I'm looking for 18" wheel/tire bundles online and every time I chose an 18x8 inch wheel for my 2003 Maxima, the default recommended tire for that wheel is always 235/40-18

Why not 245's? Every tire size calculator I've used says that the 245/40-18 is only .5% difference from stock size 17" wheels/tires...whereas the 235/40-18 tire is 1.8% difference.

Seems the 245's would be the default size for 18's?

Is there some hidden problem with using 245's on 18" wheels for our cars? Anyone have problems with them? Pro's and con's for each?

Your thoughts?

Thanks

 

235/40-18 is a closer match to the stock 16's on a GLE or GXE
If you use a GLE as the model instead of a SE you get 215/55-16.
If you look for 17 options they dont even give you the stock 225/50-17 they use 215/50-17 235/40-18 & 235/35-19.

Hope that helps.

Ecko

 

Thanks bro. I guess I should have mentioned that my stock setup is 17x7 wheel with 225/50-17 tires.

And all of the online tire stores recommend a 235/40-18 tire size when moving up to 18" wheel from 17" on a 2003 SE.

But if you use a tire size calculator like the one here, and you compare my stock setup 225/50-17 to both the 235/40-18 and the 245/40-18 tires, you'll see that the 245 wide tire is closer in percentage to the stock one.

I'm just curious why all the tire shops say the 235 wide tire is a better fit???

 

Yes, they have changed their recommended tires a couple of months ago. One of the tires used to be 255/35/18. And yes, the 245/40/18's are a good tire in 18. A little more tread width and especially sidewall height never hurts. Especially when there are lots of rough streets-like here in Houston.

Mike

 

There is a big price jump I believe from the 234/40 to the 245/40. I think there are also less choices @ the bigger tire.
Also most online places push the smaller tire to keep their price attractive.

 

Ahhhhh, there it is.

Here I was thinking it was for a technical reason, but in the end it's all about the marketing; and money (like everything else)

Makes perfect sense now. Thanks for the replies guys. I'm goin 245 wide now

 

We're only talkin about 1/4 inch wider. I got the 235's but I see the 245's on some Max's and everyone has said no rubbing. But I can also say that, at least with the Potenza SO3's, that little 1/4 inch cost quite a few $$ more too