SolaraGuy.com

I want to get the first ver. TRD Wheels w/ Michelin Sports Tires for the Solara. Is $1659 a good price? Does anyone else have it? If so, is it worth the money for style and performance? Please post pics.....

SolTech wrote:the trd wheels you were talking about look nice but I don't know how much they weight so I stayed away from them.

<IMG SRC="http://www.trdsparks.com/images/parts/00602-42601-204.jpg" WIDTH=170 HEIGHT=150 ALIGN=bottom>

The specs on these TRD 18" 5-spoke wheels are:
Offset: +40mm
PCD: 5x114.3mm
Weight: Wheels - 24.5 pounds, Tires (Michelin Pilot Sport P225/45/18 ) - 24.5 pounds ---> Total = 49 pounds
I used the specs on these as a baseline when searching for my wheels.

I was not really impressed with the OE 17" Bridgestone's cornering abilities. I believe you will see a significant improvement (except in snow) with these 18" Michelin's in all respects. I know I have.

Best price I can find is $1,645.62 NOT including shipping.

DocJohn wrote:<IMG SRC="http://www.trdsparks.com/images/parts/00602-42601-204.jpg" WIDTH=170 HEIGHT=150 ALIGN=bottom>

The specs on these TRD 18" 5-spoke wheels are:
Offset: +40mm
PCD: 5x114.3mm
Weight: Wheels - 24.5 pounds, Tires (Michelin Pilot Sport P225/45/18 ) - 24.5 pounds ---> Total = 49 pounds
I used the specs on these as a baseline when searching for my wheels.

I was not really impressed with the OE 17" Bridgestone's cornering abilities. I believe you will see a significant improvement (except in snow) with these 18" Michelin's in all respects. I know I have.

Best price I can find is $1,645.62 NOT including shipping.

Those wheels and tires look great but the BIG problem is that they are summer-only tires anywhere but the south. They'd be not much use for a northern winter and I'd have to get snowtires and swap. In addition, the Pilot Sports have low tread life and are expensive to replace.

slingshot wrote:Those wheels and tires look great but the BIG problem is that they are summer-only tires anywhere but the south. They'd be not much use for a northern winter and I'd have to get snowtires and swap. In addition, the Pilot Sports have low tread life and are expensive to replace.

While I can't speak for AZNBoYie02, I surmised he is not worried too much about tire performance in snow living in LAS VEGAS.
Yes, the Pilot Sports have a lower tread life, but this is essentially endemic to performance tires as they use softer, "more sticky" rubber compounds in the tread sacrificing tread life for performance as compared to more “mainstream” tires.
If you really like these wheels, they are also available without rubber, so you can mount what ever tires you like.

Yep, I didn't look where he lived. If I lived in Vegas, I'd get those wheels and tires too. This car with Pilot Sports, RSB, and lowering springs would rock.

How long does the stock tires last? I would hate to waste good parts. But if they should be replaced soon, I'd get the new wheels and tires right away. [12,000 mi (semi-rough driving on turns).... lots of high speed high way driving. Some off-road driving for occasional fishing trips]

You're probably at least halfway through the treadlife. Someone else here got 25,000 miles but drove pretty conservatively.