Bly

I wrote to Lexus Motor Corporation P.O. Box 2991 Mail Drop L 202 Torrance, Ca 90509-2991. The tires made a huge difference in the ride, quietness and handling of the car. In fact, had the car stayed the same way it was with the runflats I wouldn't have kept it. It was horrible with the runflats.

I wrote to Lexus customer relations about the terrible and dangerous handling with the runflats. They ended up giving me a five hundred dollar customer satisfaction credit. You should definitely write to them. I told them exactly the same thing that you're saying about the car being dangerous with the runflats on uneven roads as a result of sidewall steering and that they should never have released the car with the runflats. They came through with the dough. I switched to Continental extreame contacts. The only problem I've had was that I had one out of round tire which Continental eventually replaced. I also find that they flat spot after sitting over night but that goes away in a mile or two. They're great in the rain and pretty good in the snow. I contacted Continental about the flat spotting and was told that it's because of the Nylon belt used in high performance tires.

I was going to say exactly the same thing about the 10% difference between runflats and nonrunflats that 000 said. Obviously the dealer has never driven the car with nonrunflats. IT'S A DIFFERENT CAR. When my wife, who wouldn't feel it if she drove off the grand canyon, notices the difference there is nothing else to say. As for the trunk conversion kit, I did it. Not a big deal. When you need extra space take out the spare, one spin off nut, and enjoy the drive. Everyone reading this who has run flats should be contacting Lexus customer service to complain about the tires. I did and I got a $500 credit. They know the tires stink. BTW with the runflats the car is undrivable in the snow. I live in the NY area. I drove home yesterday with the Continental extreme contact all seasons (non runflats) and did very well in snow mode. It was slow but I got home and kept in on the road without any real problems.

Sadistic you may be right about the flat spotting but what's the difference between flat spotting and "A tire might feel like it has flat spots, but that is just the tire heating up to temperature"? It's still bumpy for the first mile or two. Other than that the Continental extreme contacts are pretty quiet. I would say that they are not as high performance as full summer tires but they seem to do the job for all season tires.

With the stock run flats on the SC430 the car is undrivable in the snow and not great in the rain. With high performance ALL SEASON tires the car is much better. It's not front wheel drive so don't expect miracles but in moderate snow it will get you home.

BTW, I wrote to Lexus customer service about the run flats. They gave me a five hundred dollar credit towards service at my local Lexus dealer. They know the run flats are awful, you just have to complain enough.

I have a 2002 SC430 and have changed to non run flats. The car is a totally different car with regular tires on it. In fact, had it continued to ride and handle the same way with the non run flats I would not have kept the car. On a rough road the car was barely controlable due to sidewall steer with the run flats. My wife wouldn't drive it on a rough road and I had to really hold onto the steering wheel to be ready for the steering wheel to spin as the tires hit an uneven area in the road. I originally had the car in Florida where the roads tend to be better and the main problem was just the excessive road noise. In NY where I have the car now the roads tend to be rougher with an occasional pot hole. The run flats were just awful. In fact, I bent a wheel with them. I switched to Continental extreme contacts and although I had a problem with two of them being out of round at first Continental replaced them and the car is now just a joy to drive. It's MUCH quieter and smoother with absolutely no side wall steer. In fact I can hear the engine now when accelerating hard. With the run flats I couldn't hear the engine because of the road noise! The only problem with these tires is that because of the nylon plys they flat spot overnight. After driving about a mile they're fine. You don't need to convert the trunk for a spare but I did. The trunk kit is a spare tire and wheel, a mounting bracket and a different trunk floor pad. Not a big deal. It does take up some trunk room though. When I want to carry golf clubs I can still carry two bags. As stated I lay the long clubs down first but I take out the spare. I carry a can of flat fixer when I take out the spare. It's not that big a deal, one spin off nut and it lifts right out. How often do you get a flat? The difference in the ride with the regular tires is well worth that occasional inconvenience. After all, you're never going to get a lot of stuff in the trunk anyway.

Changing to non run flats will completely transform the car. I was ready to sell mine till I changed over.

