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Old Sep 29, 2009 | 01:02 PM
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Default Basic Advice questions.

So I have had my new(used) car for about 2 months now. Its freaking awesome. Now its time for maintenance and stuff. I want to do my first oil change and I've been reading recommended oil from 5w-30 and 0w-20/30. I live in Houston so it doesn't get cold much. I am going synthetic for sure so which oil type do I get. And does anyone know where to get the oil bolt replacement that uses a switch to drain oil instead of removing the bolt every time?

Another question is alignment/balancing. My front passenger tire is balding on the outer edge(stock wheels w/ bridgestone potenza re050), but the center seems to be wearing normally. I cant figure out why. Any Advice? Where should I go for an alignment or balance the tire. The car barely pulls to the right at around 70mph, but it does with very slight vibration. I also have a bend on the front driver side on the wheel but thats been there since I've bought the car and doesnt seem to affect tire wear at all. Where can I get one wheel?

Also my tire sizes are 225/40R18(front) and 255/40R18(rear), so that means my wheels are staggered right? I plan to switch to re050A PP when they wear out but looking into cheaper tires that performs close to the RE050A PP.

Last edited by lilbluu; Sep 29, 2009 at 01:09 PM.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 02:38 PM
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anyone here?
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 02:45 PM
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1. Go with 5w30. Regardless of where you live it is probably the most recommendable weight oil. As far as the drain plug goes, I wouldn't bother getting one of those tap things. Is removing the drain plug every time that much of a problem..?

2. As for the balding tires, just get an alignment done. Your best bet is the dealership for both the alignment and the rim but you can get the latter off of eBay for cheap.

3. A staggered setup refers to the width of the rims. Staggered setups will typically have a dish in the back. Typical setups are 8" wide rims in the front, 9.5" in the rear (as is the case with most Supra setups). As far as I know, the ISx50 does not have a full staggered setup. Sure, it has different tire sizes front and rear but it does not have wider rims in the back.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 03:04 PM
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Originally Posted by FisforFast
1. Go with 5w30. Regardless of where you live it is probably the most recommendable weight oil. As far as the drain plug goes, I wouldn't bother getting one of those tap things. Is removing the drain plug every time that much of a problem..?

2. As for the balding tires, just get an alignment done. Your best bet is the dealership for both the alignment and the rim but you can get the latter off of eBay for cheap.

3. A staggered setup refers to the width of the rims. Staggered setups will typically have a dish in the back. Typical setups are 8" wide rims in the front, 9.5" in the rear (as is the case with most Supra setups). As far as I know, the ISx50 does not have a full staggered setup. Sure, it has different tire sizes front and rear but it does not have wider rims in the back.
You my man are awesome.
So those wheels on ebay saying 18x8.5(rear) are really just 18x8 and can be use for the front?
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 03:28 PM
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Originally Posted by lilbluu
You my man are awesome.
So those wheels on ebay saying 18x8.5(rear) are really just 18x8 and can be use for the front?
No, the previous poster is wrong... RWD ISx50s with factory 18" wheels (at least in the US) have 18x8 in the front and 18x8.5 in the rear
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 03:30 PM
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I would go with 5w30 as well. Synthetic is the way to go. A little more costly, but the benefits in the long run are well worth it. Not sure how much the dealership is going to charge you for an alignment, but it might be cheaper to go to a local tire shop for one. I got an alignment a few months back from a local tire shop and it only cost me around $75. I would call/drive around and get a price quote. Glad to hear you're enjoying your new(used) IS. Good luck.

Last edited by Initial G; Sep 30, 2009 at 03:36 PM.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 04:01 PM
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Originally Posted by Kurtz
No, the previous poster is wrong... RWD ISx50s with factory 18" wheels (at least in the US) have 18x8 in the front and 18x8.5 in the rear
x2. Rears and fronts are different widths on the 18s.

Ebay or craigslist would be best sources for a replacement rim.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 04:22 PM
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Indeed, the ISx50 has 8.5 in the rear on the 18". Not sure about the 17" or even the 16" some markets get. My bad.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 07:20 PM
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Originally Posted by Kurtz
No, the previous poster is wrong... RWD ISx50s with factory 18" wheels (at least in the US) have 18x8 in the front and 18x8.5 in the rear
****, which number out of the 225/40R18 or 255/40R18 would tell me if its 18 or 18.5 width?
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 07:32 PM
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225 or 255 is the width.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 07:39 PM
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Originally Posted by FisforFast
225 or 255 is the width.
alright, then what number tells you the fatness/thickness of the tire? the front seem slimmer than the rear of the tire i need to knowww
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 08:07 PM
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Originally Posted by lilbluu
alright, then what number tells you the fatness/thickness of the tire? the front seem slimmer than the rear of the tire i need to knowww
225/40-18 tells you information about the tire.

It's 225mm wide, with a 40 profile, and 18" diameter, er, hole.

It tells you nothing about the width of the rim however, as multiple tire widths can go on the side width rim.

The stock 18s are 18x8 front and 18x8.5 rear, and the wider tires go on the rear rims from the factory.
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Old Sep 30, 2009 | 09:25 PM
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so the profile of both front/rear is 40 but why does the rear look like a larger profile or is it just me? also, why does the tire stick out pass the wheel in the front but not in the rear.
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