2006 Rx400h Stock Wheel Offset

Sparhawk · July 21, 2009

Hi folks.

I just bought a 2006 RX400H. As I am in Canada, I need to get a second set of rims for winter tires. It came with an almost new set of winter tires, but not a 2nd set of rims.

The Lexus dealer sells OEM rims for 820 CND$ each wheel, which is a bit much for me.

I've been trying to figure out what the stock size of the wheels are, but after sifting through tirerack.com, 1010tires.com, ebay and this forum, I'm a bit confused so I thought I'd ask here. I asked the dealer and they say they don't know the offset. They only know that it's 18".

From sifting through this forum and other sites, I think there may have been size changes throughout the year.

Does anyone know if the 2006 RX400H AWD stock wheels are 18x8 35mm offset?

Can I confirm both the size (18x8) and the offset by reading some number on the spare? I'd look now but I won't get the car for a few more days.

How much variation can I have in the offset without compromizing any safety or fuel economy?

Thanks. I can't wait to get my RX400H.

Gryphon · July 21, 2009

These guys say that the OEM wheels are 18 x 7 with 35 mm offset:

http://www.lextasy.com/Lexus-RX400h-Factor...rome-Wheels.htm

Tom

lemon · July 21, 2009

Per the service manual (and the post above) 18 x 7, 35mm offset. I'd find another dealer as well. First of all, $820 each is a theft. Call the police. Second of all, if they don't know the offset (or can't call some Lexus dealer hotline to find out) then I can only imagine what else they don't know about your vehicle.

By the way, kudos to Quebec for making winter tires mandatory. I only wish Ontario (and that moron Dalton McGuinty) had the foresight to enact a similar law. Yes, it's an added expense up front (initially) but long term, your summer tires will last longer saving you money. Aside from that, the money you save when you stop sooner and don't rear end the car in front of you or don't end up in the ditch, will more than make up for the expense of the winter tires.

Sparhawk · July 22, 2009

Thanks for the answer Gryphon and lemon. :)

Where did you get the service manual lemon? Is it available for download or do I need to buy a hard copy?

I got my car back today :D. I stuck a digital camera under the car and snapped a few pics of the spokes on the rims from the inside and found these markings on each spoke:

--------

J DOT

35

--------

18x7J

--------

05/6

-------

Toyota B8

-------

Some weirdo symbol that looks like an oval with a lightning bolt through it and the number 3.

And a 2B stamped at and off angle (looks like a QC stamp).

-------

I'm new to reading wheel markings but I'll gues the 18x7 and the 35mm offset is confirmed. Now to find some spare wheels at a reasonable price!

I'm glad for the law in Quebec about the winter tires, I think it makes the roads safer. I've had winter tires for all my cars for over 10 years.

Never regretted it and I don't think it costs more. Other than the marginal cost of rims and having them swapped twice a year (seasonal swaps are free if you get you tires from Costco), accidents could cost more, not to mention if it avoids any potential bodily harm to myself, my passengers or any one else, it's well worth the small price of rims. With this car, I'll need to get alloys though, they don't make rims in 18, and it would look not so great anyway with ugly black rims.

As for a new dealer, yeah, I was not impressed with the price but expected as much for Lexus OEM parts. So far, the service has not been stellar either. I bought the RX400H from them used. I don't expect it to be perfect but I expected them to do touch ups. They skipped on touch-ups, saying that touchups would show anyway, and gave me a touch up pen. <_<

The bumper was cracked and reglued by previous owner. They wouldn't fix it for free but I could not stand it so I paid to have it replaced and repainted, and the mirror was scuffed bad and had gobs of touch up paint on that so I paid to have that repainted too. The paint job was pretty lousy, there is lint stuck to the paint at various spots. They offered to redo the paint, but gah, I'd have to give the car up yet again for a few days. They offered to redo it on my next visit or when I next have some free time. We'll see how that works out. I need to find some time to yet again to take the car to the dealer and give it up a few more days.

lemon · July 22, 2009

I got it here. It's not the full service manual, but one book of a 3 (or 4) part series of books that make up the service manual. Regardless, it was cheap and it's full of lots of interesting information on our model specifically.

http://cgi.ebay.ca/2006-Lexus-RX-400h-Hybr...93%3A1|294%3A50