onsknht

The goal isn't the make the wheel & tire combo larger overall... Remember changes in tire sizing will affect your speedometer and if you have NAV, it may become less accurate. Instead, plus sizing refers to using larger wheels and lower profile tires while still maintaining the same or close to original tire & wheel diameter.

The big tradeoff... Rubber filled with air is more forgiving than aluminum.

lvdrumn

For your stock rim size, you won't want to replace good tires just to add 10cm in width. Only if your tires need replacing, and you want to keep the stock OE wheels, would I consider going to a 225/50/17.

Remember, the over diameter of the OE tire size (215/55/17) is 26.3 inches. If you want a different size tire (17", 18" or 19") you have to keep the overall diameter very close to the 26.3 inches.

LvDrumn

dreyfus

Yes, I realize we want to keep the diameter as close to stock (26.3") as possible, and I'm not a fan of low profile tires as I'm not willing to trade a comfortable ride for the low profile styling.

I was wondering how wide a tire could be fit onto our stock rims. For example, a 265/45/17 would be a close fit, diameter-wise, but I don't know if it's too wide for our OEM wheels.

This is for when my original tires wear out.

twister

LvDrumn, I was originally considering going from our stock 215/55/17 to 225/45/18. The more I read about, the more understanding I get about improvement in car handling (with a tradeoff in ride quality). BUT, one things nobody mentioned is the safety and handling in the bad weather. Showing off with a new set of wheels is nice on a sunny day cruising down the perfect straight road. How about handling over the bumps, driving in the rain, and the most important for us here on East Coast - going through a foot of snow and ice? I'm more concerned about snow and ice than other factors. Didn't even realized that a few of my friends at work actually have set of summer and winter wheels for this reason. Wider wheels have a bigger weight distribution over the larger area which creates more hazzard going through a heavy rain and a hard time pulling in the snow even with front wheel drive. What is your take on this? It looks like you are from CA, so you probably don't have much experience with your wheels through a snow. I wish someone on East Coast can answer this question based on their experience with a wheel switch and difference in handling in a bad weather and snow...

toneman

265 will almost undoubtedly be too wide for the OEM 17" wheel...you're talking an additional almost two inches of tread width; that in itself doesn't mean that a 265 tire has to go on a rim that's two inches wider than the OEM wheel, but you'll definitely need a wheel whose width is properly sized for that tread size...and the OEM wheel won't fit that bill.

onsknht

Good point!!!!

I put plus sized wheels on a V-dub back in the late 80's, not for bling but for corners, combined with coils the car was amazing around turns! Hook a turn and would rail on three wheels!

Anyway the car met it's demise when during a sudden downpour at 45mph on the tollway. It got washed by a semi and hydroplaned on water collected in wheel grooves near the bottom of an overpass, freak thing because we were going so slow... Slid sideways to the left, oversteer right and hit the semi-trailer in the mid marker light, A-piller almost through the head of my passenger, spun around to left and hit the center wall.... Only accident I've ever been in and I've been sideways in 6500lb vehicles with 3500lbs of trailer attached!

Druha

where's this thread?

JRICH

My es on 20's.

Kept it classy, but edgy. Wish the car would allow wider rims though.

JRICH

JRICH

another pic......

Druha

lookin good, very nice.

VegasIS300

iTrader: (1)

Very nice! How wide are your rims?

jkayca

I love it! Sexy and classy looking.

Druha

I got used hypersilver IS300 17x7 +50 wheels for C$540 using oem michelin's, and 90% tread Yokohama 225/55/17 Guardex F721 for $515 (swapped, mounted, balanced) Although I wish I had 19s, I'm glad with my wheels for only $1000. Not my first choice of wheels, but no complaints especially for the price.

Look at how close the front brakes are.

VegasIS300

iTrader: (1)

Very nice! Makes me miss my IS...

JRICH

My rims are 20x8.....I think it would look better with 9 or 10 inch wide wheel. But the car will not accept it. My father has a Merc E class, we have the same size tire but his wheels are wider and the look is nicer.

That being said, I do get compliments on the car. I am thinking about lowering it. I thought there was a thread about this with someone who lowered and es with Camry aftermarket springs/coilovers. Cannot find it anymore?!?

Thanks for the kind words,
JRICH