New tires...

[oldmako]

The number of tires available just about makes ones head spin.

I am going to replace the rubber on my car and I am soliciting suggestions.Mine is a 99 (non t) with stock wheels.

The car will be used primarily on the interstate with only one occupant. I'd like something quiet and yet also offering good performance. I typically drive around 75-80 mph so a high speed rating is not critical.

I'd also like to put the widest tires possible on the stock rims. Can anyone tell me what that size might be and what tires you have had good luck with?

[maxnix]

Read the tire sticky in Inifniti General.

Personally, on the 16x7, I would run the Avon Tech M500 in 245/50-16.

After reading the sticky, read at http://www.tirerack.com

Run a different tire in winter. Or downgrade to the M550 if you believe that "all season" isn't really just a marketing euphemism.
Modified by maxnix at 12:32 PM 12/20/2007

[oldmako]

Hey thanks for the quick reply!

I have the luxury of owning a 2nd vehicle, and a 4 wheel drive truck at that, so I am going to pass on the all season tires. When the weather is bad I'll just take the truck. I will follow your advice and follow the threads. Thanks for the input.

I just got off the phone with Tire Rack and they claim that the widest tire I can get away with is a 225-55-16 (only 3/8" wider than stock). He maintains that anything wider could possibly rub. Have you run this wide a tire without problems? I am far more inclined to listen to a guy who owns the car and is an enthusiast than a guy on the other end of a 1-800 line reading from a book.

I realize that without lowering the car and larger wheels that I'll end up with larger gaps in the wells, but at this time I am willing to accept that. Tires I need now, springs and wheels can come later. I'd like to see a half an inch wider than stock at least.


Modified by oldmako at 1:35 PM 12/20/2007

[Q45tech]

Tire, even tread width is not very significant inthat the tread AREA is set by PSI and weight on tire regardless of size/width [within a nominal range].What is important for safety and longevity is to buy stronger than oem load index tires at the reference 44 psi......................new tires at 51 psi are different [more thin wall ballon like].

[VJ1]

Two weeks ago I put on Toyo Proxes TPT on my G50. Stock turbine wheels, and 215/65/15 tires. I love every bit of it. Very quiet, very smooth ride and great performance on dry road. I dont take this car out when it's raining so I cant comment on wet roads. They are H rated tires (129 MPH). Someone correct me if I'm wrong, but I understand that the less weight it takes to balance, the better the quality of the tire and wheel. These took no weights on two wheels on only .5 oz on the other two. Took her up to 120 MPH on the turnpike and not even a shake. Four tires installed with new valve stems, alignment, high speed balance, nitrofil and a ton of coverage on the road hazzard warranty, all for $715. out the door.I had Bridgestone Potenzas before and like these alot better. Also, PLEASE DO NOT BUY FUZION HR1. Although they are made by Bridgestone, they are by far the worst tire I've ever used.

[RAP]

The number of tires available just about makes ones head spin.

I am going to replace the rubber on my car and I am soliciting suggestions.Mine is a 99 (non t) with stock wheels.

The car will be used primarily on the interstate with only one occupant. I'd like something quiet and yet also offering good performance. I typically drive around 75-80 mph so a high speed rating is not critical.

I'd also like to put the widest tires possible on the stock rims. Can anyone tell me what that size might be and what tires you have had good luck with?

Quiet tires ? ?

Having been through a recent tire renewal on my Legend, Bridgestone Potenzas, and wanting a quite ride I have found that riding only on recently re-surfaced roads with new asphalt, will provide a quiet ride. After the newness of the surface wears off it becomes "noiser" as heard inside the car.

After a few miles of riding in my recently purchased " in FL last week" Q45 on FL highways I was amazed at how quite the ride was. Excellent choice of tires by the seller? Well that lasted until I rolled on a stretch of older surfaced road and the "road" noise was very pronounced as in, damn this is a noisy azz car? That stretch of road was in good condition and level for the most part. Roads, or road, surfaces lose some aggregate as time and traffic goes by and create a course surface which creates tire noise. That's been my experience.

