Peformance Packages....

It's amazing what performance packages and wheel/tire upgrades do to enhance the overall performance & feel of the car. My mom use to have a 1997 BMW 740iL with the standard 16 inch wheel/tire 235/60-16 and that car was replaced with a 2000 740iL with the upgraded 18inch wheel/tire package on essentially the same car with larger diameter wheels and what a difference that makes... It turns the car into a different animal along the twisties and makes the car more confidence inspiring in general. My dad opted for the sports package on his new S500 Sport and again, it's like night and day compared with the same vehicle equipped with the standard 16inch wheel/tire package. The same goes with the Lexus GS400 with and without the 17inch wheel/tire package.... More and more cars these days are equipped with large diameter wheels including the Chrysler 300M and the Oldmobile Aurora (both available with 17inch wheels)......... It seems that automakers are realizing or rather taking advantage of the benefits of low profile tires. Remember the Lamborghini Countach 5000's? It came with wide tires, however they were on 15inch rims 345/45-15. That all changed when Pirelli introduced the P7 and later the P700Z and PZero and such sports cars like the Ferrari F40 were had with 17inch rims (335/35-17)... Now as normal cars are wearing 17inch wheels, Ferraris and Lamboghinis are had with 18, 19 and even 20inch rims........... The A4 audi is the only sports sedan in the quartet (MB C320sport, BMW 3-series, Lexus IS) unavailable with 17inch wheels (not including S4), which will change in the fall of 2001 with the debut of the all new A4. Unlike the Mercedes C-class and BMW 3-series only the Lexus IS300 comes with 17inch wheels as standard equipment...
Eric...


[This message has been edited by EricK (edited November 24, 2000).]