Pilsbury Doughboy Pimp or Understated Elegant?

[HeavyDuty]

Hi guys,

FYI, 04 Maxima SE take-off wheels/tires fit nicely on a 1st gen Q. 245/45/18 96V, when lowered with Eibach Pro-Kits. No scrubbing lock-to-lock. A little tall for my taste, but free. Not one scrubbing issue with a full tank and 250lbs of passengers/cargo.

These literally fell in my lap with brand new rubber from a 3800 mile 04 Maxima SE.

Question:

Do you guys like the look of these vs my 15" BBS's?

Also;

Just finished installation of trans cooler, all associated soft lines, P/S pump rebuild, all hard/soft lines, P/S cooler, NEW A/C compressor (R134 SUCKS), lines, drier, expansion valve, etc, etc.

Question is;

Do you guys like the look of silver wheels on a pearl/bronze car?

Do you like the look at all?

Would I be "that guy" if I were to powder coat these wheels the titanium color found on the 99> Sentra SE-L? (Bronze-Charcoalish)?

TIA

[Jesda]

Those wheels are PERFECT! Enough meat on the wheels to be useful, enough flash to look good, and most importantly they look simple and clean.

Not sure what the Sentra wheels look like.

[1qckser]

I think it looks great, also the hieght looks good, nice I think the bronze might actually work

[maxnix]

I am thinking chrome like Quella. Actually, they look just fine.

Do you like them? That's good enough in my book.

Post some pictures of your PS cooler in Members Rides. Without a complete conversion including evaporator, R134a will suck.

[rsiwicki]

nice....I would have never had thought Maxima wheels could look so good.....

any more freebies like that give your friendly Miami NICO member a ring

btw...heavy your car looks to be in awesome shape and for some reason I thought you had a burgandy colored car.

[QShip]

I thought you had a black car.

I vote understated elegance.

[szh]

They look good!

Very similar to the G35 wheels I had on my Q45:



Z

[Q45tech]

How can you guys STAND wheels with no outer lip for clip on weights.

Balancing my tires every 30 days [1,500 miles] is bad enough without going thru the solvent cleaning process for stickon weights.

Guess I am just too sensitive to tire vibration.

[maxnix]

How can you guys STAND wheels with no outer lip for clip on weights.

Balancing my tires every 30 days [1,500 miles] is bad enough without going thru the solvent cleaning process for stickon weights.

The answer is in the question!

[AZhitman]

My new 18's required a quarter oz on 3 wheels, one has no weights at all.

Road force balanced on a Hunter 9700.

[russg]

My new 18's required a quarter oz on 3 wheels, one has no weights at all.

Road force balanced on a Hunter 9700.

Greg:

I'm going to be needing to replace the 18" OEM tires on the M fairly soon due to wear. I'd be interested in hearing about your selection process for your 18" tires and if you are happy with whoever balanced them. I had a hell of a time finding a tech who could road force balance the OEM tires correctly. I ultimately ended up at a Discount Tire store in Scottsdale.

The OEM tire size is 235/45 18, of which there is only a very small number of choices to be had. I suspect I'll have to go to 245/45 18 to broaden my choices. We should get togther and discuss. Why don't you get your people to call my people to set up a meeting? Or, I suppose you could just call me direct.

RG

[Falkdesigns]

You guys need each others people to set up a meeting. lol.

I think those wheels look great. Very nice, understated, not pimp.

[Mark86T]

How can you guys STAND wheels with no outer lip for clip on weights.

Balancing my tires every 30 days [1,500 miles] is bad enough without going thru the solvent cleaning process for stickon weights.

Guess I am just too sensitive to tire vibration.

4,500 miles on my new wheels & tires with no need for rebalancing & no vibration. Note also I have no lip for clip on weights. All glue on weights here. What kind of wheels & tires do you run? Maybe those are the problem.

[rsiwicki]

It is strange how some cars have problems with vibrations from unbalanced wheels and other cars have no vibration problems from unbalanced wheels. I have used and severly abused several sets of tires on my Q. I maybe balance and rotate only once during the tires entire life and have never felt any vibrations from unbalanced tires. Even while I was driving on a corded tire I did not have any vibrations and the car was smooth as always until I actually popped the tire cord and it went flat. I don't know how the car does it...but it rarely ever needs an alignment and as it tracks straight as an arrow on the highway and my tires show little out of alignment wear whenever I do replace them. I have had other cars where I needed the tires balanced every 6 months or less and alignments once a year, but my Q has never given me any bad vibrations or steered me in the wrong direction. The Q has saved me many boring Saturday mornings at the local tire shop waiting to have my tires balanced and alignment done.

