wagsy22

Will these fit a 1998 GS400? Please post the specs for the wheel and tires..... Wagsy

I am looking into replacing my factory 17" wheels. I would like to replace the wheels with the same size so I dont have to buy new tires. What do you guys recommend? I would like them to be good quality but inexpensive if there is such a thing....also, I would like some that are not prone to bending.... Thanks in advance, Wagsy

If it is both, what is the proper procedure to balance these wheels with tires? I am experiencing the ever-popular vibration at 60-75mph and am trying to acquire more information so I can provide the shop with instructions on how to balance Lexus wheels. I have been to discount tire 4 times, changed my Yokos to Pirellis, and still have the bad vibration. Even had road force done at Discount but it didnt solve my problem. I just wonder if Discount techs know what they are doing...and how wish I could find someone who does know how to balance these wheels.... Wagsy

I have 17" Stock Chrome Rims on my 98 GS400. Are these rims hub-centric or lug-centric? If lug centric, what is the proper way tto balance them? Wagsy

After the tires set on the wheels, did the second balance fix the vibration? I marked my tires at the valve stems to see if the tires were slipping on the factory chrome 17" wheels. No slippage yet but still wondering what my next move should be..... Wagsy

Luptona, I have the exact same problem as you - and I have the factory 17" chrome wheels to boot. If you find someone in Dallas who can fix yours - I am willing to travel from Austin to get this repaired. I have marked my tires with crayons to see if my wheels slip on the rims for now...Discount Tire also told me after their road force balance that I had a bent rim so I took it to Wheel Technologies and they repaired it. I wish their was a place who could fix this for good. Wagsy

Does the GS400 have hub centric or lug centric wheels? Mine are the factory chrome 17" wheels? I have read that if you dont balance lug centrics using the lugs (which you will need an adapter for) then you will never balance the wheels right? Is the correct? Wagsy

I checked all four wheels and they all have the 1/4 oz. press on weights on the inside of the rim. One rim even has a double-decker of weights on it ( to me, that doesnt sound right). Can I buy these weights in grams from somewhere and then take them to my local mechanic and use your adivce to try balancing all four tires - I think the balancer he has is a Hunter and I have read those are the best. Thanks for the responses, you are really helping .... Wagsy

I should add some more info which may help - the car has 104K on it. No clunking heard while shifting - and shaking appears to be in the seats, steering wheel, and foot wells. No shaking felt on shifter which makes me believe it could be either the wheel alignment (which I have not done yet), wheel bearings, and/or poor balancing. No symptoms/noises heard in drive shaft, u-joints, or differential. Wagsy

Well, I was skeptical that Discount Tires would know what they were talking about. So I went ahead and allowed them to replace my almost new Yoko H4S on my 98 GS400 to solve this vibration problem. They were replaced with Pirelli PZero Nero M+S. Cost me $150 extra of course. Guess what? The vibration is not only there, its much worse. Now, the vibration starts at 55-70mph. The Yoko had been balanced 4 times (for same vibration) before and the vibration was down to between 60-62mph. I am pulling my hair out over this. What suspension components could be causing this - bearings, etc.???? I have had two of the wheels analyzed for trueness and one was bent so I had it straigtened. I would be forever grateful if someone knew what what causing this....and told me how to fix it. Discount Tire told me the Yokos were not right for the car but couldnt tell me why....of course. Wagsy

we are in the process of doing that. posts are removed when we find them or get to them. keep in mind, we work for a living, too, and moderators aren't on 24 hours a day. steviej ← Well, I was skeptical that Discount Tires would know what they were talking about. So I went ahead and allowed them to replace my almost new Yoko H4S on my 98 GS400 to solve this vibration problem. They were replaced with Pirelli PZero Nero M+S. Cost me $150 extra of course. Guess what? The vibration is not only there, its much worse. Now, the vibration starts at 55-70mph. The Yoko had been balanced 4 times before and the vibration was down to between 60-62mph. I am pulling my hair out over this. What suspension components could be causing this - bearings, etc.???? I have had two of the wheels analyzed for trueness and one was bent so I had it straigtened. I would be forever grateful if someone knew what what causing this.... Wagsy

I have new Yokohama H4S's on my 98 GS400 that Discount Tire cannot seem to balance - giving me a subtle vibration around 60mph. So they suggested Pirelli PZero Nero but I have read great things about Falken Ziex 512s. Discount Tire say they are cheap, would not recommend them. They stated that they put Falkens on BMWs and Cadillacs only to have them returned. Im not sure what to believe at this point - any suggestions on what I should go with? My instincts tell me Falken but that is just based on what Ive read..... Wagsy

A few years back, some low lifes spray painted on the back of my car. I took it to a car wash and used a high pressure sprayer to get all of it off. Then waxed and no lasting damage. Spray paint may be easier to get off but I would try one of the hand car wash sprayers before I would play with any chemicals. ← You can try 3M Brand Clay used by Car Painters to take off overspray on their cars. Im not sure if the name is correct but I have some at home and I will check and post this evening on the exact name. It is basically a block of clay that the paint will stick to - just follow the instructions on the jar. You can probably look at 3M's web site and find the exact product too....I have used this to get white overspray off a black car and it works to perfection.

