RXGS

iTrader: (2)

So that time of snow tires is coming around, and i was wondering if anyone has mesh wheels on their ES? I looked through the wheels thread and didnt see any. For my 2004 ES330 i was going to use a set of ACT mesh wheels 16x7, +35 offset, 70.5 center bore (ill use hubcentric rings). To be honest, i have never heard of this brand of wheel before, or how it will even look on the car, but I got the set for super cheap. Any input on the wheel, how it would look, anything that would be great. Here is a picture of the wheel itself, and the car in question.

Oro

I know nothing of the brand, but I know the design. It was from the late '80s, German BBS design that went OE on some Mercedes and Audis, BMWs. To me it's a very dated design, and I think it would look very dated . It's also not highly functional for winter wheels; The tight weave clogs with slush, snow, ice, and salty road gunk on NY and New England roads (ask me how I know this - ).

I still have a rare 1991 Audi V8/5 speed and I ditched those wheels within one season for some newer Audi wheels, one for summer and another for winter. Here's a similar car to mine that still has the OE wheels:

http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2458546/1990-audi-v8/

If you want some higher performace summer tires, what I would do is put snows on the 16s, and get 17s for summer. There's a post on this page now from a guy who put 17" 2012 ES350 wheels on his 2000 ES and it does look great - not flashy, but nice. Or find some take-off 16" Lexus wheels from another year range. The overall simpler the wheel design is, the less it clogs in the winter. I used Audi A8 wheels (broad 5-spoke pattern) for my winter wheels for that reason (on the Auid, not the Lexus). I ended up going 16" for both summer and winter as the 17" where just too stiff on the rural NY and Vermont roads in the summer.

PS,nice looking 330; I like the color combo.

Need4Speed

Have you seen the Avante Garde Mesh ones would look great on your car.
pm for best pricing.

Thanks
-Jose

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

I already got them, only paid $100 so it was cheaper than a set of steelies. Also, Audi v8 is a car i have always loved, but could never find. As for the Avante Guard, maybe when i sell my GS and pick up an SC.

speedkar9

The only thing I'd worry about with no name wheels is the weight and quality. If its significantly heavier than stock it will affect braking big time.

With your setup your wheels would be pushed 15mm outward compared to stock, for a 30mm wider track.

Oro is right to mention ice and snow would get trapped in a wheel like that design. The worse is after going drifting in the snow, the snow packs in the rim and it becomes severely unbalanced, causing vibration.

RXGS

iTrader: (2)

Ya i never go drifting haha, but are steel wheels any better in that regard of getting snow and ice stuck? On another note, it turns out ACT is the same company that made the mesh wheels for those option wheels seen on Lexus' back in the early 90s.

RX469

iTrader: (1)

I know this wheel brand. They've be been around for quite some time & even Toyota did some work with them. I don't know what their quality is like today, but I say go for it and I think your car will look nice. Just wash your wheels is if the mesh gets clogged.

pics when installed please.

Oro

Yeah, those clog. I had it happen a few times in ugly stuff on the NY Thruway. It gets unbalanced and your front vibrates like it's falling apart. I had to pull over a few times at a heated car wash in January to hose it out to drive further home. that is why I had those BBS wheels on the Audi one season; like 1994-1995. Still have the car (one of the best winter cars ever built, period.* I enjoy the ability to drive around Range Rovers stuck in the snow.); but gave the wheels away to the first person on the audi board who wanted them for free + shipping and lived south of Maryland.

BUT: if you bought them, go with god; you'll be fine. Just bear that in mind if you do long distances in all-weather/any weather (I had to), you need to be prepared. Stick some latex and then winter over-gloves in your trunk, then if it gets bad get out and clean them. Not likely to have to do it often. But be prepared. You can kick/poke/scrub the snow and ice rime off them and then go another hour or two. They are a great strength/weight design, a horrible winter design.

* Only one car was ever built with both a center and rear Torsen differential: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Torsen#Center_and_rear