Paul_in_PA

Thanks Mesca ...

And what's the difference between "forged" wheels and "cast" wheels? Are they that much different (stronger)? Is there a direct corelation in price (like there often is with 3 piece wheels?)

Boron

Cast are made from molten alloy poured into a mould.
Forged are made from squeezing solid alloy into the mould shape under very high pressure.
Price is commensurate with process - forging is more specialised and costlier machinery/moulds required than casting.
Throughput is also less, so scale of economies comes into play as well.
But, resultant wheel is stronger and lighter than cast equivalent, hence why they're used on race cars.

If you've had as many issues as you've stated, then all I'll say is stop wasting good money after bad, and be sensible.
In other words, drop down to 18s or 19s for a daily driver on poor surfaces, and let the tyres' increased sidewall height offer some additional cushioning of the wheels - as well as steer away from the potholes rather than plough on through them with gay abandon.
You'll do your suspension, bushes, wheels, geometry, and self, a service by avoiding them at all times - even if it means moving out of lane a bit or slowing down if you can't straddle them.

By running 20s, even forged ones, you'll still give yourself and the car grief hitting them.
And don't start trying to fudge sidewall heights to make 20s work - stick to the appropriate overall width and circumference, to maintain speedo accuracy....... http://www.carbibles.com/tyre_bible_pg4.html

Paul_in_PA

Thanks for the info on the manufacturing process. Very helpful ...

And just to be clear ... I don't just roll right through potholes like it’s no big deal. Believe me ... I do my best! Up here in the NE, in big cities like Philly, Baltimore, DC, Boston and NYC, crappy roads are a way of life. Avoiding potholes in the NE is like telling someone to avoid touching rocks on a gravel road. Impossible!!! Sometimes I feel like driving out here is like playing a video game ... my commute to and from work is like a slalom race weaving all over the place to avoid horrible road conditions. There are some sewer plates along my route that sit a full 3" below grade. Imagine dropping your rim into a hole like that with a sharp 90 edge at 40+ MPH ... no problem in my current RX350 loaner riding on balloons - but its bye- bye rim on a 20" with 30 series.

Growing up and spending my first ~35 years on the West Coast I never knew how good I had it. I thought roads like this only existed in 3rd world countries! I am not joking, some of the roads around here have so much random "pothole" patch work that you can't even make out where the original top coat of asphalt is. My drive to work, is an extra 2-3 miles just because I chose to avoid some roads that are even worse.

Then comes winter ... unlit dark roads, no street lights, most roads don't even have shoulders. It’s not uncommon during snow melt after ice, slat and sand to find pot holes large enough to hide a basketball in them. No joke!!! (that was replacement rim #1 where I learned that lesson last winter.) And after pulling off to a cul de sac after that major blowout I was greeted by 2 other motorists with hazards on that blew out on the same pot hole, waiting for tow trucks. Fortunately, the 4th car in that line had a flare and was able to lay that down in front of the pot hole (or maybe I should just say the "hole" in the road.)

Some of these roads are old horse and buggy routes between Philly & NYC. It’s just a way of life out here that folks are used to. I guess that's why there are not too many guys rolling around on slim rubber like me.

My wife always shakes her head and wonders why I do it ... but I just can't help it, I love the 3rd gen GS350 and it's such a beauty when dropped just a touch and sitting on 20s. Completely different look than the stock set up. So different in fact, that if I had to go stock ... I would probably move on to another car. I really can't stand the look of the stock height on the AWD GS350s ... awful!!!! Sits up like a Gremlin :-) But that's all they sell out here in the NE, nothing but AWD so I had no choice. You can't get a RWD ... not available in the NE region at any Lexus dealerships.

Thanks again for the info ... I am going to get some 245-35-20s and try my luck on All-Season Michelin's this time in lieu of the Continentals.

Mesca

iTrader: (28)

Sorry, I forget how good we have it here in Socal, although LA is quite a contender for crappy roads!

meachc

Actually I did ditch them. I bought some 20" wheels and I'm much happier.. Thanks for the comments.

artart

Hi! this is my gs300 with Volk TE37 Front 8.5 235/35/19 Rear 10.5 275/30/19

Brian@Vossen

Thinking slap CV7s on the GS next... Hmmmmmmm

Paul_in_PA

Update ... well I was going to pick up a new set of 245/35/20s but both my local Lexus Dealer and Costco took a look at my ride and pointed out that I was not even a finger width away from rubbing with my current 245/30/20. They both suggested that I would seriously pose risk to rubbing and our ripping out my inner fender plastic guard if I jumped to 245/35/20 with the F-Sport Springs on my 2007 GS 350AWD.

Bummer ... I really do not want to get into fender modification upgrades ... but I was hoping for a little more rubber/air between my rims and the road which might hopefully minimize my bubble and blowout troubles of late.

The good news is that my local Costco suggested that I go with the 245/30/20 (keep the OEM circumference that I have now with the Continentals Extreme Contact DWS and switch to the Michelin Pilot Sport AS+. I really liked the smooth ride of the DWS tires (quiet and comfortable and great handling ... but after all of my bubbles/blowouts I have lost confidence in that tire. So I am moving to Michelins. A huge piece of mind for me is the Costco 5 year road hazard warranty. It make me feel much better knowing I have a Costco warranty and Costco customer service behind my tires up here in th North East.

I really wish I could have gone Michelins in the 245/35/20 instead of the 245/30/20 ... but my main concern was a backup plan for all of the bubbles and blowouts ... I will post an updated review of the tires after I get them on next week and get some mileage on them.

aLexGS350

iTrader: (5)

Damn the majority of people are on 20s. I wanted to get some insure on 19s but only a hand full of people had 19s haha. I noticed not a lot of people posted if they had shaved or rubbing. But what is a good setup for 19s and for 20s so I wouldn't have to do any fender mods. I'm riding on Tein CS coil overs. I also don't want a really aggressive look but want staggered rims. I was looking at iforged daytona or work wheels gnosis gs-5. Pretty much the same face.

UpstateLex

looks super good man what color is that considered?

LuXLife951

sumthing different......LuX Life is a everyday hustle and grind...You wanna VIP.....But VIP ain't from China
My WHEELS are MADE from the USA...made in the HOOD....how i know CAUSE I am THE ONE that put them together...(^_*)
YOUR 3 piece wheels probably made in CHINA....(^_*)

Boron

Spellin? You forgot the bloody grammar!
Your wheels ain't made FROM anywhere - they're made IN a place, FROM a blend of materials.
And you're the one WHO assembled them.

Jesus! Is that the standard of English grammar learned at skools these days?

Oh, and the only hoods you're familiar with, is the one on your poncho, and the one covering the engine bay!

tyacrzy

Are you running Tanabe Df210? wnhat shocks? any mods to fenders?

LuXLife951

U think I care if you like my grammar, is this English class lol....as long as you understand what I said then I made my point duhhhhh lol
Yes duhhhh what I have should say was that my wheels are assembled in Riverside

Ice350

iTrader: (1)

Whats the big deal about where they were assembled?

To me the big deal is about where the components were created and the quality of the metal and finishing.

Did you make the actual parts?