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Hey Y’all, so i’m new to modding and customizing things. But i’m looking to want to change my rims, wanting 16-17in, and tail/head lights in the future. Wanting something clean, not ricer. I may be going to college in the future in Illinois so i need some snow tires too, and i also need rims that won’t rust or be damage from the weather up north, idk if that’s a concern or not. Any help would be appreciated, thanks and God bless.
Last edited by cjones05_; Oct 7, 2023 at 01:32 PM.
my issue is that the rims i have now are so scuffed from the previous owners it looks bad.
what tires do you recommend? if i’m going to be in Illinois snow, i’ll probably need some good ones.
ah okay. Tire wise, I really can’t recommend one for Chicago winters. I live in Kansas and our winters aren’t bad as Chicago. I’m running some all season Toyo proxies and they work fine for me when it snows. When there’s ice, I keep my ass at home. Are you pretty handy? If so, maybe try to fix the scuffs yourself.
I live up north of the border. Snow, ice and salt is what we deal with every winter. Winter roads are harsh on wheels. My option with be a winter and summer wheel set-up. I run a 17inch RDX rims for winter (17ins are the smallest wheels that can fit) and MDX 20s for summer. Having a smaller rim but bigger tire sidewall for winter hazards is something worth considering.
Do you like your current wheels? If so, you could get a set of winter tires and wheels. Have the current ones, sanded, buffed and repainted for next summer. You can shop around your local wheels repairs shops. Got mine done for about 400 CAD (approx 300$ US)
If not, you could use your currents wheels for winter. Just add some winter tires and get a set a summer tire and rims that fits your tastes.
When it comes to tires choice, it depends on your use and budget. I wouldn't recommend going for the cheap Chinese ones. I run General Tyres for summer and Toyos for winter.
Hope this helps and wish you to enjoy winter road with your TL. It's a beast in snowy condition... Especially with traction control off
Put snow tires on the scuffed up stock wheels. Michelin Xice snow are excellent.
Or...buy another set of wheels in the stock size and put an "all weather" tire on it like the Michelin Cross Climate 2. They're similar to a snow tire....but can also be used all year round. Not all season. All weather.
Your stock wheels are 18x8 +55, I think. The smallest diameter wheel you can fit over this car's brakes is 17".
Snow and salt will be harsh on the car and the wheels...so make note of that.
Having wheels restored is around $120-150 per wheel. It's a simple process and done in a few hours.
Absolutely do not modify the car until all maintenance has been performed.
- When was last oil change?
- When was last transmission fluid change?
- When was last differential fluid change?
- When was last brake fluid change?
- When was last engine air filter change?
- When was last cabin air filter change?
- Buy the Navigation DVD update
- Do you need new tires? Get a nice set of all seasons (DWS 06 for example)
- Do a deep clean of the entire interior
Then start with little things -
- Swap lights to LEDs
- OEM body kit
- OEM aluminum pedals
- OEM footwell lighting upgrade
- etc
Here's a list of everything I had on my car before it was sold and was very pleased with how it looked
Have you looked into getting the rims repaired? Cheaper than new ones.
I haven’t honestly. I’m not a fan of how they look. but, as another user said, keeping them for winter, and then switching to a summer set isn’t a bad idea.
Having wheels restored is around $120-150 per wheel. It's a simple process and done in a few hours.
Absolutely do not modify the car until all maintenance has been performed.
- When was last oil change?
- When was last transmission fluid change?
- When was last differential fluid change?
- When was last brake fluid change?
- When was last engine air filter change?
- When was last cabin air filter change?
- Buy the Navigation DVD update
- Do you need new tires? Get a nice set of all seasons (DWS 06 for example)
- Do a deep clean of the entire interior
Then start with little things -
- Swap lights to LEDs
- OEM body kit
- OEM aluminum pedals
- OEM footwell lighting upgrade
- etc
Here's a list of everything I had on my car before it was sold and was very pleased with how it looked
I live up north of the border. Snow, ice and salt is what we deal with every winter. Winter roads are harsh on wheels. My option with be a winter and summer wheel set-up. I run a 17inch RDX rims for winter (17ins are the smallest wheels that can fit) and MDX 20s for summer. Having a smaller rim but bigger tire sidewall for winter hazards is something worth considering.
