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Whats up guys, I'm a 21 year old ct owner from the bay area. This is my first lexus, and the first car I've ever bought from a dealership. It's a 2015 18-month lease return with 29k miles. Had it for about 3 months now and I'm really loving the mpg's
Planning on going low, since I've driven nothing but slammed cars as long as I've had a license but might just do the F sport lowering springs to preserve the warranty. Wanted to go crazy with fitment, but this is my commuter for my 60 mile/day commute so I do want it to be functional as possible, no rubs. I do have experience rolling/pulling fenders and I'm not afraid to do so.
Any fitment recommendations are welcome! thinking 18x9 to be safe, thought about 19x8.5-9.5, but want to go with a thicker rubber to smooth out the bumpy mountain roads I have to drive sometimes.
Here is is, a long with the rest of my garage:
2005 Audi A4 1.8T quattro (currently on 19x10 rotiform spf's):
I wasn't happy with the F Sport spring drop so I will be installing BC coils next weekend. Its a even drop but the rear wheel wells are cut lower and kinda gives the appearance of a reverse rack or squatty rear. I currently run the F Sport lowering springs with Forgestar f14 18x8.5f 18x9.5r both +38. Also, the rear wheels are sunk in about 12mm more then the front, so a square setup will poke more up front then in the rear. Hope that helps.
I wasn't happy with the F Sport spring drop so I will be installing BC coils next weekend. Its a even drop but the rear wheel wells are cut lower and kinda gives the appearance of a reverse rack or squatty rear. I currently run the F Sport lowering springs with Forgestar f14 18x8.5f 18x9.5r both +38. Also, the rear wheels are sunk in about 12mm more then the front, so a square setup will poke more up front then in the rear. Hope that helps.
That's with the f sports? looks pretty high up front. but still must be better than the stock f sports. I run BC coilovers on my a4, and although they're not as stiff as I'd like, they're really comfortable and easy to live with. but you have to get the "extreme low" springs with them if you want to be slammed. I have the regular BR type springs on my audi, and the perches are fully slammed in the back and almost fully slammed in the front. Not as low as I'd like, but its the lowest they'll go. Not sure if the ones for the CT are similar. the black AG's I used to run on my audi were the same size as your forgestars, but 19's. staggered, ET 35 and ET40. And I hated how fast I ran through my rear tires. Probably not as bad with FWD though. I definitely want a square set for the lexus, as I do a lot of miles and want to keep it economical. 18 instead of 19 to keep tire cost down too. It sounds like I'll need to run a 18x9 +38 or even +40 with maybe a 5mm spacer in back to look good. I've noticed my other three cars poke more up front with a square set. I think it's common on most cars.
Also, if you want to sell your springs I'll buy them. Just PM me.
Welcome lexxlugerr. I have 18's and if I could buy again I'd get 19's. 19's would not only fill up the wheel well a lot better, but also would prevent more front lip scraping on driveways and such by having the car up a little more. I also have Tanabe coils, can check out my stance through link on sig. Also note, getting rims will lower your MPG a good amount. I lost about 4 :|
Last edited by RonSwanson; Apr 9, 2017 at 11:50 PM.
Welcome lexxlugerr. I have 18's and if I could buy again I'd get 19's. 19's would not only fill up the wheel well a lot better, but also would prevent more front lip scraping on driveways and such by having the car up a little more. I also have Tanabe coils, can check out my stance through link on sig. Also note, getting rims will lower your MPG a good amount. I lost about 4 :
You probably lost mpg's because of the weight. Cheaper wheels like enkei's tend to be heavier than you realize. Lighter wheels, rotiforms, avante gardes, HRE's, work, forgestar, etc. generally won't affect your mpg's much despite the extra tire weight and the extra rubber on the ground. I would get 19's, but I've already had a few sets of 19's on my A4, and in comparison to the S60R on 18s that it replaced, 18 inch tires are DIRT cheap. I plan on going through a set of tires every year with the CT, and that's why an 18" square set is a must.
I bought this car to be my economy car(; I already have my audi getting sub 15 mpg's and burning through $1000 in tires every 10k miles And I also have to drive the worst highways in the country every day, don't think my *** could handle skinny 19 inch rubber for an hour and a half every day haha
You probably lost mpg's because of the weight. Cheaper wheels like enkei's tend to be heavier than you realize. Lighter wheels, rotiforms, avante gardes, HRE's, work, forgestar, etc. generally won't affect your mpg's much despite the extra tire weight and the extra rubber on the ground. I would get 19's, but I've already had a few sets of 19's on my A4, and in comparison to the S60R on 18s that it replaced, 18 inch tires are DIRT cheap. I plan on going through a set of tires every year with the CT, and that's why an 18" square set is a must.
I bought this car to be my economy car(; I already have my audi getting sub 15 mpg's and burning through $1000 in tires every 10k miles And I also have to drive the worst highways in the country every day, don't think my *** could handle skinny 19 inch rubber for an hour and a half every day haha
Enkei Raijin = 20.7 lbs.
