I think I don't like my car anymore...I need some advices...

[lormagni]

I bought my Yaris one year ago, I was totally in love with its lines, finally Toyota had made a car that looked sportier than the previous two versions. After I bought it I started to make some mods to make it better in style and handling performance. My aim was to lower it a little bit and add some spacers to widen the track. First I added some Eibach Pro Kit springs, they lowered the car about 3 cm in the front and 2 in the back, while I was expecting the same lowering in the front and in the back. Three months later I decided to add spacers, but I found out that sadly in Italy they are not road legal (if a cop notice them you get a 400$ fine, plus you can't drive your car until you have removed them and brought your car to be inspected). So I decided to use some lower-offset wheels to widen the track, and after a month of doubts I purchased a set of Japan Racing JR3 (Volk TE37 replicas) in 16"x7 size (I wish I could have some 17s, but the Italian law won't even let me do that, neither changing tire size). I brought them to the tire shop to be mounted and when I came back home I noticed that they were even worse than the stock ones, they looked small like 15s and absolutely they were not so cool as they were on some other Yaris seen on the internet. Right now I'm so sad, I spent money for two mods and they both revealed to be awful for my car, I think that it looked better and sportier when it was stock...what should I do now? Change the wheels? Repainting them in lighter color so they look bigger and better? Lowering the car more? Please help me with some advices...

Here they are some pictures of my car as it looks now...

[beaker]

I think it looks pretty darn good. I like the wheels.

[willieG]

It looks great.

I'd tint the windows nice and dark. When possible get a tyre with more 'sporty/racey' looking tread and sidewall design

[ern-diz]

I agree with beaker and willie...I think the car is most definitely improved from stock and window tint would go a long way...

[kimona]

I think the car looks great! The drop is good. But, that style spoke does make the wheels look small.

"... a tyre with more 'sporty/racey' looking tread..." looks better and works very well in town, but generally makes for terrible highway wander on these little cars.

As for tint, is it legal in Italy? Personally, I hate the look of tinted windows!

[lormagni]

Thanks guys for the encouragement! Do you have any suggestion on which wheels I could buy to replace these? I would like to stay on the JDM style...

[LTHatch]

Have you considered wider tires? 205's would fill in those fenders decently, improve braking handling and all that as well. Your Yaris looks darn good, very clean. Good job!

[ern-diz]

Originally Posted by kimona

Personally, I hate the look of tinted windows!

Originally Posted by LTHatch

Have you considered wider tires? 205's would fill in those fenders decently, improve braking handling and all that as well. Your Yaris looks darn good, very clean. Good job!

OP mentioned Italian law prohibits non-stock tire size, which is strange considering he's able to run 16" wheels...

[kimona]

Originally Posted by ern-diz

OP mentioned Italian law prohibits non-stock tire size, which is strange considering he's able to run 16" wheels...

I guess he's restricted to JDM OEM fitments, which include 195/50/16.

But, if that's true, he should be able to go with JDM OEM fitment 205/45/17.

[NYC-SE]

The car looks good to me. But if you don't like it why not put the original wheels back on? Do you still have them?

[lormagni]

As I said before I can't change tire size, I'm stuck with the OEM size (195/50 r16). My Yaris is the "Style" model, that is the equivalent of the SE model sold in USA, it's characterized by 16" wheels (the same used by the SE), rear disc brakes, "sporty" suspensions and in-car multimedia system with touch screen and rear camera, it's the only one version that can mount 16" rims.

@NYC-SE I still have my old rims and I thought to put them back on (my first idea as you've read before was to mount the oem wheels with 15mm spacers) , but they were too much tucked in and heavy (the new ones are significantly lighter and they provide better handling)...

This was my car with the OEM wheels after being lowered:

[kimona]

The spoke design of the original wheels give the appearance that they are bigger than the upgrade wheels.


The JDM wheel below has 6 spokes like your upgrade wheel, but the spokes extend to the edge of the rim and may give you the bigger look you like.

[lormagni]

Originally Posted by kimona

The spoke design of the original wheels give the appearance that they are bigger than the upgrade wheels.


The JDM wheel below has 6 spokes like your upgrade wheel, but the spokes extend to the edge of the rim and may give you the bigger look you like.

They're really nice! Are they Buddy Club rims?

[kimona]

^^^ The photo was in my pictures file without reference, but I think you are correct.

[2009Toyotoad]

I guess I'm a bit old fashion. I've always thought the stock wheel size was the best fit for the car. But I do agree with what others have said about the wheel's spoke design. From an artistic point of view, in hatch back or lift back form we have a egg-like design. The six wide spoke design is not, in my view, consistent with that design. Thinner spokes would be. Think of it this way. Are you going for "Angry bird" or "tweetie bird with attitude?"

After looking at the picture again I had a thought, As the car is white you have an unrestricted canvas to work with. Every consider Sparco Assetto gara in the orange, blue, or carmel? My stock size wheel is 15" by 6" so I went with Assetto Gara green on a white 09'

[kimona]

^^^ Actually, 16" wheels and 195/50's is stock for some models.

[33OH]

I love your car as it sits, but agree the Buddy Club / Kosei OE JDM wheels would look nice as well, and also give a larger appearance.

(Buddy Club P1 or Kosei K1 as they are commonly known.)

[Kalispel]

I never was a fan of that type aftermarket wheel/spoke design, as they do make the wheels look smaller. The Toyota OEM 16" wheels look much better to me. The lowering on your car looks good, and not excessive/silly.