Hello all,

I've though about upgrading the tires on my car for a while now. I can either upgrade my current crappy Turanzas to Avon 235/50/17 on the stock 17's or look for an available 18 sports tires off the 2005 models. Since it's fairly expensive to go the 18 sports now I might think to just upgrade the tires on the stock 17's. I came home today and saw a 2005 Maxima SE parking on the street with 245/45/18 tires and I was thinking...wow these tires are wide. I want something with that width on my car. So I looked up the specs and wanted to find out the width between 235/50/17 and 245/45/18 and see what the differences are. Below are the links. According to the specs, the Avon has a tread width of 8.6 even though the tires are 235's whereas the Eagle has 245's but a tread width of 8.4. Does that mean the Avon is wider if I would to look let's say from the back of the car?

http://www.avontyresusa.com/tires/tech_m550_as.html
http://www.goodyeartires.com/goodyea...8&sidewall=VSB

Avon 235/50/17, section width 9.5, tread width 8.6
Eagle RSA 245/45/18, section width 9.6, tread width 8.4

 

So many G expertise here...no reply?

 

I just looked up the Turanza ER33 that comes with the 18inch sports rim for 2005 and I was shocked at the width size. I can't pull information for the other brand Goodyear NCT 5 that comes with the 18 sports wheels at 235/45/18.

Turanza Er33 with 235/45/18, section width 9.1, tread width is 7.4

Compared this to if I would to stay with the 17 stocks and go with Avon 235/50/17
Avon 235/50/17, section width 9.5, tread width 8.6

The Avon is 1.2 inches WIDER. Oh boy...I am curious to see a pic of it on a car now.

The crappy Turanza El42 that comes with the G35x has section width of 8.9 and tread width of 6.9.

In other words, if I am correct the difference in width if you look from the behind of a stock g35x vs a 18inch sports rwd G35 is only a difference of 1/2 inch in width? Tha'ts almost like nothing.

From stock g35x Turanza EL's to Avon 235/50/17 has a difference of 1.7 inches in width.

 

A larger section width that tread width means the tire will be rounder, it's the measurement from the widest part of the sidewalls. If you get a tire with a tread width that more closely matches the section width then you're looking at a 'squarer' tire. The turanzas are quite round. In 235/50/17:

Eagle F1 GS-D3 is very square looking.
Tread Width = 8.2"
Section Width = 9.6"

Turanza EL42 is very round.
Tread Width = 7.7"
Section Width = 9.7"

I prefer the look of a very square-edged tire, plus, if I'm paying for 235, I want as close to 235 as possible

If you want the tire to LOOK wide from behind then yes, concentrate on Tread Width. A big section width and a narrower tread width just means the tires will look like big donuts.

..Did this even help?

 

...and yes, the difference between the stock 18 and the stock 17 WHEELS is only half an inch, and it doesn't equate to much of a difference from a tire-width perspective, unless the offset it substantially different. Clearance is still the hinderance.

 

Yes, it's been a biggggggggggggggg help. I've been waiting for a response for quite a while and have been replying myself.

Hmm...I never thought about the square vs round shape. Very interesting. So I guess the Avon is quite square then.

You wouldn't have a shot of your 235 tires from the rear? Or from the front with the wheel tilted out from the fender would you?

Visually from the back is your 235 alot wider than the stock 215's that came with your car originally?

 

The answer is no but only because I have 245's and not 235's.

I bought 245/45/17 only because 235/50/17's were backordered for several months and I needed tires pretty badly. (Still had lots of tread on the EL42s but after a second spin-out in the wet with VDC on I decided they had to go THAT WEEKEND)

I would still recommend the 235/50/17 as the widest you should go on the stock 17" wheel and my 245's stick out a little bit but nothing too obnoxious. I'd be glad to take and post a picture tonight when I'm at home. I have the F1's. But yes, the Turanza's are QUITE round. They're a lot wider on the sidewall than the actual tread width.

Stay tuned

YES. Turanzas are round and the sidewalls protrude beyond the wheel. The Squarer Eagle F1's don't have the round donut-like bulge.

 

Yes, pictures would be great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! THANKS...

Assuming yours is
245/45 YR17, the section width is 9.4 and tread width is 8.1.

The stock tread width is 6.9 so I do want to see the difference. The Avon's are 8.6 meaning it would be even wider than your 245's. Just weird.

 

Here ya go... hard to tell how wide they are without a reference point but maybe these pics will help.

Image 1

Image 2

 

...I tried to take a pic from the back but it was way too dark and it was impossible to see the tires. I may try again sometime

 

You are a man of your words. Thanks for the pictures. First pic...it's quite wide. From the picture, looks wider than the 18 sports 235/45/18. The tire pattern looks very aggressive.

Second pic, the tires seems to line up with the fender better. Is it the angle or is it sticking more out now vs the Turanza's because it's wider?

I can't wait for the rear view. Please post when you get a chance Doogieeeeeeeeeeee!

Do you also drive a X?

 

Fun stuff about tires:

Sizes are +/- 10% A 235 width tire can actually be anywhere between 212 and 258 mm wide. It's actually possible to buy a 225 tire wider than a 245 tire. Not usual but possible. Always check the actual tire manf. specs for section and tread width.

Why? the tire belt manf. process. Tire belts are woven flat and then bent to the shape needed the ends are overlapped or woven to make the tire diameter needed...so a 205/50 tire needs a belt about 410 mm wide. 195/55 tires need a belt 409 mm wide. 225/40 is 405mm wide. So they do a belt run 410 mm wide...the 205/50 is spot on ... the 195/55 is a little wide...the 225/40 is 5mm wide. See?

"low cost" manufacturers make good tires but have to reduce cost to offer their tires at lower prices. So they use carbon rubber and/or single rubber tread compounds. And they run single belt width and use the +/- 10% to their advantage.

They need to build a 205/50 and a 245/45 tire, right? 245/45 series tires need a belt 465mm wide...the 205/50 needs 410mm ...so they split the difference and weave a 430mm belt. The 205 ends up wide and the 245 ends up narrow, but both are in UTQG tolerances.

 

My setup is 100% stock, but yes, the square tire vs the round tire does make the tire look like it's closer to the fender.

No, just a plain ol' 2004 RWD 6MT Sedan.

 

Very interesting...

 

It was a long time coming but I figured I should do this before the 245's are gone.

Sorry for the weird colors and stuff, I had to touch up the image so that the tires were a little more clearly defined, and as a result the rest of the image suffers. Hope it helps anyways.

Image 1 from back

Image 2 from back