sup all..
i got 03 GLE and its time for new tires now. decided not to put on my 18" till the winter is over. so now i am looking for tires for my stock 17"s.
the stock tire size is 215/55-17 ..
now anyone else riding on stock rims with different size tires? any recommendations?
should i go a bit wider? or a little bit lower profile?
feedback, comments greatly appriciated. oh yea and what tire brand u riding or you would recommend?

 

I never knew GLEs were a different tire size... my stock tires are 225/50/17 but it looks like I'll be going with slightly wider 235/45/17s for slightly better traction... I know, for all posts that I said I'd stick with stock, I've had a slight change of heart here... .. plus they're cheaper, since it seems there are more options in 235/45/17s/.... anyways I'm going with Falken Zeix 512s... and I've heard Toyo Proxes and Michelin Pilots are good too...

 

I went with a 225/45/17.

 

if i was you id go for 235/45/17 and personally i like continental tires, and dunlop 5000's are real nice too

 

if the rim is 7" wide go with 235/45/17s TOYO proxies 4

 

I also have a GLE and I was told by Tire Rack .com anything other than stock size or 225/50/17 would be dangerous. I went with the Falkens and I am very happy so far.

 

I went with 225/50/17

 

Just some input from someone who's used 225/50/17 and 235/45/17 in the same tire (Falken 512's). Yes, the 235's (which I currently have) provide slightly better traction, buy the handling of the 225's (which I used to have) is far superior in my opinion. This is assuming stock 17x7 rims. Next time I get new tires, I will go back to 225/50's because the handling is much better...

just my 2 cents.

 

falken's homepage says the max size for the 512's for a 17x7 rim is 235/45/17.

so tire rack is wrong, WRT Falken 512's at least.

 

I didnt see those tires on tirerack's site. Wheres the cheapest place to buy them online?

 

If you're asking about the Falkens, Sears is a Falken distributor and usually has them in stock. So is merchant's tire center.

 

Try edgeracing.com...

 

that really doesnt make sense at all. If 235's have better traction how can they handle less better then the 225's? If you put 195's on a Porcshe Turbo...you think it'll handle better?

its much better to go with 235/45 rather then 225/45. the change of the speedometer is much less accurate with the 225/45 compared with the 235/45.

Just 2 weeks ago I put 4 Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S for 122 each from tire rack. These tires have reallly good performence just like the Pilot Sport A/S I had before. They are much cheaper the then A/S, very same performence but are much more harder to find in local stores.

 

Traction is the grip of the tread. On a 7" wide rim (like our OEM rims) the 235's make the sidewall "angled", thereby reducing its stiffness. A vertical sidewall is best for handling, tread grip notwithstanding.

The tire size is dependend on the RIM SIZE. What I was saying was that a 225 is better for our OEM 17x7 rims than a 235. If you have 17x8 or 17x8.5 rims, its obviously better to go with a 235 or 245......

Also, don't TELL ME what is up unless you know from experience. I have had THE SAME TIRE ON THE SAME CAR in both 225/50 AND 235/45 sizes. So I KNOW FOR A FACT how the two sizes differ in performance on OEM rims. Comparing 225 Potenzas with 235 Nittos with 235 Pilots is no comparison at all...different tire sidewall stiffness, different tread pattern, different sizes. Duh

By the way, OEM tire size for the Maxima SE is 225/50/17.

 

After much research, I replaced the 215/55 EL42's with performance-oriented all-season 225/50's on the GLE OEM rims. This decision (replacement size) best met all my criteria for spec., performance, aesthetics, etc. for where/how I drive year-round.

You indicated you are buying "for the winter,then you'll go to your 18's." Under those circumstances I would not be considering "a wider tread or lower-profile" nor would I put a lot of cash into a "temporary" set of 17's.

 

If you want to keep the crisp turn in on your max, DO NOT get the 512s (no matter what size). The side walls are so soft that turn in precision and tracking go to hell. The tires are sticky, but the flex on the sidewalls make it for a nasty vague steering feel off center.

If you don't mind the feeling of balloon tires, by all means. I personally can't wait to get rid of them.

 

THANKS everyone for the input.

i think i am gonna get 225/50-17th as per IRISH44J. and i think i'll get winter tires.
and for my 18" i'll prolly go with 245/45-18 245/40 onces the winter is over. spring.summer

 

So what is wrong with 225/45/17? Not much discussion on these??

 

ok one more questions. which brands would u reccomend? i hear different oppinions.. some ppl say falken is ok some say it sucks ...lol pirrelis?
nitto? whats good?