Buying Craigslist Wheels (& Tires) - Advice?

[mattblair09]

My current state is 4 stock Camry Hybrid (2008) 16" alloy wheels with <20% tread left. I have about two months before winter begins up here in central Michigan and am planning on buying new tires - and talking the fiance into letting me buy new wheels to match, of course .

I've been pricing out new wheel and tire sets from Tire Rack since they do free installs at their factory location in northern Indiana, which is PERFECT because my parents live right down the street from it! But, the $1300 (combined) price tag seems a bit steeper and may just stick with a set of tires. I'm normally willing to take a risk on used products and wanted to get your advice:

I'd really like to upgrade to some 17" wheels (or even 18") - will 18" be going too far and potentially sacrifice some of the ride comfort? I've read up on the recommended wheel and offset and didn't happen to find any posts concerning comfort over 17".

I'm looking at these two:

• HP 18" rims (link)
• Liquid Metal 18" rims (link)
• Other 18" wheels in my area
• Other 17" wheels in my area

Do you think either of them seem like a good deal? If so, what are some things I should look out for?

What are your thoughts?

PS - this is where I'm currently at!

[mattblair09]

I just noticed the bolt pattern on those two options won't fit my Camry - they're 5x112 instead of 5x114.3. Is there something I'm missing - or is a 5x114.3 REALLY that rare?

[BlackG5]

Originally Posted by mattblair09

I just noticed the bolt pattern on those two options won't fit my Camry - they're 5x112 instead of 5x114.3. Is there something I'm missing - or is a 5x114.3 REALLY that rare?

It's the most popular bolt pattern there is, just keep looking.


The size of the HP wheels is perfect. If you're keeping stock suspension, then you should look for an 18x8 or 18x8.5 wheel, offset anywhere from +30-45, and tire should be around 225-45 or 235-40

I bought a set of 19's off craigslist with almost brand new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires ~ $335 a piece, all for $400 wheels and tires..

[Paul3637]

I was debating almost the same issue and started a similar thread two years ago here on Toyotanation with my LEV6.

Need help selecting aftermarket 17" tires for 09 Camry V6

I also posted in other forums and most people said "GET 18"s ...... they look great and the ride isn't "that bad." First of all, at least you don't have to deal with those ugly el cheapo hubcaps on steel wheels like I did. I changed mine out at 8500 miles.

When it comes to appearance, your alloys are acceptable but sure don't stand out in the crowd.

Although I was planning on some kind of fancy looking aftermarkets, they just didn't seem to match the image of a Camry and using the "pictures of your car with these wheels" feature found on many websites, I decided the car would look like I was making kind of a bad "fashion statement" ...... like "gosh, I really wanted a sporiter looking car so this is my feeble attempt at it." It's different with an SE ..... since looks pretty sporty anyways.

I ended up going with 17" Avalon Limited 9 spoke wheels and 215/55/117 Michelin Primacy MXV4 Tires with 60,000 mile treadwear warranty. That tire was subsequiently rated #1 by Consumer Reports magazine after I already had them on the car. Thank goodness I have the V6 with chrome tip dual exhausts and here is a photobucket link to a pic of my car now. Only 3 pics, all camry related, one is a pic of the car:

http://s586.photobucket.com/albums/s...SideViewDS.jpg

Here is the result of my decision:

I love the way the car looks and rides and I get TONS of compliments on it and it stands out in the crowd so to speak. Of course, it still doesn't exactly turn heads with the 16 year olds LOL.

After upgrading the wheel size and tire quality, the car handled like a completely different car. Better traction, less tire "roll" MUCH better cornering ability and overall much more agile. Not sure how much was better tires and how much was change in tire and wheel size.

Dealer retail on OEM wheels is bizarre. I got the genuine Toyota wheels still in original box plus centercaps for $800. Tires with road hazard guarantee, lifetime balance, and road hazard were $700 on sale at NTB for $150 less that tirerack when you add the freight and installation (although you live near tirerack so that point appears moot). I sold the old tires on Craigslist and the place I got the new wheels gave me $100 for my steel wheels. My car now has 38,700 miles so at 30K miles of treadwear, tires are less than half worn.