[Mark86T]

I have solid/adjustable tension rods from a 300zx twin turbo (got rid of those pesky silicone tension rods), Eibach springs, Tokico blues, 245/40/18 & 255/35/18 tires. This makes for a very tight ride. I love it & am vibration free. I can't rotate tires due to the fact that they are directional & different sizes front/rear.

Back to the topic at hand. Your wheels look great on your Q. Like they were made for it. Congrats.

[Fastlane]

They look great......I wouldn't change anything.

[HeavyDuty]

Thanks for the input, I bought OZ Opera I's, 18x8, 18x9 but never got around to mounting them before these came along. I did the same thing with a set of bronze 15x7 +35 " Volk TE37's on my Aztec Red 91 SE-R. I think I have a self-deprivation fetish, I sold them new in the box to a Miata owner.

I gave it nary a thought about stick on weights - vs - beat-the-crap-outta-my-wheels weights, just that they were probably heavier than what I had but certainly round, hubcentric & OE approved.

It just doesn't look like my car anymore, isn't that strange?

Rob, yes, the obligatory occasional wasted Saturday morning is a chore.

russg, according to my guy at Discount Tire, the 245/45/18 may be more limited than what you have.

Jes, thanks again for my correctly timed clock.

Brian, I will get some pics of the trans & p/s cooler install soon. Beware, it involves a dreaded Blue Oval Cobra R p/s cooler.

The guy from turbax.com (wheel refinisher) has been threatening to come by for a quote on the bronzing, I'd be t-o-t-a-l-l-y happy with them then.

You guys rock.

[szh]

I'm going to be needing to replace the 18" OEM tires on the M fairly soon due to wear.

The OEM tire size is 235/45 18, of which there is only a very small number of choices to be had. I suspect I'll have to go to 245/45 18 to broaden my choices.

Russ, here are the results of my research for tires for my M45 - for OEM sizes and others. The following text is in CSV format and can be read into Excel pretty easily. Note that the prices may be out of date! If you want the original Excel spreadsheet (which also has Q45 possibilities), and filters for looking at various sizes, brands, etc., send me e-mail!

Note that some of the sizes are not intended for the OEM wheel (which is 7.5" wide), so read the correct rows for that!

