18" vs 19" ride quality on an IS 300?

[Rush]

Makin' this post on behalf of the boyfriend. Cause I'm gay like that.

Anyhoo, he traded in a god-awful Honda del Sol a few months ago -- for a 2003 Lexus IS 300. Good trade, eh?

Now, he's looking to upgrade his wheels. He's debating between 18" and 19" wheels -- BUT he's planning on keeping the stock suspension. He MIGHT look at SLIGHTLY lowering the car in the future, but he's not even vaguely interested in a severe drop.

I can only offer him so much advice, because when I upgraded my MSP, I changed out a lot at the same time -- I went from the stock MSP suspension setup, to Tein S-Tech springs with 18" x .75" wheels running 35 series tires. So I'm not sure how dramatic the change is when you ONLY adjust the profile size on the tires.

Anybody have any ideas? He'd be going from a 17" wheel with a 45 series tire .. to either a 18" wheel with 40 series, or 19" wheel with 35 series.

 

[jadonP5]

god...if he's in PA with you I would stay away from a 19" with our roads...

 

[JCell]

i love rubberband(thin) tires on nice big lip wheels, just personal preference, so i would go with the 18's and a 35 tire

 

[Kansei]

JCell.. you mean the 18s with a 40?

I'd say go with the 18s, 40-series is still a decently small sidewall. Maybe it can fit 45 series on the 18s even? Especially if it won't be lowered. 35 series would look awkward.

 

[99 Pro]

My buddy here put 20" rims on his 2001 IS300. He is also lowered on TRD springs. He had to roll the fenders and everything, but it looks pretty good actually. Very 'gangsta' like.

 

[sandspeed]

18s would look great on the IS but 19s would be too much. What type of wheels , chrome uglyness or performance hawtness

 

[Rush]

My buddy here put 20" rims on his 2001 IS300. He is also lowered on TRD springs. He had to roll the fenders and everything, but it looks pretty good actually. Very 'gangsta' like.

.. Have any pics of it?

18s would look great on the IS but 19s would be too much. What type of wheels , chrome uglyness or performance hawtness

I'd break both his arms with my bare hands if he was stupid enough to do chrome.

He's lookin' for either gunmetal or silver with a polished lip. I can't remember the brand and/or name of the kind he came across yesterday -- but they're 5 spoke gunmetal with staggered polished lips. VERY sexy.

 

[99 Pro]

Here is my buddy's car.

 

[Kansei]

Not usually a fan of really big rims but WOW that looks good.

 

[dmitrik4]

the ride quality will probably go down w/ a shorter sidewall. the bigger impact, though, will come from the heavier wheels. heavy wheels play hell with ride quality.

 

[Rush]

Here is my buddy's car.

I gotta agree with the wow .. I think it's the lip that does it for me. I freakin' LOVE huge lips. Did he have any problems with getting such deep-dish wheels on his car? I don't know anything about the IS 300 suspension and offset and whatnot.

 

[BradC]

You run snowies in the winter? You can kinda use that as a judge. I know when switching back and forth the difference is noticeable but not horrendous.

 

[mountjonas]

i'd get the tallest tire possible that would fit for a comfortable ride. but the 40 series would also depend on tire width, wouldn't it? like a 40 series sidewall on a 205 wheel would be way shorter than a 40 series on a 235.

 

[zerocover]

40 series sidewall is a bit too low (ive broken more then my fair share of wheels)
Go with at least 45 on whatever he chooses if he wants them to last, while 40 is harsh I still run it as it really makes the car stick to the road (I dont learn). 35 is just maddness.

 

[brokemp3]

i have 215/35/19 and it is a little bit harsher but nothing really bad

 

[Rush]

You run snowies in the winter? You can kinda use that as a judge. I know when switching back and forth the difference is noticeable but not horrendous.

He's planning on using the stock 17" wheels for snow tires, once he gets either the 18"s or 19"s, which he'll use for spring/summer .. He just has to decide on what size he wants for spring/summer, heh. So can't use that to judge right now.

40 series sidewall is a bit too low (ive broken more then my fair share of wheels) Go with at least 45 on whatever he chooses if he wants them to last, while 40 is harsh I still run it as it really makes the car stick to the road (I dont learn). 35 is just maddness.

45 is what he has now, on the stock 17" wheels .. So he obviously doesn't wanna go with a stock size. I ride on 35 profile tires, and I don't think it's too bad. I guess it all depends on what you've been on, and he's had his experience with a harsher ride.


I have a feeling he'll wind up going with 19" wheels. I dunno. Just a gut instinct at this point. Cause y'know how most guys are .. The bigger, the better. Heh.

 

[AznXstazy]

how does he drive? if he gets 19, he needs to avoid the holes or it would suck. i would personally go with 18s, just cuz 19 would be way more expensive with really no big difference... i would look for something in 18 with a nice lip.

 

[zerocover]

Its prob just me as the roads in jersey are terrible. The ride doesnt get much worse past a 45 series sidewall. But you need to be aware that you have no protection against potholes (which we have plenty).