I just bought a 2003 Nissan Altima 3.5SE w/ a manual transmission. I've
started having problems with the wheels/tires (Bridgestone EL42 Turanza
P215/55R17 93V M+S) - going out of balance due to tires slipping on the
alloy rims. Has anyone else had this problem? I'm working with the dealer
and they said they have been talking w/ Nissan about the tire slip problem.
They are supposed to be finding some sort of adhesive/chemical to fix the
problem, as the one that they have at the dealership (and on my car) now
isn't working.

The car is amazing - I suspect (though I'm not an expert by any stretch)
that the high torque as well as the low profile tires and manual
transmission have something to do with this. Does anyone have any
information or similar experiences? I first started noticing the problem
indirectly - as I was going around curves at about 48-52 MPH and the
steering wheel would vibrate. I brought the car in after about 500 miles
and they took the wheels off the rims, cleaned off the old "fixative" (I
don't know what was originally on the bead) and applied new, then rebalanced
the tires. All was fine for about a week, but now am experiencing the same
problem. The dealer, like I said, is working with Nissan to try to find a
solution to this. I'll try to post more info for interested parties.

-Bryan

HAVE YOU EVER REVVED YOUR ENGINE TO ABOUT 6500RPM AND RELEASED THE CLUTCH ON
FIRST GEAR JUST THINK OF THE POSSIBILITIES ESPECIALLY IF YOU PULL UP THE
HANDBRAKE

THIS CAR COULD SMOKE TIRES LIKE CRAZY IT IS A BADASS CAR HERE ARE THE SPECS
FOR THE INLINE FOUR OR V6



Specifications and capacities for the 2002-2003
Altima
2.5 liter (QR25 - 4 cylinder) and 3.5 liter (VQ35 -
V-6).



Engine 2.5 / 2.5 S / 2.5 SL
3.5 SE

Name
QR25
2.5 liter 4 cylinder
VQ35
3.5 liter V-6

Cam Design
DOHC

Orientation
Transverse

Configuration / Cylinders
I4
V6 w/Molybdenum coated pistons

Block / Head Composition
Aluminum/aluminum

Displacement (liters)
2.5L
3.5L

Engine Oil Capacity
Drain and Refill - With oil filter change
4-1/2 quarts
4-1/4 quarts

Engine Oil Capacity
Drain and Refill - Without oil filter change
4-1/4 quarts
4-7/8 quarts

Cooling System
With reservoir
8 quarts
8-5/8 quarts

Manual transmission gear oil
4-7/8 pints
4-7/8 pints

All other fluids refill to proper level
according to the instructions
in the "Maintenance and do-it-yourself"
section in the Owner's Manual.
Horsepower
175 @ 6,000 RPM
245 @ 5,800 RPM

Torque (lbs/ft)
180 @ 4,000 RPM
246 @ 4,400 RPM

Bore & Stroke (mm)
89.0 x 100.0
95.5 x 81.4

Compression Ratio (:1)
9.5
10.3

Maximum Engine Speed
6,200 RPM
6,600 RPM

Induction System
Sequential multi-point electronic fuel
injection

Valvetrain
4-valves-per-cylinder; w/CVTC

Engine Cover
Standard

Engine Mounts (4 mounts per vehicle)
Automatic

Manual
4 fluid filled

4 fluid filled
2 electronically controlled, fluid filled,
1 rubber

3 fluid filled, 1 rubber

Recommended Fuel
Regular unleaded
Premium unleaded

Fuel Tank Capacity (gal.)
20.0

Emissions System
Closed Loop Alpha Control, ECCS

Emission Certification Level
LEV

Exhaust
Variable capacity muffler
Dual exhaust





Electrical

Ignition System
Electronic, Nissan Direct Ignition System
(NDIS)

Starter
1.4 kW

Alternator
110 Amp.

