Wheel concern with moving to the Northeast
11-30-23, 12:53 PM
#1
Intermediate
Thread Starter
Wheel concern with moving to the Northeast
I'll be moving to the Boston area in the next few months and I'm concerned with the potholes in the New England roads causing problems or damage to my wheels. I'm familiar with the area having gone to college in Boston but I haven't been back in a couple of decades. My GS AWD has 235/45 tires with 18 inch rims.
I've seen tons of Carfaxes on Audis, Beemers and Mercs from the Northeast with constant tire/wheel repair due to their big rims and very small sidewall tires.
Anyone in the northeast have problems with potholes causing bent or damaged rims? Would changing tires to 235/50s be a bad or dangerous idea or not necessary?
I've seen tons of Carfaxes on Audis, Beemers and Mercs from the Northeast with constant tire/wheel repair due to their big rims and very small sidewall tires.
Anyone in the northeast have problems with potholes causing bent or damaged rims? Would changing tires to 235/50s be a bad or dangerous idea or not necessary?
Last edited by jeverett72; 11-30-23 at 01:01 PM.
11-30-23, 01:24 PM
#2
I'll be moving to the Boston area in the next few months and I'm concerned with the potholes in the New England roads causing problems or damage to my wheels. I'm familiar with the area having gone to college in Boston but I haven't been back in a couple of decades. My GS AWD has 235/45 tires with 18 inch rims.
I've seen tons of Carfaxes on Audis, Beemers and Mercs from the Northeast with constant tire/wheel repair due to their big rims and very small sidewall tires.
Anyone in the northeast have problems with potholes causing bent or damaged rims? Would changing tires to 235/50s be a bad or dangerous idea or not necessary?
I've seen tons of Carfaxes on Audis, Beemers and Mercs from the Northeast with constant tire/wheel repair due to their big rims and very small sidewall tires.
Anyone in the northeast have problems with potholes causing bent or damaged rims? Would changing tires to 235/50s be a bad or dangerous idea or not necessary?
Many of us have had some damage due to pot holes but it's not a guarantee that it will happen to you, and has only happened once to me in all the years of driving the GS with the same size you mention in over 100K mi.
The following 3 users liked this post by PGA71:
11-30-23, 01:25 PM
#3
Lexus Test Driver
I would certainly think you'd be okay with 45 sidewalls (106mm or 4.2") of 235/45 tires on 18" wheels except of course for the random super deep pothole you could typically find in most any area. Going with235/50 tires is only going to gain you less than ½ inch (+0.4") more sidewall. That's really not going to make any difference to speak of.
Texas boy going to Boston!
Texas boy going to Boston!
The following 3 users liked this post by bclexus:
11-30-23, 01:37 PM
#4
Advanced
I’ve had no problem on my stock 18s on either of my GSes in western Pennsylvania. Lots of potholes here in the winter. I’ve even had my glove box pop open one time when I hit one that I didn’t see 
The following 2 users liked this post by CottageChz:
jeverett72 (11-30-23),
NJLEXES (12-01-23)
The wheel would just be a witness.
12-01-23, 08:23 PM
#7
Lead Lap
Stock 18's on my AWD with stock size 235/45 tires here in NYC...when I first got the car, the original owner was someone who leased it in NJ, returned it after the 36 months and the dealership repaired 2 of the wheels which were out of round. Not too long after, a few thousand miles later, i had my wheels refinished and one more was out of round which I had repaired.
Since, I haven't had any issues now at 70k miles. I think you will be good and no need to change sizes.
Since, I haven't had any issues now at 70k miles. I think you will be good and no need to change sizes.
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