Black Chrome OEM 18's or 20" Volk GT-C? Offset help on GS430?

[JKashat]

Hello everyone!

I have been a member and daily viewer of Club Lexus for a little over a month now. We already have two Lexus vehicles in my family, a '04 ES 330 Graphite/Gray Sport Design (w/ Nav.) for my mom, and a '04 Silver/Black LS 430 (w/ Nav/ML/Black Pearl/Chrome) for my dad. I had an '03 Silver/Black Infiniti G35 Coupe (5AT w/ Nav.) but decided to get rid of it after being rear ended, hard. Ouch!

I decided to folow suit, so... I am taking delivery of my '06 Black on Black GS 430 (Loaded w/ Nav. & ML) on April 7th. I am very excited.

Even though I think it is a very nice looking wheel, I decided not to order my GS with the G-Spider wheels because I knew that I was going to be changing whatever wheels came on it. So, I figured that it was pointless, and a waste of money, to pay extra for a wheel that would see stacked in my garage days after taking delivery of my veicle. And, I do actually like the OEM 18" 5-Spoke wheels.

I have always wanted a set of Black Chrome wheels... That being said, I have already contacted Tom at Wheel Creations and ordered a set of 18" Black Chrome 5-Spoke OEM wheels on an exchange program. He has the wheels in stock (dealer take-offs), but not yet Chromed or Black Chromed, or Black Pearl as he refers to it. He said the process would take 2-3 week. I placed the order about two weeks ago, so they should arrive next week some time (just in time for my new GS). The price is about $1200 plus a refundable core charge once they receive my OEM wheels back to them.

Should I put these on and be happy with them? I know that they will look sweet and be different because no one around my area (suburbs of Detroit, MI) has Black Chrome, but I think that an 18" wheel is too small on this car. It needs 20's in my honest opinion.

I also already have (from my G35) a set of 20" VOLK Racing GT-C's in the "Mercury Silver" color (costs extra). They are a staggered fitment, with a 20" x 8.5" in the front and a 20" x 9.5" in the rear. The offsets are +26 for the front and +22 for the rears. They are wrapped in Toyo Proxes T1-S tires, sizes 245/35/20 for the front and 275/30/20 for the rear.

I don't doubt that a 20" staggered fitment wheel/tire combo will fit the third generation GS 430 because I have already seen a few here on CL with 20's, but I am concerned about the offsets. Does anyone here know (based on experience) if the Volks that I have will fit? And, even if they do/did, do I want a Silver faced wheel on my Black/Black GS or would a All Chrome or Black Painted Face w/Chrome Lip look better?

Or, should I take apart the 2-piece GT-C's, Chrome the barrels & Center Cap, and Black Pearl the faces? I have been thinking about this option just for the one-of-a-kind factor, but don't know that I want to disassemble them, ship them out, wait 2-3 weeks, reassemble them, and pay about $250/wheel additional plus shipping.

If the Volks do NOT fit my new GS 430, I will put them on my girlfriends new '05 Laser Red/Graphite (Loaded w/ Nav.) Infiniti G35 Coupe (5AT). I know 100% that they will fit on there!

Please help me with opinions about which wheels OEM vs. VOLK you think would look better ( or ). And, if anyone has any information on the offset concerns or comments on other wheel options, it would be greatly appreciated.

[rominl]

well, i havent' gotten enough information on the 3gs to know exactly about the fitment limit yet

but i can tell you that the wheels off your g35 (i think it's the coupe right?) will not fit the new gs. i have seen one wheel setup for the 3gs so far and the rear wheel is 9.5 +45 or so. that's high, just like the 2gs.

the offset of your wheels fit the sc430 that's it. if the 3gs wheel fitment is anything like the 2gs (and i think it might be), then your wheel offsets are way off

[JKashat]

I have test fit one of the front Volks on my dad's '04 LS 430, and it fit perfect. I was told that the new GS uses the same brakes. That being the case, I am confident about the fronts, but am unsure about the rears because I did see that Black GS with the gunmetal 19" Volk LE37's. But, was that one a 430 or a 300, because I know that brakes are different between the 430 and the 300. I guess, I might just have to wait and see and be the Guinea Pig test subject for a puture post...

[flipside909]

Originally Posted by JKashat

I did see that Black GS with the gunmetal 19" Volk LE37's. But, was that one a 430 or a 300, because I know that brakes are different between the 430 and the 300.

It was a GS300. The rear brakes shouldn't be too much different than the 430's.

[Neo]

Originally Posted by JKashat

I have test fit one of the front Volks on my dad's '04 LS 430, and it fit perfect. I was told that the new GS uses the same brakes. That being the case, I am confident about the fronts, but am unsure about the rears because I did see that Black GS with the gunmetal 19" Volk LE37's. But, was that one a 430 or a 300, because I know that brakes are different between the 430 and the 300. I guess, I might just have to wait and see and be the Guinea Pig test subject for a puture post...

On the LS430, brake clearance is one thing but how does it sit? Your volks will bolt on to the GS but how far out it is and the potential for rubbing is another. Plus since they are 20s, the 4x4 rule applies since there is currently no drop for the 3GS yet.

[gs400998]

Since you have ordered your GS, why not contact your Lexus salesperson and ask whether you can install your VR wheels on one of the new GS at the dealership to determine the wheel fitment.

[Sportbiker]

Can't add much to fitment, but do caution on black chrome.

It is similar to polished aluminum, in that it will tarnish within hours. Clear coating is an option, but that will provide a cloudy look at first, but in the long run, you'll be happy you did it.

[rominl]

the rear brakes are the same i believe. the front brakes on the gs430 are huge. i dont' think they are the same as the ones on the ls430, maybe even bigger?

anyway, the wheel clearing the brakes for the gs430 that's one thing, but the offset being that low that's the BIGGEST problem

[JKashat]

Well, thanks everyone. I decided to installed the Volk's on my '05 G35 Coupe and do the Black Chrome 18's for the time being... I will post PICS as soon as I take delivery of my GS this Thursday.

[rominl]

Originally Posted by JKashat

Well, thanks everyone. I decided to installed the Volk's on my '05 G35 Coupe and do the Black Chrome 18's for the time being... I will post PICS as soon as I take delivery of my GS this Thursday.

maybe when the gs comes you can just snap the wheels on and see hwo they fit, that would be another piece of information for us

[Sam Khoury]

Maybe I'm confused or misinformed but aren't the OEM 18s which come on the 06 GS430 a 5 spoke wheel in graphite color which is similar to black chrome? So I'm trying to understand why you'd have to swap the 18's that are coming with your 06 GS430 for a set of black chromed ones. My 02 GS300 SportDesign came with 16" graphite wheels and I got 18" 5 spoke graphite accessory wheels and I've heard both of them described as black chrome.

[JKashat]

Graphite is cool looking, but in NO WAY could it be considered Black Chrome. Think of the Black Pearl emblems...