Allright allright... I knew once i started paying attention to this forum id go start spending all this money on stuff for my car...


Sooo heres the deal.. I dig my stock rims.. i think there sweet and I really dont feel the need to go buy new ones.. thoughhh I bet I can get some better tires on my shiat?? Soo whats good?? Ive got snow tires on right now.. And im veryy glad i did it.. 450 shipped from tires.com.. rims, tires, and gulp... hubcaps... but they work... allright so tell tell!!

 

The stock 17" rims are only 7" wide. As a result, you're pretty much stuck with having to run 225/50's, a tire size that's considered non-standard. The next standard size up, 235/45's, are too wide for the rims and are not recommended.

I'd suggest you do a search at tirerack.com and discounttires.com for 225/50's and see what you come up with. Your other choice, of course, is to purchase wider rims.

 

michiline gt pilot pro

 

I have Pirelli P7000 SS 235/45/ZR17's on mine...I went to alot of people and asked them if this was okay. Even the dealership said it was okay

 

But has more options. Among the choices < $150/tire are:
BFG Comp T/A ZR
Nitto NT 450
Pirelli P7000 SS
Kumho ECSTA Supra 712
Bridgestone Potenza RE730

 

Don't believe what the dealerships have to say... they don't know much.

That said... it really depends on the actual tire itself. YOu will have to check with the manufacturer. But 235 tires generally are too wide for 7" rims. Putting a wide tire on thin rims will cause it to be improperly seated: 1) decreasing contact patch and 2) weaken the sidewalls which can lead to premature tire break up.

According to Pirelli's website, the 235/45-17 needs to be in the rim size range of 8-9.5

http://pirelli.pearlcomm.com/pneumat...S_dim_data.htm

BTW I am using a 7" rim for 205 sized tires, just to give a little reference.

-Shing

 

How about 225/45/17s on the 17" factory rims? will going from a 50 to a 45 make any noticeable difference (ie more wheelspin from a shorter lever arm)? I found the p7000s in this size on tirerack for $139. I'm gonna buy em soon unless I hear something bad about them.

 

Well there's always this thorny little issue:

http://www.dsm.org/tools/tiresize.htm

 

Okay, so according to that, with an aspect ratio of 45, I would have to get 250s to keep the speedometer/odometer accurate?

 

Nope. 250's are definitely too wide.

 

I don't know how much of a difference that would make...I mean, try some simple math, the circumference isn't changing that much..I mean, the most would be like 2 mph difference...at the extreme..and that's just a guess.

 

getting smaller size tires would throw off your Speedometer and put extra miles on your car and also strain the engine from running higher RPMs. just a few things to look at I guess. I wouldn't do it personally.

 

Neither would I, PIONEER. If I want wider tires, I'll buy wider rims. Until then, I'll stick with my stock Potenza RE92's. I have the advantage of living in So. Cal. So wet and snow don't affect me much.

 

Nope. 250's are definitely too wide.


I'm sure the 250s are too wide, but, according to the chart on that link, they are what I would need with 17s to keep the same circumference. I'm not as worried about the speedometer as I am about the odometer. Smaller circumference=more revolutions=higher mileage

[/I][/QUOTE]

 

[/I][/QUOTE]

No argument there, massmax. Just keep in mind that you'd probably need 8.5" wide rims to successfully support 250's.

 

Remember that the "stock" size for the SE is 215/55/16.

So, going to the dsm site, that should be 210/50/17 or 235/45/17, and is much closer to the 205/65/15 on GXEs than doing the math from the 225/50/17

In short, Nissan is already "breaking the rules". 225/50 is as far away or farther from "normal" than 225/45

 

[/I][/QUOTE]

for one thing they don't have 250 width tires. you would want like a 245/45-17 or 255/45-17.

-Shing

 

[QUOTE]Originally posted by philpoe
That's interesting, philpoe. My SE arrived from the factory with 225/50/17 tires on it. I assume Nissan calibrated my speedometer to operate properly for the specification that matches that tire size. And while others may wish to operate outside of that specification, I do not.


[Edited by y2kse on 12-29-2000 at 02:33 PM]

 

Yes, Nissan did recalibrate the speedometer for the larger wheels/tires.

In reality, operating outside the rated size isnt a big deal and its done all the time. Its very easy to calculate how much the speedometer will be off as its a fixed percentage. So, if the percentage turns out to be, say +2% for instance, at 70 mph indicated, you are actually going 71.4 mph. Thats insignificant as its within speedometer error anyway.

 

Wow.. just got home from work.. looks like you guys went nuts over the topic ... So from the info I gathered... it looks like If i want to see any added performance I'll have to get bigger rims... which I don't wanna do.. So looks like im sticking with the wheels that came on my 17's..

