My New Is250 Se-l

[Tango]

Interesting Tango. Bit late now but i hope the rear wears even or i don't do any damage due to rear wheel drive. I took the vehicle to Lexus and they put it on there inspection ramp and gave it the thumbs up and commented that the warranty remained intact.

I may take it for tracking as i haven't as yet. Question is as they are digital laser tracking what information do i give? I have put 32 psi all round and know that that is wrong, but as you all know when you start messing around with things of this nature you alter other things too.

I may just buy a couple of 5mm spacers for the rear. Forgot to take a close up pic today so will once again say im going to do it tomorrow. Advice, Criticism, comments welcome.

Got to drive to Scotland in a couple of weeks then back to Derby then off to Gatwick airport. If i feel uncomfortable with the running conditions then i will put the originals back on and sort it on my return. Nothing worse than the fear of putting your foot down while your driving. Car cost me a bomb and last thing i would want to do was prang it or more importantly injure someone else.

Neal.....I hate to say it but you're very likely to have problems. Suggest you have a word with Tony over on WIM as we've collected a lot of data, including the Lexus original geometry specs for the IS second generation. http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/forum/ind...hp?&CODE=01

Having your local Stealership give you the thumbs up wouldn't give me a warm cosy feeling at all....ask most IS first generation owners on their experience of handling/tyre wear and OEM 'tracking'. :shutit: http://www.lexusownersclub.co.uk/forum/ind...48284&st=20

[chandru]

Neal....my 250 was one of the earliest and came with same width wheels all round, but they were fitted with staggered width tyres i.e. wider on the rear. (245 rears 225 fronts). I queried the rim widths with the dealer as the later models, including yours, have 8J on the front and 8.5J (or is it 7J and 7.5J..can't remember) on the rear with the same tyres as mine. The dealer says my VIN number checks out as one of the early models with the same width rims all round.

The original design spec. for the 250 requires wider tyres on the rear....there's a reason for it (I asked Tony @WIM why but forgot what he told me) .

thought the oem 17" on the 220/250 se> had same width wheel on front and rear but the rear tyre was just wider(245 as opposed to 225 front). the wheel was only bigger on the 22/250 sport 18" oem set and the baransu/hoshi's?

[neal]

Chrome strip is on 1 of 3 pics already posted mate. You've worried me now Tango. Going to ring Lexus in morning and try and take it to them and have them put it on the ramp and inspect it. A verbal ok will do.

[neal]

I am NOT an expert when it comes to mods for cars. Far from it. All i wanted to do was make it different to the rest. I ordered it and asked what extras were available. I then said sod it, i want them all. The adaptive cruise control cost £2,750 alone.

As stated prior i have ALWAYS changed my wheels on my Lexus cars. Have owned 5 different Lexus cars and changed them all. Nothing against the wheels (apart from early warranty issues) just me really.

Chandru, the wheels ARE different from front & back and so are the tyres. On the 17" version they are 225/45/17 on front and 255/45/17 on rear.

On the Baransu 18" version they are 225/40/18 on front and 255/40/18 on rear. Wheels are 8J on front and 8.5J on rear.

Don't want to drive it now!

[Tango]

Chandru, the wheels ARE different from front & back and so are the tyres. On the 17" version they are 225/45/17 on front and 255/45/17 on rear.

On the Baransu 18" version they are 225/40/18 on front and 255/40/18 on rear. Wheels are 8J on front and 8.5J on rear.

Don't want to drive it now!

Neal...all we know is the second generation geometry settings from Lexus have (within their specified tolerances) the potential for inner tyre wear. My 250 from new with the original rims and tyres never felt quite right, especially at motorway speeds and showed signs of inner tyre wear after only 3000 miles. I obtained the full settings for the second generation IS from a friend in a Lexus Dealership and Tony checked my settings against them. They were within tolerance. Tony then made changes to the toe settings both front and rear. The car drives a lot better as it feels more 'planted'. WIM has monitored the settings since then (October 2006) and tyre wear isn't an issue anymore, even though I'm now running on wider 19" rims and have slight negative camber due to it being lowered.

Since then WIM have checked and set many more IS220/250 so have good data available to be able to assess your set-up...suggest you pm WIM with your rim and tyre sizes...or if Tony is reading this, perhaps voice his opinion as he's the expert, not me.

[neal]

Chandru, the wheels ARE different from front & back and so are the tyres. On the 17" version they are 225/45/17 on front and 255/45/17 on rear.

On the Baransu 18" version they are 225/40/18 on front and 255/40/18 on rear. Wheels are 8J on front and 8.5J on rear.

Don't want to drive it now!

