Hi all.

I am about to turn in (this weekend) my `08 G35x and I'm getting a `10 G37x, the dealer has offered the sport package at almost the same price.

I'm concerned that the lower profile tires are going to be a problem in the snow, I live in Michigan (for now).

I would love to know if I should avoid the sport package b/c of the tire difference in terms of issues driving in the snow.

the regular X tires are:
Triple 5-spoke, 17 x 7.5-inch aluminum-alloy with 225/55R17 V-rated all-season performance tires (front and rear)

the Sport X wheels/tires are:
Split 5-spoke, 18 x 7.5-inch aluminum-alloy wheels with 225/50R18 V-rated all-season performance tires (front and rear)

I have one dealer (who doesn't happen to have one in inventory) telling me that the sport tires on the x are a death trap, and that there's not even one in the 5 state area, and that I would have to special order one for a grand. I have the other dealer (about 20 miles away) telling me he could drop it off at my house tomorrow. I love car shopping

I would really love to know the thoughts on the snow performance difference. Not being enough of a car guy, I don't know what to think.

Thanks!!
Jason

 

I have an '09 xS and I am running 235/45/18 Continentals HP A/S....no problem whatsoever and we here in IL just got 6 inches dumped on us this week. I've only had my xS for 2 months now, but it has seen plenty of snow during that short time, and my experience thus far on the low profile A/S tires has been great. The ONLY time I had a "problem" was when a little ice accumulated on the wheel and made the car feel as if it was out of alignment...that was easily resolved by knocking off all the ice and everything was fine. So, if I'm OK running 45s, I'm guessing you'll be OK running the stock 50s.

 

how are the sport tires on the x a death trap? there all season tires not summer tires. I would stay far away from that dealer.

anyway you will be fine. as long as you have awd and all season tires you will be in better shape then most people on the road.

 

The dealer is a d*c head...all season tires and goes like a sled in the snow. No problems. The dealer has no x to sell you so he talks trash.

Buy the xS.

 

I live in MI and I have an '09x and I traded to GET 18 in wheels as I wanted the most performance I could get out of the wheels/tires without sacrificing the ride too much. Trust me the 18's will do fine and I have the Dulop Sport Maxx tires 225/50/18's.

 

Wow, thanks for all the great feedback. exactly what i was hoping for.

I asked my buddy at Nissan about it tonight, and he's gonna talk to his buddy who's a tire or wheel (or something) engineer there tomorrow, but I'm pretty much convinced based on your guys comments. MUCH APPRECIATED!!

And I'll be going with the Ann Arbor dealer, over Surburban of Novi, even though I live about 3 minutes from Surburban. That dealership is crap.

 

I have a 2009 G37xS with the 18" Dunlops on as well. I live in michigan and I can tell you the tires and the car handles great in the snow. Do you mind me asking which two dealerships you are dealing with? I noticed when I was looking to purchase my vehicle, Suburban Infiniti of Novi was a lot better as far as knowledge then Suburban Infiniti of Troy. Then again I could of just got an idiot at Troy and maybe some of them know their stuff. As far as service, I just took mine to Troy and seemed very nice and didnt mess anything up

 

Wow thats funny that you had a problem with Novi, I actually thought they were better off! LOL Guess it all depends on which salesguy you get! Good luck with the purchase!

 

Just make sure you DO like the Sport seats. We have had PLENTY of people on this board complain about them after they purchased their vehicle. Make sure you like them, cause they are a lot more stiff and snug then the normal G37X seats. TEST DRIVE TEST DRIVE TEST DRIVE!

Good luck with your purchase!

 

We have an '09 G37xS and live in snowy Colorado. The Dunlop Sport Maxx tires work extremely well--well enough that I didn't buy dedicated snow tires this year!

 

Picked up my '10 G37Xs since 2/1. Driven in all the snow we've gotten here in NYC since, and loving every minute of it. Even when I had my '04 G35X, I had 245/40/19 Toyos and they handled very well in the snow.

Hope that helps, dealer doesn't know what he's shoveling.

 

I went from a '07 G35S RWD to a '10 G37xS. My G35 had snow tires (Pilot Alpin PA2) and it was quite useable in the snow. The G37xS definitely doesn't stop as well in snow covered icy roads, but it's hardly a death trap. In terms of getting moving, it gets moving alot easier than the old '07. I've read negative reviews of the dunlop A/S tires on tirerack and I have to say, people who think these tires suck on an AWD need to try driving a RWD vehicle even with snow tires. I am planning on getting 17s with snow tires next winter not because of the grip, but rather because the extra sidewall on the 17s and cheaper rims will be better during winter pothole season.

 

if not happy with the 18" wheels you can always get a set of 17" rims and get real snow tires. that's what I'd do in real snow conditions for max safety of me and my car.

do watch out for the sport seats.

 

Yes, definitely test drive the Sport seats. I own an '09 G37x (which was terrific, BTW, in the 10" of heavy wet snow that fell this week in upstate NY), but I know someone who has the xS and hates the seat--so much so that he laments the purchase, even though he loves the car in every other respect. Apparently for him the problem becomes acute on trips longer than an hour. He took several test drives, all less than thirty minutes. He's kicking himself, but without reading about the problem on this board, how could he have known?

 

I really don't care for the novi people, i changed sales reps for this purchase b/c i really disliked the last guy I dealt with there, hoping the new guy would work out, no such luck.

I really like the Ann Arbor guys so far. They seem great. I will let you know how this all works out, but so far very impressed.

They offer pick up and drop off at work, home or where ever for their $15 oil changes, and the fact that I'm not local is fine, he says he goes down to findly ohio for a customer, so any where in metro detroit is fine. And, just got off the phone with him and he said he'll have the car in about an hour, so I can test drive and if I like it, we are all good to go, and if i prefer the non sport, he has that one waiting too. So new G today!!

Thanks again all, each comment was very helpful!!