lamealibi

My 98 LS400 is in desperate need of new rims. It's chrome is peeling to the point that there's an air leak. OEM rims are over a grand as I'm sure you know. There seems to be a market for knock off 5 slots on google.

http://www.getallparts.com/Lexus-LS4...FQgaaQodu1cIpg

Has anyone tried these rims? Do they balance well? I'm trying to keep a stock look to my vehicle.

Thanks in advance.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Hard to say. There is this discussion in the 430 section about rep wheels for additional thoughts:
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...-cracking.html

Aron9000

Buy some used stock wheels. People sell them all the time for cheap because they bought new aftermarket wheels.

Even if they're ugly, you can get them refinished for about $100 a wheel, they'll look brand new. I never trust cheap aftermarket wheels, they can be a PITA to balance, or won't balance at all. Or even worse, like that link above, they can fail catastrophically.

Also newer wheels from an LS430 fit perfectly on your car.

lamealibi

If I understand you correctly, I can get my badly peeling chrome rims fixed for $100 a rim? Roughly? Can you give me a good idea as to where I should look for a service like this? I've looked around but I'll confess that I'm not very educated when it comes to car service/repairs/etc.

I'm in the Indianapolis area if that helps at all.

lamealibi

Thanks for this link by the way. Obviously dissuades me from going down this path.

Aron9000

Chrome plated wheels, I doubt you are going to find anybody who will want to mess with them. Even if you do find a chrome shop, it will be way more than $100 a wheel. All the chrome plating that is on there will need to be blasted off and then the wheels redipped. Chrome plating is a nasty process and most of these shops have closed up due to environmental concerns. Those that still do chrome plating charge a fortune. Plus, as you have found out, road salt destroys the chrome on the wheel, a cheap/poorly done job might fail in a year or two if you drive your car in the winter.


What I was saying if you find stock painted or machine finished wheels, they can be redone for about $100 a pop, heck you might luck into some that are in mint condition. Usually the "stance" guys who put the huge wheels on these cars will sell you the stock wheels(maybe with good tires if you're really lucky) for a pittance.

Craigslist, ebay, and the classifieds on this website are good places to look. Keep in mind that wheels from a 1993-2004 GS, 2000-2014 IS, 1992-2004 GS, or 1990-2006 LS will fit your car as well.

GH5T

Try the local salvage yard for a used set. If they don't have any Lexus LS wheels these cars have the same bolt pattern as a 05 & up Mustang. May not be what you want but it gives you another option. They'll more than likely have plenty of mustang wheels available.

Aron9000

That's interesting. You could run some old school 5 spokes with "knock offs" on your Lexus lol

RA40

iTrader: (6)

Chrome wheels are failure prone in the later years due to the peeling and resulting poor seal. I'm contacted with frequency where to find 430 5 spokes and they are widely sought after. The snow belt regions kill these wheels in a matter of years. Replicas are readily available though. Fortunately 16 and 17" LS wheels come up and my suggestion is to look for the machined finish ones.

You may also consider wheels from the later GS and IS though some may need spacers to clear the front brakes calipers.

timmy0tool

iTrader: (7)

why not just find a set of used OEM wheels instead?!

http://www.car-part.com/