Hi,
I have an '04 G35 RWD automatic sedan. Once again its time to get new tires.
I wanted to get some opinions on whether to go with the stock size (215-55/17) or get 225-50/17. The tire size difference is 1.7%, which shouldn't be a big deal.

But my question is which tire would be better for a mix of comfort and handling. With the pothole ridden roads of Ottawa I already feel the ride is a little on the harsh side with 215-55/17s. Would it get noticeably worse with 220-50s?

Any help is really appreciated


Thanks!

 

Btw, I have to get these tires mounted on stock rims.

 

Go up one size at least, to 225/55/17, which is what I've been running for 20K miles- the ride is smoother than a 50 series will give you. You might lose <5% cornering ability, but that counts mostly for guys who are throttling their car. No problems noted and the roads in PA are equally filled with huge potholes and road bumps that come up >3". There is enough room that I may try 235/55/17's next time, which I've seen on another 04 sedan. There was no rubbing and the tire filled the wheel well much like lowering would.

 

It's not 1.7%. Well, it is, but you're measuring the wrong thing. It's a 1.7% difference in diameter, but it's just over 3% difference in circumference. That's the number that matters, but +/- 3% is fine. Anything more than that and you start to run into problems with the VDC. I'm running 225/55-17's on my Nokian winters and they've been fine. Another option is 235/50-17. It matches the stock diameter of 26.3" and will give you almost the same sidewall as stock while giving you a wider tire.

215/55-17 = 26.3" diameter, 4.65" sidewall, stock size
225/50-17 = 25.8" diameter, 4.43" sidewall, -3.4% circumference
225/55-17 = 26.7" diameter, 4.87" sidewall, +3.3% circumference
235/50-17 = 26.25" diameter, 4.63" sidewall, -0.4% circumference
245/50-17 = 26.6" diameter, 4.82" sidewall, +2.6% circumference
235/55-17 = 27.2" diameter, 5.1" sidewall, +6.6% circumference.

Infiniti Chica, I wouldn't run those 235/55's. They're just too big. Any of the other sizes will work on the stock 17's. Personally, I think the stock 215's are kinda wimpy, and I don't like to run a smaller tire than stock, so I wouldn't get the 225/50's. The other 3 would all work.