won't matter that much, as you are pretty close either way. Go to http://www.tirerack.com and see what selections they've got out there on the two sizes. You will probably be pretty limited I think. But either 205.65-15 or 205.65-15 should be fine

-Shing

humaras

Shing, I was just wondering about this. the stock GLE rims are 6.5X15 and the maximium width that the tire used is 215mm. But check this out: the stock on the se is 6.5X16...and ppl have put 225/50 on those. I was just wondering--and I am curious --shouldn't then 225 width fit on the 6.5X15 since it works on the 16" rims and both of their widths are 6.5?

please correct me--

Brian

Shingles

Sure, it'll work but it's probaly not the best ideas. I mean you should truely consult the tire manufacturer. Cause some tires, the wya they are construction it's ok to use them on thinner rims. But keep in mind, in general, when you use a give tire on a thinner rim, you will have less contact patch b/c the tires will buldge on the sidewalls. Also when you run tires too wide for the rim, they won't be stable, you could hurt the tire and cause it to fail.

-Shing

humaras

thanks for the info Shing,

At one point in time before getting the 215/60 15" on my car, I was contemplating getting the 225/55 15" (dunlop sp5000) for my car but then I wasn't sure if the 225 width was actually safe for the rims I had. In any case, i went with the 215 and I am happy with them.

In any case, I saw a 2000 maxima with the factory sp5000 in 205/65--and they look very narrow...as though it was too narrow for the car. I also have noticed that with the 2K, Nissan is actually providing half decent tires to the 5th gen. while the 4th generations got the stock Yokohama Radial 379 for the 15" or Good Year eagle RSA's--which were both crap tires.

brubenstein

If you go to Tirerack, or the tire manufacture's site (like http://www.dunloptires.com) you can check the tire specs. The things to look for are the recommended rim width range for a tire, an the overall diameter. For just about all 225/60x15 tires the minimum rim width is 6", so 6.5" is OK. The tire may work better with a wider rim, but your rim is safe. Another spec that usually only the manufacturers list are the weight of the tires. 205/65's are around 20 lbs. the 225/60's are around 23 lbs. The higher unsprung weight will give you a rougher ride.

Shingles

what tire is this for? Every tire is different...

-Shing

humaras

Shing, I think the 225's that he is referring to is the 225/55 ones for the Dunlop sp 5000. speaking of tires, anyone here keep a full size rim/with tire as a spare? I was thinking about doing that since my most recent flat and the fact that little spare is horrible!!!

I have seen a lot of people put 215/60 instad of the 205/65 on their cars but no one with 225's though...

I wnated to try...

Dave B

William-

Check these tires out at the Tire Rack. Sumitomo HTRs in the 215/60R15 size. They are $50 and have a nice aggressive design plus they'll give a wider appearance due to their high performance geared design. These are what I'm gonna get for my stock 15s. Sumitomo makes some great tires. I've got them on my 17s. 215/60s is about as wide as you'll want to go on a 6.5" rim. 215/60s are stock on the 95-96 SEs.

Dave

Shingles

Full size no fit... too big.

I tried it once... it was too wide.

-Shing

humaras

I was afriad of that, and so I went with the 215's to be safe...they handle very well, other than the lofty ride that I have on the GLE--everything would be fine. I notice that the new generation of Altimas have a very similar ride to the 97-99 Maxima SE ride--and it is quite stiff in addition to their 4 wheel independent suspensions. My gf who drives pretty hard can take a lot of corners that I need to slow down for--pretty patheic of me.