Decker5

Just ordered an RC 350 F-sport RWD and need to purchase a set of winter wheels/tires. Unfortunateley I haven't been able to find out what I can downsize to. My closest guess was to look at the IS-F and looks like it can fit 225/45R18. Will I have any issues with this setup? Looks like the non fsport version has 235/45R18 as standard tires. Let me know what size 18" tires will fit.

Thanks for the help.

waynesreef

Since you are from MI, is any reasons you ordered the RWD version rather than AWD. Please do a search in the RC F forum, I saw a guy purchased a set of winter tires for his RC F.

keithkva

Decker5,
I'm in the exact same boat. I've spent the last two weeks trying to find tires. Unfortunately, there just isn't anything out there yet that'll work with the car. I had my dealership call engineering at Lexus as well and they just don't have a solution at this time but they don't think this will be a problem for next winter.
My dealer suggested to buy a cheap clunker for the winter, because any other solution will probably cost more. They were originally going to suggest 18" rims and tires too, but once they found out it was an f-sport model with the rear steering they said it wouldn't work.

Pirelli makes a set that's close to what we would need, but there's a Porsche specific tread for the front wheels and different tread on the fronts and backs means not compatible. The biggest problem I've seen so far is the 96v rating on the fronts. Most tires in that size are only 92.

tfischer

I live in southern Ohio, which is pretty far south from MI, and I insisted on AWD. Let these messages go forth to those considering the RC that AWD in the northern climes is a wise expenditure.
At first I was concerned that I would be disappointed at going from 8 to 6 speeds, but, after real time driving, the 6 is fine and I would go crazy trying to use 8 with the paddle shifters; I think 6 makes their use a bit more fun (which I gather is their function) and surely I would use them less if I had to deal with 8 gears (I think).
Anyway, anyone north of Mason and Dixon's line should seriously consider the AWD version, and that consideration should be proportional to the distance.

Decker5

AWD vs RWD is a personal choice. I drove a 2010 IS 350 RWD for 4 winters here with no issues with winter tires. I would argue anybody with RWD with winter tires is much better off than AWD with all seasons. I'm just trying to find out what 18" tire/wheel setup has worked for anyone on this forum.

tfischer

Absent legislation on the drive issue, of course it's a personal choice. It just looks to me from the first few posts here that AWD would be the less expensive and more convenient option for RC buyers than RWD plus winter tires, at least for the time being.