Snow tires for my M35X.

[TheM35Matrix]

I was looking to get snow tires for my M. I was recommended that a narrower tire which is thicker on a smaller rim would be best in snow. I am sure you all know the stock size is 245/45/18 but these were the ones I was recommended for snow: 215/55/17, 215/60/17, 225/55/17, 235/55/17 and 245/50/17. I have never gone a size below than what is normally recommended by the manufacturer so wanted advise from the experts. 1. Can this done? 2. More importantly if I do, will it be better for the snow3. Which of the sizes mentioned above would be best?

Thanks for the help.....

[tytamto]

17" wheels and tires will fit the car fine. It is true that you want a narrow tire with a taller sidewall for improved snow performance, but I probably would not go narrower than 225 - you want a nice contact patch for dry pavement as well. 17s are also cheaper than 18s, and that is why a lot of people undersize their winter wheels.

The size that is closest in overall diameter to your stock wheels is usually best, as your speedo and odo will read correctly. Thus I would recommend using the 225/55/17 option. But if you can find a wheel/tire combo in the other sizes at a better price, they all will work (under 2% difference from stock).

If you are willing to check your tire pressure regularly, and don't mind the TPMS warning light on the dash, I would advise against getting a set of sensors for the winter wheels due to costs involved (~$250). They are nice to have, but not a necessity.

Check tirerack or discounttiredirect for package pricing and cross shop your local source with them.

Good luck and thumbs up for choosing to use winter tires in winter!

[TheM35Matrix]

Thanks tytamto for the guidance. Yeah I ran my old infiniti on snow tires and the drive was great. I wasn't sure on the m35x since it was an AWD. But my past experience pushed to try snow tires on my M35x too. Thanks again for the help....

[fooitm35x]

All Infiniti dealers I recently visited shopping for a car offered 18" 245/45/18 for M35x and M45.The package contained 18" Fast (I think it was Apex model) alloy wheels and Hankook winter tires.

What offset should be 17" wheel to fit perfectly on M35x?

[tytamto]

Yeah, our (M series) offset is really odd. Here are the OEM wheels:

OEM 18s 18x8 +47 offset

OEM 19s 19x8.5 +50 offset

You don't want your wheels to stick out too much, so try to stay close to the OEM numbers.

[TheM35Matrix]

tytamto, thanks again for the info on the tires. One question about the rims. Will the G35 17" rims fit the M35X? I am sure you know this but just in case the offset on the G35 wheels are 45mm
Modified by TheM35Matrix at 8:19 AM 11/4/2009

[szh]

tytamto, thanks again for the info on the tires. One question about the rims. Will the G35 17" rims fit the M35X? I am sure you know this but just in case the offset on the G35 wheels are 45mm

45mm offset wheels will fit the M without problems. That is close enough to the OEM M wheels offset to not be any issue,I would think. As long as you have not done any big brake installations, of course!

Z

[tytamto]

45mm offset wheels will fit the M without problems. That is close enough to the OEM M wheels offset to not be any issue,I would think. As long as you have not done any big brake installations, of course!

Z

Z

And yes, the G35 OEM 18" wheels do have a 45mm offset

[fooitm35x]

And yes, the G35 OEM 18" wheels do have a 45mm offset

Are you sure? Not according to G35 Forum

[tytamto]

Are you sure? Not according to G35 Forum

All G35 sedan 18" wheels up to '06 model year had a 45mm offset. I just made an assumption that since he told us that they are 45mm, they must fall into that batch.

'07 G35 18" sport wheels are staggered, and fronts are 45mm, while the rears are 50mm.

G35 Coupe 18" wheel offsets are all different (vs. Sedan) and have a 30mm offset.

Hope that this clarifies things...

[szh]

Most importantly, though, I I had assumed that the intent was to use identical G35 wheels.

To the OP, since you have the X model, don't use staggered offset or different width wheels front to back, if you want to avoid problems with the ATESSA system.

You must also make sure that the tires are identical all round ... not even the same tire size from different manufacturers or different models (although that is far less of an effect probably). This is because the actual rolling diameter could be different (based on sidewall stiffness, etc.) and result in different rpms/mile.

Z

[fooitm35x]

So what kind of 17" rims will fit 2006-2008 M35x?

From what I understand using rim offset calculator these should fit perfectlyA. 17x7 with offset +35mmB. 17x7.5 with offset +40mm

And tires should be 225/55R17?

Anyone used this setup already in winter? How do out Ms ride 17" vs stock 18"?Should be softer, perhaps too soft?

Is savings for going with 17" winter package worth it vs staying with stock 18"?

[babun]

I am interested in knowing the answer to the rim offset as well.

I did check TIRERACK and they suggest 235/50R17 as the minus size for tires.

That is the size I plan to use, but am waiting for the answer about rims (size and offset) before buying rims for my winter tires.

Thanks

[fooitm35x]