Hello CL,

I got into an argument with my friend when I asked him for a suggestion on what I should do with my IS250. We're good friends so it's not a big deal but I digress. Anyways, I want to get rid of the wheel gap without making the ride too harsh.

I say, I would just lower (w/ Ebach Pro Kit) it to get rid of the gap and then get new 18" wheels. That would take the wheel gap out and from what I have read here, it isn't so bad when it comes to comfort.

My friend suggests that I should just get 19" wheels (w/o a drop) in which he believes will get rid of the wheel gap and would be less harsh than a lowered car. I say the 19's, without a drop, would not get rid of the wheel gap the same way lowering springs would and with lower profile tires, it would be more harsher ride than with a lowering spring on 18's.

I'm not considering dropping and getting bigger wheels since my last car was too harsh and want to keep this one as stock feel as possible. What do you guys think?

 

19" will probably make wheel gap look bigger. go with the drop

 

Sturdy springs (like Eibachs) will drop the car but ride smoothly. Such springs can absorb shock and vibration efficiently.

I have Eibach springs, and I commute with it in L.A. traffic with utmost comfort.

Bigger 19" wheels means thinner tires, which will not absorb road nuances as well as 18" wheels. Although the springs will take some of the force, it will not eliminate the noise and rigidity of the tires.

Also, 19" will still not close the gap efficiently because when you get bigger wheels, you get thinner tires.

 

you are right your friend is WRONG

 

Yeah, I was wondering how the ride quality is with any lowering springs on this car, I had an Eclipse GST with Pro-kit installed and the car felt like it was gonna fall apart over every bump.. Not a fan of dropping a car after that one... but maybe its different with this car, I'd like to hear if anyone else noticed a big difference in ride quality after lowering??

 

19" wheels w/out a drop will make your car look like an SUV!!

 

dr phil summed it up best

 

The bigger you go, the bigger the gap gets. Drop dat SH^T

 

Thanks for all the insight and help. Maybe I'll print this out later and show it to him and prove him wrong.

 

I say drop it like its hot and put 19" rims.

I have this setup on my car and the ride is good IMO. Its not stiff or anything crazy and you still can have meat on the rear tire with a 19" rim. Another alternative is go 18" front and 19" rear....

Good luck on your decision!

 

You should give your friends some advice... dont start arguments over topics he doesnt know anything about. He is completely wrong and has no clue what he is talking about. Everyone here is giving you good info. The only way to get rid of wheel gap is to lower the suspension. Big wheels with no drop will make it look goofy and worse than it already does from the factory. I have the Eibach springs on my 250 and even if the springs were $1000, I would have still bought them because they are so worth it.

 

PhillipMSPT, has road noise increased since the drop?

 

Not at all.

It is about the same as stock set-up.

Road noise is dependent on the tire quality, not the springs.

 

bigger wheels will NEVER reduce the gap and will always WORSEN the ride unless you do it wrong...if you get the wrong wheel tire setup, meaning dont keep the same rolling diameter, you will close up some of the gap and the ride may not change much but your odometer and speedo will not be accurate and as a result neither will your MPG.

from personal experience the pro kit feels so similar to the stock springs in terms of ride quality that you wont even notice the switch. plus they help handling a little and do emilinate the gap.

 

only downside to the drop is. if you have 18's your going to want 19's. lol

drop ftw!

get the drop and 19's!