miragelove

Hi guys,

I just bought my first IS! I used to own an Audi A4, then I switched to BMW 330i, then an Acura TL. Even though it's extremely reliable, the TL was just too boring so I sold it even before I decided on a new car.

Note that my wife has a 2002 ES330 with 190K miles that drives like new! (dead serious!) with NO major issue whatsoever! BUT....it drives like a grandma's car

I love a good handling car and never bother to give Lexus a chance; I guess because I always thought all Lexus would drive like the ES

I went shopping for a car last Saturday and test drove the 2009 330i and the check engine light came up. At that point, my heart sank and I realized that I can't make the same mistake again. I went across the street and test drove a used IS! My impression: WOW!!!! This thing puts a big grin on my face!!!! It drives almost like a Bimmer with Lexus reliability and Luxury! An hour later, I drove away with a 2006 IS 250 FULLY LOADED . I paid cash for it and got a good deal. I figured that I can get at least 10+ years and 200K miles out of this car!

Anyways, I've been searching and couldn't find the answer, I was hoping you guys can answer me. My car has 225/40R18 tires in front and rear but the wheels look bigger than my 18" on the Bimmer, so I took measurement of the diameter and it comes out to be 19"? I'm very confused!!!? Maybe prev owner put on wrong tires or upgraded the wheels and kept the old tires? I didn't even know the 225/40R18 tires can fit on 19" wheels? So should I switch to R19 tires the next time I replaced them? Sorry I ask too many questions but I tried to search but couldn't find anything.

Oh by the ways, I've been reading this forum and it's sooooo much different than the Bimmer forum.

Thanks all and sorry for the long post

p0lo8

Congrats on a new purchase! They are 18" wheels though, and 19" tires wont fit them.

Now lets see some pics of your car!

scorpionge

iTrader: (19)

yea man.. they are 18s.. this would be a place to insert the "you're doing it wrong meme" lol

Welcome to the forums youll pretty much get addicted to modding as most are in here jajajja

miragelove

Haha! I'm such a dummy. How do you measure it? I guess from the inner edge? Thanks guys!

bob4256

iTrader: (17)

No, those are 18s.

I think the only 19s Lexus makes are the Fsport wheels

jbone29

iTrader: (2)

welcome to the club! If your looking for 19's try Vossen Wheels. Happy modding to ya!

zmcgovern4

iTrader: (2)

ftw!

Congrats on the new car

iRyan

iTrader: (7)

the outer may be 19 but the inner where the tires are mounted are spec for 18...if you put a 19 on there and it fall off don't blame anyone...but if you also remove the tire and look on the inside of the wheel it will tell you what it it

miragelove

Thank you guys! No, I don't want 19". I love those wheels. I think they strike a really nice balance between looks and comfort. I just wanted to make sure I buy the correct tires.

The mods I'm going to be doing are: Vais tech integration, white LED interior lights, and debadge. I like the clean look of no emblems


It is just me or the looks of the 2nd gen IS is ageless? I have an 06 and it looks so much better than most cars on the road! (at least to me anyways)

bob4256

iTrader: (17)

Your right. It even looks better than the 3IS IMO

meefer

iTrader: (8)

Are you sure the tires are the same size all around? If they're not staggered you should have an AWD and IIRC AWD came with 17" stock that year.

As far as tires brands go, the general consensus is that the OEM ones are garbage. People seem to like the Hankook Ventus, Conti DWS, and Michelin Pilots around these parts.

SCWB

that is not the way to measure wheel diameter correctly. Wheel diameter is a measurement of barrel, not from rim.

miragelove

Yes I'm looking at some V12s. The tires are expensive. What do you recommend in terms of best bang for the bucks. I want the cheapest ones possible without compromising safety.

miragelove

Thanks for letting me know. the wheels on my bimmer were 18's and I measured it that way and it came out 18 so I was under that assumption.