stockacura

iTrader: (1)

What winter tire size did everyone used on your 5th gen?

Let me know your make and brand as well. I am thinking of nego. a set of snow tires to the dealer if they wont budge on the price abit more on 2003 MAX 6 Speed Leather

Also let me know if you are happy with your set of snows.


Peter

2k2kev

I bought 16" wheels and put snows on them for about the same as good 17" snows that actually fit our car cost.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

What tire size did you get for your 16"? 215/55/16s? or 225/60/16s?

Thanks!

Peter

jjs

In snow, it is typically best to go with a somewhat narrower tire than usual. Helps 'cut through' more of the snow than ride/slide ontop of all of it.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

What winter tires do you have? Or does it ever snows where you are at?

jjs

I doesn't where I live now, but the first 10 years of my driving was done in the snow belt of Ohio, in a 5.0L Mustang. You learn every trick you can to live up there.

Phoenix1911

bigger profile and narrower tires are highly recommended for snow tires... I run 205/60/15 maybe its even a 65 profile?

Check out my homepage for pics!

Michelin Alpines... amazing winter tire, never had the ABS go on it, no problems accelerating, amazing traction turning, highway speeds in the snow and you feel VERY in control. Never got stuck in driveway after the plow had gone by... HIGHLY recommended tire... They have unidirectional tread and sipes so they are nice and quiet on the highway!

2k2kev

I believe 205s are too narrow. You need to check the load rating, but I think that's right. 205s are on a 2k2.

jjs

Too narrow due to rating or width? They have a 90 load rating (a bit low) but he is also running these on 15" wheels which should not be an issue with width.

2k2kev

this is all from memory so it might not be right, but I remember talking to someone (thought it was nissan) about tire sizes and I could swear he said a 205 is too narrow because of load... again, for 2k2. 2000/2001 could take a 205.

I'm sure someone will come along and correct me any minute, though.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

Phoenix1911 : nice ride!

jjs : I think the load rating is 93+ for 02' and up. Do you suggest any particular size for 03' max se 6sp?

2k2wannabe : So what tire size did you end up with your 16"s?


Peter

K Pazzo 6

iTrader: (6)

I used 225/50/17 Bridgestone Blizzak Snow tires....they are awesome in stopping in snow & ice.

jjs

That depends. Are you planning on getting a second set of wheels and if so, what size?

Uconn411

I bought 16" steel rims with Dunlop Winter Sport M3s from tirerack.com. Very comfortable ride, excellent in dry/wet/snowy and icy conditions. I put back on my Stock 17" with Potenzas and really realized how good the snow tires were when we got a snow storm about a week a ago. Night and day difference.

Phoenix1911

Its not worth it to buy an expensive 17" snowtire for the stock rim...

In the snow you want a large profile, not 50 series, 225 is WAY to wide you'll find they will slide twice what a 205 will... Your rims are aluminum and if they salt if your area you have to ensure you rims are cleaned VERY often.. the salt eats then...

Your paying $$$ to get your tires mounted and balanced every spring & fall... Putting tires on requires some force with a large metal bar which some techs carelessly scratch your rims and damage the lips on the tires.. You'll find after a few mounts they leak air slowly all the time... 15" steel rims for winter!

A 15" 205 will EASILY handle the weight of the Maxima... Much heavier minivans and trucks come with 205s in 15" and 16" I'm not sure where your going with this one??? Maybe on the stock 17" rim??? ... hondas and such that run 17x7 rims run 205 tires (yes they do weigh less tho)...

2k2kev

Well, that was from memory so I just called tirerack and they told me the same thing... 205 is not wide enough for a 2002 Maxima. "Can" 205 work? Probably. "Should" it? No.

And, I've only read of one 2k2 here that has 15" steelies for winter. The brakes are different from 2000/1 to 2002 and it's hard to find a 15" rim that fits. There may be more 2k2s but from what I've seen, MANY more are on 16s for winter.

I have OEM 16s with 215/55/16.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

I was thinking using 16" steelies. What tire size do you suggest?

Peter

jjs

Like has been mentioned by others, I would also lean toward the 215 55/16's.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

What was the tire size on the Dunlop M3s?

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

Right. What do you think of 225/55/16's? The diameter on these matches better with stock size when comparing on link below - http://www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html

Peter

2k2kev

Don't take this the wrong way but, how many times do you want us to type 215/55/16?

If you want 225s, get them, but winter tires are supposed to be skinny so they cut through the snow and get down to something solid. Going from 225 to 215 what are you going to lose, 2%? So your speedo says 75 and you're really going 73.5... big deal.

