Swapping Wheels - Hybrid to Sport

[ziplander]

We're loving our brand new, 2011 Highlander Hybrid Limited in the first 150 miles or so. Beats our lemon-like '04 Volvo XC90 T6 in nearly every single way, including doubling the city mileage, and beating it on the highway by 10 mpg.

One of the things I'm ambivalent about, though, are the multi-spoke wheels. Frankly, I think the five-spoke wheels look much sharper. (And they'll be easier to clean.)

We spoke with our dealer about potentially swapping/selling us five-spokes when we were buying, but he indicated that the multi-spokes were lighter and built specifically for the Hybrid, and that there may therefore be problems with mileage, electronics, etc.

Anyone try this swap, or have any knowledge on this issue? I can't find anything with the weight of either set of wheels. Tire sizes for both 19" sets appear identical. And on eBay, both seem to command about the same price - $850 or so.

Thanks...

[fkong777]

Oh he didnt tell you that the hybrid wheels are 1000 nano grams lighter than the regular 5 spokes. and this weight reduction is required to optimize the torque specs of the electric motors.

LOL. Sales will tell you anything to get u to buy the car the way it is. You prob know more about the highlander than the sales guy.

Look on Craigslist. sometime people will sell of the 19" 5 spokes. they have a set here sometimes going for about $600 just wheels.

[dave_7248]

Originally Posted by ziplander

We're loving our brand new, 2011 Highlander Hybrid Limited in the first 150 miles or so. Beats our lemon-like '04 Volvo XC90 T6 in nearly every single way, including doubling the city mileage, and beating it on the highway by 10 mpg.

One of the things I'm ambivalent about, though, are the multi-spoke wheels. Frankly, I think the five-spoke wheels look much sharper. (And they'll be easier to clean.)

We spoke with our dealer about potentially swapping/selling us five-spokes when we were buying, but he indicated that the multi-spokes were lighter and built specifically for the Hybrid, and that there may therefore be problems with mileage, electronics, etc.

Anyone try this swap, or have any knowledge on this issue? I can't find anything with the weight of either set of wheels. Tire sizes for both 19" sets appear identical. And on eBay, both seem to command about the same price - $850 or so.

Thanks...

We just bought a 2008 HH and had the exact same reaction about the multi-spoke wheels. Much prefer the 5-spoke version. We took it to a Toyota service department and they said the same thing: Don't mess with the calibration or you'll throw the engineering off.

Seems like it shouldn't be a big deal, but I don't know how to verify.

There's one string of conversation in toyota nation about someone swapping for 17" wheels in order to get the michelin tires (the string indicates the overall height of the tires makes up for the 2" loss in wheel size), but I don't know what to make the of the whole thing.

Anyone else have experience with this?!?

[to_fire]

The weight of the 5 spoke Sport wheel is about 65 pounds (with OEM Toyo tire). If you want to reduce unsprung weight, then go with an aftermarket rim. My Koenig rims are about 20 pounds each, and there is a significant, noticable difference with regards to acceleration/braking.

[jeffs3820]

There would be no issue changing from the hybrid multispoke spoke to the 5 spoke wheels if the TPMS sensors are transferred as well. If different TPMS sensors are present then the car will have to be programmed for the new TPMS sensor IDs.

The dimensions of the wheels are the same...standard dealer BS.