OK, my original tires are almost gone and I am looking to replace these OEM RE050A, but having tough time finding a good match, especially 225/40/19, our front tire options.

Constraints:
- I don't want to mis-match make and model for front and rear, due to reasons I have read (unstable, dangerous, possible liability etc).
- I don't want to pay CAN$500+ each for the tires so RE050A and PS2 are out.
- I have been looking at Falken FK-451(decent reviews), these are 40% cheaper than Pilot Sport PS2 or RE050A in Canada, but they don't make 225/40/19 (they do have 235/35/19)
- Using tire sizes different from the OEM spec may result in VDC malfunction!?
- Our OEM 19" tire diameters are 26.1" front and 26.7" rear, Rim Widths are 8" front and 8.5" rear.

Question:
Installing FK451, 235/35/19 (25.6"diameter) front and 245/40/19 (same as OEM) rear.
- Would this give problems with VDC?
- Front tire diameter would become smaller by 0.5" from 26.1" OEM, which translates to 1.6" shorter on one revolution of tire circumference, or 2%. Would this mean that speedometer will be off by 2% (I don't know if the fronts controls it or not but...)?
- Do any of you see any other issues with this set up??

Any other good ideas/suggestions??

Appreciate any input especially if from experience..
Thanks in advance.

 

You won't have any problems with VDC--it seems as though this always pops up but people are running all sorts of different tire combinations and have had no problems at all. I had different front/rear tires than OEM specs on our Z for winter and had no problems at all.

As for your front tires, the only problem is that you are going to have even less sidewall than you do now and your ride will likely get even rougher with the lower profile tires.

 

I have been looking at the same thing, I dunno why infiniti chose such an odd size for the tires. Theres barely anyone who makes 225/40 or 245/40 but plently of 35 series are available. My roadhazard warranty only covers oem sized tires so I have to stick to them. That only leaves me with PS2 as the option, the potenzas are too low on treadwear rating ( 140 vs 220 for the michelins )

 

Well besides the Potenzas, PS2's and pilot sports... you also have the option of Pirelli PZero Rossa or Yokohama Advan Sport which do offer the OE sizes.

More options are becoming available.

personally, so far anyway, i'm satisfied with the Potenzas.... but we'll see how they hold up

 

So far, the Potenzas are really good for me. I have nothing but praise about them: They look good, they ride well in wet and dry conditions (no snow by the Southern California Beachs where I live ) and did I mentioned they look good? However, damn they are noisey and only gets noisier after 8000 miles. Mine still have pretty good thread on them at 8000 miles. I was thinking about this same scenerio too and was deciding on whether to get new tires (forego the RE050 and get a different brand), get new rims and tires combo, or replace them with the same brand/make. Still decding though

 

Good point on rougher ride with lower profile tires. Thanks for the input!
I'm gonna check and see if the local shops carry Yoko's or other possibilities,or might just get a set of Michellin PS2.

 

i have two front 050a's for sale. they have 780 miles on them. since my new wheels are 19x8.5 and 19x10, i put the stock rears on the front and have two front tire left over. if you want them, make an offer

 

I'm in this dilemma right now.

I only have 11100 miles on the coupe, and the rears are BALD, and i mean dragster, no tread, bald.

Having trouble finding tires that are sufficiently priced. What is the other combo i've searched and had a bit of trouble.

from the 245/40/19 and 225/40/19 i can go with 235/35/19 and be okay?

 

I'm in this dilemma right now.

I only have 11100 miles on the coupe, and the rears are BALD, and i mean dragster, no tread, bald.

Having trouble finding tires that are sufficiently priced. What is the other combo i've searched and had a bit of trouble.

from the 245/40/19 and 225/40/19 i can go with 235/35/19 and be okay?

 

Use this page to calculate tire size differentials:
http://ejelta.com/tiresize/

 

Ditto on that VDC issue - I ran 225/55 R-17 winter tires and wheels on all 4s just this past winter. That's a 3% offset on the front and a 1% offset for the rear. The only times the VDC came on is when there was 6 inches of snow on the ground and I was going schumacher in the car.

 

The most common upgrade is 245/35 for the front and 275/35 for the rear. You'll get a wider contact patch while keeping the overall diameter about the same. You'll also find more choices and better prices with these sizes. I don't think you'll have any problems fitting them on the OE wheels, but you should check with your tire dealer just to be sure.

 

I think the stock rims are only 8" or 8.5" wide. You might be marginal with mounting 245's as replacements on the front but I don't think you can mount 275's on the rear stocks. Most people upgrading to 245/35 and 275/35 are going with wider rims (i.e. at least 8.5" and 9.5").

If you're replacing the stock tires, why don't you try Toyo T1R's. I think they come in the OEM sizing. They are more economical than the Michelins or Bridgestones.

 

I've been searching different tire combinations for my stock 19s as well. Here's what I came up with for sizes that will work with the 8" front and 8.5" rears.
front - 245/35/19
rear - 255/40/19
both of these tires sizes are pretty common so you will have more choices.
Falken FK-451, Dunlop SP9000, Toyo Proxes T1R, Hankook Ventus K104
and others are available in these sizes. Much less expensive than the OEM RE050A's too.

 

Easy solution -- Toyo Proxies T1R ... very good tires. (tread rating 280-AA-A) Have them in BOTH 225/40/19 + 245/40/19. They fit your price criterion (ie < $500 each). Order them online from 1010tires.com ... I believe they are based out of Richmond BC, so you could drive to their warehouse and pick them up.