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Need help buying aftermarket wheels for my '05 ES330!
Please help! My old chrome 17" rims on my '05 ES330 started leaking air so I needed to replace. The last time I bought tires several years ago I increased size from a 215/55/17 to a 225/55/17, as that was what they had in stock and the sales person said it would be fine. They were no problem. Bought new rims recently, 17" x 8", and the tires started rubbing mainly in the rear. Went back to tire store and they insisted the rim were the same exact size and I should take car to mechanic to check suspension. Mechanic says it's the rims fault due to incorrect offset, which is 40+. I can't confirm what my oem rims offset were, some places I read 45+, some said 50+. They insisted the rims should work, and switched my rear tires back to 215/55/17. Still rubbed, but not as bad. Went back, got new rims, 17" x 7.5" with offset of 45+, and went back to 225/55/17 tires to match front tires. Still rubs, but even less than before. So now I have to go back and probably try to go back to 215/55/17, or try to find rims with offset of 50+. I don't know what to do, as the tire guys keep insisting the previous rim and tire combos all should not have been rubbing. My mechanic believes there is nothing wrong with my suspension, especially since problem didn't occur until I switched rims. Thoughts/advice? Thanks in advance
A wider rim, different offset, and a wider, taller tire (225/55) will certainly change things. You didn't say where they are rubbing; but most likely it is because of offset and incorrect rim width more than tire size choice. I've been looking into this (sizing 17" rims and tires - another post just below a few days ago), and I would not vary from the correct size rim and the correct diameter tire. I would use a rim sized as above and either 215/55 or 225/50-17. Personally I would get the correct rim size and offset, and then 225/50-17 tires (which is 3/8" wider than OE, but the same diameter), or the stock size. But not 225/55-17 (which is 3/8" wider and about 1/2" taller than OE).
Given that they gave you wider tires and wider rims with less offset, that means there was more wheel/tire on the inside of the wheel well, but relatively the same position at the wheel arch of the body panel. Thus, I think instead of rubbing at the body they are likely rubbing against the coil shelf on the strut when it compresses. So while they got the wheel size roughly correct as a cross-application, it wasn't compatible with the suspension geometry. Especially with the oversized tires.
Agreed with Oro. When I had my 05 ES, the stock tire size is 215/55/17 and rim size is 17 x 7 +50mm (its casted into the back of the OEM rim).
You need to start again with a stock rim size and go from there. You might want to look into used OEM wheels from newer Lexus or Toyota models.
Thanks so much for your help and input. Sorry I forgot to tell where it was rubbing. It only rubs when I go over bumps, and it only seems to be on the outside of the tire (body side), and not rubbing on struts. We can see the cuts on the outer rim of the tire, and the tire tech said the inside looks ok. It makes total sense now that I know that the width is 7, not 8, and that the offset is 50+, not 40-45+. Didn't realize it was going to be this difficult to get new rims! What has been throwing me off is the tire techs keep insisting that the rims/tires they put on should work and claimed he had the exact same car and was able to put larger rims and tires on his without a problem, making me think that there is something wrong with my car. . He was also recommending rolling the edges on the wheel well, but the fact that they are a tire store and not a body shop, I am very hesitant. I'll give them a call on Monday, and see what they tell me this time. Thanks again!
So the store have me 2 options that they had in stock because it was unsafe to drive away with my wheels rubbing. One choice was these plain matte finish rims, and these black rims. The tech insisted black rims are the thing now and didn't advise getting chrome, being that we live in the PNW. Trying to get used to the look, but don't know that I can. Thoughts on black rims?
I don't think I'd have done black wheels with the color of your car personally. Something like a brushed(aluminum/steel) or polished look would look better in my opinion.
But you have them now so what's done is done, where are you located? Curious what options you have with tint laws. Are you opposed to having the car tinted? I'd do a 5% tint the back half and 35 or 20% the front driver and passenger windows. And maybe a black vinyl wrap chrome trim delete around the windows/doors. Something to balance out the black wheels.
He is right, they are the "thing" now. I don't particularly love them, but lots of people do.
I DO think the design of those wheels is good, though the black makes it stand out less. What matters is if you like it.
BTW, you didn't keep your old wheels, did you?
No, I wish I did though now that I know they may have been repaired or resold.
So I couldn't get used to them. I checked a few other places, but ended up back at the same store but different location. They had a few other options that weren't black. I ended up exchanging for these machined silver rims which aren't my favorite but I can live with them. Sorry the pics aren't so good. It's pouring outside today!
Had to stick with same exact size, not wanting to risk going through all the trouble again!
I don't think I'd have done black wheels with the color of your car personally. Something like a brushed(aluminum/steel) or polished look would look better in my opinion.
But you have them now so what's done is done, where are you located? Curious what options you have with tint laws. Are you opposed to having the car tinted? I'd do a 5% tint the back half and 35 or 20% the front driver and passenger windows. And maybe a black vinyl wrap chrome trim delete around the windows/doors. Something to balance out the black wheels.
so they let me exchange the rims at a different location (see pics above), but I think I will still tint the windows. Especially after the hot summer we had. I live in Seattle, and I believe the law is at least 24% VLT front side windows, and as dark as you want in the back. Thanks for the input. That sounds like a good plan.
08-03-17, 12:23 AM
Need help buying aftermarket wheels for my '05 ES330!
