McPierson

iTrader: (3)

I just bought 2 18x8 and 4 18x8.5 from an ISx50.

I thought about putting the 4 8.5 wheels on the car, but I'm not sure. I like the idea of them being the same, but staggered does tend to look better to me and it's stock on an IS if I decide to sell them later.

Currently I'm on stock springs, but I've got some Tanabes on the way which I hope to run about a 1" drop with some modifications to the top hats (not sure about how well this will work).

Also I plan on putting 255/45/R18s on the 8.5 rims. Which is only slightly larger then the stock 225/60/16s. Please feel free to try and convince me otherwise. I don't like the look of streched tires. The stock width for the 8.5 rim is 255, and 45 is a closer aspect ratio then 40 for the overall diameter.

If I do run the 18x8 in the front should I run the same 255/45/18s on the front (too wide?)? I believe the OEM LS430 18x8s are 245/45/18.

Will it be alot easier to sell the 18x8.5s? The 18x8s have some curb rash and the 18x8.5s don't.

Other comments? I hope this is not posted in the wrong forum section.
TIA
M@

ThomasGS4

iTrader: (19)

Ask yourself - do you want to be able to rotate your tires?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

dude.....245/45-18 will fit perfectly fine on an 8.5" rim, not a stretch at ALL.
245mm=9.something inches section width...lol.

I run a 225 width on my and that's a MILD stretch.

245/45-18 is the right size if you dont plan on lowering the car at all. if you do, 245/40 is going to give you a LOT fewer clearance issues due to diameter. Tanabe DF210s are a 2" drop, not 1", and ride like marshmallows.

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

the stagger is barely noticeable. run meatier tires in the back if u want.

Vroomin350

iTrader: (28)

^ +1

10 char

McPierson

iTrader: (3)

With a possible 2" drop, I hope to make it 1" with some tricks, will I have rubbing issues with a 255/45/18? I'm guessing not based on my research of what others are running, but most don't end up with less clearance on the inside than stock due to more aggressive offsets.

Should I just run 4 18x8.5s then?

Thanks for the input so far. It's alot of money for tires and I don't want to screw it up.

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

you're going to rub with those because they're larger than the stock diameter.

the fronts will rub on the washer bottle and the fender liner whenever you make turns (on BOTH sides) if you lower it pretty much at all. even if you do rig it so it's only a 1" drop (methinks you're either going to try to space the spring to raise the car or space the top mount to raise the car, neither of which are safe) you're STILL going to rub since those tanabes are squishy as HELL and will wallow over when you turn.

this is specific to '95-00 LS'. this is why most lowered '95+ cars have front tires slightly smaller than oem sizing. Just under 1/2" smaller than factory diameter is what you'll need to clear properly.

McPierson

iTrader: (3)

Thanks Pure. I'll have to figure out what's more important.

LiCelsior

iTrader: (32)

235/45 275/45

McPierson

iTrader: (3)

Will that difference in circumfrence cause the computer for the ABS and VSC freak out?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

as long as there's less than a 2-3% difference in diameter front to rear and no difference across an axle (obviously).

McPierson

iTrader: (3)

So my fronts rub on the inside of the sidewall and the "spindle arm" (for lack of the correct word. The rubbing is so minor that the wheel spins and only touches on the raised letters of the side wall.

I guess I'll order a set of 5mm spacers. This is what I get for getting greedy and running the 8.5" fronts with huge tires. Are the Ichiba spacers the best to get? H&R's site isn't working right so I can't be sure they will work.

Would you dudes just run them as is?

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

5mm spacers may require extended studs...depends on the thickness of the wheels.

given that the IS350 wheels are exceedingly high offset, you could run 15mm spacers (bolt-on) and still not be flush

McPierson

iTrader: (3)

I purchased a name brand 5mm spacer to help fitment of some OEM wheels on my car. The 5mm spacers are listed as hubcentric for a 99 LS400. The problem is that the hub itself only sticks out of the spacer by about 3mm. The OEM wheels have a bevel in the center of the wheel before the actual wheel center. This means that the w/ the spacer the wheel doesn't engage the hub only the lugs.

I can't get these spacers on the wheel w/o a vibration problem.

Is there a trick to making it work?

I'm incontact with the maker and hopefully they will support their product they market for my specific vehicle, but I'm not holding my breath.

The 10mm spacers do appear to have an extended hub so that may be the only option.

Thanks in advance.
Matt

PureDrifter

iTrader: (10)

3mm on the hub should be fine as long as they engage the centrebore in the oem wheels, but make sure you have enough threads on the stock studs to fit the lugs properly, when i tried 5mms on my mayas i got maybe 1.5-2.5 threads on it, hence i've now got a shiny yellow package from ARP in my garage