Daughter needs to buy tires for her 2000 Q45T, need recommedations

[Victor]

My daughter needs to buy at least one tire for her 2000 Q45T, and asked me to help her research them. The car is in Colorado and I am in California so I am doing this without being able to look at the car or owners manual.From some tire websites I determined the size she needs is P225 50R17.!. What load rating does she need, for example 94, 98, XL, or what?2. I guess the tires that came with the car were either h, v, or z speed rated. What speed rating is recommended, she says she is never going to drive 149 miles an hour so is there any reason to get a Z or W rated tire?3. She lives in the mountains of Colorado where it snows a lot so she needs an all season tire.4. She would prefer something she could buy at Costco or Sams club.5. From your own experience are there any tires to avoid or any tires you would recommend?6. She doesn't have much money so price is a factor.

Thanks in advance

[maxnix]

A couple of misconceptions to clear up here.

1.) "All season" is a marketing euphemism for "compromised summer tire and a not very good winter tire." If she lives in snow country, she must use a winter snow tire to be safe in the winter.

2.) Tires are the only part of the car in contact with the road. Compromise here, and everything is lost now matter how good the suspension and brakes work. Price is a pretty good predictor of performance and quality of construction.

3.) Speed ratings reflect more on the strength of the carcass and the integrity of the compounds used. The ratings do not mean one has to drive flat-out all the time to benefit from their use compared to their lower speed rated brethern. The safety margins are much higher with higher speed ratings.

4.) The FGY33 requires a 94 minimum load rated tire. Higher load ratings will increase perforamance and extend wear.

5.) I would avoid non name and second and third tier lines like Fuzion, or even in my experience, Dunlop. Top line Michelin, Goodyear, Bridgestone and Pirellis produce a better tire than Toyo, Falken, Hankook, Cooper, Sumitomo and other pedstrian names.

Costco and Sam's can both obtain any Michelin or Bridgestone, but I prefer to use Tire Rack and their recommended professional installers which are usually operator owned and do not employ minimum wage pit monkeys who are insufficiently trained or do not have access to the better balancing and alignment equipment.

Going low bidder is not the best practice for critical components like tires, balancing and alignment.

There are a ton of good articles and tests at Tire Rack. There is a great tire sticky in Infiniti General.

[Victor]

Thanks for the reply Maxnix. My daughter is a cadet at the U.S. Air Force Academy and has no place to store separate winter and summer tires, so we must go with an all season. She also has no place to get a mail order tire shipped to, so we will go with Costco or Sams club. After looking at their websites it looks like the best tire we can get for the price is the BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S which has a 94 load rating, W speed rating (very high speed, only thing higher is a Y rating), a 400 tread wear rating, an AA traction rating, and an A temperature rating. The ratings make it look like it is as good or better than tires costing $30 to $80 more, plus the ad says good in the snow. It cost $148.49 installed at Costco which includes free lifetime tire rotations and balances, and flat repairs. Most of the Michelin tires cost over $200, and they don't make an Exalto in her size.

http://www.samsclub.com/shoppi...79894

[maxnix]

Yeah with Michelin you get for what you pay. Personally, I would say don't drive in winter, but I am sure she is certain to figure that out.

The BFG will last for a while until the noise becomes unbearable.

Wish her the best of luck in her studies from all of us. We appreciate her dedication.

[BadQ45t]

Those I have a feeling will be pretty scary in the winter with a rear wheel drive car.

I think for a busy student costco makes sense....but WR rated tires in the snow...make sure these will really be okay.

BTW, you CAN easily use tire rack, you find a local installler and have them shipped directly there. Costco has no selection anymore.

[IceCubeFoSho]

I got 245 width Kumho Ecsta ASX Tires on all fours from Discount Tire Co.

I drive like a madman, the tires never really burn onto the street, and during the heavy rains that we get, whether its a tropical storm, hurricane, or the horrible drainage system that for some reason Houston has, it doesn't skid or hydroplane as much as I expected.

