Author Topic: New IS300 Pics (new wheels) (Read 3723 times)

rrocket · « **on:** May 18, 2007, 07:18:36 pm »

Import Queen got her Lexus all cleaned up, so we took some pics. New wheels are HP EVO Lightnings in 18". Car still needs to be lowered, but you get the idea!!

Snowman · « **Reply #1 on:** May 18, 2007, 08:45:39 pm »

Car looks great with the new wheels!. Why lower it? I don’t get cosmetic lowering.

ovr50 · « **Reply #2 on:** May 18, 2007, 09:06:09 pm »

Great looking Lexus, the wheels really suit it.

Thanks for posting the pix.

AVToller · « **Reply #3 on:** May 18, 2007, 09:22:21 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on May 18, 2007, 08:45:39 pm

Car looks great with the new wheels!. Why lower it? I don’t get cosmetic lowering.

with both points.

UmroAyyar · « **Reply #4 on:** May 18, 2007, 10:16:22 pm »

Lower it or not, it looks awesome.

rrocket · « **Reply #5 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:27:10 pm »

Thanks for the kind words. Drop is less than 25mm. More for ride/handling than looks...but will definitely shrink the fender-to-wheel gap in the bak some. After that will be brake mod. Kinda going in an order. Intake/ECU, then exhaust, then shortie shifter, then wheels, then springs, then new brakes. Those were her plans and she's almost there!!

mdxtasy · « **Reply #6 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:39:52 pm »

Quote from: rrocket on May 18, 2007, 11:27:10 pm

Thanks for the kind words. Drop is less than 25mm. More for ride/handling than looks...but will definitely shrink the fender-to-wheel gap in the bak some.

That'll bring it down nicely. Great to lower the centre of gravity a bit and to help in the handling. Is the queen going coilover or spring route?

HeliDriver · « **Reply #7 on:** May 18, 2007, 11:40:25 pm »

Just curious, but how wide are the rims, and what size are the tires?

The wheels do look sharp, but IMHO the rubber seems a little narrow for the rim. Maybe it's just the pics, though. Or maybe I'm just hopelessly out of touch...

dr_spock · « **Reply #8 on:** May 19, 2007, 12:14:19 am »

Sharp looking.

rrocket · « **Reply #9 on:** May 19, 2007, 03:28:38 am »

Definitely WON'T be going with coilovers. Went that route once before, and they were $$$$ plus very noisy, and ride quality was so-so. For the street, I use Swift Springs of Japan exclusively. These are one of the best springs made, and many people that do have coilovers actually replace their springs with these! With their street springs, they are one of the few companies that make their lowering springs to work with the stock stroke of the stock shocks. So you have a great ride, a nice little drop, and better handling without blowing out your shocks.

The wheels are 18x8, and the rubber is a 40 series, so plenty of sidewall. Tires are 225/40. It's definitely an illusion of the pics. Just the sidewall has the tire shine gel on it, so it really "pops" out at you. Look at the 2nd to last pic...the front tire. See the tire shine makes the sidewall look puny?

airbalancer · « **Reply #10 on:** May 19, 2007, 07:09:28 am »

Very nice!
How about some mirror bulbs to take care of the egg york look
I would also replace the amber bumper reflector with black ones

Snowman · « **Reply #11 on:** May 19, 2007, 10:00:05 am »

I have done extensive reading on improving the handling of my car. From what I found simply changing springs can shorten the life of shocks, bushings, struts considerably. Changing the suspension geometry form the original specifications without considering the other components can result in expensive replacements later in premature failures.

For most street cars the proper balance is difficult to achieve as the handling characteristics of the car can change dramatically by changing only one suspension component, and not necessarily for the better. A proper suspension upgrade for my car which will give me adjustability and match the components properly will be >3K. A $500 box of springs is no quick fix.

wing · « **Reply #12 on:** May 19, 2007, 11:02:28 am »

I had springs on my car that everyone claimed worked wonders, the car handled like crap at the limit and was unpredicable in some cases.

Changing the shocks and springs to a matched pair with proper damping rebound and compression transformed my car and made it umpteen times faster around twisties.

AVToller · « **Reply #13 on:** May 19, 2007, 11:25:58 am »

Suspension TUNING is a complex art/science.

rrocket · « **Reply #14 on:** May 19, 2007, 02:11:47 pm »

Quote from: Snowman on May 19, 2007, 10:00:05 am

I have done extensive reading on improving the handling of my car. From what I found simply changing springs can shorten the life of shocks, bushings, struts considerably. Changing the suspension geometry form the original specifications without considering the other components can result in expensive replacements later in premature failures.

For most street cars the proper balance is difficult to achieve as the handling characteristics of the car can change dramatically by changing only one suspension component, and not necessarily for the better. A proper suspension upgrade for my car which will give me adjustability and match the components properly will be >3K. A $500 box of springs is no quick fix.

I agree...which is why I use the Swift Springs. One of the few (only?) companies that design their stuff to be used with STOCK suspension components and stock stroke of the stock shocks. I have used them in the past with great success. Everytime I've used them, the handling has improved with little cost to ride quality. As long as I'm on stock stuff, it's Swift for me...

onearmed · « **Reply #15 on:** May 19, 2007, 05:35:39 pm »

Pictures usually make the suspension look higher than normal. In person that height probably looks perfect. Nice car, rims usually make up half the look of the car too. Good choice. From the side is reminds me of a bmw..... have no clue where that came from.

The Mighty Duck · « **Reply #16 on:** May 19, 2007, 08:28:49 pm »

http://www.swiftsprings.com/

Is this the same company as Swift of Japan, rrocket? Their prices seem reasonable - IIRC when I was looking at H&Rs or Teins they were $400 CDN installed, so that's not out of line.

And if they really do work well with stock suspension, well...

Damn you! I was perfectly happy to leave well enough alone. Now I've got the itch to order up a set and drop the car... heh.

Anyway, the IS looks awesome. Love the wheels - can't wait to see her when she's dropped.

Aquifere · « **Reply #17 on:** May 19, 2007, 08:37:10 pm »

Very nice and a smart choice, congratulations!

rrocket · « **Reply #18 on:** May 19, 2007, 08:54:34 pm »

Quote from: Demosthenes X on May 19, 2007, 08:28:49 pm

http://www.swiftsprings.com/

Is this the same company as Swift of Japan, rrocket? Their prices seem reasonable - IIRC when I was looking at H&Rs or Teins they were $400 CDN installed, so that's not out of line.

And if they really do work well with stock suspension, well...

Damn you! I was perfectly happy to leave well enough alone. Now I've got the itch to order up a set and drop the car... heh.

Anyway, the IS looks awesome. Love the wheels - can't wait to see her when she's dropped.

Yea..I really like Swift. They are only just starting to become popular in North America. I usually pay around $275 USD per set..a STEAL!!!!

barrie1 · « **Reply #19 on:** May 19, 2007, 08:57:46 pm »

A coupla cement blocks in the trunk would lower this car just enough to get the look you want IMHO. A lot cheaper as well.

Author Topic: New IS300 Pics (new wheels) (Read 3723 times)

mdxtasy