sld

What size wheels & Tires ya runnin? Hows the ride?

I have 16" Chrome OEM with crappy all-season tires. I'm gonna get new wheels and Tires and I need help with wheel & Tire size for my GS300. I'd like a good combination of ride comfort, lookz, and performance.

Appreciate any feedback.

bitkahuna

iTrader: (20)

I have 245/40 on 18x8.5 front and 275/35 on 18x9.5 rear.

For looks I wish I had 19s or 20s. But for performance and less risk of rim bending I'm glad I have 18s.

jawnthen

I have 245/35 on 20x8.5 all around. It was very much for looks. When I first got them on, I drove the car like a grandma cuz I didn't wanna mess up the rims. Ride comfort decreased a little bit IMO going from 17-20 but I think type of suspension you have will play a bigger role in ride comfort.

if your ranking is comfort, looks, and then performance...I guess I would suggest either 18s or 19s and get the Tein CS to maintain the stock ride when lowering.

Vlad_Stein

I've got 17'' SSR Comp staggered (Supra Fitment) setup (245/45 front and 275/40 rear) on mine after about 2 years with the stock 16'' (225/55 rubber all around).

I've got 17'' for safety reasons: I don't race the car at the track and pot holes and other road "imperfections" are abundant in the Bay Area. I chose the safer way and did not go bigger.

In retrospect, I don't regret my decision. The handling, combined with the Bridgestone Potenzas is much improved, the ride comfort is considerably less with the 17'', and the noise is more. This is a function of the tires used, as well of course. Fuel economy is ~2mg less. The difference is most noticeable in stop-and-go traffic where more energy is spent on overcoming greater inertia of the wheels.

Overall, a great mod (cosmetic and performance). Combined with the GS blistered lips and lowered ride height, the wider rubber looks awesome.


Good luck with your upgrade decisions!

sld

I've read the 17" can take away a little comfort, but are they louder? Is the width of the tire make it louder?

I would assume that is a tire width issue?

Here in the NE with snow and *****ty roads, I better go with 17s.

Vlad_Stein

The noise is definitely more, but again I changed both the wheels and the tires and the tire widths, so I can't say which is the only or the greatest contributing factor.


Ditto for the fuel economy effect.

sld

I appreciate the poll participation. Feel free to write a few things about the ride of your car. Would love to know how the ride changed when ya went from say 16s to 18s.

BlvdKing

I have 18" right now (on my Toyota) and would like to get a staggered set up for the GS when I find it in either 18-19" probably 19". I did not notice that much difference in the 18" wheels, only changes were positive better cornering, handling, and looks.

evolon5150

I have 18x8 245/40/20 front
18x10 275/40/18 rear Blitz type 03 they ride great. I have bilstein coilover PSS.

bravo261

iTrader: (1)

i have 20x8.5 and 20x10. it looks great but the road noise hurts once tread wears a bit thin. got 18" backups going on tomorrow. if you're on a budget, 20s hurt cause them tires are so so expensive

sld

I'm thinkin 18s are the way for me. Tires I'm not sure, but leaning towards 245/40/18s and something with low road noise. Im gonna go L-Tuned suspension which only drops an inch.

I honestly don't care for the look of a big drop with 20s, but thats just me.

bravo261

iTrader: (1)

that's good. i hate the bigger-is-always better mentality of certain people. i know i got 20's, but because it does look "just right" for what i like. even if i was forced into a Cribs-inspired escalade, i'd only go 20".

and 18"s are perfect for price/performance balance

D2-AUTOSPORT

I like the fact that my 20s allow me to run a pretty low drop without the car bouncing and scraping like my Honda did! i also like the way the 20s fill up the wheel well. If you have a good factory suspension (struts/springs) the 20s really dont hurt the ride much. I am from Bk, New York and I found that the larger rolling diameter allowed me to "skate" over smaller imperfections that would swallow my 16s whole!

Now with the Intrax drop, the ride is a whole 'nother strory

VSsc400

iTrader: (1)

18's... i love the 18's........ 19's and 20's look sweet... well if you live in part of a country where the roads are smooth then you can go bigger.. in NYC... 18's.....

Wald GS

iTrader: (1)

Carlsson 2/6's, 19X8.5 in the front and 19X10 in the rear.

The ride is great.