Blacked-out

Newbie to the forum and the aftermarket modding scene. I'm looking to get a new TL SH AWD and the dealer I have been working with carries 20" aftermarket rims. I've been reading online that this will affect the cars ABS and hurt the suspension in the long run and is bad for the car. It also will wear the struts and brakes due to the unsprung weight. The heavier wheel/tire combo will also be bad for the rotors and increase the brake distance. What do you guys think ? Pros / Cons ? Any feedback would be great.

Pete2010

Depends on the weight of the aftermarket 20's. If they are like 40lbs chrome (stock is something like 28lbs), then yea, you'll probably feel a difference.

A heavier wheel/tire combo will most likely affect your braking distance (minimally if you get quality lighter wheels).

ABS - I don't think so... how would it mess with that? Due to the ABS thinking you have a lighter wheel on? Again, try not get get a crazy heavy wheel.
Struts - I'm not sure how heavier wheels will stress the struts... maybe with aftermarket springs, but I don't see how wheels would affect that.
Brakes - Again, probably not noticeably more.

A lot of message forums will talk about unsprung weight with some easy number like, for every lb you add to the wheel you're adding 10lbs in static weight (i've read 8lbs or even 5lbs). The truth is that it's MUCH more complex than that.

I think the key thing is to get wheels that you like, and hopefully ones that are not too heavy.

I'm sure someone else who knows much more about this than myself will also chime in and help.

Blacked-out

Thanks ! our stock 18" is 28 lbs excluding the tire I presume ? THe rims I'm looking at are around 34 lbs each I don't think that will be that big a difference. I'm trying to see if I can use 20s year round so I don't have to switch them out in the winter..How do your 20's ride with those tires ? Do you notice a difference in handling or ride ? Some sites say that bigger wheels will increase your turning radius as well. I just really like the handle of feel of the stock TL and want it to remain the same or if not make it feel and look better if possible

Pete2010

Yea, I think it's 28lbs (someone please correct me) without the tire. With the tire it's like 55lbs maybe?

I only had my wheels on for a short amount of time during a photoshoot with RonJon. Then I took them off and put on my winters. I have wintertires on the factory 18's. When I had the 20's on, it seemed a little harsher, but nothing crazy. I wasn't aiming for potholes

Hopefully some of the other people on here can chime in as well, people who have had their 20's on for longer than myself. I'm not sure about the turning radius also... but I wouldn't worry about it. If you were driving a super light car with 15inch wheels, then maybe you would not want to upgrade. But this is a 2 ton beast of a car. I don't think an increase in wheel weight is as noticeable as with a small lightweight car.

mikey0692

So true

rondog

iTrader: (1)

I think 19" wheels would be the solution, goign from 18" to 20", you will feel a difference, going from 18" to 19" will be an improvment in style, while being barely a difference in comfort / performance. Our 19" wheels for the TL weigh only 25 lbs, lighter than the OEM wheels.

Chas2

Just be careful to realize that 19" rubber, in 245/40-19 is a LOT more expensive and far fewer choices than the equivalent 245/45-18 tires out there.

Though not recommended because of the weight, unless you have bucks to burn on lightweight forged wheels, 245/35-20 is cheaper than the 19 inch size.

And yes, unsprung weight does make a difference in handling. Take it from one who has dropped 92 lbs of unsprung wheels and tire weight.

Blacked-out

What about the 20" that you carry. Is it viable to drive it year round or will the snow damage them.

Pete2010

Are you saying you dropped 92 lbs in the weight of your wheels and tires? Damn, what did you go from 20" chromes to 17" forged? 23LBS per corner seems like an impressive drop in weight.

Chas2

It could be considered a little bit of cheating, but I did exactly that. My car came equipped with the metric equivalent of 18x9 wheels, shod with Michelin PAX tires. By going to 19x8.5 forged wheels with standard tire technology, I dropped 92 lbs. I had to add sprung weight back in the trunk for a spare, but the unsprung weight loss results in a dramatic increase in acceleration, handling and probably braking, although I have not done a lot of heavy braking.

