RX989

Hey, I have a bit of a problem; I ordered a set of the 18s from the 330. I outfitted them with a set of Yokohamas 255/55-18 AVS tires. Although upon installation, the tires rubbed on the back shocks. (Didn’t even test the fronts after that was discovered) This was very odd since I run a set of 255/65-16 Cross-terrains and they don’t have a problem. I asked about spacers and the dealer said they refused to install them because of the danger issues with them. Now I know the 16s are a +38 offset and the 18s are a +35 so that may be the problem? I asked around town and the consensus seems to be that spacers are a very bad option and out of the six local shops here, not even one was willing to do an install with spacers and that includes Tire Rack (I live in South Bend so I can drive right over). Now I am faced with going to a smaller tire 235/60-18. I asked about the 235/55 but Lexus stated that the load capacity on those is far below what is recommended for the RX. So I am now faced with going to a tire that 2 inches taller than stock and losing the lo-profile look… IF anyone knows any ways around this any help would be appreciated!!!
Thanks
Andrew

RX989

I guess a more specific question would be are spacers really that bad of an option? Is not, why are shops so hesitant to install them? And what mm spacing would I need?
Thanks
Andrew

Swing913

iTrader: (1)

If your rear tire rubs ur shocks, then you have to exchange ur tires. 255/55/18 is too big for the stock 18" wheel. Try going 235/50/18 and it should fit no problem. And by the way, you don't need any spacers. The stock wheel is +38 and the new wheel is +35. According to what i know, +35 makes the wheel sticks out even farther away then the +38.

As for spacers go, Daddy-O just put 4 spacers on. It is dangerous to use spacers if you didn't buy the H&R 25mm one becuz that's the only one with the bolt-on application meaning that the spacers comes with longer studs already. Other spacers is just a spacer, you have to take out the brakes and take out the original studs to replace them with longer ones and the job is a pain in the *** for 4 wheels.

jeremyp111

I just put on some ADR Kasai Chrome wheels that are 18x8, 38ET with 235/55/18 Michelin Energy MXV4 tires and it fits perfectly. No rubbing and no spacers needed. The RX330 wheel has a 35mm offset as stated above so if you go with the 235/55/18 tire (which is the stock size on the RX330s then you should have more clearance than I do and won't need spacers. 235/55/18 is the perfect size to keep the rolling diameter as close as possible. The only downside to this size is that there are only two tires available. The Michelin Energy MXV4 and the Goodyear Eagle RSA. I chose the Michelin and love it.

To answer your question on spacers: Try to avoid spacers if at all possible. I ordered a set of H&R 15mm spacers thinking that I was going to need them but didn't. I chose the 15mm cuz it was the smallest spacer that they sold that has a hub ring (60.1mm-same as RX300 hub) and would have been hub centric to the car hub and to the wheel. This installation puts more stress on the new studs which are 15mm longer than stock studs so you have enough threads to grab to be safe. If you go to the 25mm adapters, then they bolt on to hub and have studs press fitted in the adapter that are used to mount the wheel to. These adapters also have a hub centric fit. These adapters are probrably a little safer because they are basically an extension to the RX300's hub, but will put a lot more strain on the wheel bearings. So, again, try to avoid them if possible.

Here is a pic of my car with the new wheels. Post one of yours when done!

Good luck,

JP

o8yb

wow just putting a 18 to a rx300 already so troublesome. I should not even think to put a 20" to my 330

jeremyp111

Actually, 20's are no problem at all. With any aftermarket wheel combo you decide to go with you just have to be sure that you test fit the wheel for clearance before mounting the tires.

Here is a formula that works pretty well for sizing up a wheel combo for the RX300.

(tire width in mm/25.4) /2 + .5 + (offset/25.4) = checkspace

example:
(235/25.4) /2 + .5 + (38/25.4) = 6.63

This is a formula I found on another site that was helpful to me when I went through this debacle. The example is for my wheels and this combo gives me about 1/3 of an inch of clearance between the tire and rear strut.

Also be sure to keep the rolling diameter as close to stock as possibe +/- 3% at most.

Good luck.

ydlee24

If I was to get 20's what tire size do you recommend? And does it have to be 20x8.5 or wider? And do you think 22's will fit and what size tire? Thanks.

jeremyp111

for 20" tires you should go with 255/50/20 and look for a 8" to 8.5" wide rim with an offset around 20-25mm. I don't think 22's will fit because of the clearance issues with the rear strut and the fact that the tire on a 22 would have to be REALLY thin to work. I don't know of anyone running anything larger than 20's on a RX300. Anyone else?

Hope this helps ya

JP

DJayday88

Australian

I have 19 " on mine now F sport style same offset 35 used to have rx330 wheels 17s. Looks awesome.

maorsela

Mine are posted here:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ew-wheels.html

Broc

It's all about the off-set. The RX 300 came with 6.5 inch wide wheels with 38mm positive offset. That means the the hub is 38mm out away from the ideal center line of the rims. 38mm is roughly 1 1/2". So the inside of an OEM rim was about 1 3/4 from the ideal center line. How wide are your 18's?

If the rim width goes up, the offset needs to keep the inner lip in about the same place (or it'll rub). So if you went to 8" rims you need to move the hub to the ideal center line or maybe go negative offset ...

Wheel spacers work. You need to install them with thread locker so they don't work loose. And you need to buy "hub-centric" spacers for 60.1mm Toyota hubs. But all that stuff is out there. Off road guys been using wheel spacers for ever. I just bought a set of four 1" spacers for a future RX project so I can buy wider wheels with the factory offset and the tires will clear.

Whether you use wheels with built in reduced offset, or do it with wheel spacers is up to you. But you'll likely have to do it yourself. Shops will shy away from stuff like this. Maybe a 4x4 shop will set you up

Check out this thread for a look at wheels with little positive offset: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...r-replace.html