 

for one thing they don't have 250 width tires. you would want like a 245/45-17 or 255/45-17.

-Shing [/I][/QUOTE]

Take a look at Pirelli's site: The 245/45-17 P7000 rim
width range is 7" - 9" in the specs:

http://pirelli.pearlcomm.com/pneumat...S_dim_data.htm

That said, if you take a look at the "stock" 17" 225/50 vs
the 245/45 as follows:

(width X Aspect Ratio)*2 + rim width = overall diameter
(225*.5)*2 + (17*25.4) = 656.8mm (stay in metric)
(245*.45)*2 + (17*25.4) = 652.3mm

(Width * Apsect Ratio) = only 1/2 of sidewall height, that's why you must multiply that by 2.

In conclusion, ((656.8 - 652.3)/652.3)*100 = 1% under, within acceptable tolerances for diameter change.

I too am looking for a better tire than the stock "blowtenza's". If you'd like to stay stock, a
really good though expensive tire is the Michelin Pilot XGT Z4 at $177 each from http://www.tirerack.com.
I've seen them cheaper on other tire websites as well.

Hope that helps,
Bob

 

You are correct, Bob. Having said that, 7" is the narrowest recommended rim width for the Pirelli tire. Consider the following from the Dunlop site:

Wider rims may offer some performance advantages over narrow rims. A wider rim increases the distance between the beads, which results in a straighter sidewall, which stiffens it. This results in quicker steering response and higher cornering forces.

Negatively, the straightened sidewall transmits more road shock to the wheel and suspension, placing greater stress on chassis and suspension parts and delivering a harsher ride. The straighter sidewall exposes the rim, making the wheel more susceptible to damage.

A narrower rim pulls the beads closer together, curving the sidewalls. This increased curvature allows the sidewall to flex more readily over bumps and absorb more road shock during driving. This offers a softer ride.

On the negative side, the increased flexing slows response and reduces cornering ability.

It therefore appears that you want to stay near the middle of the recommended rim width in order to get the best balance of performance and ride characteristics. In the case of the Pirelli tires, an 8" rim width would be optimal.

[Edited by y2kse on 01-03-2001 at 06:18 PM]

 

dumb question while you guys are on this topic. I have the 17inchers with the stock potenzas. I can't find the sticker with the recommended tire pressure. Can any of you guys tell me the recommended front/rear tire pressures? (the tires say not above 44 psi -is that what i should be keeping them at?)
thanks!

 

MadMax2000,
Recommended tire pressure is on the inside lid of the center console. Yeah, that's what I said after I found the info as well after looking all over for it elsewhere!!

-Bob

 

thanks MaxToolin!

I knew i'd seen it somewhere.. but when i looked in the manual, it said it's in the glovebox..

 

I agree 100%. I hate the RE92's stock on the Max SE and will either buy new 17X8 rims and new summer Max Performance tires (a pricey proposition!!) or go with a Michelin Ultra High Perf Pilot HGT Z4 in 225/50-17. Why did Nissan choose a 17x7 rim and this "odd" tire size to begin with???????

-Bob

 

All,
This is from Pirelli regarding the P7000 SS in size 245/45X17:
__________________________________________________
No Bob, it is within the acceptable tolerance.
Thank you for your recent inquiry.
PIRELLI CONSUMER AFFAIRS

-----Original Message-----
From: Web Administrator
Sent: 01/04/2001 08:33 AM
Subject: Data posted to form 1 of
http://pirelli.pearlcomm.com/pneumat...ontact_us1.htm

************************************************** **********************
*******
MessageType: Problem
Subject: Tire Products
SubjectOther:
Make: Nissan
Model: Maxima SE
Year: 2000
Mileage: 5300
Tire Style:
Tire Size:
Mileage On Tires:
Dealer Name:
City/State:
ContactRequested:
Date: 04 Jan 2001
Time: 13:33:03

Comments:

Hi,
Quick question regarding Pirelli P7000 SS in size 245/45-17. According to Pirelli spec the rim width range for these tires is 7.0 - 9.0 inches. I have a 17X7 rim. Can I expect the tire to perform within spec on a 7" rim? Any issues with this installation??
Thanks

 

