Hello all...got a couple questions...for you guys...

1) My X currently has 215/55/17, but putting on bigger tires with lower profiles like example: 235/45/17 (without changing springs/shocks), etc...will the fender gap between the tires INCREASE with the lower profiles? I would think so...but just wanted someone to confirm.

2) I know all you rwd guys said you don't have a problem driving in the snow with the blizzark tires in the winter, etc. However, can a rwd get out from a parallel parking spot or a driveway with about 7+ inches of snow stucked all the way assuming the rwd has the blizzark snow tires on. I mean with an X it's no brainer or even with a fwd, you can prob. wiggle your way out.

3) The reason I am asking the two questions above is I am considering trading for a rwd 6mt. Coming from owning a honda, I am sure a nissan's transmission is no where as close or smooth but how good is the 6mt? I've read posting that even 05's brand new are having shifting issues where it grinds when shifting into gears.

 

I would rate the 6mt as good to excellent. It's a short throw...gating is notchy and takes a bit of muscle. No BMW or Honda smoothness here. But what is awkward at lowspeed or stop-and-go feels firm and communicative at hard acceleration upshift and hard braking downshifts. Definatly a "enthusiast" oriented shift feel. Finding 6th feels a bit awkward but that may be just me as this is my first 6speed.

 

Does the gears grind when you shift into it? I used to drive a 5mt talon tsi and the car's mt is very notchy...by around 40k miles the gears were sticky and grinds sometimes...I hate that feeling. Hard to get into gears etc etc. Whereas my honda now is 120k miles and the gears are still very smooth except maybe shifting from 1st to 2nd in winter time.

 

I've experienced no grinding at all.

As to driving in 7" of snow...that's why I own a 4runner. hehe.

 

1) Here's the place to go to compare tire sizes so you can confirm any differences yourself. Check the wheel diameter size on the two so you can see if one is larger than the other. [URL=http://researchyourcar.com/tirechange.php[/URL]
2) Sorry I can't help you there as I store mine in winter and drive the Grand Cherokee.
3) The gear grinding issue is overblown and one people who don't know the car frequently ask about. There are a few G drivers mainly with the '03s that have had problems which are mostly corrected with new trannys under warranty by Infiniti. The shifters are all somewhat notchy but have been improved in '05 with triple cone syncros up from double. If someone is grinding an '05 tranny it's probably because they don't know how to drive an MT.My '04 works fine once you get used to a little more effort and preciseness but the throws are very nice and short. I run a synthetic gear oil -LUCAS designed for manual transmissions and think that helps the shifting and lowers the vibration as well.

 

http://researchyourcar.com/tirechange.php

Interesting website. Now I understand why people with 215/55/17 changed them to 235/50/17 since that's the closest speedometer match.

Well, I don't have the luxury of another suv for winter, thus I purchased the g35x. If they had a MT awd version then everything would be perfect. For you guys that have a suv in your garage in the winter, did you at least try your g35 with snow tires? I am curious if you can get out from a parallel spot with snows all around you. I mean everyone talk about it running fine in the snow with the blizzarks but that's only when you are driving. No one ever mentioned if they were ever able to get out from a stand still spot with snow.

Hmm...from what you guys are saying the MT is not that bad then. But then why is this like the 7th or 8th revision of the transmission???