Mftr,Model,Size,Load,UTQG,Max Load,Max Inflation Pres,Tread Depth,Rim Width Range,Meas. Rim Width,Section Width,Tread Width,Overall Diameter,Revs Per Mile,Est. Speedo Error,Actual at 60mph,Weight,Tire Rack,Discount Tire,Victoria Tire,Comment"""Stock""",,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Bridgestone,Turanza ER33,235/45-18,94W,140 A A,1477lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.1""","7.4""",26.5,786,0.0%,60.0,27.0,$220,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","7.5"" min rim width",235/45-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Bridgestone,Turanza ER33,235/45-18,94W,140 A A,1477lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.1""","7.4""",26.5,786,0.0%,60.0,27.0,$220,,,Continental,ContiSportContact 2,235/45-18,98W,280 A A,1664lbs.,35psi,10/32,NA,NA,"9.3""",NA,26.3,,0.8%,59.5,,$190,,$192,Michelin,Pilot HX MXM4,235/45-18,94V,300 A A,1478lbs.,35psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.3""",NA,26.5,790,0.5%,59.7,,$205,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","6.5"" min rim width",235/50-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Goodyear,Eagle F1 GS-D3,235/50-18,101Y,280 AA A,1819lbs.,,11/32,"6.5"" - 8.5""","7.5""","9.6""","7.7""",27.3,765,-2.7%,61.6,,$173,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport A/S,235/50-18,97Y,400 AA A,1609lbs.,51psi,10/32,"6.5"" - 8.5""","7.5""","9.5""",NA,27.2,762,-3.1%,61.9,,$205,,$256,Yokohama,AVS Sport,235/50-18,97Y,180 AA A,1609lbs.,51psi,10/32,"6.5"" - 8.5""","7.5""","9.6""","8.3""",27.4,759,-3.4%,62.1,,$198,,$199,Pirelli,P-Zero,235/50-18,101Y,220 AA A,1819lbs.,51psi,10/32,"6.5"" - 8.5""","7.5""","9.3""",NA,27.1,742,-5.6%,63.6,,$149,,$215,Toyo,Proxes T1-S,235/50-18,97W,280 AA A,1609lbs.,44psi,10/32,"6.5"" - 8.5""","7.5""","9.6""",NA,27.3,760,-3.3%,62.1,,,,$227,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","7.5"" min rim width",245/45-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Bridgestone,Potenza RE050,245/45-18,100Y,140 A A,1764lbs.,50psi,11/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.9""","8.9""",26.6,783,-0.4%,60.2,27.0,$212,,,Bridgestone,Potenza RE050,245/45-18,96Y,140 A A,1565lbs.,51psi,11/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.9""","8.9""",26.6,783,-0.4%,60.2,27.0,$206,,,Bridgestone,Potenza RE050,245/45-18,96W,140 A A,1565lbs.,51psi,11/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",,26.7,780,-0.8%,60.5,,$263,,,Run FlatBridgestone,Potenza S-03 Pole Position,245/45-18,96Y,220 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.8""","9.1""",26.7,780,-0.8%,60.5,30.0,$201,,,Continental,ContiExtremeContact,245/45-18,96W,400 AA A,1565lbs.,44psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",NA,26.7,791,0.6%,59.6,,$166,$178,,Continental,ContiSportContact 2,245/45-18,100W,280 A A,1764lbs.,51psi,10/32,NA,NA,"9.8""",NA,26.7,,-0.8%,60.5,,$204,$216,$199,Continental,ContiSportContact 2,245/45-18,96Y,280 A A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,NA,NA,"9.8""",NA,26.7,,-0.8%,60.5,,$189,$189,$193,Continental,ContiTouringContact CH95,245/45-18,96H,360 A A,1565lbs.,44psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","10.0""",NA,27.0,772,-1.8%,61.1,,$139,$151,$140,Falken,Azenis ST115,245/45-18,100W,360 A A,1764lbs.,50psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.4""","8.7""",26.7,774,-1.5%,60.9,,,$163,,Falken,Beta FK-451,245/45-18,96Y,280 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.7""","8.7""",26.5,785,-0.1%,60.1,,,$175,$176,Goodyear,Eagle F1 GS-D3,245/45-18,96Y,280 AA A,1566lbs.,,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.5""","7.7""",26.6,,-0.4%,60.2,,$208,$206,,Michelin,Pilot HX MXM4,245/45-18,96V,300 A A,1565lbs.,44psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.2""",NA,26.9,775,-1.4%,60.9,,$144,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,245/45-18,100Y,220 AA A,,,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",,26.8,780,-0.8%,60.5,,$270,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,245/45-18,96W,220 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",,26.8,780,-0.8%,60.5,,$270,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,245/45-18,96Y,220 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",,26.8,780,-0.8%,60.5,,$270,$282,$267,Michelin,Pilot Sport A/S,245/45-18,96Y,400 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,11/32,"7.5"" - 9.0""","8.0""","9.6""",NA,26.7,779,-0.9%,60.5,,$251,$258,,Nitto,555 Extreme Performance,245/45-18,100W,300 A A,,,,,,,,,,,,,,$168,,Pirelli,P-Zero,245/45-18,96Y,220 AA A,1565lbs.,51psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.5""","8.0""","10.2""",NA,26.7,779,-0.9%,60.5,,$208,$218,$208,Toyo,Proxes T1-S,245/45-18,96W,280 AA A,1565lbs.,44psi,10/32,"7.5"" - 9.5""","8.0""","9.8""",NA,26.7,777,-1.1%,60.7,,,,$241,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","8.5"" min rim width",255/40-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Bridgestone,Potenza S-03 Pole Position,255/40-18,95Y,220 AA A,1521lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.5"" - 10.0""","9.0""","10.4""","9.4""",26.1,798,1.5%,59.1,30.0,$209,,,Goodyear,Eagle F1 GS-D3,255/40-18,95Y,280 AA A,,,,,,,,,,,,,$218,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,255/40-18,95Y,220 AA A,1521lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.5"" - 9.0""","9.0""","10.2""",,25.9,770,-2.0%,61.2,,$299,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,255/40-18,99Y,220 AA A,1709lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","9.0""","10.2""",,26.0,803,2.2%,58.7,,$299,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,255/40-18,95Z,220 AA A,1521lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.5"" - 10.0""","9.0""","10.2""",,25.9,803,2.2%,58.7,,$299,,,Continental,ContiExtremeContact,255/40-18,,400 AA A,,,,,,,,,,,,,$165,,,Continental,ContiSportContact,255/40-18,,160 A A,1521lbs.,51psi,10/32,,,"10.2""",,26.0,,1.9%,58.9,,$148,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport A/S,255/40-18,95Y,400 AA A,1521lbs.,51psi,11/32,"8.5"" - 10.0""","9.0""","10.1""",,26.1,796,1.3%,59.2,,$252,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","8.0"" min rim width",255/45-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Bridgestone,Potenza RE050A,255/45-18,99Y,140 A A,1709lbs.,51psi,,,,,,,,,,,$205,,,Bridgestone,Potenza S-03 Pole Position,255/45-18,99Y,220 AA A,1709lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.2""","9.5""",27.0,772,-1.8%,61.1,31.0,$205,,,Goodyear,Eagle F1 GS-D3,255/45-18,103Y,280 AA A,1929lbs.,,11/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.0""","8.0""",27.0,,-1.9%,61.1,,$204,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport,255/45-18,99Y,220 AA A,1709lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.3""",,26.9,771,-1.9%,61.2,,$276,,,Continental,ContiSportContact,255/45-18,99W,160 A A,1709lbs.,,10/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.0""",,27.1,769,-2.2%,61.3,,$193,,,Continental,ContiSportContact,255/45-18,Z,280 A A,1764lbs.,51psi,10/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.2""",,27.1,769,-2.2%,61.3,,$167,,,Michelin,Pilot Sport A/S,255/45-18,99Y,400 AA A,1709lbs.,51psi,11/32,"8.0"" - 9.5""","8.5""","10.0""",,27.2,762,-3.1%,61.9,,$231,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,"18"" Rims","7.0"" min rim width",255/50-18,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,Pirelli,PZero System Asimmetrico,255/50-18,102Y,140 A A,1874lbs.,51psi,11/32,"7.0"" - 9.0""","8.0""","10.1""",NA,"28.1""",737,-6.2%,64.0,,$265,,,