Neal...all we know is the second generation geometry settings from Lexus have (within their specified tolerances) the potential for inner tyre wear. My 250 from new with the original rims and tyres never felt quite right, especially at motorway speeds and showed signs of inner tyre wear after only 3000 miles. I obtained the full settings for the second generation IS from a friend in a Lexus Dealership and Tony checked my settings against them. They were within tolerance. Tony then made changes to the toe settings both front and rear. The car drives a lot better as it feels more 'planted'. WIM has monitored the settings since then (October 2006) and tyre wear isn't an issue anymore, even though I'm now running on wider 19" rims and have slight negative camber due to it being lowered.

Since then WIM have checked and set many more IS220/250 so have good data available to be able to assess your set-up...suggest you pm WIM with your rim and tyre sizes...or if Tony is reading this, perhaps voice his opinion as he's the expert, not me.

Thanks once again Tango for the information supplied. Much of it is double dutch to me but the rest makes sense. Have visited the link you kindly supplied on a previous post but was unable to ask anything. Do i need to be a member? I am going to ring Lexus NOW and have also included a couple of pictures of 1 of the rear wheels close up and at an angle.

[Tango]

They definitely look a bit skinny. Does it handle OK?

Just for comparison...anyone got a similar shot with a standard 18"?

[neal]

They definitely look a bit skinny. Does it handle OK?

Just for comparison...anyone got a similar shot with a standard 18"?

They look nice. What size are wheels (rear mainly) and tyres? Rang Lexus as i said i would and once again VERY helpful and after a lengthy coversation i had certain issues answered and was glad i rang.

The issue regarding 2nd generation IS models with same wheel sizes all round with tyres being the same was clarified and is correct. The Lexus grand prix 18" chrome wheels i have fitted to my 250 should have 225/40/18 fitted to them. And they HAVE. This is what is written by Lexus and is also accessable by PC.

They offered to have it looked at on the ramp if i wished. By the time i ended the call it was gone 4pm so i intend going tomorrow (Friday 22.02.08) as it would definately put my mind at ease.

Tango, regarding the rears, would i be ok to put spacers on the rear 2? If yes what mm would you PERSONALLY recommend? Thanks once again to EVERYONE for your continued help. It is VERY much appreciated.

[Tango]

They definitely look a bit skinny. Does it handle OK?

Just for comparison...anyone got a similar shot with a standard 18"?

They look nice. What size are wheels (rear mainly) and tyres? Rang Lexus as i said i would and once again VERY helpful and after a lengthy coversation i had certain issues answered and was glad i rang.

The issue regarding 2nd generation IS models with same wheel sizes all round with tyres being the same was clarified and is correct. The Lexus grand prix 18" chrome wheels i have fitted to my 250 should have 225/40/18 fitted to them. And they HAVE. This is what is written by Lexus and is also accessable by PC.

They offered to have it tested on the ramp and inspect it in detail if i wished. By the time i ended the call it was gone 4pm so i intend going tomorrow (Friday 22.02.08) as it would definately put my mind at ease.

Tango, regarding the rears, would i be ok to put spacers on the rear 2? If yes what mm would you PERSONALLY recommend? Thanks once again to EVERYONE for your continued help. It is VERY much appreciated.

I don't like spacers, although I have used them on other cars. To bring those wheels out to fill the arches a bit more would probably require new longer length studs as well.

I don't know what your dealership is on about...the only second generation IS with the same width rims and tyres all round is the all wheel drive version (AWD) available in the States...and as it's four wheel drive it's got totally different requirements. They're not wrong in their statement about the wheels though, after all they're intended for the IS200/300 that has the same size rims and tyres all round, but that doesn't mean they're suitable for your 250.

My 250 as received from the factory only had 225 tyres on the front, but the rears were 245. The Ray's Volks Wheels in the pic are shod with 225/35/19 on the front and 275/30/19 on the rear...rims are 8.5J front and 9.5J rear. When they're worn out the fronts will get 235's as they're a little undertyred at the mo.

[neal]

Someone posted that the 2nd generation IS (the very 1st ones in 05 2005) were same wheels and tyres all round. I questioned this on phone to dealer and initially it was stated as incorrect but upon further investigation it was proven to be true. This is with reference to the 18" set not the 17 and it is a 2wd uk version.

Appreciate what you are saying regarding spacers. Never used them but didn't know of an alternative. Imho anything from 16" 17" and 18" are acceptable to use, but i wouldn't go there again with 19" ones. I have also previously had a set of 19" rims on my Lex but warranty wasn't an issue due to the fact that it had already lapsed.