I'm with you on the available choices in tires. So many are advertised as "quiet". Well once the tires are purchased and mounted if they prove to be "not quite" what do you do?



Jack

[Q45tech]

After diving on Michelins for the past 31 years nothing else, no other brand satisfies in the long run. On 3-Impala, 2-300zx, 2-Pathy, and Q

Time and time again I've gambled on some Bridgetone, Yoks, Dunlops, Kumho, etc, only to be disappointed after 8,000 miles when road noise and vibration rears it's ugly head.

[JohnPa]

After diving on Michelins for the past 31 years nothing else, no other brand satisfies in the long run. On 3-Impala, 2-300zx, 2-Pathy, and Q

Time and time again I've gambled on some Bridgetone, Yoks, Dunlops, Kumho, etc, only to be disappointed after 8,000 miles when road noise and vibration rears it's ugly head.

So, what Michelin would you recommend for a 90 Q with 99 Q 16X7 inch rims. I've had good luck with Michelins in the past in all regards except wet traction, and I live in Seattle. I really want to run them because I can't seem to get rid of that last little bit of vibration.

Wet traction and handling are my main concern, not tire wear. Thanks for any ideas............

[maxnix]

Probably Exalto PE since you cannot get PS2 in that size.

[JohnPa]

What size were you tinking of?

[brymax]

Quiet ride?????????

Sorry, I live in So. Cal. so you'll have to help me out here. What the hell is a quiet ride?

Oh, is that when you get a couple hundred miles outside the So. Cal basin and you get into those smooth rarely traveled roads?

I've heard of those. That's nice!

See, here in So. Cal........ And I mean ANYWHERE in So. Cal. the roads are so incredibly beat up, cracked, grooved, uneven and pot-holed, it really doesn't matter what kinda tires you have cuz it's gonna be a rough ride.Now durability??? That's important round here.

I've driven in 60% of the states and other than some of the freeways in and around the New York city area, I've never seen anything anywhere near as bad as what we have here in Cali.

What's your tire answer there?

[Q45tech]

Almost any brand of at least H rated tire will be good for the first 8,000 miles because they are tested to achieve this life.

Not any point in saying "my brand new tires are so much better than my old worn out tires". Just makes you sound silly, well of course they are!

Only Michelin is designed with cost is no object and this is reflected in retail price.

http://www.sportcompactcarweb.....html

http://www-nrd.nhtsa.dot.gov/p...W.pdf

[maxnix]

What size were you tinking of?

Something to fit on a 16X7 wheel. As stated in my post above, I like 245/50, but it is a little short.

Yeah, if your new tires aren't better than your worn out ones, you purchased really bad tires. Why we like owners to report back at 5K intervals on the tire sticky thread in Infiniti General. Difficult to discern gradual changes as tires detiorate, but still the better stronger construction stands out at 10K, 15K and 20K.

[JohnPa]

Something to fit on a 16X7 wheel. As stated in my post above, I like 245/50, but it is a little short.

I tried 255/50X16, but they wore out in the center too fast. They call for a 7-9 inch rim (my rims are 16X7), but are optimally set up for an 8 inch rim. the 245/50X16 is optimized on a 7.5 inch rim and I have been considering it. I am also considering a 225/60X16 which is optimiozed on a 6.5 inch rim. Currently I am running 235/55X16 Falken Ziex ZE 512s, which are great on a dry road, but I live in Seattle where it RAINS. I would go back to 15 inch wheels, but I have bigger brakes and the 15 inchers have clearance issues.

Long story short: I'm trying to find out what other Q owners have done in this compromise situation. If you like 245/50X16, what tire are you using. I appreciate your input, Mannix. Happy New Year

[maxnix]

I used the now extinct Firestone SZ50EP, a great tire, especially in the rain. Never could understand why other cars were going so slow. This was in Seattle. The currrent wide oval is a similar but lesser design.

Now I like the Avon Tech M500, but it is a summer tire. The Tech M550 is all weather, but not as good otherwise.

[GseaQ]

Hi guys,

I've just worn out my second set of Avon Tech M500 in 245/50x16 on 16x7.5 wheels. I get 2 summers out of them.

