Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Looking for wheels, and after swearing to myself that the largest wheel that I would get would be an 18"....a show-off thread with a set of RJ Legend LG 19" really has me thinking. They look incredible with a slight drop and I think that they would look really fantastic on my NBP TL-S. But the logical side of my brain is concerned about:

a) decreased ride quality going with a lower profile tire on a 19, because..
b) our roads are really crap up here due to the psycho winters/salting that we have...and...
c) I don't want to go nuts playing "pothole patrol" while driving

....but still....19s look soooo cool! Just when I thought that I've decided on a wheel, logic sets in!!!

princelybug

iTrader: (16)

Looks like you've got a pretty good grasp on your dilemma! In short, for performance, stay with your stock 17's, or at most go with 18's. If you want potential headaches, maintenance issues, and a harsher ride, but wanna roll a bit more phat, go 19's, or some even roll on 20's here.

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Yeah, I was afraid that you'd say that!

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Anybody in the snow/salt-belt running 19s care to share their experiences with them? Ride quality, etc...

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

first... if you want a 19" wheel... you will have to look for the obvious... cushion the ride 245/35-19 rides slightly smoother than the recommended size tire which is 235/35-19

you could also cheat and put 245/40-19 in the rear since some people tend to avoid the pothole in the front and hit it in the rear

from a logical stand point... go with a 5 spoke 18" wheel... they flow more with the car

ps. there is way more play available with an 18" wheel... price and drop if you catch my drift

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Understood...

I've read that anything larger than a 235/35/19 will rub even with a mild drop. i'd prefer a 245/35 for that extra bit of tire width.

I think that conventional wisdom is correct though...the best fit would be an 18" wheel/tire combo.

JetJock

Keep some rubber between the rim and road unless you like rattles and a sore butt.

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

Glad you created this thread ramrod... I live in Montreal and winters are just the same--if not worst. People been telling me to go staggered 19s [19x18.5, 19x9]... I also told myself to go at 18 max... My type of rims are that "mesh" type, like the work VS-XX or BBS RS-GT[my favorite]. Montreal is FULL of potholes and bad roads--but 18s and 17s look rather small on the car... I, myself, am also debating on 18s or 19s.
In a sense it doesn't matter, though. I have a long way to go before I get new rims...

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

I dunno....Ottawa roads are pretty crappy! I think we win this one!
Regardless, I find that rims with a wide lip tend to look smaller than "lipless" rims....the lips aren't my thing anyways, I like the stealth look.

I'd really like to take a TL with 19s on our roads just to see what it's like...I suspect a choppy ride. On my drive home from work today, I decided to count the potholes in my 15 minute drive...I stopped at 40! I think 18s are probably the best way to go, but I'd still like to hear some opinions form those who are running 19s in "crappy road" territory!

stillhere153

iTrader: (1)

yea lipless 18" will look bigger... with a wider tire (245/40-18) it will fill in the fender as well... I haven't gotten any weird looks and have been rolling on 18" since october

o4Komodo

iTrader: (2)

I like a small lip.. nothing to extreme. Enough to cover from half or my entire index-finger's-fingernail.
I haven't been to Ottawa since ages so I don't know how the roads are--but Montreal has bad roads almost everywhere you go! It's so uneven as well lol. Maybe I should also count the potholes we have =p
I'm still with the 17s and due to the road conditions it gets bumpy from time to time... it's not that bad, would it be that much more of a difference on 19s over 18s?

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Hard to say....there's about a 1/2" or so difference in sidewall height between a 18" & 19" wheel tire combo based on 245/40/18 and 235/35/19.

I'd really like to test a TL with 19s out to know for sure...but I suspect that based on the tire thickness, that 1/2" of extra tire height on an 18 may make the difference.

FiveLiterCheater

Logic FTL! Get 19s!

apnorm

iTrader: (3)

I had the same dilema and decided with the the 18" BUT when I went to order my wheels, the 18's were on back order. I didn't have the patience so I ordered up the 19" - went with 245/35's and I'm soooooo thankful the 18's weren't in stock. I love the 19"s with the aspec drop.

Ride quality is fine. I don't find that I need to dodge potholes more than I would if I had the stock wheels on. Then again, I would dodge the same potholes with my wife's MDX so take it for what it's worth.

19" FTW!

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Interesting....any pix? Is there any rubbing with 245/35s? I'd be going with 1" drop or so (Eibach, Comptech, etc)...Yeah, I dodge potholes with my OEMs regardless....but you always end up hitting one eventually and I don't want to mess up a nice set of 19s (or 18s/17s for that matter). I would think that there's a greater chance of that with a shorter sidewall.

apnorm

iTrader: (3)

No rubbing whatsoever. I have the aspec drop which i think is less than a 1" drop but would have actually liked a little more drop. There's a 2 finger gap in the rear and about a 2 1/2 - 3 finger gap in the front with the aspec suspension.

Unfortunately I don't believe I have any pics with the 19's and the drop, and I still have my winter wheels on. I should be putting the 19's back on this weekend. I'll send you some pics if you haven't decided by then.

bent09

iTrader: (1)

I am in the same boat.

acuraclguy

hi Ramrodthrusterpuppy, i live in toronto and will be picking up my 19's this Friday.just like you like i got a mesh style rim, if you can wait about a week i can let you know how it is and will try to post a pic. I do not have a drop and proballey won't get it done but it should help you still. the tires are going to be 245 35 19.

acuraclguy

Oh by the way i know the mane says CL guy, but i am a TL guy now. By the way that's a really freaky looking picture you got there, gives me the creeps for some reason.