Pete2010

That's actually the exact reason I went for 20's on my TL. You can find tons of great options for tires for $120 a piece or so. But with that 245/40-19 everything was at least 200-250+

That, and 20's just look so perfect on the big ass TL.

Blacked-out

Is it wise to drive with 20's during the winter?

wmahmud

I just moved from the factory 17" to 20" on 245/35/20 - the setup is amazing, fits perfect (will post pics soon)

my question is going from the 17" to 20" - am I now going faster then the spedometer shows or going slower then what it shows, or is there even any difference to care about ??

Also now that I am on low profile tiles, the ride is a bit rougher for sure, and I get some pulling at times, is that all normal?

Pete2010

I'm putting my summers on today, same size. That size compared with 245/50-17 (which i believe are factory size), you'll only be off my like .4% (not noticeable). The ride should be a bit rougher, but as for pulling, I'm assuming you have an alignment issue. I'm not sure how a wheel change would affect that.

NJ SHAWD

Not if you live where there is inclement weather. We in the north usually change over to winter wheels (smaller diameter stock) to keep the salt off of the good wheels. We also get serious pot holes in early spring because of the snow and ice, so I wait until the roads are repaired before putting on the summer shoes.

Chas2

So long as you use the plus theory, and keep the overall rolling diameter the same, you will not have speedo problems. 245/35-20 should be fine to replace the stock 245/50-17. Just be careful of increasing the unsprung weight too much.

Use this site for easy calcs.
http://www.1010tires.com/tiresizecalculator.asp

With regard to ride, the 20's will not be as plush as the 17's. Also if you increase your unsprung weight a lot, you may be feeling after effects of that, but I kind of doubt it...probably all the low profile qualities. You may also have a bad tire, and should check that. Pulling...the usual, make sure your tires are balanced and you get a new re-alignment with your new shoes. Definitely worthwhile to go back to your installer and check those items out. It is possible to have a new tire that is out of round or has some other defect that should have been caught in QA, but was not.

Let us know what happens

NJ SHAWD

I am looking at a a set of OZ Super Leggeras in 18" only because of the weight. They are 18.5 lbs per wheel saving me 9.5 lbs per of un-sprung weight each. I am not crazy about the sytle and I wanted to run with a nice looking set of 20", but the idea of better performance has me thinking. Is there really that much difference in 10lbs per wheel?

Pete2010

Honestly, just get the wheels you like the best. Why spend the money on wheels that you don't like just for some mild weight savings. 9.5lbs per wheel will probably be noticeable, but really, how much of a difference is worth it?

I just put my 20's on today. I went from 245/45-18 Wintersport M3's to 245/35-20 Falken 452's on RonJon Legend Type II's. The total weight difference was 2.6lbs per wheel, and I don't notice a speed difference. But the handling is much better, mainly due to the quality summer tires.

Honestly, get the tires you like the best, if you keep it close to the same weight, you won't notice any difference at all.

wmahmud

I am on Boss 339 Chrome - not sure the exact weight as I can't find it, but I think its heavier for sure

Blacked-out

Can anyone confirm 18" stock wheel and tire is 55lbs?

Chas2

Michelin 245/45-18 Pilot HX MXM4 weighs 27 lbs so that is entirely possible that the wheel weighs about +- 28 lbs including center caps, wheel weights and TPMS, but I have not actually found a weight on OEMs.

Pete2010

My Wintersport M3's + OEM 18's & TPMS weighed in @ 52.8lbs I can't find the weight on the Wintersports.

https://acurazine.com/forums/4g-tl-tires-wheels-suspension-298/wheel-suspension-upgrade-18s-20s-h-r-springs-%2Apics%2A-771791/

Blacked-out

I did see that on ur post. Thanks for weighing those wheels... Might end up getting Ronjons just like that.

dieseldub

my new wheels and tires weigh 60lbs together on my bathroom scale

i feel a difference between 18 and 20's in braking, not that it takes longer, just a different feel which i think is more attributed to the increase in diameter of the wheels and, i've adjusted now, but the ride lowered on 20's is still great, i was scared but came out pleasantly surprised.