Shmee

iTrader: (3)

So My dad just bought his 06 GS430, yet to take delivery, and we both hate the wheels on it.
it has the factory 5-spoke 18s.
has anyone else tried or does anyone know if 17s will fit over the factory brakes?
I ask because we'd like to get some snow tires to run in the winter and well, 245/40/18 snow tires are not exactly idea...

were there any GS models that came with 17s?
do any of the wheels from other models fit the GS properly as far as caliper padding and offset go?


and on a related note, anyone with factory 17 want to trade for some 18s?

Thanks!
Mitch

Mesca

iTrader: (28)

Yup, there are GS models that have 17's as a stock option. So if there are 17's on GS's i dont see why they wouldnt fit over the factory brakes. You could try posting a trade in the wheels classified. I'm sure theres a few people who would trade 17's for 18s!

spwolf

check size of brakes for GS350 and GS430, if they are same, they will fit fine.

I suggest that you get set of 17"'s with winter tires and change them every spring.

WhitBaby

The car originally came with 245/40/18. The previous owner replaced them with 225/50/17, actually not a bad idea.
They had the 10-spoke wheels which I didn't like.

I found some 17", 5-spoked, chrome Azev wheels and had Hankook 215/55/17 W409 snow tires...all the way around.

We just had out first significant snow (6") and our '06 GS430 did fine, didn't even need the 'snow' setting under the armrest.

tjp74

You hate the facotry 5 spoke 18s???
I thought that's the best looking factory wheels around, clean classic 5 spoke design that you can't go wrong with and cool hyper silver finish. When I got my AWD with 17", I couldn't wait to get rid of and got the factory 18"s.

But yes, you can replace it with factory 17" wheels. However, if you are getting aftermarket 17" wheels, I would make sure the brake caliper clears it as not all 17" wheels are dimensionally identical.

tj

BKE420

Shmee...I have an '07 AWD with 17's...I would be interested in your 5-spoke 18's...PM me and we can discuss.

WhitBaby...that is very cool to see a non-AWD Lex making it around town in 6 inches of snow, and not having to use the "snow" button. Reassures me that my AWD should be just fine in WA. Drive safe man...and thanks for the input on the snow set up....and btw...your "winter" set looks hot!!!

Shmee

iTrader: (3)

BKE,
check your PM!!


tpj,
yeah, i hate them!
they are really plain and do nothing for me and personally i think take away from the look of the car.
as far as winters go, i could care less what they look like, the weather is bad and i'm more interested in staying in control if the conditions get bad.
some time i'll have something special to put on, so i'm not concerned.

osokuko

I’ll be moving to Spokane Wa shortly where it’s snowing now and just found out the studded winter tires are made for 17” rims only, studless tires are used on the 18” rims. So shortly I’ll be looking for a set of 17” rims myself in place of my current 20” set up during the snow season. Anyone have a preference as to brand of winter tires?

WhitBaby

WhitBaby...that is very cool to see a non-AWD Lex making it around town in 6 inches of snow, and not having to use the "snow" button. Reassures me that my AWD should be just fine in WA. Drive safe man...and thanks for the input on the snow set up....and btw...your "winter" set looks hot!!![/QUOTE]

Just got 6 more inches overnight, we'll see if the traction holds up.
We had two snows last winter that yielded over 70" of global warming. Had to use the 4WD S-10 pickup in that. ;->
I think if I had it to do over again I'd gotten the GS350 AWD. I like the extra grunt in the GS430. I paid about $43K for the Certified '06 GS430 in October and now see the loaded '08 GS350's at the dealer for $50K sticker and in the proper Matador Red...the fastest color don'cha know.

;->
WhitBaby

twister

Even with stock A/S run flats, last winter my AWD performed great in the snow!!! That extra 4x4 wheel clearance does come handy in the snow On a few occasions it did ever better than our Highlander.

Probably in case of RWD, I would get seasonal snow tires. If you already have AWD, A/S tires should be fine.

BKE420

That extra 4x4 wheel clearance does come handy in the snow

To funny man...that's always been a minor complaint about the AWD...oh well...hopefully Tein or Tanabe are coming out with a coilover set up soon for AWD's.