That's my advice and I'm sticking to it.

stockacura

iTrader: (1)

Umm you wrote 215/55/16 once and JJS once and few others posting other sizes so I don't know how many times you guys want to type up that particular size.

As for 225s, 'K Pazzo 6' has 225/50/17 and I was asking JJS what are his thoughts were on the 225/55/16 as they were better fits. And coming from someone who didn't rode 205's 215's 225's, all I was seeking was some opinions from users who tried these sizes.

As for whats the best, this is open discussion so, if others want to share their snow tires comments please feel free.

So so far ... 2 people for 215s, 1 for 205, 1 for 225.

Thanks for the inputs!

Peter

Uconn411

I believe 215/55R16

2k2kev

twice. I left it in the quote section of a reply to you.

here's the thread I was thinking of on how 205s will kill you...
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....light=205+load
so you can take 205 off your list... Phoenix1911 is using "heavier minivans and trucks come with 205s" as an argument, but if you call anyone who knows about tires (so far I talked to tirerack and nissan and they agree) they'll say 205s are too small for the load.

also, here's a thread on 15" rims saying they don't fit
(the post: The tire guy figured there is no steel wheel that would fit in a 15 for my car. He does believe that some alloys would work because of the steeper hub faces that are possible to engineer on alloys compared to steel. Maybe tirerack is selling you alloys.
http://forums.maxima.org/showthread....light=205+load

ABS

I live in NY and I researched this extensively last fall for my 2K2 6 SPD. I ended up putting all season high performance tires (Dunlop SP 5000 in 235/45) on the OEM 17" rims. They were ok in the winter and in the snow but not too good on the ice I now regret my decision. I should have gone with the Dunlop M2 or M3 snow tires from Tire Rack on the OEM rim in the stock size (225/50/17) and then purchased 17"x8.0" rims in the spring with high performance summer tires. This would have been a much better option. The issue is that the selection of performance tires in the 225/50/17 size is very limited so many people go to an out of spec size tire, 235/45/17 on the OEM rims. This size is out of spec because the OEM rim is on 7" deep. The 235/45/17 size requires a minimum of a 7.5" deep rim. The best solution is just to stay in spec with the snow tires on the OEM rims and get aftermarket rims that are at least 17"x7.5" and put high performance summer tires on those.

I hope this helps.

doublea

iTrader: (7)

I have been running 215/55/16, for the last 6 winters on 2 differents maxima, a 98SE and and my actual 2K1, no problem at all so far, the car is handling well
and the traction is very good too, the car is very predictable with this tire size.

I bought a set of 16" stealies at canadian tire for 46$ cdn / each ( 28-30$ US)

This way there is no mounting -unmounting of the tire, you just swap the wheel.

Cheers

AA

Pangburn

I checked the calculator too and noticed that the 225/55/16's match almost perfect with our stock 17's. I then set out on a search to find EITHER 215/55/16 or 225/55/16. I happened to find a slightly used set of Nokian Hakkapolits in 225/55/16 for only $200 (plus an extra set of tires thrown in) locally and went with them. Either way you'll be WAY better off than with the stock Slidetenza's in the winter (trust me, curb rash sucks , no matter how you try to touch it up).



By the way, nice signature Doublea.

MajesticBlueNTO

iTrader: (6)

Nokian Hakkapeliitta 1 tires are amazing in the snow and ice. I have them in 205/65/15 on my 2001...but everyone else is right, 15" steelies won't fit on a 2002/2003

The Nokian NRW are great for an 'all-season' type of tire that is also a certified snow tire.

also, you want the smallest tire width possible to "cut" through the snow rather than being a toboggan/sled with wider tires

tigger01ca

I ran Kumho KW-15 225/55R16 on FRD Racing FRD 5 16" wheels. I originally went with 215/55R16 tires because this is the size that TireRack recommends (I think this is the stock size for the GXE), but when I compared the snow tires to the stock tires, the diameter was a good 1/2" less. That's why I sent the 215's back and went with the 225's which have the identical diameter to the stock wheels/tires.

I was very happy with the KW-15's. They are a very quiet tire and, while they probably don't have the ultimate ice traction of the Blizzaks, they are significant cheaper and way way way better than the crappy stock Bridgestones.

I live in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada and we had a ton of snow last year so I can definitely recommend the KW-15's.

