19" STERN ST-1 for SC430

ERicincal · 10-28-09, 03:13 AM

All, I just got my Sc430 a few months ago. I love the car but am really becoming unhappy with the ride quality. The tires are noisy and really quite harsh. I feel like my old miatas were smoother in many ways.

I am not sure where to start. Do I change out the suspension first, then get the wheels so it doesnt look strange and so I will know that the wheels wont rub? or just buy the wheels first. I was thinking about these wheels. I liked the look of them. Any thoughts as to how they would fit?

I am looking for a more agressive look, but I dont want to slam the car. I am looking for the right balance of comfort with increased sportiness.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...tem=8068985052

All help is appreciated.

ERicincal · 10-30-09, 11:39 PM

Looks like the link isnt working.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/19-ST...Q5fAccessories

scdroptop · 10-31-09, 10:40 AM

Stern wheels are nice... Those hyper silver/ gunmetal look nice but IMHO you should get 20" chrome staggered for $1k plus shipping. I did and no rubbing. I am not dropping yet and I actually love the look. I may not drop. No rubbing. What color is your car?

ERicincal · 10-31-09, 03:36 PM

Mine is black with the saddle interior. Do you have photos of your car with the wheels on it? I Was thinking of going with 20s. My friend brought over one of his 20 inch rims for the front tire and the thing looked huge! Granted it had 35 series tires on it. I was afraid going 20 inches would cause all sorts of rubbing issues. I really dont want to have to roll fenders.

I was afraid also that the 20 inch rims would make the car ride too hard. Before I bought the SC, I test drove a SL500 with 20s on it, and then an SL55 with 19s on it, and I felt like the ride of the 55 was a lot nicer/ smoother. Also, if the performance of the 19 is better due to the weight, then I would prefer a nicer riding and better performing wheel over a better looking wheel. Is that logic wrong? I am open minded on this issue.

If you can post a few photos, I would really appreciate it. or email if thats easier

terrain · 11-02-09, 01:32 PM

ERincal - IMO you can't compare the SL 550,55 ride with the SC430 - just not in the same "universe". I first drove several SC430's- 07's and 08's and felt the same that you did since I was expecting something closer to our LS, If you liked the SL ride why did you go with a SC -Cost?

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERicincal

Mine is black with the saddle interior. Do you have photos of your car with the wheels on it? I Was thinking of going with 20s. My friend brought over one of his 20 inch rims for the front tire and the thing looked huge! Granted it had 35 series tires on it. I was afraid going 20 inches would cause all sorts of rubbing issues. I really dont want to have to roll fenders.

I was afraid also that the 20 inch rims would make the car ride too hard. Before I bought the SC, I test drove a SL500 with 20s on it, and then an SL55 with 19s on it, and I felt like the ride of the 55 was a lot nicer/ smoother. Also, if the performance of the 19 is better due to the weight, then I would prefer a nicer riding and better performing wheel over a better looking wheel. Is that logic wrong? I am open minded on this issue.

If you can post a few photos, I would really appreciate it. or email if thats easier

hipendicul · 11-02-09, 01:58 PM

The 20" weight and cost thing is wrong. Wheel for wheel and tire for tire, 19s will usually be cheaper and lighter. Just go to any website that sells wheels if you don't belive me. Plus 20" wheels put that weight in a worse spot (towards the outter part).

My car came with 20" cheap-o wheels and while I do like the look of the 20s better (only if your sitting on them right, Btw), the 20s have one big down side vs 19s. Stock tires are 245/40/18 and if you go 20s (plus 2), then the correct size is 245/30/20 tires, which is to say, no side wall at all and those tires ride worse than the run flats..

If you look at most people here on the boards they are running a tires size too big (245/35/20) and that will hurt acceleration, handling, fuel economy, ride height and will rub if you lower (make that really lower) your car.

ERicincal · 11-05-09, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by terrain

ERincal - IMO you can't compare the SL 550,55 ride with the SC430 - just not in the same "universe". I first drove several SC430's- 07's and 08's and felt the same that you did since I was expecting something closer to our LS, If you liked the SL ride why did you go with a SC -Cost?