Never driven in snow, only seen snow like once in my life lmao. But for wet traction, and a really solid tire, Kumho Ecsta ASX'es with the 245 width works out well.
Modified by IceCubeFoSho at 7:05 PM 9/9/2008

[rover3l]

I have a 2000 anniversary model and currently live in WI. I have Bridgestone Turenza with Serenity Technology as my summer tires and Bridgestone Blizzaks for winter. I understand your wish to use all season tires but my experience is that this car is almost lethal with all seasons in real winter conditions.

Prior to WI, I have also lived in Western NY and MA and have used a winters and all season tires for 5 years.

[Victor]

They didn't have the BF Goodrich G-Force Super Sport A/S in stock at Costco so she decided to go with the Michelin Pilot HX MXM4, $297.00 installed for two tires, which includes lifetime wheel balances and tire rotations and flat repairs, and nitrogen inflation. I have nitrogen in my car tires, good stuff, leaks out at only one third the rate of air, even though air is 79% nitrogen. I haven't been able to find out what the ratings are on the Michelin tire, still searching.

[maxnix]

Speed rating could be V. What size? 235/50-17?

Why only 2 tires? Not good to mix and match, even axle to axle.

[Victor]

size is 225 50/R17. Only worry I have is that same model tire comes with a 93V rating and a 94V rating. The 94 costs like almost $70 more than the 93 weight rating. Don't know why 43 pound higher weight rating should cost so much more. I think the tire she got the price quote on is the 93 weight carrying rating. BTW, what is the weight of a 2000 Q45T. If it is less than 1433 X 4=5732 pounds the 93V should be adequate.

http://www.1010tires.com/tech....tings

[maxnix]

RTOM!

93 is insufficient. You are only considering static weight, not dynamic load transfer.

I strongly suggest the size I quoted, and you will avoid the load rating confusion and your daughter will be safe.

I am surprised Costco would sell her an under rated tire as they are quite careful about potential liability.

[Victor]

The Costco website says the original equipment tire was rated 93v, not 94v. I don't have an owners manual to confirm or refute this.

[JOHNQ]

245/45/17 or 245/50/17

[maxnix]

For some unknown reason, when the 17" wheels became standard, suddenly 93V was good enough when before 94V was required. The 17" tires were some bastard size and in my opinion, insufficient.

You and your daughter will both be happier and safer with the 235/50-17 if not 245/45-17. Really.

[NightRiderQ45]

The Costco website says the original equipment tire was rated 93v, not 94v. I don't have an owners manual to confirm or refute this.

I'm with Maxnix...it's 94 min load rating! Don't drop below that. Where you able to fix the other problems with her car? Didn't she have a radiator issue or something to that nature?

[maxnix]

I'm with Maxnix...it's 94 min load rating! Don't drop below that. Where you able to fix the other problems with her car? Didn't she have a radiator issue or something to that nature?

Yeah, Infiniti porked the pooch when they changed the load rating for the Sport wheels. The car did not suddenly become lighter.

Don't gamble with your daughter's safety.

[JOHNQ]

just to let everybody know ive been wondering for some time if 255/45/17 fit on the 99-01 touring. ive posted this question but nobody gave me a straight answer so i went to a local used tire shop and purchased 4 used 6/10" tread non directional michelins for $100 installed. they fit perfectly. the fronts are the stock 225/50/17 and the rears are 255/45/17 and when you look at the car they look very similar in size. they seem to handle pretty well also. the ownly cons i see to this set up is that i cannot properly rotate the tires due to the difference in sizes but just wanted evryone to know that if your lookin for a staggered set-up that this is probably the way to go with the 17" stocks

[maxnix]

7.5" wheel width is a little narrow for 255/45-17. 8.5" is about ideal.

[NightRiderQ45]

wanted evryone to know that if your lookin for a staggered set-up that this is probably the way to go with the 17" stocks

this isn't a staggered set up??? You are still using the same width rims on the front and back. The only thing you did was change width of tires, but still using the same width rims...

