I recently purcahesed a 2004 LS430 with 18" chrome rims. I believe the stock tire for this size rim is 245/45 18. I need to replace the tires and was surprised to find the previous owner mounted 225/55 17's. I was a bit surprised as to why someone would mount 17" tires on 18" rims? I want to use Bridgestone Serenity tires and found they are not made in the stock 18" size. Perhaps the previous owner had the same delimma.

After checking the Tire Calculator, the diameter and speedometer difference is .23%. Is this difference anything to worry about and are there any other issues with mounting 17" tires on 18" rims?

 

There is no known way I know of to mount a 17" tire on a 18" wheel. Are you sure the rims are 18"? Is it a 5 spoke pattern stock sports wheel? or some other style?

 

Funny you should say that!!! I didn't think it was possible either and now I'm wondering if I was told something that is untrue! The rims are 6 spoke. I changed my Avitar with a picture of them...

 

why don't you just grab a measuring tape and measure it from lip to lip

 

Those 6 spoke wheels are 17"

 

+1

Those are 17". Those are my stock wheels from the Ultra.

 

Thanks Gents... sorry for taking up space with a stupid question!!

 

Got to be 17 inches. Unless the previous owner was able to defeat the laws of physics.

 

As for the Serenity tires Why? I just went through the same dilemna and finally wound up buying the Michelin Primacy. The customer reviews said serenitys were the quietest, but the testing done at the tire rack recommended the primacy as the quietest tire. I would appreciate your insight.

 

Well... I had a 1993 LS400 and put a Tauranza LS series tire on it. I was extremely pleased with the tire... very quiet, longevity, smooth ride... was, in my opinion, the best tire I have ever put on a car!! I live in NE so I had a seperate set of rims with snows on those and switched on/off in the spring and fall. Will probably do the same for this car. Looking for 17" rims now....

The Serenities reviews aren't to good for snow and ice but dry ratings seem to be terrific! I'm hoping that since the Serenity's are the next generation of Tauranza's that I won't be disappointed. Quietness is important but so is comfort and longevity... at least fior me. I'm not an aggressive driver... at least not in LS... I have a vette for that!!

 

For LS430

16 inch
225 60 16 676.4 millimeters or 26.63 inch (entire tire diameter)
17 inch
225 55 17 679.3/26.74
18 inch
245 45 18 677.7/26.68
19 inch
245 40 19 678.6/26.71
20 inch
245 35 20 679.5/26.75
285 30 20 679.0/26.73

or go crazy
21 inch
285 25 21 675.9 26.22Continental SportContact2 ZR 285/25R21 XL
22 inch
295 20 22 676.8 26.80
If you can find one

 

I reckon I just got the deal of the year here in the UK! Spotted on eBay, 5 new chrome 18 wheels (Lexus plus 4 brand new Pirelli P6000 245/45/18tires on. I was the only one bidding and got them delivered to my home 287 miles away in individual boxes for the equivilent of $900
I am totally stoked... and even better ...the guy that fitted them said I had a deformed front offside (he showed it to me) wheel and I have been driving the car like that since I got got it! including a 27400 mile trip to France and back. The point is, I thought that was smooth, now its smoother than a cashmere codpiece!

 

what is a deformed front offside ? I hear the weirdest things here on the ls430 forum. The other weird one was the guy who said he has 17" tires on 18" wheels.

 

A deformed front wheel is a wheel that is not perfectly round or has a dent in the structure. It may have been kerbed badly or the inside rim has hit a rock or other immovable object. anything that is deformed is not its original shape!
BTW, that trip through France was 2740 miles not the round the world distance I previously posted.

 

maybe for the better ride?