OEM wheel = ~24 lbs.
My tires are lighter than the stock Michelins.
To the guy that posted above me about the F sport springs, I have them on my '12 as well, but I have no where as much wheel gap as you do, but then again I'm on OEM sizing, but not sure if your aftermarket wheels have thinner sidewall, etc.
OP, car looks good, your audi is a nice touch too, my s2000 is pretty low and I feel like the CT is the first car I've owned in my stable (10th car and running) where I don't have to worry about bumps or dips as much.
To the guy that posted above me about the F sport springs, I have them on my '12 as well, but I have no where as much wheel gap as you do, but then again I'm on OEM sizing, but not sure if your aftermarket wheels have thinner sidewall, etc.
OP, car looks good, your audi is a nice touch too, my s2000 is pretty low and I feel like the CT is the first car I've owned in my stable (10th car and running) where I don't have to worry about bumps or dips as much.
Enjoy your stay.
Do you have the OEM rims? I've been thinking of getting F springs because of the warranty. I was wondering how low the car looks on its stock wheels. I think there is about a finger gap of wheel space. My only concern is that the wheels seem to be about .78 inches inside (from face of tire to the fender flushed) both front and back. I was just wondering how that looks or would you need spacers? I'd like to have my wheels atleast flush to the fender or just about. I don't really want my wheels to show as if its wearing a dress lol... I plan on getting 18" down the road..
Do you have the OEM rims? I've been thinking of getting F springs because of the warranty. I was wondering how low the car looks on its stock wheels. I think there is about a finger gap of wheel space. My only concern is that the wheels seem to be about .78 inches inside (from face of tire to the fender flushed) both front and back. I was just wondering how that looks or would you need spacers? I'd like to have my wheels atleast flush to the fender or just about. I don't really want my wheels to show as if its wearing a dress lol... I plan on getting 18" down the road..
I am in the same boat as you as getting 18" down the road.
To answer your question though, yes I do have oem wheels, just the 17" trident f sport wheels.
I am in the same boat as you as getting 18" down the road.
To answer your question though, yes I do have oem wheels, just the 17" trident f sport wheels.
That looks pretty good. I like the drop on it. And you said F sport springs right? It will look meaner and wheel gaps more closed with the 18s down the road.. Now I know what mine would sort of look like. Thanks.
I really depends on the way you look at the car or take the picture. Mine looks lower (or fills the gap) in the picture with stock wheels, even thought my 18s are about a 1/2' taller, 215/45/17 compared to 225/40/18. It could be my 18s sit flush to the fender and the stocks are tucked in. It also seems the F Sport lowering spring vary per car and year. I'll try and get a full side view before I install my coils and see if it makes a difference.
lexxlugerr - any cast wheel is going to be heavier then stock wheels. TSW, Enkie and Forgestars are rotary forged cast, which is lighter. My forgestars are 18/20lbs. I wanted to get rotiform kps wheels but they're 35lb for a 18x8.5.
@lexxlugerr Nice garage collection you got there man. For your wheels what size tires were you looking at? 40r? If you stretch like a 215/40r on a 18x9 wheel you can most likely fit it without any camber mods and rolling (front and rear). The rear wheel well on CTs are huge if youre willing to camber. The front on the CT are ok, but not much options for camber.
edit: assuming youre dropping the car about 3-4" lol
Last edited by squid808; Apr 11, 2017 at 04:14 PM.
It's sounding like f sport springs with 18x9's and 225r40's is going to be my best option for functionality. And about what I said about those aftermarket 18's dropping your gas mileage, I didn't mean just weight. Even if the wheels are the same weight, but have a larger diameter, rotating inertia increases greatly. That paired with the increased rolling resistance if you're running wider tires, and you can easily lose 5 mpg's or more. Your wheels have to be a lotttt lighter than the oem ones to counteract the increased rotating inertia and rolling resistance to match OEM fuel economy if they're a larger diameter.
It's sounding like f sport springs with 18x9's and 225r40's is going to be my best option for functionality. And about what I said about those aftermarket 18's dropping your gas mileage, I didn't mean just weight. Even if the wheels are the same weight, but have a larger diameter, rotating inertia increases greatly. That paired with the increased rolling resistance if you're running wider tires, and you can easily lose 5 mpg's or more. Your wheels have to be a lotttt lighter than the oem ones to counteract the increased rotating inertia and rolling resistance to match OEM fuel economy if they're a larger diameter.
Anyway, you're going to lose MPG with those specs regardless of wheel/tire brand. I bought low rolling resistance to try to alleviate the MPG loss, but it's still going to happen. Also, FYI the calculated MPG on the center console is inflated by ~2MPG.
New /L certified '15 CTF owner
but might just do the F sport lowering springs to preserve the warranty. Wanted to go crazy with fitment, but this is my commuter for my 60 mile/day commute so I do want it to be functional as possible, no rubs. I do have experience rolling/pulling fenders and I'm not afraid to do so.
