New Wheels on my ES
04-10-03, 07:13 PM
#1
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New Wheels on my ES
These wheels are awesome. I just got 'em last week and they ride awesome.
I have Kumho Ecsta 235/40/18's. They handle great.
I have Kumho Ecsta 235/40/18's. They handle great.
04-11-03, 03:58 PM
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Definitely feels lifted too!!!! From the time I drove it with the stock 15's and then with new 18's I felt like I had my SUV back.... 
I am definitely going to be lowering it though!!!
I am definitely going to be lowering it though!!!
04-13-03, 02:35 PM
#7
You'll want to replace struts when you do springs. The stock struts won't stand up real well to the extra abuse of the lowered car, and they may very well be due for replacement anyway. I'm using the B&G spring, Tokico strut combo that ran about $500 from www.shox.com.
The wheels look nice, I like that style on the ES. Tint looks good too and I love the black ES, I looked for a black one when I was buying, but didn't find the right one.
The wheels look nice, I like that style on the ES.
Tint looks good too and I love the black ES, I looked for a black one when I was buying, but didn't find the right one.
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04-14-03, 05:02 PM
#9
Lexus Test Driver
How does the car actually feel higher from inside? The radius of the new tire combo is actually a hair smaller than the radius of the OEM: (handy calculator at www.miata.net/garage/tirecalc.html )
Tire Size Comparison
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/65-15 5.2in 12.7in 25.5in 80.1in 791 0.0%
235/40-18 3.7in 12.7in 25.4in 79.8in 794 -
The "lifting" is just the fender gap being that much bigger than the sidewall of the 40-series tire. The gap is that big with the stock 205/65-15, but there's so much sidewall with a 65-series tire that the gap doesn't look out of place.
Another thing I've noticed is that people on this site have a much more sensitive eye than the average observer. I was looking at a bone stock M-B C32 AMG the other day, and the fender gap-sidewall ratio looks too large to meet the standards set on this board. The same goes for some GS's with the factory 17" wheels. Now, this is a matter of personal preference; I'm not attacking anyone else's preferences. If you want to drop the car all the way to the edge of the tire, and live in an area where the roads are good enough and the curbs low enough to do so, cool.
IMO, no need to slam the car completely, but with 18's on an ES (given the large stock fender gaps to allow for wheel travel with a soft suspension), I would do a slight drop. 17's have just enough sidewall to get away with using the stock suspension.
Tire Size Comparison
Specification Sidewall Radius Diameter Circumference Revs/Mile Difference
205/65-15 5.2in 12.7in 25.5in 80.1in 791 0.0%
235/40-18 3.7in 12.7in 25.4in 79.8in 794 -
The "lifting" is just the fender gap being that much bigger than the sidewall of the 40-series tire. The gap is that big with the stock 205/65-15, but there's so much sidewall with a 65-series tire that the gap doesn't look out of place.
Another thing I've noticed is that people on this site have a much more sensitive eye than the average observer. I was looking at a bone stock M-B C32 AMG the other day, and the fender gap-sidewall ratio looks too large to meet the standards set on this board. The same goes for some GS's with the factory 17" wheels. Now, this is a matter of personal preference; I'm not attacking anyone else's preferences. If you want to drop the car all the way to the edge of the tire, and live in an area where the roads are good enough and the curbs low enough to do so, cool.
IMO, no need to slam the car completely, but with 18's on an ES (given the large stock fender gaps to allow for wheel travel with a soft suspension), I would do a slight drop. 17's have just enough sidewall to get away with using the stock suspension.
Last edited by squarehat; 04-14-03 at 05:11 PM.
04-15-03, 11:56 AM
#11
Squarehat, I think you're right about sensitive eyes here; some of the stuff I see on the streets I'd think people were blind. 
I do look at stock cars sometimes and think they need to be lowered a little. Massive fendergap is just ugly no matter what. Actually, last Saturday night I was driving next to this beautiful new yellow Vette with stock chrome wheels, and just a little too much fendergap. 
Most people wouldn't notice, but it did look like it needed to be lowered. On a side note, it was kinda funny, the middle aged guy driving the Vette kept trying to get me to race him. I saved myself the embarrasment and we gave him props on the car after he floored it a couple times from a 40 roll. He would've literally pulled me like I was in reverse.
For my own tastes, I don't think a 1" drop on the ES is enough for 18's, the gap will still be too much in the front. I wish my 1.6" was a little lower in the front, about 2" would be great; but I'm still happy with the 1.6" drop on my car.
I don't know exactly why, but the car will physically sit higher on 18's than 15's, even though the diameter of the tires is the same. The spot where it mounts on the car doesn't line up and it will sit a little higher on larger wheels. Maybe someone else has a better explanation of why, I can only say that it does happen.
I do look at stock cars sometimes and think they need to be lowered a little. Massive fendergap is just ugly no matter what. Actually, last Saturday night I was driving next to this beautiful new yellow Vette with stock chrome wheels, and just a little too much fendergap. Most people wouldn't notice, but it did look like it needed to be lowered. On a side note, it was kinda funny, the middle aged guy driving the Vette kept trying to get me to race him. I saved myself the embarrasment and we gave him props on the car after he floored it a couple times from a 40 roll. He would've literally pulled me like I was in reverse. For my own tastes, I don't think a 1" drop on the ES is enough for 18's, the gap will still be too much in the front. I wish my 1.6" was a little lower in the front, about 2" would be great; but I'm still happy with the 1.6" drop on my car.
I don't know exactly why, but the car will physically sit higher on 18's than 15's, even though the diameter of the tires is the same. The spot where it mounts on the car doesn't line up and it will sit a little higher on larger wheels. Maybe someone else has a better explanation of why, I can only say that it does happen.
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