I'm curious as to where you're located because you say you haven't had a problem with the run flats. Maybe the roads you drive on are especially smooth or something. My car is soooo much better without them it is unbelievable.

Actually had a small adult in the right side "back seat" for a few miles last week. Once the front passenger seat was moved up and the passenger was in the rear it wasn't too bad. I don't think she would have liked to ride cross country like that but she didn't complain.

You're absolutely right about the ride, noise and handling. It's an entirely different car. Even my wife felt the difference. I thought about the compressor idea and looked into stuff you put into the tires to make them self sealing. I Didn't go with the self sealing stuff because of the pressure sensors in the tires and the thought of not having a spare and being stuck on the side of the road with a big leak in the tire at 2:00 AM waiting for Lexus or AAA wasn't too appealing so I went with the spare. I also bought a can of tire jack so that on the rare occasions that I need the trunk space I'll remove the spare and take a chance on the tire jack in the trunk. I went with Continental extremecontact tires. They were highly rated at the Tirerack, were all season, rated quieter than the Michelins and were half the price of the Michelins. They have a 400 wear rating. The run flats had a 150. I think the Michelins had a 300 but I'm not sure.

Meddle, of course you're right, IF they drove reasonably well. I think that if you drove a car equipped with the run flats you'd agree that this is a good idea that just hasn't reached acceptable levels of performance and driving safety yet. These tires created so much sidewall steering that on an uneven road they were IMHO down right dangerous. The car was barely controlable. If fact my wife didn't like driving a $60,000 car because of the tires and I didn't think she was wrong.

Replaced my run flats today. WOW what a difference. It's like I got a new car. Quiet and a much softer ride. Also so far I have not experienced the sidewall steering that I had with the run craps.

Thanks, I can get the kit locally as I have a contact at Toyota who has a contact at Lexus. Has anyone added the spare tire kit? If so are you still able to get two bags of golf clubs in the trunk?

I found some stuff made by Prestone called "tire Jack" but it was only about $7.00 a can. Is that the stuff you're talking about or is there something else?

Well, I took half of that advice. I ordered regular tires from the tire rack today. I bought the Continental extremecontact tires. It seems that they offer the best combination of all season performance, quietness, tread life and price. I don't intend to take the car to the track. I also ordered (through Lexus) the spare tire. Tire Rack doesn't carry it. I did not order the spare tire trunk conversion kit as yet although I may after I see how the spare fits into the trunk. I also expect to carry a can or two of fixaflat or a similar product just in case as there will be times when I'll want to remove the spare to gain some trunk room (two golf bags, etc.) I know that if I have to use this stuff it will ruin the pressure sensor but in an emergency I'd do it. This is my third Lexus, great cars and this car is incredible but the tires were just horrible. They were just noisy when I had the car in Florida but in NY where the roads are rougher they were just awful. I'm really surprised that Lexus released the car with the run flats. At times I actually felt that the car was nearly uncontrolable with them on rough, uneven roads. I did find a product that you put into new tires before you get a flat which is supposed to make the tire self healing in the event of a puncture. It is not supposed to affect tire balance. I'm not going to use it though because I'm concerned that it will ruin the tire pressure sensors. I've tried to get some advice on this from the company that makes the stuff and also from Continental which I believe made the sensors with no luck. I thought about removing the pressure sensors but I think I'd have the warning light on the dash lit up constantly. Does anyone have any experience with removing the sensors? Does the dash light stay lit? I'll let you all know about my experience once I get the new rubber on.

How would that improve the ride and noise of the run flat tires? I think I'd have the same problem as I currently have with less money in my wallet for new tires.

I have a 2002 SC430. Love the car HATE the run flat tires. Noisy and harsh riding. When you get on a rough road you need to make an appointment with your dentist to have your fillings checked. I've been on the net looking for other solutions to the no spare issue. I found a company that sells a product that you put into regular tires when you mount them which makes them self sealing tires for the life of the tire. I don't know if I'm allowed to name the company? Is there anyone out there who has replace their run flats with regular tires and what have you done about the spare?