I've had these 18s ever since I bought the car, never riddin on low profiles before. Even though they look good there are a few problems. One, it doesn't take that much for something 2 puncture it. Two, when it is flat its hard as hell 2 know that you have a flat tire until it is 2 late. Three, the ride is rough. I have changed a flat tire 3 times this month. One I had 2 change twice, but it wasn't something I run over it was that the person who put them on had 2 big of weight balancing the tire, and it was letting the air out. I probabley drove 15+ miles with a flat not knowing it. THe secound happened two nights ago. Never found what happened, but I know for sure the tire was shot. Plus after that the interstate I was traveling on was kinda ruff and I had 2 pull over 2 more times because I thought I had another flat. Had new tires for 2 weeks an alrdy lost one. I decided if this happens again I"m probabley going 2 downsize. Maybe go with 15s with some kinda extension that will let the tires hang out farther. So, if you are thinking about buying 18s and are not sure about spending the money, you might wanna think about what extra they might be costing you that is not on the price tag. Oh and i'm staying up north alabama with my little brother for a few days and I've seen at least 5 to 6 xbs in one day in the town he lives in, xb's with rims and such not stock.

 

hey - awesome post! I live in NYC where the potholes are so big, there are some that you will not survive! and i mean this seriously! The reasons you mentioned are the same reason I am not going with larger wheels. I used to look on craigslist (http://newyork.craigslist.org) and when i would search for rims, I see TONS of people selling 17s and up with "one bent rim", "only 3 rims since one was destroyed", etc etc etc. This gave me second thoughts about buying rims all together!!!

If you want something with a nice stance, 15x7's look pretty nice and 15x7.5's would look meatier and you can still use a nice, thick tire on them. I'm not sure many companies make 15x7.5s tho - i've mainly seen 15x7 and 15x8s.

Good luck with whatever you go with and remember to post pics!
- sh00k

 

I was glancing around the forums on here and I think I found a wheel I like. http://www.geocities.com/josh_36862/002_redwpl.jpg Says the wheel can come in a 15x8. Will that give my xb a wider looking stance? I want the tires to hang out. Also, I read something about these wheels causing a rub. If I am at stock height I should be fine right?

 

https://www.scionlife.com/forums/viewtopic.php?t=348 =]

 

what size tire were you running on the 18's? i know most run a 215/35/18 on the xB. i would never run a 35 series tire especially in the city. i use 215/40/18 and i feel much more comfortable driving around Boston knowing i have a lil extra tire for cushion.

i do agree with most of what you said, but I deal with it because I like how the 18's look. having big rims is def not for everyone though, as midtowndesi said.

i also have had flats on 18's (on my accord) and didnt notice til the tire began to shred, lol. then after that it took me awhile to get over the fear of having a flat and not noticing again.

i would personally look into 16's though, and get them wide - so you stick out. good luck.

 

you know the sportmax 002 might be just the wheel you're looking for...

 

I have 18s also, and run 215/35 on them. It's true that it's a bit rougher ride, but I like them. Driving around LA, I've run into holes that could swallow a car, and I do have one dented rim (I've had it checked twice and it is still functional- no loss of seal). I've been driving with them for almost 4 years now, and I will probably go with the sportmax002s soon. I really want to soften the ride a bit, and I know this will do it.
The one thing I will say in favor of the low profile tires- if you have a blowout on the freeway with them, you will most likely have no loss of control with them. A friends honda (with 18s wrapped by 35) had a blowout while doing 90mph -nd other than a little pull and a whole lot of noise, he had no problems stopping or pulling off. We weren't even sure what the hell was happening until we got out and looked.

 

What city? I'm up in Florence.

 

I bought 17x7 wheels with a 205/45/17. I wanted to have a little side wall. Ever think about going to a size like that?

 

I test drove both the 15s and the 18s before buying. I chose the 15s for the ride quality, durability with Pittsburgh's potholes, and lower replacement cost for the tires.

I recently had a bad experience with my Honda Odyssey's aluminum wheels, where the garage scratched them up during a state inspection while mounting new tires. That, plus the inordinate amount of salt used on Pittsburgh roads in the winter, has turned me off to aluminum rims for a while. I did the "winter set" and "summer set" thing for my old VW, but I'm not that interested in doing it for the xB. I'd like to keep the "economy" in "economy car", which it is.

But the 18s on the xB look nice.

 

what brand tires do you have? u shouldn;t be getting that many flats at all

 

Probably running nankangs.

 

or hankraps , or wanli's

 

i have 18s with the same problem, every pothole i hit kills me. my rims are so jacked up now from potholes in so cal. and i have had atleast 3 flats from air leaking out because of the rims bending. i want 16s or 17s.

 

I also think alot of it has to do with how people drive. You need to be careful with potholes, bumps, etc. I've driven with rims for 5 years now, and live in the city (boston) with arguably some of the worst roads. Ive never bent, cracked or damaged a rim because I use common sense when driving around.

 

Ha! I laugh in the face of your Boston roads! Come to Alabama. I'm pretty sure there has to be some law that they can't pave a road without adding potholes. I've literally seen them put down a new road, then within 2 or three days start cutting holes in it then use the old shovel full of asphault to patch the hole. Repeat that step 15 or 20 times per mile and you have our glorious road system.

 

Yes I'm driving on nankangs, and the city was decatur. Sorry it took me some time 2 reply. About that flat I got 4 days ago. I was just driving along at about 4 in the morning then all of a sudden I heard something that sounded like a rock smack my wheelwell on the back didn't think much about it. The pavement changed as well and I started feeling a bit of a weird vibration which I thought was the road, anyways I pulled off 2 make sure and dam if I didn't have one. I can't miss anything that isn't visible, so I don't know how common sense would come into play. Also, have no idea how something would have missed the front tire and hit the back either.

 

It does seem like that alabama requires potholes in the road or something. It is messed up how they go out and fill in the pothole and 3 days later its even worse. I'm going 2 get 15s I hoping this 145$ tire I bought the other day will last so I can wear down the brand new ones I have. I know whoever had the car before me had pirrelis on it and they were wore down pretty good. 2 bad the place I charge my tires at couldn't order them I woulda had a set.

 

Well I would say Nankangs are most likely the problem. They are arguably the worst tire out there along with Wanli and Hankook. I went with 17's and paid a little extra for some Nitto tires, and I don't regret it at all. It still is bumpy, as any low pro tire will be, but the tires are very solid and stick to the road.

I'm thinking in the future I may go back to 15s also, because the ride is so much better.

 

Yea well that is what I was telling my dad is that the nankang are probabley the problem. Anywayz, the cost of the tires, the traction in the rain, and also how often you have 2 replace low pros is enough 2 change my mind. I would put the rims up for sale but the front left has a scratch on it looks like the previous owner rubbed up next 2 something, and I was told the back right is alittle bent. I guess giving me the vibration in the steering wheel. That would leave me with 2 good ones if anyone might be intrested in buying one of them. I don't know how long my tires will run that I have on my rims now but, as soon as another one blows I'm getting rid of them.