BigFly_2K2SE

iTrader: (1)

I have a 2K2 and used 205/60/16 Nokian WRs this winter here in Northern Alberta, Canada. These worked very well for me and we got a TON of snow this year.

The load rating on these tires is 92 versus the load rating on the stock Potenzas of 93. I realize it is a bit of a no-no using a lower load rating than the stock tires, but I looked at it like this. The load rating on the stock tires is basically designed so that they are able to handle the maximum conceivable load that you could put on your tires.....a car full people, equipment, etc. So as long you don't plan on completely loading your car, you should be fine.

Also, somebody correct me if I am wrong, but isn't the load rating on the stock 2K2/2K3 GXE tires 91?

BigFly_2K2SE

iTrader: (1)

I don't think you'll be able to get the NRW anymore unless you buy a used tire. Nokian has replaced them with the WR, which I believe is just basically a newer version of the same tire.

MoCoMax

I've got a 2K SE, and put Pirelli Winter 210's on the stock 17" wheels. Tire size was the same as stock, but the they were expensive. However, given the winter we just had in NJ, the money was well-spent. The tires were just awesome - never any hint of getting stuck, and 45 mph on hard-packed snow felt rock-solid and very stable.

ojman

Hi guys, I wanted to dredge this one up because winter is coming - I am thinking about getting a winter tire to put on my OEM 17" rims as I plan on having aftermarket wheels on through the summer. A buddy of mine quoted me prices on stock 225/50/17 Blizzaks and it was $80 Cdn per tire more than if I went to a 225/45/17 tire. Is there a major issue with me going down a profile in my winter tire...will it substantially lose any winter traction ect?

ABS

I've been running 235/45/17 on my OEM rims (all season tires - not snow). I would not use this size again for two key reasons:

1. Tire is too wide for the rim and I have noticed it impacting the handling of the car.
2. The overall height of the sidewall is a little lower than OEM and it is not good in pot holes here in NYC.

I know you are considering the 225/45/17, that would be even shorter sidewall than 235/45/17. I do not recommend this. There are other tire sizes you could consider:

235/50/17
215/55/17

Good luck!

ABS

ojman

Wouldn't the 235/50/17 have the same handlind downfalls that you experienced? Would the 215/55/17 be wide enough on the OEM rims? is it a readily available tire size?

ABS

Excellent questions:

The 235/50/17 size is within spec on the 17"x7" rim whereas the 234/45/17 is not. What I can see with the 235/45/17 tires I own is a slight curvature of the tread in the center (which I am certain should not be there) when the top of the tire is viewed . . . The increase in side wall height should be enough on the 235/50/17 to prevent the tread from being "pulled" and causing the curvature. I doubt you would have a problem with that size.

The 215/55/17 is a standard Nissan OEM size for certain 2K3 Maxima's. I have forgotten if they come on the GLE or the GXE, but I am positive that this is a standard size. They will definitely not be too narrow for the OEM 7" rim.

I believe that both of these sizes will give you a very small increase in overall wheel height over OEM, but they are very close to the OEM (you probably wouldn't even notice it) and both are absolutely in spec for the size rims you have . . .

I will be purchasing snow tires this year. I know for a fact that the Dunlop M2 is excellent, my brother used them with great success on his S2000 last winter and my buddy used them on his Subaru WRX and he ended up using them all summer! Tirerack just listed them in the 235/50 size, but last year I almost bought them and they were available in 225/50. Maybe Tirerack is still receiving their winter inventory? There may also be a Dunlop M3 available . . .

ojman

Thanks dude, I think I will be shopping for the 215/55/17 size because of the width of the tire, I am in Toronto where we experience some decent snowfall and I think this size will cut through the snow instead of ride on it. I also am very price conscious as I just got screwed on my summer wheels purchase here on the org and don't want to sink boatloads of cash into tires and wheels over a really short period. Which size do you think is most readily available inused tires? Likely the 215's I would assume...do you know if they are OE on many other cars?

MoCoMax

I put a set of Pirelli Winter 210's on my 2K. I mounted them on the stock 17" wheels, in the stock size (225/50-17).

We had tons of snow last winter, and the car never once had trouble getting around.

ABS

Yep, that's a good idea. A narrow tire will give more pressure/sq. inch than a wider tire on the contact patch. This will help in rain and snow. I do not know about availability of used snows, but I am positive that the best rubber on most snow tires is usually found in only the first 50-60% of the tread. I also do not know what other cars use 215/55/17. Tires are also something that can be shopped around for, and to your point, if you spend some time researching, you can probably save $$$.