[JOHNQ]

still slightly wider in the rear. but only slightly which is why it is probably better this way. also overall circumference is very close to stock

[JOHNQ]

thats what i thought, but when it was fitted the 255/45/17 looked perfect.but if i was to buy brand new tires, i would probably go with 4 235/50/17 because your still getting a slightly wider tire and you will be able to properly rotate the tires assuming you get all 4 that size

[RAP]

10. What is the rate of pay for cadets?Cadets at the service academies are currently entitled to basic pay in the amount of $700.00 per month. Cadets are also entitled to a basic allowance for subsistence of $5.75 per day, which is used for food served at the Cadet Dining Hall. Medical and dental care are provided at no expense to cadets. Your pay is considered sufficient for you to be self-supporting, provided you are economical. The pay is not sufficient to cover any debts contracted prior to entrance, to send money home or to spend on luxury entertainment or expensive personal items.

Hmmm hardly a surplus of dinero here for the life support of an Infinity Q45?

Of course tuition is gratis so it's pretty much mad money?

[Victor]

Actually with the way used cars are priced in California you can get a used Infiniti Q45 or J30 for about the same price as a used Camry or Corrola, so why not go with the luxury car.

[sublime187]

Did you seriously just post that ^^^ ? You're about to get torn a new one. Haha.. By the way, members' standards vary!!! ... I also need some new tires in a bad, bad way. Pondering getting some snow tires. Here in the Detroit area we can get some pretty bad snow, but some winters not so much. My budget is fairly tight right now, and I'm not sure I want to buy 2 sets of tires within the next 7 or so months. What about some of the all-seasons that get really good ratings for snow and ice (ie Conti Extremes or the Potenzas)? Would those suffice? They are rated high 8's or 9's in the snow according to Tire Rack... Any input?

[maxnix]

Make like a goose and go south for the winter.

In snow, nothing will perform llike a snow tire.

[RAP]

Actually with the way used cars are priced in California you can get a used Infiniti Q45 or J30 for about the same price as a used Camry or Corrola, so why not go with the luxury car.

True. Cheap to buy does not mean cheap to keep though. Now if you, Victor, are the father, and, from your opening post I gather you don't have a surplus of money then your argument is full of holes.

Hopefully, if, and when your daughter is commissioned as a new "leader" she will be more prudent with the taxpayers money or we'll have a new go-round of 700 dollar toilets?

Think that's a stretch? The military can and does assign officers the responsibility for million and millions of taxpayer dollars in equipment and the procurement thereof.

[Victor]

I think not. The 2000 Q45T I helped my daughter pick out in April has not required a lot of costly repairs since she bought it. The secret is making sure there is nothing wrong with the car before you buy it, or at least you know what is wrong with it. The car was inspected just before we bought it at an Infiniti dealer and the only potential problems they found were recommendations to replace one of the drive belts, the tension rod bushings, the wiper blades, and one rear shock had leaked a tiny amount of fluid. The exterior and interior were flawless as one would expect with a car with only 49,880 miles on it.So far the only expenses have been oil changes, replacing all four drive belts for $287, and the two new tires she is now in the process of buying or may have done already. She got a second opinion from a regular mechanic, not an infiniti mechanic, and they said it wasn't urgent to replace the tension rod ends or one shock. So contrary to the experiences of some of the posters on this board, so far at least, she is driving a car that is exhibiting the reliability that Infinitis are supposed to be known for, knock on wood.Oh forgot to mention, also had the differential flushed, air filter changed, and an oil change the day she bought it for around a hundred dollars, so add that in to the maintenance costs.

[maxnix]

She got a second opinion from a regular mechanic, not an infiniti mechanic, and they said it wasn't urgent to replace the tension rod ends or one shock.

As once before, if they're leaking, they're broken.

Don't trust your daughter's life or even the safety of her vehicle to the opinon of a "regular mechanic" please.

Don't neglect replacing the cabin filter either as she can do it with a 10mm socket, and in CO, the auxiliary ATF cooler will pay results.

Really no "flush" for the differential, just drain and refill.
Modified by maxnix at 11:35 AM 9/14/2008

[Victor]

Wrong about the shocks. I don't remember where I read it, but it was in the Infiniti warranty claims guidelines for s replacing shocks under warranty. Just a small amount of leakage that doesn't flow down the outside of the shock is not grounds for replacing a shock under warranty. Of course, if it was out of warranty they would probably say replace it to get more business.

[qship96]

Oh Brother!

Victor, you are one frugal penny-pinching old miser!!!!