The Toyo Proxes T1-S is a Summer-only tire, but since you already have snow tires, it should be perfect for you. I have driven on both the Pirelli P7000 and the Proxes T1-S and the T1-S is definitely grippier. The T1-S is almost as grippy as the Pirelli P Zero, Pirelli's best performance tire. Unlike the P Zero, the T1-S rides smoothly and breaks away progressively. It is also amazing in the rain. Tire Rack doesn't sell Toyo, but you can get it at most local places or at http://www.wheel1.com. The P7000 is a performance touring tire, not a max performance tire, whatever Tire Rack may say. The Proxes T1-S comes in 225/45 17, and the min. recommended rim width for it is 7", so it would fit perfectly on a Maxima SE. The downside to this slightly smaller size is that your odometer would rack up an extra 500 miles in a 15k year of driving. You might also notice slightly better acceleration due to effectively shorter gearing. And the speedo would be 3.5% fast. In the stock size, only the Michelin Pilot SX MXX3 can compare to the Toyo, and it is a great Summer tire if you're willing to spend $221 a pop. It is more like the P Zero, though, as it has a less progressive breakaway and not quite as good rain performance as the Proxes T1-S.

 

[/I][/QUOTE]

MassMax,
There's a lot of factors involved with tire sizing. The main concern is the keep the OVERALL diameter of the wheel and tire combination with -3% and +2% of spec though +-1% is optimal. Here is some info I posted earlier. Hope this helps:
__________________________________________________ _________
-Tire manufacturers do state the min to max rim size needed for their tires.
-That said, most 235/45-17 tire choices I've seen require
a min of 7.5" rim.

-However, the Pirelli P7000 Super Sport in size
245/45-17 has a min rim size of 7.0"

If you compare the stock 225/50-17 to 235/45-17 & 245/45-17 as far as the actual diameters go it goes something like this:

The calculation = (Width X Aspect Ratio) X 2 + Wheel Diameter = Overall wheel/tire diameter

225/50-17 = 225*(.50)*2 + 431.8mm = 656.8mm / 25.4 = 25.86"
235/45-17 = 235*(.45)*2 + 431.8mm = 643.3mm / 25.4 = 25.33"
245/45-17 = 245*(.45)*2 + 431.8mm = 652.3mm / 25.4 = 25.68"

If you want to keep the stock SE rims and would like a higher performance tire then the Pirelli P7000 Super Sport in 245/45-17 will fit on a 7.0" rim (unless Pirelli's
datasheet is in error) and be closer to stock overall diameter than the 235/45-17.

Of course if you buy new 17" or 18" rims you have a multitude of choices. Just make sure the overall diameter calculation is not too different than the stock overall diameter of 25.86" and your speedo will be fairly close.
__________________________________________________ ______

-Toolin....

 

I've been doing some research here at work.... Dunlop says their sp 5000 Z rated all season 245/45/17s will fit on the 17 inch rims as well. I looked up some reveiws and they appear to be comparable to the pirelli p7000 ss's for about $40 less/tire. They were rated even better than the michelin gtz z4's. anybody have anything to say about the dunlops all season's? Thanks in advance for the free product reveiws.....

 

Going up to a 245 mm width won't nearly make up for the loss in performance of an all-season touring tire compared to a max performance tire. The compound and tread design are far more important than the size when the size difference your talking about is less than 10%, which it is here.

 

MassMax,
That's a tire I didn't look at....Thanks for the info...

-Toolin

 

Whoops, I meant the xgt z4's from michelin. The dunlops tested better than them. Of course the max perfomance summer tires are much better than any all season, but I'm testing the water (no pun...) to see if I can enjoy this lovely new england weather year round without buying two sets of tires.

There is so much salt on my car right now it's making me sad.

 

I called Discount Tires today and told them that I have a 2000 Maxima with 17" rims that are 7" wide and came from the factory with Bridgestone Potenza RE92 P225/50R17's. I asked if the Nitto 555 Extreme P235/45R17's would fit on my stock rims and they said, "YES!" I asked the sales rep if he would look up the Nitto specs for this set of tires and he said that Nitto recommends a tire width of 7-9". So BINGO here is a good set of performance tires in the P235/45R17 size that the manufacturer recommends for our stock 17" rims. The 10 mm difference between our stock tires and the 235 is really not that significant IMHO. Good luck and I hope this helps.

 

i just have a ques... what does the width of the tire have to do with the circumfrence or diameter? whats the difference if i put 7" rim width or 13" width? the way i see it is as long as the total size of the rim height plus tire height is the same as stock then its ok... but im just looking at it logically... if someone can explain to me scientifically or another way that i might understand it that would be great... we how does the car actually sense speed? i always thought it was tire rotation, if it is tire rotation then i dont see how width has to do with it... well please clear this up for me... thanks... another thing... how come some tire companies say that their 235's will fit 7" width others say that their 245's will fit the 7" and some other companies say that 225 is the max to put on a 7" well lemme know...thanks
-danny

 

Yeah, it does kinda seem like weird science, doesn't it?

