ScionLife's gallery used to have space provided for folks to comment on member's pictures and to ask questions. For a long while I had information about bits and pieces I'd put on my xB in those comments in answer to questions.

With the re-write of the gallery software those comments and answers no longer exist, nor is there a place to continue that same set of information on ScionLife.

So... here is a brief collection of some of the info until there is some other reasonable place to put it:

First off, the "moon discs" on my box get the most questions. I like 'em, and it appears some others do, too.

Here's some info:

Big B Auto

The stainless steel wheelcovers I have on my xB are from the Big B Auto eBay store, and run about $50 for a set of four. Here is a part of a recent write-up for them on eBay:

Stainless steel wheel discs. These are 15" & you are bidding on a set of four. These are the snap-on type which is much easier to mount to the wheel than the traditional screw type. They are made of thick guage stainless steel to protect from dents & dings. Excellent quality. Remember you are bidding on the complete set of four. Our products come with an unconditional satisfaction guarantee so you can bid with confidence. P/N UPRDC01-15

Starting bid: US $49.99
Buy-it-now price: US $55.00

I bought two sets so I'd have spares for the inevitable damage over time...

Next is the aftermarket tires I've put on the stock wheels. The original Goodyear Eagle LS 185/60R15 tires are less than ideal tires for my use. They have poor wet traction, poor ride, poor highway noise, etc.

The Toyota bB, the Scion xB's Japanese domestic cousin, comes with 185/65R15 tires. When the xB was derived from the bB as a US model, some things changed, but many things remained the same. The tire size that came stock on the US model, however, became a 60% aspect ratio instead of a 65% aspect ratio - to make the vehicle look more 'hip.'

These smaller tires did degrade the ride a bit...

In making changes in tires size, one must also decide on changing the speedometer and odometer calibrations. Since the US model would show speed in MPH rather than KPH, it was simple to make that adjustment by just positioning the new markings correctly. Actually, Toyota went a bit too far in doing that and the speedo reads 3 MPH or more fast.

The odometer was not changed (and reads about 3 percent low) due to the smaller tires on the US model.

The US Scion xB service manuals for both the 2004 and 2005 model years specify BOTH tire sizes.

In choosing better tires for my xB I went with the bB's 185/65/R15 size for the better ride.

Here is a chart derived from information at The Tire Rack that shows customer ratings of some of the tires they sell in that size:

I was pleased to see one of my favorite tires at the top of that list, and went with the B F Goodrich (you know, the company WITHOUT a blimp) Traction T/A touring tires in 185/65/RT15.

I have been exceptionally pleased with the ride, noise, and handling qualities of these directional tires. There is an especially noticeable improvement in wet handling and braking over the Goodyear Eagle LS's the xB came with. This is understandably important for those of us who live in the Seattle area.

In addition, I have now had the opportunity to do some driving in 3-4 inches of snow, and the tires did quite nicely.

That's it for now, I'll add more here as I feel like it...

Take care,
Tom