Just finished test driving a 2003 Coupe with 19" GT-7 Volks. The car is Bad A$$, but the tire noise comming from the front end is sooo freaking annoying. Car only has 33k miles and tires have 80%+ tread.
1. Is this common with 19's?
2. Is this a defect with the tires?
3. Is this is symptom of another problem?
4. Have I just become spoiled with the stock 17's on the sedan??

P.S. Front right wheel has minor curb rash (just remembered that)

There's a lot less tire between the wheel and the road, thus creating way more noise then the stock sedan 17's. You gotta sacrifice something for looks when you get bigger wheels, in this case its road noise and comfort.
-GP-

Would it help if I went with a 245/40/19? I've had 245/45/18's and they were nothing like the noise from these things. I need to look at see what the factory 19's come with.

The 19's on the Coupe are 225/40/19 front and 245/40/19 rear.

Could be that, but also the brand of tire affects noise levels as well. Some tires are a little quieter than others.

I have an 06 w/ 19" wheels and mine are loud as hell too. That is my only gripe about the car, road noise is excessive. When these are shot I'm going to get a slightly taller tire and hope that cures it.

I have 245-40-19 on the front of my G...I use the same set up for my Lexus too. My buddies call it the fat tire set-up. I think of it as the muscle look. Reason I like it is it gives the car a better ride, more protection for the wheels and a little less noise. Being a kid from he 70's, I like a little bit of muscle too.

Tire choice is important too. Some are noisier than others. I run Michelin PS2. Yokohama's are pretty quiet too.

The tire size will give you the sound characteristic to begin with - it's the tire that will reduce it overall.

What brand of tire was on the car?

Rick

EDIT: Sorry just read Potentzas...good reason for noise.

reggiek, post pics please. I'm curious how she looks

i used to have the same exact set up with the potenzas and volks and all and it was mad loud........get new tires

sometimes u just gotta sacrifice comfort for performance, my potenzas are always loud and i dont care

Get some Toyo T1Rs, they are smooth and quiet. I had the same problems with Dunlops and the stockers on the 18" rim. I've moved up to a 19" with the same size tire you describe on the front and the Toyo's are dead quiet.

the fronts are probably feathering. Check the wear on the insides of the tires, and compare them to the outsides. Quite a few coupes have reported this, not to mention the huge problem that the older 350z's have.

speaking of which, why the hell do 05+ coupes require laser guided alignment? Apparently, this can only be done at the dealership. The money-whoring is ridiculous.

probably just a scam to take ur money

I've got 295/30/19 on back and 245/35/19 on front - PS2's and no noise at all...Michelin's speak for themselves - they don't speak at all...