Do you like your current wheels? If so, you could get a set of winter tires and wheels. Have the current ones, sanded, buffed and repainted for next summer. You can shop around your local wheels repairs shops. Got mine done for about 400 CAD (approx 300$ US)
If not, you could use your currents wheels for winter. Just add some winter tires and get a set a summer tire and rims that fits your tastes.
When it comes to tires choice, it depends on your use and budget. I wouldn't recommend going for the cheap Chinese ones. I run General Tyres for summer and Toyos for winter.
Hope this helps and wish you to enjoy winter road with your TL. It's a beast in snowy condition... Especially with traction control off
that helps a ton. thank you so much. that’s actually a good idea keeping the scuffed tires for winter and the nicer tires for summer. i was definitely worried about the ice and salt and everything ruining new rims, so that does help with the worry 😂
I’m not a big fan of the wheels I have right now at all. As I said, they’re so scuffed and what not, but i’m going to keep them for winter if I do decide to make the move up there. Thanks, and God bless.
Put snow tires on the scuffed up stock wheels. Michelin Xice snow are excellent.
Or...buy another set of wheels in the stock size and put an "all weather" tire on it like the Michelin Cross Climate 2. They're similar to a snow tire....but can also be used all year round. Not all season. All weather.
Your stock wheels are 18x8 +55, I think. The smallest diameter wheel you can fit over this car's brakes is 17".
Snow and salt will be harsh on the car and the wheels...so make note of that.
Yeah I am definitely a bit concerned about my car with the salt and rust issues. Do you have any recommendations on how to combat that?
Yeah I am definitely a bit concerned about my car with the salt and rust issues. Do you have any recommendations on how to combat that?
There's no good way to combat it ....especially if you're going to street park it in a college town. Its going to get beat up pretty bad. But just focus on school.
Don't make the car nice enough to spend energy worrying about it.
4 years of winters won't make the car fall apart....but you'll have rusted bolts, etc.
You can have "honey seal" applied to the chassis of the car to help combat the effects of rust. It will help a little bit. Its not a DIY project. You would have to take it somewhere that specializes in the application.
Don't go to the store and buy/use rubber undercoat...as it will make things worse.
Having wheels restored is around $120-150 per wheel. It's a simple process and done in a few hours.
Absolutely do not modify the car until all maintenance has been performed.
- When was last oil change?
- When was last transmission fluid change?
- When was last differential fluid change?
- When was last brake fluid change?
- When was last engine air filter change?
- When was last cabin air filter change?
- Buy the Navigation DVD update
- Do you need new tires? Get a nice set of all seasons (DWS 06 for example)
- Do a deep clean of the entire interior
Then start with little things -
- Swap lights to LEDs
- OEM body kit
- OEM aluminum pedals
- OEM footwell lighting upgrade
- etc
Here's a list of everything I had on my car before it was sold and was very pleased with how it looked
There's no good way to combat it ....especially if you're going to street park it in a college town. Its going to get beat up pretty bad. But just focus on school.
Don't make the car nice enough to spend energy worrying about it.
4 years of winters won't make the car fall apart....but you'll have rusted bolts, etc.
You can have "honey seal" applied to the chassis of the car to help combat the effects of rust. It will help a little bit. Its not a DIY project. You would have to take it somewhere that specializes in the application.
Don't go to the store and buy/use rubber undercoat...as it will make things worse.
well thankfully it’s only 2 years because i’m transferring!
These TL's were made exceptionally well, I'll give them that. I've never seen a rusted one around here (Chicago burbs).
But man it will be a shame to take a TX car and expose it to IL winter for 4yrs.
Some sort of barrier coating will help with that
yeaa true. it’s funny because this car it’s in used lifetime has been all over the country especially up north from what i know. thankfully i’ll only be there for 4 semesters so hopefully there isn’t any damage or rust.
Throw winter tires on the current wheels since they are beat up. Find a new set for summer, work on maintenance then mods. You're young, you'll understand one day they saying "maintenance over mods". Cars don't look good broken down, sitting in the garage.
