Seems like if you look at tire evolution, maybe go back to grandpa's days, low profile was definitely the direction of the future. Long ago there were 80's and 78's. 70's series were hot at one time. Then came 65's, 60's. I can't tell you how many times my buddy who had the 1985 Maxima complained because he always went used tires, which meant he was always looking due to a flat or worn out tire that was used to being with, and because they were 65's they'd be harder to find. I think they were 195/65-15 which was good for a 1985 car.

It also seemed like in the late 90's the 55-series became the norm, not just Maximas used it but even E-Class Benzes and many others. Now it seems like 40's are being pushed out from the factory for higher performance cars, with a wide range from VW GTI to BMW 745i.

With a 4th gen, maybe 5th gen too it seems like our tires are pretty skinny even when +2'd. Whether we want 16-17-18-19, we get 235's. Maybe it's 245's with the 5th gen or 2k2, I'm not positive because the diameters are not the same with the 225/50-17 and 215/55-16, which were optional and standard on the 2000-2001 I believe. I hope Nissan adjusted the speedo for that and they didn't just overlook it, but nobody here seems to have known the answer. Those 225/50-17 are very tall tires, meaning it got 245/40 when upped to 18's. 245/40 is not correct for replacing a 215/55-16, but since I don't have a 5th gen no worries mate!

To make a long story short, even high performance cars seem to gravitate at 40's. LIke the new 745i using 275/40-19's as the optional rear tire. Unless we go below 40's, at least with the 4th gen we are stuck with 235's which are not very wide at all. Even Pontiac Grand Am's have 225's. Hopefully the new Z or G35 coupe is not shod with such skinny rubber.

 

I don't know exactly what point you're trying to make, but factory tires always linger behind the aftermarket. I've seen tires as low as 30 series, but because it isn't too common of a size there are very few tire choices and they tend to be expensive. It's also more likely that you will bend rims with lower profile tires, which is a consideration for the people at Nissan. My other question to you is why you would want anything much wider than a 235? We don't have nearly the power that Vipers or Corvettes do, thus we don't need as much rubber. The factory tires are usually all season tires as well, which defeats the purpose when you're driving in snow with a 245mm tire.
-hype

 

Most factory tires on aren't wider than 225mm, unfortunately. (I mean most sedans, even "performance" ones with the exceptions being Europeans)

At least cars are wearing bigger tires now, although most imports are still kind of dinky.

BMW 3-series' only fit 235/45/17's and the Acura 3.2TL only 205/60/16, while the Pontiac Grand Prix fits 225/60/16's (and the larger Bonneville, 235/55/17). Nissan's newer cars an exception rather than the rule for Japanese imports, with 215/55/17's on the Altima and 225/50/17's on the Maxima.

Plus one on a Grand Prix would be 245/50/17.

As for 40-series being a limiting factor... I wouldn't worry about it. Remember, low-profile tires are more expensive than taller ones. There's also a decreasing improvement as you go to wider/shorter sidewall tires as far as handling goes... plus with less sidewall, the wheel is more vulnerable to impacts. If you want even lower-profile tires, check out the Aston Martin's and other cars in the super-car or near-super car range.

 

I have 225/40 , on 18s though. You just got me real confused.

 

Actually the new M3 has 255's on the back whether it's 18 or 19". With the 19's they go to the 35 series. My point is the trend is to lower profile, and that even from the factory you're seeing 40's now. The 3 also has 9.5" rims while the 7 gets 10", that's not skimpy like the 7" that comes with the Max.