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Yeah, I'd be interested in seeing pix and seeing what you have to say regarding ride quality.

It's the eyes in my avatar...they follow you...spooky !

TL1999

MAN, your avator is scary....

anyways, go with 18....

MOB

the ledgends look HOT in 18" with a 245/40 tires in my opinion..
having said that id still personally go with the 19s :p

CrazyNurse

see deltaboxxx's avatar--that's scary!

jjgoff1

I bought a set of 19's last spring. I wanted 18's, but the ones I wanted were on backorder. I got a good deal on 19's so I went ahead and bought them. The look is awesome. The car definitely stands out. I could tell a difference in the ride, but nothing objectionable. I honestly can't imagine there would be all that much difference between 18's and 19's in that regard. Up until this past weekend, I was very happy with my purchase. That's when I hit a pothole on the interstate at night in a construction zone in a slight curve with a wall on one side and a car riding my quarter panel on the other. I had very little time to react and no where to go if I could have...s#*t happens. I hit it so hard my XM radio skipped. As soon as I got out of the construction zone the car was vibrating and I knew I was screwed. I made it home and did a quick visual inspection. I was just sick so I didn't look too long. When I got up the next morning the rear tire was flat. I put air in it and did a more thorough inspection. I could see a bend in the lip on the inside of the rear wheel. I made it into my local tire & wheel shop. They put both left side wheels on the balance machine and found out both wheels were trashed...bent and warped. No way they could be repaired. Now I'm going to be out $910 for two new wheels plus the cost to get them mounted, balanced and I'm sure an alignment may be in order. It may not have made any difference, but if I had to do it over again, I probably would have just waited for the 18's...the extra rubber might have at least given me a chance. You can't beat 19's for looks, but if you actually have to drive your car on a daily basis, 18's are the way to go.

Manach

Ill second the hottness of the ledgends in 18" with 245/40, I just got that set-up 2 days ago. Pics will be up this weekend after tint on sat.

It does depend on the wheel style how the sizes will look. Roads suck here and I care about the ride and would like to get a lil drop which effects ride also and the 18's have a lil better weight so pick-up stays nice and i loved the ledgends in 18"s so I went with them.

Depends also on your style, I dont like to big a wheel, dont like 20's, but 19's are nice (real nice). Once again depends on the wheel and your style, that said I am in love with what I got and wouldnt change even if I had a trade offered. hope that helps.

t0talacuratl

iTrader: (3)

I'm glad you posted, because I was curious about the Legends in the 18". I know a guy that have the 19" on his 3rd gen TL-S, and it looks great! I just don't want to go two inches higher that stock. Plus I'm concern about the effects performance wise. I can't wait to see pics of your the wheels on your car to help me make up my mind.

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Here's dragonlord's ride with 18" RJ Legend LGs...




Looks really sharp! I think that this may be the ideal set up for me. Either that, or I may just stick with the stock TL-S wheels (which I really like) get some better tires and drop it. I think that looks great as well. 19s look cool, but our roads are just too sh!tty up here!

don5504

isn't an 18" wheel available via the Acura dealership? If so its really only one size larger than an OEM wheel.

but honestly for those of you who are worried about performance neither 18's or 19's would be the best. the best would be the smallest wheel you could get that would fit over the calipers. so i believe all this talk about performance is mute.

that being said I'll probably go with 18's or 19's these stock 17's look tiny. but i am really leaning towards 19's because hell I even had 18's on my vw jetta. i wonder if 19" BBS LM's would fit.

D

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

how about these: head turner they will get you mad looks.

t0talacuratl

iTrader: (3)

The factory Aspec wheels are 18", but they are as heavy as the stock 17's(26 lbs). I was referring to the RonJon's, because they are lighter(22 lbs). Your right in the since that the smaller wheels would give be better for performance. But IMO the lighter 18's would be a great compromise.

don5504

26lbs? my bbs rc's on my jetta were 19lbs and they were 18" there's alot of unsprung weight that could be removed. as soon as these stock tires wear out i'm going to be all over it.

D

MOB

or theres always those penis wheels that someone posted the other day.

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Nah.....these are killer!

enigmaos

iTrader: (4)

^

acuraclguy

i'm calling the store i'm buying from and telling him to get me those flower rims. i hope they come in 19's. i also hope i can find a matching dress.

t0talacuratl

iTrader: (3)

Yeah, I will be doing the same when my tires wear. Unfortunately my tires are still fresh, so it will be awhile.
I used to have some Centerforce high polish alum 17's that weight 12 lbs on my old eclipse. Now that was bad ass!

acuraclguy

So i got rims, went for the staggered fit
the fronts are 19x8.5 245 35 19 +30 offset
the rears are 19x9.5 275 30 19 +45 offset
with these sizings and offsets the wheels are flush with the wheelwell/body.
The ride quality is just a little rougher than stock even on uneven pavement, i haven't tested on potholes and don't plan on doing so. Overall the ride quality is pretty good. The rims don't look overly huge and ridiculous. In my opinion it looks really good and I'm not just saying that because it's my car. Ramrod go for the 19's, you won't regret it.

acuraclguy

hold on guys i'm trying to figure out how to attach the pics....sorry

acuraclguy

ok i give up someone tell me how to post pics and i will do it tomorrow

Ramrodthrusterpuppy

Go to www.imageshack.us or another photo hosting site (i.e. photobucket, imagecave, etc...)and post the link....pix will show up.