sbrown02

I'm getting ready to swap out the stock 17" rims that came on my AWD GS350 with the 18" GS430 rims I recently purchased. I believe I read somewhere on CL that you need to drop your ride when going to a larger tire/rim, and I want to confirm if this is true? I want to maintain a smooth ride, but also don't want the car to look funny if the 350 suspension is different than the 430.

Also, for a newbie like me can someone explain what's involved (what has to be changed) in dropping the ride? What's the range of cost one can spend to drop their ride? This is all new to me, and while I don't anticipate I'm going to lower the car, I'd like to understand this stuff better than I do now (I'm clueless ).

However, I've gotta say this car is incredible, and Lexus is amazing. My Infiniti G35x was fun to drive, but this GS is total luxury and quality to the max. Every aspect of the car has been thought through in amazing detail, and even the owners manual (yes... I've been reading it like it was a best seller ) is incredible how it is organized and filled with very detailed, even tutorial (e.g., section explaining tires, personalizing settings, etc.) like information.

After 2 days and 300 miles (yea, I purchased out of state and drove back home in it ) the car is flawless. Well enough for now.

Thanks everyone for your help all. CL is the best. I'll post pics at the end of the week after I've had a chance to get the new wheels and clear bra/ceramic tint installed.

Later.

okcfunky

Haha... you don't *have* to drop your ride, wait, yes you do! Just kidding, you don't have to drop it, it's done primarily for cosmetic reasons of proportions.

On these cars, it involves swapping the stock coil springs with some aftermarket springs, like tanabe for example. As for cost, I think it was 2.5 units of labor at my dealership, and i dont remember the cost off hand.

SGT

Dropping is most certainly not required, but of course it will look much better dropped. Going from 17's to 18's w/o a drop isn't that bad. I was rolling on 18's for about a year until I finally bit the bullet and got the Tanabe NF210's. I'm glad I did and wish I got it earlier because the difference in appearance is like night and day. Now if you were talking about getting 19's or 20's, dropping is pretty much a must, unless you want your car to look like a 4x4 with a huge fender gap.

HemantS

Visually it might look funny if you keep stock height.

I also highly recommend changing the shocks if you drop more than an inch. The stock shocks will be under too much stress and will eventually start the bounce and jiggle.

sbrown02

So what's the min/max I could drop the car, and what would you all recommend so I keep a smooth ride (I've actually liked the stock ride). I want it to look nice but I'd rather not have to replace shocks or other suspension components, and as I'll also have to deal with snow I need to keep that in mind.

One more thing related to tires. I saw in another post someone putting 245/40/R18's on the rear and 225's on the front. However I already purchased 245's all the way around, was that a mistake.

Thanks for the help.

leestoy

I'd Say Get Some 20's And Some Coilovers And Now Were Talking.... Lol.....

sbrown02

You're funny. Actually I'd like my 350 to look just like the 430 with its stock 18 rims, so what's the drop on it? Or said differently, how much would I need to drop my 350 to match the stock 430 look?

AudiMan

You don't have to drop it to retain the stock 430 look

sbrown02

Thanks Audiman. Am I also ok with the tires being 245's all the way around?

SGT

I'm running 245/40/18 all around on my AWD.

Bmore26

I have a 2006 GSAWD myself and was trying to accomplish the nice look with aftermarket wheels. Going to a 20" wheel will look great, just make sure the tires and wheels are the same exact size. Unless you are getting custom made wheels for your car, staggered sets will not work on a AWD 06 Lexus. It will totally screw up your transmission. As previously mentioned, going with 20's will require a drop of 1-1.5". Hope this helps.

sbrown02

Very helpful everyone. For now I've decided to just swap out the 17's with the 18's, see how it looks and rides and then decide if/when to lower it.

sbrown02

Okay, I now have the 18" GS430 rims installed on my AWD GS350, and I definately see why dropping the ride is better looking.

So I went online to check out the Tanabe NF210's and the application chart only shows them available for the GS300 or 430. Is there an NF210 available for the 350, and if so are they proven to be okay for AWD vehicles?

You guys are gonna laugh at this, but I've never lowered a car or messed with the stock suspension, so I'm naturally a bit nervous to mess with my brand new $50k baby.

I called Sewell Lexus in Dallas thinking (silly me) they'd sell me Lexus coils to drop my ride, and they not only told me they didn't sell them, but they made it sound like I was doing a bad thing by changing the stock ride.

Anyway, my 350 clearly doesn't have the same suspension as the 430 (cause mine doesn't look as low as this), so what do I gotta do to make mine look like the 430?

Thanks

kuch123

Actually, if you page through most any Lexus brochure or the website gallery photos, specially the GS and IS, you will notice that in every photo, the cars look lowered compared to what's sitting in the showroom.. that's because they are.. I'm good friends with the sales manager at Lexus of Dayton and i called him on that.. He said Lexus always lowers their cars for the marketing photos.. SO.. why not just offer it as an option code !!!

sbrown02

Very interesting. Wouldn't that be false advertising? And do they not sell em like that because of reduced ride quality?