Here is my take on your situation:

1) Toyota does in fact make TRD 18's for your car so they will fit correctly. But don't buy 18"s or bigger until you have driven an LE, XLE, or hybrid with them -- in order to check out impact on the ride. Everyone has a different opinion and priorites but do you really want to feel every bump in the road? SE is not a valid comparison since it already has a stiffer suspension as well as different appearance. Scroll down in the forum to this thread and see his "new" used 07SE with 18" TRD wheels. You might message him and ask about the ride compared to other SE's he tested with stock wheels New owner of 07 Camry SE V6 .

2) I wouln't personally even think about 19" You may get a great deal on a set of used 19" wheels and tires on craigslist like

Originally Posted by BlackG5

It's the most popular bolt pattern there is, just keep looking. The size of the HP wheels is perfect. If you're keeping stock suspension, then you should look for an 18x8 or 18x8.5 wheel, offset anywhere from +30-45, and tire should be around 225-45 or 235-40 I bought a set of 19's off craigslist with almost brand new Michelin Pilot Sport PS2 tires ~ $335 a piece, all for $400 wheels and tires..

.. but chances are those tires are going to wear out in about 20,000 miles and replacing them with a set of good new ones is going to cost you an easy $1,200 mounted, balanced, etc. ....... and you better watch out for the UTQG treadwear rating on performance tires. If you buy a replacement set of 19" el cheapo tires, you can kiss low road noise and great handling goodbye. Further, they are likely to be performance summer tires rather than all season ...... the last thing you need in the snow.

3) If you shop carefully on tirerack you can get a very nice set of wheels for under $600 and you will likely get a good price for your alloys on craigslist so the upgrade cost of 17" wheels is very low . Most people with the stock steel wheels and plastic wheels hubcaps that take any pride in the appearance of their car want alloy wheels long before they need new tires. Further, 2007 models are notorious for premature rusted out steel wheels. Thus should be able your set of 16" alloys (same as XLE) for at least $300 on craigslist. If someone with an XLE or Hybrid hits a curb and gets a bent wheel, they'll have to pay $400 dealer retail or at least $200 internet pricing for just one wheel, and if the bent wheel makes the car undrivable, they will want it fast.

4) Comparison shopping on Tirerack. I just tried comparable prices of 17" v 18" tires and wheels.
http://www.tirerack.com/wheels/resul...All&sort=Brand


Four 17x7 ASA AR1 Black w/Mach Lip for 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid $544. .
Four all season 215/55R17 Bridgestone Turanza Serenity Blackwall for 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid (comparaable to my Michelin Primacy MXV4): $604
Total cost $1,148 ... add taxes and road hazard and looks like the same $1,300 you were talking about for tires with a good treadwear warranty.

Now ..... go to the same wheel and best tire value on 18" on tirerack ...... and compare:

Four 18x8 ASA AR1 Black w/Mach Lip for 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid $656
Four All Season 225/45ZR18 XL Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus Blackwall for 2008 Toyota Camry Hybrid (great treadwear rating) $$860
Total cost: $1516 plus taxes and road hazard makes it about $1,700 or about $400 more than comparable 17" tires and wheels. [You can buy cheaper 18" tires but the Michelins Pilot A/S was rated top in its class by Consumer Reports magazine].

*********************
Best wishes and please keep us posted on what you end up with.

[molson.david]

I would stay with 17's. they feels just a bit firmer on the road but looks better than 16".
and 17" tires are cheaper and more models available.
also I'll be looking for OEM toyota or lexus take offs: pretty sure you can get lexus or avalon wheels with good tires around 7-800.

I love the way the car looks and rides and I get TONS of compliments on it and it stands out in the crowd so to speak

+100
I got avalon wheels too, just different style, avalon touring graphite wheels.

[mattblair09]

BlackG5 and molson.david - thanks a lot for your input, the second opinion helps a TON. Paul definitely takes the cake with all of his very specific help, though!

