nelsona

Hello,

I'm currently looking at purchasing a fully loaded CPO 2014 ES 350 and was contemplating asking the dealer to swap the 18" liquid graphite rims (using Michelins) for 17" rims (using Michelins).

Out of curiosity, does anyone have any regrets about using 18" rims on your ES 350?

I do like the look of the 18" on the ES 350, but if the 17"'s are much more comfortable, then it might be worth it.

One thing to keep in mind is that my previous vehicle was a 2000 Acura Integra (at one point with sporty suspension), so I doubt 18" would be unbearable for me personally, but I'm no longer looking for a sporty / spirited drive (hence why I'm purchasing an ES 350).

Any thoughts?

Thank you,
Nelson

EJC

I just got a '16 with the 18" wheels. We just finished a 900mi drive and was very happy with them

jollick

My 2015 ES350 has the 18" rims with Michelin tires and the difference is very small if at all in ride quality and noise from my 2013 ES300h with 17" rims and Michelin tires. I would stick with the 18's.

azipod

I love the 18s. Nice improvement (to me) over the 17s. The 18s gets the driver more connected to the road -- which is really what Lexus intended for the 6th gen ES anyway. While the old-school Lexus folks may not find this to be appealing, it nevertheless is really what is keeping Lexus successful. No longer are Lexus' known as big floaty futons going down the highway .... they can be rewarding to drive as well!

Funny thing is that BMW has been going the opposite in recent years. Their cars are now much more comfy and less engaging to drive! Interesting twist for both companies!

nelsona

@Everyone: Thank you for your response. I'll stick with the 18"'s for now. Nelson

lesz

I think that the wisest thing that you could do would be to drive an ES with 18 inch wheels and another with 17 inch wheels after making sure that the tires on both are properly inflated to 33 psi. What you prefer might well be in agreement with the opinions of those who reply to this thread, but there is probably just as much chance that your conclusion will differ from that of those who post in this thread.

You are going to find people who have a strong preference for the 18 inch wheels, but you will find just as many others who have a strong preference for the 17 inch wheels. There definitely is a difference in ride quality.

For what it is worth (which isn't much), I prefer the ride quality of the ES with the 17 inch wheels, and I found that the ride with 18 inch wheels was harsher than I would have liked in a vehicle like the ES. For me, the ride quality was more important than any cosmetic advantage that might have come with the 18 inch wheels, but, again, there are lots of people who prefer each of the two options.

I'll also point out that, on this board soon after the 6th Generation ES was released, there were a good number of threads in which people were complaining about how much harsher the ride was for the 6th Generation ES than it was for the 5th Generation ES. Many/most of those complaints came from people who had bought or who had test driven a 6th Generation ES with the 18 inch wheels. Again, there is a difference in ride quality.

The reason why it would be wise to compare the two for yourself is that, if you should make the wrong choice, switching to the other is going to come with a price that is not insignificant.