Hello,

I have a 2008 G35xS. I know the sport models are recommended to have slightly wider rear tires because the dealer tells me everytime but I don't do it for the sake of rotations.

I'll admit... My driving style is a bit unorthodox, spirited, and probably aggressive so my tires never make it near what the tread life should be. My rear tires are usually shot with at least 1/4 remaining on the front but I just have all 4 replaced. ANYWAY what is the community recommendation here? Anyone notice any benefit to having wider rears? Any cons? (Aside from tire rotations)

 

If you have an '08 AWD with Sport, then you don't have wider rear tires; that was only for the RWD versions. Your car had (has) 225/50-18 tires on 7.5" wide wheels on all four corners. I'd say just be happy that you have a 'square' setup and can fully rotate your tires. At just 7.5" wide, you aren't really going to gain anything by mounting wider tires on the back wheels other than creating a discrepancy in the diameter between the front and rear of the car, which is not recommended for your AWD system. It can tolerate a little difference, but unless you get some wider wheels, I really wouldn't even bother going there.

.02

 

your dealer is wrong. as VQ said, the XS are all the same size. they might be confusing it with the regular S. either way, if you got wider tires i doubt you would notice a difference.

 

Use the same drivings style of yours, and drive to another dealer for future services. Apparently that dealer knows nothing about the xS. SO please take your business elsewhere before they recommend something else stupid trying get you to pay more than you should.

Technically you should be able to run staggered setup if you keep the overall tire diameter to be the same (maybe less than 2% diff?). But a dealer shouldn't recommend that because its not factory spec.

I have a RWD S and I always thought I could use some more front tires on the track. The car does have tendency to understeer, and its especially noticeable when you have change in elevation, with braking and turning thrown into the mix.

On the street, I don't see much benefit of having staggered tires (for me), except that the wider rear tires looks more aggressive.