So, I think I have the following takeaways from all of your advice:

• 19's are out of the question (HIGH cost, road noise, bad all-weather handling)
• 18's are somewhat a consideration (high cost, slightly more road noise)
• 17's are a easy winner (tires cost 30% less than 18's, can afford to get really quiet tires)
• Selling the old wheels on Craigslist for $300 should be easy (people wanting to upgrade from steel to alloy)

Thanks a lot for your help! I'll let you know which wheels and tires I end up going with, even though it'll probably be a new set of 17's.

[Paul3637]

Originally Posted by mattblair09

BlackG5 and molson.david - thanks a lot for your input, the second opinion helps a TON. Paul definitely takes the cake with all of his very specific help, though!


So, I think I have the following takeaways from all of your advice:

• 19's are out of the question (HIGH cost, road noise, bad all-weather handling)
• 18's are somewhat a consideration (high cost, slightly more road noise)
• 17's are a easy winner (tires cost 30% less than 18's, can afford to get really quiet tires)
• Selling the old wheels on Craigslist for $300 should be easy (people wanting to upgrade from steel to alloy)

Thanks a lot for your help! I'll let you know which wheels and tires I end up going with, even though it'll probably be a new set of 17's.

******************************
Sale of your 16" alloys: If you lived in the greater Kansas City area where I lived before moving to Florida, you'd get $400 for your 16's easy. I went to the Bloomington Craigslist and the closest I could get to yours is a set of Avalon XLS 17"
wheels from an 07.
http://indianapolis.craigslist.org/pts/2513246809.html

If the ad is still up, note that the picture shows wheels that look almost identical to yours. Seller wants $400.

Ride quality: The Avalon XLS & Limited suspension and drivetrain is essentially a stretched verson of a Camry XLE V6 but with 17" wheels & tires. I couldn't find a single complaint about Avalon ride in the Gen3 category (2005-2011).

For the impact of 18" wheels on ride, albeit for the SE, check out this from the toyotanation forum

Ride Comfort w/ 18" TRD Wheels & Springs

It is self explanatory and shows some great pictures of the 18" TRDs and another set of 18" aftermarket wheels also.

Best 17" tire; best price: I assume you have Michelin OEM MXV4 Energy S8's. They wear well but nowhere near as well as other Michelin Tires. They are more expensive, less tread wear warranty, and score lower on survey results than other tires including the Primacy MXV4 that I recommend.

I cannot get a link to Tirerack survey results for grand touring all season radials to work but I am sure you can maneauver within the site. It show many ratings but the top 4 tires are #1) Goodyear Assurance, 2) Michelin Primacy MXV4, 3)Michelin MXM4, & 4)Bridgestone Turanza Serenity. A year ago, Primacy MXV4 was #1. [ex wife put a set of Assuance on her 02 Lexus ES300 in 2005 when they were top rated by Consumer Reports prior to the time the Primacy became available ... they carried an 80K treadwear warranty at the time and but she had to replace the worn tires 35,000 miles later in late 2008 with Primacy MXV4 and liked them much better. [she drives an 11 AWD Highlander now].

Note: Primacy has about 10 times the miles driven so more likely to be accurate.

Price: Tirerack price for Michelin Primacy MXV4 is $161 each plus road hazard, etc - just slightly over the Bridgestone Turanza Serenty ....... Costco is slightly cheaper than Tirerack but not by much and it looks like the nearest Costco to you is over a 50 mile drive (vs .... right up the street from your parents for tirerack.)

UTQG standards: Almost worthless. Whether for H vs. V speed ratings, treadwear, or traction, there are no uniform industry standards ...... and no government enforcement ..... so best to rely on reviews and ratings from individuals and reliable independent reviews.

Again, good luck !!!!!!!

[mattblair09]

So, looks like I'll be headed for the Michelin Primacy MXV4 on 17" wheels TBA. Thanks a lot for your help Paul - you gave me more advice than I ever would have imagined getting at a tire store!