When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I'm buying a 2015 ES350 Ultra Luxury soon.. It comes with the optional 18" wheels. The dealer will swap them for 17" wheels if I want. Tire for ether size will be Michelin,
I have had many people tell me the 18" wheels don't provide as smooth a ride as the 17". And I was told the 18" tires wear out much faster then the 17" wheels
First of all, congratulation for the new car!
I'm intersted in having 18" wheels instead of the 17" I already have.
If you got the 18" and you are ready to swap please let me know.
The 17" tire/wheel package will have more tire sidewall to make up for the smaller wheel. This taller sidewall will have more flex/give, and that will give you a softer ride. The opposite side of that, though, is that the car will lean more in turns, and the handling will not be as sharp or responsive.
Regarding the wear- all other things being equal, an 18" tire will not wear any faster than a 17" tire. Often times the manufacturer will put a higher-performance tire on the larger tire/wheel package, which would lead to faster wear, but the size itself will not contribute. If, for example, you're just talking about a 205/55R16 Michelin Defender or a 205/60R15 Michelin Defender, both with T speed ratings, the 16 is not going to wear any faster than the 15.