stunt66

Finally got the new rims/tires installed yesterday on the wifes rx. The rims are TSW vortex in chrome 20x8.5 with a +20 offset, tires are 255/45/20. The +20 offset is the way to go for sure on an 20x8.5 rim, the fronts are flush and the backs are pretty close. Before you go and buy rims make sure you do the research about the offsets. They ride really nice but thats probably because we went with the biggest tire we could without messing the car up. I'll take some pics of the fenders tonight to show how they sit. These look close to a factory RX rim, and were also using the lexus center caps. Tell me what you think fellas?

Carver

Beautiful! Very factory, I'm not a big fan of AM designed rims but I could live with those.

diverchris

very nice looking

stunt66

If you're not a fan of aftermarket Carver, you would've hated these with a passion. These were my wifes first choice, even though its her ride I couldnt let her do this to the RX

Carver

All these wheels look like WW1 German Army medals to me. If the wheel demands to be judged on it's own then it is too much for the design of the car. The car just becomes a display mechanism for the wheel. The car should be the cohesive sum of it's parts, if anything you put on the car detracts from that cohesion it's a mistake.

The wheel you put on your car adds to it's appearance, it makes it better. The other wheel would not have worked.

Howiefied

Looks great! Not too blingy.

tfischer

I don't have any strong opinion one way or the other regarding the resulting look, other than to wonder if the reduced sidewall height will result in a harsher ride.

stunt66

I rarely drive this car but the day we got them installed i drove it all day on the factory 17's until our appt at 4:00 and to be honest the ride difference was not what i expected. For sure I thought the ride would be a lot rougher but to be honest it wasn't, it actually felt a lot tighter handling wise. We did go with the biggest tire we could without effecting the speedo too much. The Rx's can handle a pretty decent sized tire on a 20" rim. Thanks for the comments fellas

Here's a pic of how they sit on the front fender

jadu

iTrader: (42)

nice wheels 20's suit it a lot better

tfischer

Larger wheels usually require a tire with a smaller sidewall, so that the outside diameter still fits in the car's wheelwell. Smaller sidewalls give better handling because they do not give as much in a lateral direction during cornering. For the same reason, with less height, there is less of an air cushion to absorb road imperfections. "The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'," as they say (although usually in a different context).
It's all pretty simple physics, so a larger wheel (and the same diameter tire) will result in better handling in corners and a harsher ride. Other aspects of the tire and the car's suspension will determine the degree to which those changes are apparent to the driver.
My observation is simply that changing wheels changes more than just the appearance of the car.

stunt66

Not really too sure where all this rough ride talk/physics lesson is going tfischer? I agree too that plus sizing on rims doesnt only change the appearance. my wife hasnt said anything once about her car riding rougher so i'm pretty sure the ride is ok.

And when it comes to "The bigger the cushion, the better the pushin'," i fully agree on that lol

tfischer

I'm not sure either, but I think it's gone.
By the way, what's a "dub"?

stunt66

Slang term for 20" and up rims lol
I never use the word in real life though, on the internet is where i go gangster mode j/k

Carver

Yes indeed, I believe my shizzle has been nizzled by your new rims.

tfischer

I know enough to know that it's not "gangster mode," but always "gansta mode."
Those gannstas love their modes.