prosgal73

Not many options in my area. If I want the luxury package then I'd have to go with18 inch wheels. I can do without that package but was curious about the different handling characteristics? I'm concerned about mpg and handling. Thanks

SW17LS

MPG it isn't going to make a difference. Handling will actually be better and surer footed on the 18s. Ride however and noise depending on tires will be slightly worse on the 18s than the 17s.

Personally, I would want the UL package AND the 17s, which would require swapping the wheels. But you should drive both and see what you think.

When you drive them, make sure the tires aren't overinflated.

prosgal73

Thanks will do. So many of these cars on the lot have the panoramic roof. Not a fan of that but maybe it's because I'm looking at white as the color

pab12

>I would want the UL package AND the 17s

I agree completely, bigger wheels will have a poorer ride. They will handle marginally better, but with these cars does that really matter?

My '13 has 17" wheels and it handles just fine, it's not a performance car after all (I have a Jaguar V8 for that), it's a luxury car, so why mix things up for style reasons?
=================================
My karma just ran over your dogma
Current Mine: '08 Jaguar S-Type 4.2 "Satin Edition" (250.06 whp / 259.67 torque)
Current Hers: '13 Lexus ES350

lesz

As others have said, the 18 inch wheels should give marginal handling improvements, but those 18 inch wheels will come with a harsher ride and more noise than the 17 inch wheels; however, regardless of which wheels you get, the ES is not going to be a high performance canyon carver.

Gas mileage should be virtually identical with either wheel choice.

The Ultra Luxury package ES 350 vehicles that you find are going to have the 18 inch wheels (and the panoramic roof). But you should not have any trouble finding a Luxury package ES 350 with the 17 inch wheels (and the standard sunroof).

SW17LS

All UL cars have the panoramic roof.

Mike728

I heard they made the pano roof an option on lower models starting in 2016, which is probably why you see more with it, than in the past. I, personally, think it's my favorite option on my ES. Just above the ML audio. What's your issue with it, just the way it looks against the white?

Regarding wheels. The 18's look much better than the 17's. They make the wheel gaps appear smaller. The ride is excellent with them, too. The 17's, which I never even considered, or tested, should offer a softer ride by design. Something I don't feel is needed, but everyone's different. Have you driven on both? Only you can make the determination on their necessity.

prosgal73

The pano roof does seem nice and looks great on other Colored cars, but for reason it's just the way it looks on white that I don't like, probably my own hangup. Only just drove the 17s but there's a dealership further away that is stocking the 18s so plan to go on a test drive when I head out that way in a couple wks. Limited selection in my area, they're all packaged the same way around. Strangely there's a lot without navigation but not sure I want to consider that...ill probably purchase in the next couple of months so waiting for 2017 isn't a option so I'm searching around to see if I can find something. A lot parchment interior around too, but I'll stick to black. Although heard there's a gray interior around locally, not sure how that would look never seen that. Thanks for the tips everyone!

wasjr

Just as an FYI, a buddy of mine is buying a new 350 today and all the 350s at the dealership with the Luxury package also include the option "17" X 7JJ SPLIT 10-SPOKE HIGH GLOSS ALUM ALLOY".

azipod

I upgraded from the 17" to the 18" OEM wheels on my ES300h. I found a dealer getting rid of a new set that only had 10-miles on it. I guess some buyer didn't want the factory 18" and probably went after-market straight off the lot.

The 18" makes the car look a heck of a lot better. There are no difference in fuel economy. In fact, I got about .5 to 1.0 mpg better with the 18", but I think the difference here had more to do with the tire.

There is a very slight noise increase with the 18". However, it is so slight that I doubt anyone would notice if you were not paying attention. Ride wise, the 18" gave more road feel to the car which alone to me, is a winner. Comfort wise, I think they are both the same. The 18" makes the car feel a bit more taut, which does not necessarily translate to being uncomfortable. You'll simply feel more of the road -- which is really a good thing.

I personally like the 18" setup a lot more.

SW17LS

Eh, when I buy this sort of car I want to feel as little of the road as possible.

lesz

The same is true for me. If I wanted to feel the road and if I bought an ES, I would have bought the wrong car. If I wanted to feel the road, I would have bought an IS or a GS or a BMW.

For me, I don't want to feel the road, but I also don't want a ride that makes me feel like I'm floating on waves, and I think that the ES fits that bill quite well with the 17 inch wheels. When I've driven in ES vehicles with the 18 inch wheels, I have seen a noticeable difference with regard to the harshness of the ride (and noise).

SW17LS

Yep, I agree. In fact when I bought my LS I felt the same sort of trade off between the 18s and 19s. The car looks better on the 19s, as the ES does on the 18s but on this sort of car I don't think the look is worth any trade off in ride, since ride is one of the selling points for both models.

shaunm

17" for better ride. 18" for better look. Michelin tires a must. Run from Bridgestone OEMs that Lexus is putting on these days.

I wanted 17" but dealer wouldn't swap them. UNTIL yesterday when the NAV issue came up so quickly in my new car. He said, so sorry, what can I do. I said 17" please. They did it! Good dealer. A shame Ultra Luxury makes you get 18".

SW17LS

Yeah the OEM Bridgestones are terrible...