I'd rather get some 255/50x16 to get the correct diameter, but these'll do (wheel width restriction). With the 245's, 100km/h (62 mph) indicated is pretty close to 88-90 km/h (54-55 mph) actual. If speedo accuracy is an issue for you, try to include tires up to 26.25" diameter in your search. I use snows for about 4 months or so a year.

I don't doubt Michelin make a better tire, but at double the price. The M500's are not unidirectional which is a HUGE issue for me so I can cross rotate them. If you don't cross rotate your tires they will get noisy as the edges start to feather, by about the end of the first summer. When the Pilot Sports wear out on the new car they'll be replaced by the Avons unless a better option hits the market by then. There isn't now.

My opinion,Glenn

[oldmako]

I ended up with Yokohama V4S's. P245/50/R16 on factory rims.

They were on sale and I needed/wanted them fast. So far, they are a tremendous improvement over what I had, and the (significantly) wider profile has done worlds of good for the cars handling...especially on interstate ramps.The overall height barely changed.

Now, with some new struts I ought to be in good shape. One check at a time.

[AlabamaDan]

About that quiet ride. I used to be like a few of you in thinking it was the road, but I was wrong. The road does make a difference, but so do the tires.

When I put the new Michs on my Q I was amazed at how much quieter the soft compound was compared with the previously hard compound tires. Sure I'll get less miles, but they'll be nice and quiet.

Same experience with my QX4. If you think tires don't make a differences put some aggressive mountain terrain tires on your vehicle and listen to the hummmm.

Tires do make a difference in "quiet".

[Q451990]

To address your idea of running the widest tire possible, I ran a set of Michelin 255/50/16 XGTH4's on what I think are the same wheels as you have. This style?



Great at first, but I got a lot of side-to-side squirm as the tires got older. It got pretty scary, especially on rutted or uneaven pavement.

I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S 225/55/16's last spring, and have been very happy with them so far.

Heath

[JohnPa]

To address your idea of running the widest tire possible, I ran a set of Michelin 255/50/16 XGTH4's on what I think are the same wheels as you have. This style?



Great at first, but I got a lot of side-to-side squirm as the tires got older. It got pretty scary, especially on rutted or uneaven pavement.

I replaced them with Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S 225/55/16's last spring, and have been very happy with them so far.

Heath

Many thanks for your response. I am running the same wheels and was considering the 245/50X16 size. Guess I'll go with 225/60X16 for the extra load capacity over the 225/55X16 you have. Problem is, the Michelins like yours don't come in that size.

So, I have also been considering Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position tires because of their great ratings on Tirerack. If any one has tried them, please let me know. If not, I guess I'll be the ginney pig.

John

[Q451990]

From what I remember the size I picked was the closest I could find in the Michelin line that had the closest rolling diameter to the OEM tire - but it was a bit off. I really wasn't interested in anything but Michelin given the abuse the G50 dishes out to tires - but by all means try the Bridgestones and let us know what you think.

Heath

[GseaQ]

Hi John,

I just did a search on Tire Rack. The 225/60x16 is, I think too tall at 26.6" or so. However, there were 4 choices in 225/55x16 (25.7" diameter). Stock diameter is 26". I only searched for Michelin & Bridgestone because they seem to be your preference. The Michelin Pilot Primacy can be cross rotated which 2 of the Bridgestones cannot. The Michelin is also closest to the OEM tire's revolutions per mile at 809, so your speedo error won't be an issue. The 26.6" tires will give more speedometer error and a slightly taller final drive ratio, but hard to say if it would be noticeable. They are all 94V or 95W, which is fine. I think the original tires were 94V (maybe 95V, but surely no higher).

Glenn

[GseaQ]

John, I didn't even look at all-seasons (habit - I use summers and snows). The Bridgestone RE750 was a clear winner in the customer survey results. The Michelin actually did quite poorly.

Glenn

[maxnix]

I ended up with Yokohama V4S's. P245/50/R16 on factory rims.

Way too hard of a tread compound at 500 UTQG.

Ought to be like snot on a hot skittle in the rain next fall after the summer heat further vulcanzies them. Keep a watch on your TCS activation cycles.