Actualy, I liked the SL55 a lot more than the SC430. I chose to get the Lexus because it was a lot less flashy. I have a lot of employees, and I dont really want them to think I am doing that well. I dont want a morale killer.

terrain · 11-05-09, 05:17 PM

Haha - never heard that answer before. I'm astonished that you could like the 55 and afford the 55 and settle with the SC - Congrats on your self restraint.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ERicincal

Actualy, I liked the SL55 a lot more than the SC430. I chose to get the Lexus because it was a lot less flashy. I have a lot of employees, and I dont really want them to think I am doing that well. I dont want a moral killer.

Lexiss_sc430 · 10-31-09, 03:54 PM

Our Sc's can fit 20's easily and personally I love the look of 20's

and I just cant justify getting 19's because it costs a couple hundred bucks more each time you want to buy a set of tires.

if you search most of us have 20's, so finding pictures will not be a problem

scdroptop · 10-31-09, 07:21 PM

^^^+1 I had 19"s on my 2002 and I regretting it from day one due to the cost factor...they are practically the same price and the 20's look so much better!

Here are some pics of mine with 20"s not lowered. Not sure if I ever am. got them on eBay. Staggered...20x8.5 front 20x9.5 rear. 245/35/20 fronts and 285/30/20 rear

scdroptop · 10-31-09, 07:21 PM

tires...yoko s drive

ERicincal · 11-02-09, 01:08 AM

Thanks so much for posting these photos. Its interesting that you didnt lower the car. Do you have a photo of the car shot straight from the side? Also, what are the offsets for these wheels? Does the car ride much differently from the 19 to the 20s? I am so scared of the unsprung weight of the 20s.

Lexiss_sc430 · 11-02-09, 01:40 AM

from how I understand it the Unsprung weight is not related to the size of the rim its the WEIGHT!!!!

you can get 20's that weigh less than 19's and BINGO less unsprung weight,
for a car like ours I really don't think you should be too worried about unsprung weight, there are a lot more things that need attention like the boat like handling mush brake feel, and slow acceleration. So don't be too hard on yourself for the few pounds you might gain or loose...

ERicincal · 11-05-09, 11:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lexiss_sc430

from how I understand it the Unsprung weight is not related to the size of the rim its the WEIGHT!!!!

you can get 20's that weigh less than 19's and BINGO less unsprung weight,
for a car like ours I really don't think you should be too worried about unsprung weight, there are a lot more things that need attention like the boat like handling mush brake feel, and slow acceleration. So don't be too hard on yourself for the few pounds you might gain or loose...

I am with you on the issues with the slow acceleration, which is why I dont want to make it worse. In my comparison of the 19s and 20s, I was saying in the same style wheel. I think I read somewhere that every pound you add to the wheel weight was something like 5-10 hp lost ( dont quote me on that). As it is, I have never ridden in a lexus with 20 inch rims and I dont want to go from hating the ride with the run flat tires, to spending $2500+ on 20s and hating the ride. It sounds like the consenus is to get 20s though.. so I guess thats what it will be.

scdroptop · 11-02-09, 10:38 AM

^^^ +1...no diff for me between the 19's on my 2002 and the 20's on my 2005 in "weight" feeling. You can have 18's that are heavier than 20's for that matter!

I have a CPO car and my last had the 3 year/100k Platinum warranty. I was told by the dealer that lowering the car would void some warranty so I've always been shy to do so. Have at it though, by all means...SC's look better dropped slightly with 20's. I just choose not to do it right now due to warranty. In three years...SURE!

In fact, I asked my technician if lowering a car would void my most recent engine and transmission mount job and they said, "yes". That scares me to do that. Not worth it.

Not quite sure what pics you want of my car...please PM me for more specifics. If you want my wheels, eBay has them again. Great deal!!! The offsets are 20 and 25. IMHO they are PERFECT and fill up the wheel well almost 100%. My 19's didn't do that.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/ws/eB...K%3AMEWAX%3AIT