tires for a 2002 maxima se

[DoctorD]

Hi everyone,

I already posted the following question at Forums.Maxima.Org and got some replies implying that my question is a fundamental question for Nissans -- but nobody will take a crack at answering it! Please give me your opinon:

My parents recently gave me a used 2002 Nissan Maxima SE. The car presumably came with the original tires on it, but my parents immediately changed the tires, thinking they were doing me a favor. The factory-installed Nissan tires are P225/50/VR17. They cost $200 apiece. Instead, my parents put $70 tires from Pep Boys on the car that are size 225/55/R17, which Pep Boys claimed are an acceptable substitute tire for this car.

I recently took the car to a Nissan dealer to fix the alignment. The dealer insisted that my alignment is off because I have the wrong size tires on the car and refused to align the wheels until I change the tires to the 225/50/17 tires, which they sell for over $200 each! I brought the car to another mechanic who also told me that the current tires are wrong and that there is only one correct size tires for my car.

I am unclear as to whether Nissan Maximas are made in a way that does not allow changes to tire size, or if this is just what I am being told by people who want to sell me expensive tires. I want to know if I can put a different size tire on my car (that costs less than $200!) without hurting the car in the long run.

Thanks.

[97wvmax]

go to www.discounttire.com they have the 225/50/17 on there. they are 210 a peice tho, they have the 215/50/17 for 141. thoes are jus expensive tires i guess. might wanna check around a lil more online and if its still that high, maybe look for some wheels to replace thoes with if ya wanted to?

[HanekMax]

U may also check www.tirerack.com
Recently I bought Michelin Pilot Sport A/S on this site $197. They had best prices I could find and 2 day delivery.

[97wvmax]

i jus bought some rims this weekend from a guy, and he jus had some RAGE tires put on, they seem really good, might wanna check that brand out, they were 92 a piece