First of all, Hello Everyone! Im new to the Lexus scene. I just purchased a very clean 2011 IS350 with only 24000KM (15000 miles). It was one of the vice president of Lexus Canada cars.


It came with brand spanking new (200km on them) Summer tires. Michelin Pilot Super Sports on 19" F-Sport Rims. I didnt have a problem with them rubbing. The tire size was 225/35/19

Of course living in Canada i needed a set of winter tires. I had a really hard time finding a set of rims that would actually fit because the Caliper is so big! I finally found a shop who said this pair of steel winter rims would fit. I just went ahead with it.

During the install They said the steel rim wont fit on the front so it needs a 10mm spacer, so they gave them to me at no charge because they said it would fit. I originally thought i ordered Michelin X-Ice Xi3's W225-40-18 but after hearing some slight rubbing when coming OUT of sharp turns only i decided to double check my invoice.

It says the X-Ice tires are 225-45-18 and the steel rims are 18x6.5. Is 18x6.5 even possible with a 225 tire?

Does anyone know whats causing my slight rubbing? Is it the tire size? 45 instead of 40? The spacer? or the rim being too big? Should i have went 17's?

This whole winter tire BS for this car was such a headache. Please help! Is a slight rub ok? Is there anything i can do to avoid going to a shop and i can fix myself?


Thanks and sorry for the long post.

 

hmm anyone? Even a slight suggestion?

 

The 45 will make the overall diameter 2 cm's larger.

 

Sounds like you're rubbing the tire. I've never heard of 18x6.5. You may just end up rubbing the tire a bit it's not a huge deal but can gouge the tire a bit. I think the shop screwed you in the wheels and that sucks but you're stuck with them now. There's a trick some people do where you heat up the top of the fender liner and push it up. That might work. Good luck.

 

It's the combination of both the 10mm spacer and tire size. The 225/45/18 has a 25.9 inch diameter and the 225/35/19 is at 25.2 inches so that's over a half inch taller and almost a whole inch larger than the oem stock size 225/40/18. I would first measure front caliper clearance and see if you can get away with a 5mm spacer. And if your lowered raise it a little. It's most likely just rubbing the plastic liner and will just rub through it and go away. The driver side will rub more than the passenger side. I am running a 225/45/18 on a 18x8 et23 lowered about an inch and rubbed through the driver side fender liner within two weeks it went away. If you are rubbing on metal than your driver side tire will get chewed up.

 

Thanks for the reply. I will look into that. I havn't heard of 18x6.5 but this is the rim.

http://www.activegreenross.com/wheel...l-18x612-5-412

 

HA! I knew it. So i decided to call the shop and it turns out that i did order the 225/40/18's BUT they are such a popular tire size that they are sold out and he couldnt get them. They decided to bring in the 45's instead.

Anyway to make a long story short he still cannot get a hold of the size i want because the ETA is 4 weeks so he offered to give me Yokohama Ice guards installed and for free even considering they are a more expensive tire.

I guess i should of called them to begin with but i have NEVER ever heard of a mechanic shop doing favors like this. They are all so sketchy.

Anyways thanks for the help guys.

 

^Sounds like they made it right with you. Good to hear.

 

Glad they're fixing the problem for you, but never go to Active Green and Ross for anything. Switching the tires on you without telling you then using spacers (probably aren't even hubcentric) is very shady. I've had friends screwed over by them on several occasions at different locations. Look up independent shops and base which ones are good from reviews online.

 

^^^^^
What he said. If I don't know the answer to my issues I always look online or ask all the car enthusiasts I personally know. Glad they hooked you up. I hate hearing about people gettin screwed over from shops or dealers.