Battery
12V-55Ah (5HR)

Transmission and Drive System

Drive configuration
Front-engine / front-wheel drive

Transmission Type 5-speed manual

4-speed
auto w/ overdrive
Standard on 2.5 / 2.5 S / 3.5 SE

Standard on 2.5 SL

Gear Ratio

1st

2nd

3rd

4th

5th

Reverse
M/T 4-cyl. M/T V6 A/T 4-cyl.
A/T V6

3.416 3.153 2.785
2.785

1.944 1.842 1.545
1.545

1.258 1.258 1.000
1.000

0.947 0.947 0.694
0.694

0.772
- -

2.272 2.272 3.252
3.002

Final Drive Ratio (:1)
4.133 3.812 4.087
3.789


Drive Shaft
Carbon Fiber Reinforced Plastic (CFRP)

Helical Limited-Slip Differential
Optional on SE





Brakes

Standard

Front Type

Rotor size diameter and thickness (in.)
Vented Disc

11.7" x .94t"

Rear Type

Rotor size diameter and thickness (in.)
Self-adjusting, Solid Disc

11.5" x .35t"

Brake Assist
Standard

Brake Control
w/ABS



w/o ABS
Power-assisted with Brake Assist and Electronic
Brake force Distribution (EBD)

Power-assisted

Electronic Brake force Distribution (EBD)
Standard

ABS

Number of Wheels

Number of Channels

Number of Sensors
N/A on 2.5; Optional on 2.5 S, 2.5 SL and 3.5
SE

4

4

4

Parking Brake
Hand operated along left side of center console

Steering
2.5 / 2.5 S / 2.5 SL
3.5 SE

Type
Power rack-and-pinion

Power Assisted
Standard

Overall Ratio (:1)
16.1

Turns (lock to lock)
2.8
2.6

Turning Diameter (curb to curb, in feet)
37.4
38.7

Suspension

Front

Stabilizer Bar
Independent strut w/ coil springs

Standard

Rear

Stabilizer Bar
Multi-Link independent suspension

Standard




Exterior Wheels & Tires
2.5 2.5 S
2.5 SL
3.5 SE

Wheels

Steel with bolt-on cover
S
S
-
-

Aluminum-alloy
-
O
S
S

6.5JJ x 16
S
S
S
-

7.0JJ x 17
-
-
-
S

Tires

P205/65R16 T-rated all-season tires
S
S
S
-

P215/55R17 H-rated (V6 A/T) or V-rated
(V6 M/T) all-season tires
-
-
-
S

Temporary spare tire
S

Dimensions Exterior (inches)

Wheelbase
110.2

Overall length
191.5

Overall width
70.4

Overall height
57.9

Tread width

Front

Rear
61.0

61.2

Coefficient of drag (Cd)
0.32

Trunk liftover height
27.6

Interior (inches)
Front
Back

Head room (w/o sunroof)
40.8
37.6

Leg room
43.9
36.4

Hip room
53.0
52.7

Shoulder room
56.7
56.1






Weights
2.5 2.5 S
2.5 SL
3.5 SE

Curb (pounds)
Front
Manual Transmission

Automatic Transmission

Rear
Manual Transmission

Automatic Transmission

Total
Manual Transmission

Automatic Transmission


1,810

1,858


1,191

1,191


3,001

3,049


1,844

1,893


1,195

1,195


3,039

3,088


-

1,896


-

1,210


-

3,106


1,974

2,023


1,223

1,223


3,197

3,246

Weight distribution (%) Front/Rear
Manual Transmission

Automatic Transmission
60/40

61/39
61/39

61/39
-

61/39
62/38

62/38

GVWR (pounds)

QR25

VQ35
4,202

4,374

Volume (cubic feet)

Passenger compartment
103.2

Cargo
15.6

Total
118.8

Fuel Economy (estimates)

City (A/T / M/T)
QR25


VQ35
23 / 23

19 / 21

Highway (A/T / M/T)
QR25


VQ35
29 / 29

26 / 26

Classification
Mid-size