[Jesda]

I find I need to rebalance every 30-60 days to keep the vibrations out. It annoys me greatly, though I'm running cheap tires, old wheels, and worn suspension bushings.

[szh]

How can you guys STAND wheels with no outer lip for clip on weights.

Balancing my tires every 30 days [1,500 miles] is bad enough without going thru the solvent cleaning process for stickon weights.

Guess I am just too sensitive to tire vibration.

No choice! The M45 rims do not have any outer lip.

Fortunately, the vibration on the current Bridgestone's have not been bad at all! At 12k miles so far.

Z

[elwesso]

I like those!!!!!

[russg]

russg, according to my guy at Discount Tire, the 245/45/18 may be more limited than what you have.

Naw, all kinds of choices in 245/45/18, including the tire I'll probably end up with, Michelin's Pilot Sport A/S. Bought a set of those for my 2000 Q45 just before I traded it on the M45 a year ago. I liked them alot, but they were very pricey. I'd like to find a good long-wearing tire for less $$ if possible. Looking for a tire that will last the remaining two years on my lease, and not have to be replaced when I turn it back in.

To this day, Discount Tire's web site doesn't show a single tire available in 235/45/18. Two pages of choices for 245/45/18. Same as a year ago.

Tire Rack's site shows five tires available in 245/35/18, including the OEM Bridgestones that are on the car now, and four pages of choices in 245/45/18.

Looks like I'll probably go to 245/45/18. Don't think the extra 10mm in width will be a problem, and very little difference in circumfrence. Open to any ideas from anybody.

Russ

[szh]

To this day, Discount Tire's web site doesn't show a single tire available in 235/45/18. Two pages of choices for 245/45/18. Same as a year ago.