so I should bu these if I put 20's on my gs4 ← Only if your rims are not hubcentric. Many are not so you will probably need these but just in case, check because there are some companies like HRE that will produce hubcentric rims. ← I have the same problem after getting new tires on my gs400. Discount Tire said one rim was possibly bent - where can you take a rim to get it fixed? I have the same vibration as the original poster and in the same mph ranges. I have 17 stock chrome rims also. Will the centering rings help me at all or should I take the rim to a shop to have it fixed? Wagsy

I second that - I tried a third time to go to discount tire after arguing with the store manager about the poor balancing. He first tells me that I have the wrong tires on my car b/c it differs from factory. My tires are 245s instead of 235s. Then, he tells me that I have the wrong speed rating and tread wear. He says all this without providing me any technical information as to why this is causin the vibration, just that it is wrong from factory spec. I said "thanks hotshot" but tell me why it is vibrating - which he couldnt. So he offered to put it on this balancer which puts 120 lbs /sq. inch on the tire to simulate a load while balancing. No idea what this machine was but they put the tires back on - I drove for like 2 miles which appeared to be much better and then wammo - the vibration comes back at 60-72mph. Im done with Discount - I dont buy that the treadwear and speed rating of any tire prevents it from being balanced. I guess Im off to the dealer who quoted me $300 depending on how many times they have to take the wheels off the car. Fer cryin out loud..........

I know - I think I may print off this entire thread and have Discount Tire read it before they rebalance my tires a third time. I have to creatively bring up these great tips when I go there again. The tech will probably think I balanced tires before. But it sounds like they probably have the equipment to do it right - they just dont take their time and do a good job. Wagsy

Turbo - what did you pay to have your local shop do the work on the timing belt, water pump, etc.??? Did you buy the parts and have them install or have them do everything? Wagsy

Turbo - should I get the center rings even if I am using the stock 17" Lexus wheels? I asked the tech at Discount about them but he said I didnt need them b/c I had stock Lexus wheels. He said only aftermarket wheels need them. Wagsy :cries:

OK - first off, I have read countless topics on the subject of vibration on GS400s. Mine started when I replaced my Michelins with Yokohamas. The only difference is the speed rating of the tires. The size is the same. I got them at Discount Tire. Apparently I purchased a vibration between 60-80mph. I took back the wheels and had them balanced once again by Discount Tire but the problem still exists. I had no problems with worn out Michelins. I do have a slight alignment issue and will get that repaired but cannot believe that is causing the vibration. I have the stock 17" chrome rims btw. Wouldnt a high speed balance machine show that the wheels are not balanced?? What speeds do tire shops normally balance wheels??? I dont think it is a bushing problem b/c of how the problem appeared all of a sudden with new tires - too much of a coincidence for me to believe. The problem does appear to get worse when going around curves at speeds greater that 50mph. I checked the bushings and they all appear to be in good shape with a visual check. The car has 100K on it. Im not about to start replacing all kinds of parts without knowing that it will fix the problem. Is there a tire/repair shop who can fix this once and for all in the Austin, Texas area - I will even drive to Dallas or Houston. Hope someone can help Wagsy

I think the closest Sewell Lexus is in Dallas, Texas. It appears no one has any recommendations for Austin, Texas. I would hate to have my car taken to a dealer for this knowing I could get a quality job done elsewhere at a much lower price. Anyone, please??? ← If you can make it to Dallas, We can save you some money! JPI ← JPI - what would it cost me to have my timing belt, waterpump, cam seals, etc. done at your place in Dallas? Wagsy

JPI is a great place to get your work done. he is doing most of the work on my ES250, and it wont be long before she points straight and true. (rack and pinion finally went). i drive 80 miles round trip to have my car serviced there. he is doing well over $2,000 worth of work (IMO), and the total should come in at just over $1,000. but ill take a $900 something dollar savings any day! Let it be known i HIGHLY reccomend JP Importz. Blake918 will say the same. he drove 400 miles ONE WAY to have his car serviced there. He gives you a free loaner car, all that he asks is that yuou return it to him with a full tank of gas, and that camry he has gets like 34MPG... not a bad deal if you ask me. B) ← I just got a bid from a BMW Specialist in Austin to do my timing belt, water pump, cam pulleys and seals for $995. I think the place is very reputable b/c it is packed with BMWs all day every day. I think that is a very good price but would like to know opinions from other members. Wagsy

I cant PM you - Im getting the error that this board does not support this feature. I also cannot send you an email - can you just post the contact or PM me with the information? Thanks, Wagsy22 ← I cant believe no one on this board from Austin, Texas has a recommendation??? Please anyone??? Wagsy

I cant PM you - Im getting the error that this board does not support this feature. I also cannot send you an email - can you just post the contact or PM me with the information? Thanks, Wagsy22

I think the closest Sewell Lexus is in Dallas, Texas. It appears no one has any recommendations for Austin, Texas. I would hate to have my car taken to a dealer for this knowing I could get a quality job done elsewhere at a much lower price. Anyone, please???

Lexus of Austin in the Arboretum Area Wagsy