 

Danny,
In my understanding tire width and overall tire diameter are seperate measurements. In changing wheel diameters and tire sizes it's necessary to make sure that the overall tire diameter is within spec of the OEM equipment. 3% under to 2% over is an OK range. So with the Max from the factory you have the following choices:
205/65-15
215/55-16
225/50-17

As the rim diameter increases, the sidewall height of the tire decreases in order to stay within overall diameter spec.

As far as width goes, the Nitto 555 in 235/45-17 is the only tire in that size that I've seen that is spec'd to go on a 7" min rim width. All others that I've seen require a min of 7.5". The rim width is important because manufacturers have designed the tires to perform installed on a specific rim width range. If you install a 7.5" min rim width tire on a 7" rim, you can get it on there, but there may be significant bulge in the sidewall due to the narrow rim width. This may or may not effect performance or safety, but at the extreme the tire could fail by blowing out the sidewall or performance would be degraded because the tires may "roll over" the sidewall on sharp cornering.

Another important factor is the manf specs. You'll notice a "measuring rim width". This is the rim width that the manf measures the width of the tire. So, for a 235mm wide tire to actually contact the road with a width of 235mm it will only do that on the "measuring" rim. A quick example might help:

Take the Nitto 555 in 235/45-17. The measuring rim width is 8.0 with a range of 7.0 - 9.0. The tire industry standard is that the width of the tire (actual contact patch) changes by approx 2/10 of an inch per 1/2 inch change in rim width. So, going to a 7.0" rim width on the above Nitto you'd effectively have a tire that contacts the road at 4/10" narrower. Converted to metric (2/10" = 5mm) you effectively get a 225mm tire (4/10" = 10mm). The same holds true going to a wider rim width, you effectively get a wider tire contact patch.

All that said, it's really important for performance and safety to stay within the manf specs. The Nitto 555 may be a good choice for the 7" min rim width in either 235/45-17 or 245/45-17.

-Toolin....

 

Danny,
In my understanding tire width and overall tire diameter are seperate measurements. In changing wheel diameters and tire sizes it's necessary to make sure that the overall tire diameter is within spec of the OEM equipment. 3% under to 2% over is an OK range. So with the Max from the factory you have the following choices:
205/65-15
215/55-16
225/50-17

As the rim diameter increases, the sidewall height of the tire decreases in order to stay within overall diameter spec.

As far as width goes, the Nitto 555 in 235/45-17 is the only tire in that size that I've seen that is spec'd to go on a 7" min rim width. All others that I've seen require a min of 7.5". The rim width is important because manufacturers have designed the tires to perform installed on a specific rim width range. If you install a 7.5" min rim width tire on a 7" rim, you can get it on there, but there may be significant bulge in the sidewall due to the narrow rim width. This may or may not effect performance or safety, but at the extreme the tire could fail by blowing out the sidewall or performance would be degraded because the tires may "roll over" the sidewall on sharp cornering.

Another important factor is the manf specs. You'll notice a "measuring rim width". This is the rim width that the manf measures the width of the tire. So, for a 235mm wide tire to actually contact the road with a width of 235mm it will only do that on the "measuring" rim. A quick example might help:

Take the Nitto 555 in 235/45-17. The measuring rim width is 8.0 with a range of 7.0 - 9.0. The tire industry standard is that the width of the tire (actual contact patch) changes by approx 2/10 of an inch per 1/2 inch change in rim width. So, going to a 7.0" rim width on the above Nitto you'd effectively have a tire that contacts the road at 4/10" narrower. Converted to metric (2/10" = 5mm) you effectively get a 225mm tire (4/10" = 10mm). The same holds true going to a wider rim width, you effectively get a wider tire contact patch.

All that said, it's really important for performance and safety to stay within the manf specs. The Nitto 555 may be a good choice for the 7" min rim width in either 235/45-17 or 245/45-17.

-Toolin....
[/I][/QUOTE]

So the moral of the story is why pay for a 235 series tire (even if it is within manufacturer specs) if you will only be getting a 225 series contact patch!! Hey guys check out my post on the Nitto 450 Extremes in the P225/50R17 size.

Later,
D-Man

 

don't waste your money on other brands.
Note: I haven't tried Dunlops or Yoko's so I cannot comment on those.

 

Has anyone here calling the Nitto 555 a "good performance tire" actually driven on it? They are simply terrible tires. They have very little dry grip and aquaplane easily. These are some of the only "Summer performance" tires that actually have less dry grip than the all-season Bridgestone Potenzas. This isn't just my view; ask anyone who autocrosses or races with a club and they'll tell you that Nittos are the bottom of the barrel. You simply don't see Nittos on the cars of serious performance drivers, despite their massive ad budget in trash rags like Sport Compact Car.