Tire Rack's site shows five tires available in 245/35/18, including the OEM Bridgestones that are on the car now, and four pages of choices in 245/45/18.

Looks like I'll probably go to 245/45/18. Don't think the extra 10mm in width will be a problem, and very little difference in circumfrence. Open to any ideas from anybody.

See my comprehensive list a few posts above ...

I plan to go with 245/45-18's too. Probably the Pilot Sport or Pilot Sport AS (as you also mentioned.)

The "AS" all-season has a bit lesser grip in wet, but has a higher tread wear rating. Either should work out well, I would think!

Z

[szh]

See my comprehensive list a few posts above ...

I forgot to mention that I was careful to only pick 94 or higher load index tires (the OEM's on the car are 94 ... probably because it is lighter than the Q45 by a bit.) People should be careful to not go by just the tire size - if you do not use my list, that is!

My list also has tire weights where I could get them from the manufacturer web sites ... Tire Rack does not list these!

Z.

[russg]

See my comprehensive list a few posts above ...

I plan to go with 245/45-18's too. Probably the Pilot Sport or Pilot Sport AS (as you also mentioned.)

The "AS" all-season has a bit lesser grip in wet, but has a higher tread wear rating. Either should work out well, I would think!

Z

Thanks. Sent you an email requesting a copy of your spreadsheet file. Send to [email protected]. The B'stones have 17k+ on them right now, more than I expected given the crappy tread wear rating. But time's running out. I really liked those Pilot Sport A/S. Best tire in the rain I've ever driven on. Not that we ever get any friggin' rain around here! And quite decent on dry pavement. Big bucks, though. Only had a few thousand miles on them when I traded the Q a year ago. In hindsight, not my brightest move, but I wasn't expecting to trade out of the Q as early as I did. Damn dealer made me an offer I couldn't refuse.

RG

Russ

[szh]

Thanks. Sent you an email requesting a copy of your spreadsheet file.

On its way!

Z

[szh]

Hi, Russ.

I really liked those Pilot Sport A/S. Best tire in the rain I've ever driven on. Not that we ever get any friggin' rain around here! And quite decent on dry pavement. Big bucks, though.

According to Dennis (Q45Tech) and the Michelin home site, the Pilot Sport is better in wet than the Pilot Sport AS. Apparently, the compromises made for all-season performance make it thus. So, if you were impressed by the Pilot Sport AS in the wet, the Pilot Sport should be even better! ... cool!

Also, since the manufacturer is the same for both tires, the wear ratings can be compared (i.e., it is an apples to apples comparison) and, in this regard, the AS has higher tread life.

Four tires will set us back near $1k from Tire Rack, plus shipping and installation for either of these models. Ouch!

Z

[HeavyDuty]

Every time I think I'm being too wordy, I get my a$$ in a crack.

I should have prefaced my 245/45 comment with;

"Hello Goodyear? As an owner of a 3800 mile 04 Maxima SE, I demand replacement tires for my defective ones. Do I have any other choice than the Eagle RS-A's within your line which you are graciously replacing at no cost with your compliments and apologies?"

"No?..........OK, I'll take them."

BTW, my first choice would have been Pilot Sport A/S's if I'd had my rathers.

[szh]

ROFL!

By the way, my wife's Acura had Eagle RS-A's on them (I put them on under duress - older tires were failing and the dealer I went to only had these in that size) and they were noisy tires, average handling, etc., without much going for them.

I just replaced them with Eagle F1 GS-D3 and these are much better. Better handling, lower road noise and better wet grip. They are less pricey than the Pilot Sport AS (near $205 rather than $250 per tire.)

Z

[Falkdesigns]

4,500 miles on my new wheels & tires with no need for rebalancing & no vibration. Note also I have no lip for clip on weights. All glue on weights here. What kind of wheels & tires do you run? Maybe those are the problem.

Your car looks great too! it's amazing what some new shoes will do for a car. Completely updated, very very nice.

I have never had a problem with tape on weights either. I had several different wheel / tire combo's on my Si all of which had tape on weights. I had Volk TE-37's which did have a lip, but no way in hell I'd put clip weights on such beautiful wheels. I also had a set of ATS DTM's (OE supplier of Porsche, BMW, etc & #1 wheel in DTM racing series & F3000) and even at like 120 +, the car was as smooth as silk. Those were some of my favorite wheels ever.