I just got my G35SC-6MT the day before it snowed (Xmas day) & so it sits in the garage for a while waiting for the white stuff to melt, and for the salt to be washed off the roads...

Any advice about snowtires while I wait --
1) Are Blizzaks superior to everything else or are there other brands to consider?
2) Rear snowtires only or both axles? Is the salespitch from tirerack.com to sell twice as many tires or have a firm basis in fact?
3) Do front and rear tires have to be different sizes from each other (for commuting-type and occasional freeway driving)?
4) Any thoughts on buying wheels vs having a dealership (tire or Infiniti) swap tires on&off twice yearly?
Many thanks!
Bill

 

1. Every tire store that I called that carried blizzacks, as well as others, recommended them.
2. It's all about traction, on the back for going forward, on the front for steering and all four for braking.
3. not necessary
4. definitely don't go with the dealership, any other company will include swapping the tires for you twice a year at no additional cost, dealership will charge. They also cost more in terms of rims and tires as the rims are "genuine nissan" and tires they usually just contract out as they don't carry stock themselves so you basically pay the retail markup twice.

Red/Canadian

 

I went with Pirelli 240's because they have a speed rating and will handle and wear better on dry roads. They are just fine on ice and snow. They also come in the correct sizes.



13738-tires.jpg

 

Where did you get the pirelli tires from? How much? How much did it cost to have them balanced and mounted on the OEM 18" rims??

 

What you might want to do, for a cheap set of snows and rims, is check out a junk yard. I picked up a set of 16 inch snows and black steel rims for 200 bucks Canadian installed on my car. Sure they were used but I mean cmannnn ... Like I care.



13776-PBTintG35.jpg

 

Do you have the automatic or 6MT? Last I heard there were only about 5 rims that could fit over the brembos and still be used for snow tires.

 

afr0puff , I got these from my dealer, he arranged a mass purchase to satisfy the 350 Z as well as the coupe. I am in Canada so price may not mean too much to you but they were $ 1,600.00 Can or about $ 950.00 US. The dealer bought a new machine for working on these wheels, lots of nylon parts. They guarantee they will not mark or damage the wheels. These tires handle great on all road conditions which is what you would want with this car.

 

I'm holding out for the 18" blizzaks, which should be out soon. So far, so good, here in southern Wisconsin we haven't had much snow.

Slightly OT: Does anyone know whether you can use 18" x 7.5" wheels on the sports package. I could see one or two issues: (1) they could be too narrow for the stock sizes; or (2) the brembos could cause problems. However, I don't know jack about tires, so I really don't have any idea.

 

1. Basically from we know as "name" brand in the US. Others (usually driving a European car) use Nokian tires, but not sure if they have the correct sizes.

2. Yep, all 4, for reasons stated above

3. From what I was told by George@Tirerack, the rears have to be the 235 width, 225's in the rear are too narrow for the rear rims.

4. Buy spare rims. The 18 inches won't be exposed to salt so the clearcoat lasts longer and looks nicer. And it's much more convenient.

I've heard from the dealership, the guy I talk to is a real car nut, that the 17" base rims will clear the brembos. And a tad more sidewall makes it a bit more forgiving during pothole season. And the 17" tires should be a little cheaper than 18". And plus you can get Blizzak LM-22 or Pirelli 210 Wintersport for both front and rear in the correct sizes.

02 Golf TDI