I have a 2015 GS 350 AWD with the F-Sport package. The car is stock with 19" wheels. Can I fit 17" wheels on the car for winter? I know the RWD version has larger front floating brakes, but the AWD doesn't. I live in VT where the winter roads are best suited for rugged winter tires. My research so far seems inconclusive. Thanks!

 

I'd say 18" is the lowest you can go and not have to worry about brake clearance issues.

 

If you look at the brochure for the 2013 GS350, there are 17” wheels offered. So if you do not have the RWD F Sport with the larger brakes, I assume you could run 17”s. I’m no expert on wheels, but that seems right to me.

 

You can absolutely fit 17"s on the AWD GS (here's a link to a member running the previous generation GS 17" wheels on his '13 GS: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...ml#post9993737)

The base pkg GS's have a 17" wheel from the factory. It is running a 225/50/17 tire. Here are some of the OEM wheels offered (but you can get any 17" wheels that fit the original specs Size: 17x7.5mm; Bolt Pattern: 4.5 Inch; Offset: 45mm):

 

Here’s mine on OEM 17”.




I also have the 18” set too.

 

Notice any difference in ride quality between 17 and a8?

 

The 17" on 4GS reminds me of a firmly sprung car on a slightly baggy set of tires - just like the old 1996-01 3ES which was a firmly sprung car on a really baggy set of Bridgestone Potenza RE88 205/65R15.

The 18" is intermediate.

The 19" on OEM Dunlop Sport Maxx 050 235/40R19 is pin sharp, and makes the 4GS handle almost like a compact, however the ride is sharp, firm & noisy.
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The 17” is quieter and a bit less vibration on coarse roads. I have no problem with grip as well and can do full throttle on the GS450h without much slippage.

18” gives a slightly shaper ride.

The biggest benefit is that I don’t need to be so careful about kerbing and slowing down turning into driveways.

The drawback is that the wheels are not much of a looker.

 

The lighter 17" wheels lower the unsprung weight which contributes to better gas mileage and faster acceleration and braking.

 

The 17" is narrower (225 instead of 235), so probably evens out on braking.

Remember that when GS 400 was the quickest saloon car? It only had 225/55R16's as standard. Was still able to do 0-60 in 5.7second.

 

Nascar and pretty much every racing series do no run low profile tires or big rims, it's mainly for aesthetics on modern cars. You can increase the tire pressure on the 17's if you want a similar feel to how 18s ride, while still having a more comfortable ride.

 

Interesting that F1 has gone to 18” from 16” wheels.

Back on topic, the narrower 17” is also less likely to hydroplane

 

So the 17 inch would clear the F sport calipers in the front? Interesting...I went with 18 inch from a 2018 IS F sport. They're staggered, but most if not all winter tires are directional.

 

Likely the 17's will clear the AWD F-Sport Calipers...not sure if they would clear the RWD F Sport calipers - there was a lot of back and forth but eventually this thread concluded that the F-sport RWD caliper is different/larger and certain wheel designs/sizes may not fit: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...l#post10751684.

 

No the OEM 17” will not clear RWD F Sport front calipers.