Understand also regarding the wheel studs. Did this on the 19" rims i just refered too as it shreaded 1 rear tyres almost straight away and broke 2 studs in the process.

[chandru]

the 17"OEM on the 220d/250 SE n above have 225/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear. the wheel sizes i believe are 8j front and back. on the 18" OEM 220d/250 sport (including hoshi/baransu) the sizes are 225/40/18 front and 255/40/18 rear. the wheels are 8j front and 8.5j rear. dont think ur dealer is telling the full truth or knows what they are talking

[neal]

the 17"OEM on the 220d/250 SE n above have 225/45/17 front and 245/45/17 rear. the wheel sizes i believe are 8j front and back. on the 18" OEM 220d/250 sport (including hoshi/baransu) the sizes are 225/40/18 front and 255/40/18 rear. the wheels are 8j front and 8.5j rear. dont think ur dealer is telling the full truth or knows what they are talking

Understand what you are saying Chandru, but someone on this post wrote that the 2nd generation IS but 1 of the very 1st had the same wheels and tyres all round. I didn't beleive it and neither did Lexus until they research it on the computer. It was only then verified to be true and related to the 18" wheels.

As stated by myslef in a previous post the wheel and tyre sizes for the 17" wheels that i removed are as you have stated but the rear wheels are 8.5J or at least i thought they were.

P.S Mate, just ordered the front AND rear headlight and rear lights chrome surrounds. Will advise upon receipt / installation. I think i'll stop there. Certainly don't want anyone saying it looks American.

[chandru]

where did u get the chrome surround from for the rear lights and also on ur boot lid?

[neal]

States mate.

[Tango]

Someone posted that the 2nd generation IS (the very 1st ones in 05 2005) were same wheels and tyres all round. I questioned this on phone to dealer and initially it was stated as incorrect but upon further investigation it was proven to be true. This is with reference to the 18" set not the 17 and it is a 2wd uk version.

Yes, that was me..referring to my 2005 manufactured 250, and it was 17", not 18" and the tyres were not the same all round, just the rim width.

Appreciate what you are saying regarding spacers. Never used them but didn't know of an alternative. Anything from 16" 17" and 18" are acceptable as far as Lexus are concerned, but 19" they DON'T want to know. I have also had a set of 19" rims on my Lex but warranty wasn't an issue due to the fact that it had already lapsed.

The IS-F has 19" wheels, and so does mine. My local Lexus Dealership has no problems with the fitment, so please don't talk as if your local dealership represents Lexus GB, in fact from what you say I would question their honesty or intent.

Anyway, if you're happy with what you're doing that's fine...carry on.

[chandru]

think all i want to get on mine now is tints and the oem rear spoiler and front one too. And possibly the oem sport alloy pedal set.

[dazw72]

Neal, having worked in the Motor trade for a number of years and knowing the Dealer you are speaking of may I give you my read of the situation.

1. The alloys you have fitted are not, and have never been, approved by LGB for fitment to any model of IS250 even though they may well fit and do look stunning!.

2.The Dealer will only have details of Tyre/Wheel/Suspension settings as provided by LGB which will not include yours as it is now different to any official/approved specification.

3. Even though the alloys you have where fitted with 225/40/18 tyres when supplied for the IS200/300 that doesn't make that size ideal for your current IS

4. It surprises me that your Dealer have confirmed that you have not impacted on your Warranty fitting these wheels as your car is now not compliant with LGB's original specs and has non Type Approved wheels on it. This could affect your Warranty if any failure/fault can be attributed to the Wheel change.(In my experience this has rarely been an issue but if your suspension or driveshafts are now aligned/stressed in a different way this could occour)

My advice to you would be to try an idependant Wheel/Tyre/Suspension specialist who will be able to advise you on your particular setup rather than your local dealer who can only advise to official LGB guidelines.

[neal]

Not sure why your post appears blunt Tango? I was / am merely stating what the dealer is saying. As i have already stated i too had 19" Millie Miglia on my IS200. Warranty wasn't an issue as it had lapsed.

When i mentioned the 18" chromes it was then said to me that as the IS250 comes with 17" or 18" then it's not as if i have gone any higher. I have met and spoken to employees of Lexus GB but didn't run my predicament by them.

I am talking about a Lexus IS250 NOT an ISF and relaying what the DEALER is saying NOT Lexus GB. I have NO grounds to question there honesty or intent and value there knowledge / opinion where this matter is concerned.

As also stated prior i am taking the car in to be viewed, will be Monday now. And will take it from there.

Dazw72, With regards to your statement, it is concise and a true account of the situation. Certain points being covered by dealer and coincide with what you have written. Thanks for that incidentally.