uh oh, it's time for some new tires $_$
 

ok i've done a search, talked to random people, so i thought i'd get some advice from the .org :)

i got the stock tires 225/50/17. I called a lot of places and almost no place had tires for them or the tires cost around $190+. So my question is: is it worth getting the 225/50/17 still? or should i bump it to 225/45/17? Whichever you recommend can you also recommend what tire to get? I'm looking for something that can handle winter but more performance (it doesn't snow here just rains so wet traction would be the biggest thing). Thanks! :)

www.tires.com

Stay with the 225/50

Just about any tire will be an improvement over the stock Potenza's, especially in the rain. Although they cost a lot, I put the Michelin Pilot a/s on my Maxima and it makes a huge difference in the rain. I have yet to hydroplane and the grip is outstanding.

Do you mind going wider to 235? Lots of people on here are running 235 on stock wheels and not having problems. Actually I have not heard of one problem from running 235 on stock wheels.

I have the Firestone Firehawk's. They are an excellent summer/rain tire. Have a great treadwear rating, low noise, and handle very well in the rain. They run about $180 a piece, but totally worth it.

those MIchelin Pilot A/S were the first tires i was looking at. Price i got quoted was $210 though :eek: how much did you get those for?


foodmanry: i don't mind going on 235. i just want something comfortable, can grip in dry season, and can handle water like it's nothing. :)

maximam: tires.com only has the nitto NT-450?

sr20den: saw the thread, but the only closest size on the size chart are 225/45/R17 or 235/43/R17.

Read the FAQ's on acceptable tire sizes. Also spend some time places like www.tirerack.com researching tires and you decide on handling ratings, cost, wear, etc. All the posts here won't change the fact you need to educate yourself on the choices out there, their good points and their bad points, then decide for yourself depending on what characteristics are MOST important to you.

I used 245/45-17 which are much wider and just as tall. At a minimum get 235/45. I tried 225/45 and they were just too short and made the speedo read 5% high.

Yakuza....that's what I plan to do as well. I don't think I can do any suspension mods or anything. Just wondering if you went with a direct replacement or different size? I'm debating between the 225 or 235.

look at 235/45, 235/50, or even 225/55. you can find a lot more tires that way. searching 225/55 will give you some odd results, but in there is the potenza s-03 tire which is supposed to be great, and i suspect with the higher sidewall, will give a reasonably compliant ride. there's a few decent choices in the 225/50 tho, just gotta look. check out the kumho thread on the kh11s. they're new and are available in 225/50. supposed to be good wet traction as well.

I Love my Michelin Pilots!!! best grand I spent
I put about 25,000 a year on mine and have rotated 2 times and can see some wear and loss of grip after the 1st year.
my pontazas got me 73,000!!!
I don't think my Michelins will give me that, will see
I now have 98,000
the Michelins have GREAT wet traction

Get 235/45, not 225/45.

I have the OEM size 225/50/17. I didn't want to get a non-OEM size so the Michelin's were one of the few manufacturers that makes the 225/50/17 size with the performance I wanted. I bought them at Costco for $208 each if memory serves me. Keep an eye out for Costco's coupons because every now and then they have a $60 off coupon for Michelin tires (not per tire unfortunately but for a set). Sometimes Sears has good deal's on the Michelins too.

I was originally going to run my Potenza's bald then get the Pilot Sport a/s but this past winter made me get them sooner. I was hydroplaning all over the place at almost any speed. When you think about it, your tires are the only part of your car that touches the road so you should get the best you can afford.

Thanks for the quick reply Yakuza!! I only have about 16k on the Potenzas. The 1st winter I had them I was a little worried, because of what I read here...buy made it through a Colorado winter with them. However, the 1st real big rain I had to drive in this year....well I didn't really drive....it was more like boating!! I'll keep an eye out at those places. Thanks again!

i have the 235/50R17 on mine. have the bridgestone RE040. they are great. theyre the tires that come on the 350Zs. No rubbing or any problems at all. got more cushion then the stock ones too. Heres how they look on my car
http://toyotanation.com/attachment.php?s=&postid=178246

I have the A/S Michelin Pilots on my Mustang. They are excellent in the rain and dry considering they're A/S tires. They don't loose too much traction when they get hot either. However, threadlife SUCKS and you'll experience a lot of "squirm" when the tread gets low, so you'll probably have to discard them early (I did). I don't plan on buying another set.

I saw a recent review on some high performance A/S tires and Dunlop makes a model that tied the Pilots in every category AND had a 65,000 mile treadwear guarantee AND cost substantially less. I don't remember the model, but I'm sure you could find it with some research.

This might help...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/surveyresults/uhpas.jsp

that's a great link. thanks jjs. :) anyone got opinions on kuhmos? i saw those the other day and i've heard mixed opinon. also i'm leaning towads getting 235/45/17 now.

Re: uh oh, it's time for some new tires $_$
 

Bridgestone Potenza SO3, those tires are great dry or in the rain.

Just got Michelin Pilot Sports and they are unbelieveable. They grip the road better, they help corner better, and they are great in the rain. However, I did hear they don't have great treadlife. They cost about $200 each...bit pricey, but most michelins are.

I like my nitto 555's but they could do better in the rain. i just cant get over how much cheaper they are. the are very good overall tire if price is included in the comparison. 235/45 or higher is the only way to go. good choice.

Dont mean to steal your thread, but I have a question. I know I'm getting Continental ExtremeContact. My question, which size for 17" stock SE's(225/50/17). 235/45/17, 245/45/17, or 215/50/17? I'm leaning towards the 45/45, but will that bulge or anything? I've had bulgy tires before, I dont like them.

aren't stock rims only 7" wide? 235, imo, is too wide.
Jae

? and comment
 

What's this about running 245/45-17? On stock rims? someone give me a little color.

If you're doing 235/45, sumitomo's HTR+ is brilliant. Great when it's wet and dry, inexpensive, and a lot better than the nitto 450's that just gave up on me.

I just replaced my stock tires with Cooper Lifeliner Touring SLEs on Friday. I haven't put on many miles so I have no positive or negative feedback to report. Installed they ran $575.00. A couple of other members are using these, so I decided to give them a shot.

I just ordered mine the other day. I got them through Sears. $195 each, with all 4 mounted, balanced and alingment it came to $1060, but i get a free JVC DVD player.