For a 2015 GS 350 F-Sport AWD

So I got some 17" wheels with 225\45\R17 tires. It turns out that they don't clear my front brakes.

Called Discount tire back up because they said it should clear it. In short, they suggest sizing up to 18", but they don't have any 225s or 235s for tires. It's either 215/45/R18 or 245/45/R18.

I know skinnier winter tires are preferred to cut through the ice and snow, but do you think 215 is a bit too narrow for the GS? 245 seems too wide for winter tires too.

Any input would be appreciated.

 

i have a '14 rwd w/lux option, factory setup is 235/45r18 on 18x8 wheels. i went with 225/55r17 tires mounted on 17x7.5 oem 2006-07 GS wheels for my winter setup.

i wouldnt rely on the discount tire rep's advice after they sold the 17" wheels they claimed would fit, the spokes on the 18's might not clear the calipers either. you may consider buying wheels and tires from different sources, instead of limiting yourself to what a single retailer has in stock/recommends.

i started researching with the many threads on the forum about winter tires and factory/aftermarket wheels that will fit the 4gs. i found different options for 17" and 18" wheels and decided on 17" because:

- generally, 17" wheels cost less than the 18", same for tires but see next note...
- using any online tire size comparison tool...going with 17" for winter setup meant i would go up in sidewall height (compared to my factory 18's) to maintain similar overall diameter/circumference. my particular case suggested going with 225/50r17 (-1.5% difference), but i found more options and better prices for tires going with 225/55r17 (+1.5% difference). plus, i felt that the added sidewall height would offer better protection from pothole damage.

 

Yeah, the 17s I ordered were 17x7.5 with an offset of 40. In theory, they should've fit, but I guess with the geometry of the spokes, it came in contact with the face of the calipers.

And I'm only sticking with Discount Tire because of the Black Friday rebate haha.