dansmax2003

iTrader: (7)

I want to put a pair of new *rear* tires on my 03 Maxima SE.
I'm looking at Falken 512s and Continental ExtemeContacts and i am trying to decide which one is better for wet/snow driving. I know Falken are cheaper but if Contis are better, i will pay extra $ for them.

Also ... I have stock rims and i would like to know if i can put 235/45/17 Continentals on them. The Conti tires require a min. rim widht of 8 inch and my wheels are 7. Is it SAFE to put those tires on my wheels???

For the Falken tires....is it recommended that i stay with the stock rubber size (225/50/17) or i can upgrade to 235/45/17 safely??? I know that the 235/45/17 Falken require 7.5 rim, not 8.

jessefrank

iTrader: (1)

I just bought the Falken ZE ZIEX-512's for my 03 SE and have been quite pleased with their performance (500 miles). I haven't tried them in the snow yet, but on dry pavement wet roads and ice they are by far superior to the stock RE 92's. Their grip is great. I would expect them to do well in the snow based upon their performance so far. I considered the Continental's in the 215/50/17 size, but went with the falkens because of arability and stock size. I've noticed the falkens perform a little better if inflated over the stock PSI of 32???(They tend to want to roll during hard corning at faster speeds at 32PSI). I'm not too sure if you will encounter any rubbing with the wider tire, but I'd think you'd be ok. In actuality the stock rims measure 7.5 inches to the outer lip; I measured them when I changed the tires. I'm not really sure how Nissan measured them and states they are 7" wide. I believe with a 7" rim you can run up to a 235 or 245 tire at widest, but I would stay with the same size tires you have on the front wheels. If you have the stock 225/50R17 in the front; why would you want a wider tire in the rear on a front wheel drive car? Also the 225/50R17's measure 25.86" and the 235/45R17's measure 25.33"; that’s over a 1/2" difference in size.
Hope this helps a little,
Jesse