okielex

Hey guys, I am looking at buying some 20" wheels for my 2000 GS300. The exact size is 255/35ZR20 up front and 285/30ZR20 in the rear, they all are 8.5" wide. What kind of issues am I going to run into by putting these large wheels on my car.....how much different is my car going to handle, ride, brake from the stock version and difference in road noise???. Do I have to upgrade the brakes for this type of mod? I really do not want any change in my stock suspension feel, because it rides so nice now....but will it look goofy without it lowered a bit?

Let me know your thoughts people!!!!

Thanks! Spence

D2-AUTOSPORT

First off, if your gonna run a 8.5" rim all the way around, you wont be needing those 285s out back.

Secondly, if you run a 255-35-20 up front, you must have a CAREFULLY chosen wheel offset in order to drop without rubbing, and trust me, with 20" wheels, you WANT a drop!!LOL

There are lots of posts about 20s around, for the most part:

Slower acceleration
Major bumps more pronounced,
Cost of repair/replacement etc etc

rominl

iTrader: (4)

with 20s you have to be very careful coz' it's out of spec. 255/35/20 is very marginal and offset if very important, otherwise you will hit the suspension bolt on the suspension, very bad idea. and yes you shouldn't put 285 in the back on just 8.5... that's for staggered setup. with 20s rubbing is usually the major problem, specially if you lower it. you can easily hit the top (synergy, jawnthen), or hit the outer fender tab. and when hard lock turn, you will most likely rub the front and back of the fender

PHML

iTrader: (33)

Hey Okie -

For 20x8.5 all around...I'd say 245/30/20 tires all around is best. Make sure the wheel clears the brake calipers....thus, the offset is critical....otherwise fender/caliper rubbing will occur (assuming you have already dropped the car). If the wheel comes in High Disk....even better.

Wald GS

iTrader: (1)

I agee with my boy D and also the lack of stopping power in a way..

D2-AUTOSPORT

Good one, Bryan, gotta add that to my list!!

JacobT

But with TC and LSD installed, you'll make it up for the acceleration loss And with big brake upgrade, you also add on to your stopping power That's why I do not see any disadvantage of installing 20's but only increasing the GS street appearance I went to Costco the other day and the guy at the door stopped me from rest of the customers just trying to find out what rims and sizes I have on my car

D2-AUTOSPORT

you could not be more correct man, the day i put my 20s on the car, I came home and started researching the 3.76 gears and LSD, the taller gearing really hampers the acceleration and because the 400 is a fast car, you can really FEEL the difference!!

For brakes, I got the Rotora pads already installed, I'll probably just add Bradi X-drilled rotors to help out!!

BLu_Gs3

So umm . . whats the final size on 20's? cause im about to get me a set real soon . . and i wanna drop my car about 1.5 -2in. and whats a good offset to have the car dropped??

rominl

iTrader: (4)

to be safe for no rubbing (assume it clear whateve brakes you have), 20x8.5+38 and 20x10+44 is definitely safe enough. my setup is more aggressive