19 a good idea ? Im already having a hard enough time with 18
03-16-19, 12:54 AM
#16
You can't claim "much better handling" on a 4,200-4,600lb car, not from a diameter change. It'll feel different because the sidewalls are not as tall, thus there is less sidewall flex. but this is mainly a subjective difference and not as much an actual handling difference. Go put the car on a slalom course, a road course, or a skidpad with those two different wheel diameters (and the same tires) and you'll notice only small improvements. Why? Because you're going to end up losing the front end due to the massive weight on relatively small tires. If you wanted increased handling to the point where you can say it handles much better, you'd need to get thinner, wider tires. Something like a 275 square setup, at the minimum, in something sticky like an R888r.
What you can claim is that the shift in size of sidewalls feels more confidence-inspiring to you, because you're not used to sidewall flex.
What you can claim is that the shift in size of sidewalls feels more confidence-inspiring to you, because you're not used to sidewall flex.
Last edited by tlk2megoos; 03-16-19 at 04:48 AM.
03-16-19, 07:00 AM
#18
I am by no means an expert on suspension and tires.
That said, I do know that handling will be improved if you can reduce the un-sprung weight of the tires and rims.
The 19" rims and tires on my LS are stock and very heavy. The control arm bushing takes all of the abuse from the heavy tires and rims, no wonder they fail.
I am looking at getting a set of staggered 20's for summer tires but only if I can reduce the weight.
Has anyone approached the wheel size change from a weight reduction perspective?
That said, I do know that handling will be improved if you can reduce the un-sprung weight of the tires and rims.
The 19" rims and tires on my LS are stock and very heavy. The control arm bushing takes all of the abuse from the heavy tires and rims, no wonder they fail.
I am looking at getting a set of staggered 20's for summer tires but only if I can reduce the weight.
Has anyone approached the wheel size change from a weight reduction perspective?
03-18-19, 10:13 AM
#20
Lexus Fanatic
03-18-19, 01:21 PM
#21
I beg to differ. I switched from 18s to 20s and the difference was HUGE due to the massive weight savings alone. You could literally feel the car was lighter on *every* steering input, and reacted much quicker, even braking felt better. Its no race car but to say the difference was small can be totally wrong unless you went with heavy rims. Honestly it was like getting rid of over half the weight on each hub. Pic for reference.
03-19-19, 01:14 AM
#22
BBS RS-GT. They were unbelievably light compared to the stock wheels, and less air volume counts as well.
04-04-19, 06:18 AM
#24
You really are very amusing.
Once again, steering response quicker by fractions of a second - good to me.
Braking response improved by fractions of a second - also good to me.
Acceleration/deceleration improvement - i sense a trend here.
Basically I have done this, in this manner, to this car, and am happy with the results which are not marginal as you say, but are rather useful in real-world conditions. No one said this will be race-car levels of improvement so I dont see why youre all bent about it. In this case, the weight savings at all corners negated the plus-sizing drawbacks inherent with heavier wheels.
Oh, and I have cars for the track but thanks for your less than stellar suggestions.
Once again, steering response quicker by fractions of a second - good to me.
Braking response improved by fractions of a second - also good to me.
Acceleration/deceleration improvement - i sense a trend here.
Basically I have done this, in this manner, to this car, and am happy with the results which are not marginal as you say, but are rather useful in real-world conditions. No one said this will be race-car levels of improvement so I dont see why youre all bent about it. In this case, the weight savings at all corners negated the plus-sizing drawbacks inherent with heavier wheels.
Oh, and I have cars for the track but thanks for your less than stellar suggestions.
Last edited by tlk2megoos; 04-04-19 at 06:57 AM.
04-04-19, 07:00 AM
#25
I would not expect much difference in rim durability between an OEM 18" and OEM 19". My wife has dented a 18" rim after market. I think it's more the build material than the size.
04-04-19, 12:45 PM
#26
Pole Position
Thread Starter
04-04-19, 04:24 PM
#27
Agreed! Stick with the larger sidewall profile!
04-04-19, 04:33 PM
#28
Pole Position
Thread Starter
04-05-19, 03:33 AM
#30
Pole Position
Thread Starter