ntravinsky

HI--I've searched through the postings re: the SC430 tire issues. I posted a response to someone else's message regarding tire problems earlier this afternoon, and then after reading through some other messages wanted to get in touch wtih you for your opinion. I noticed that OOO has recently replaced your SC tires with non-runflats. I literally just today dropped off my SC430 at a dealership in NYC because the SIDE of my tire is popping out from under the rim (on the left front tire). The service technician told me that the tire isn't covered under the warranty because the tire problem is due to wear and tear...well, I told him I've never seen tire wear and tear result in the side of the tire popping out from under the rim. I've never seen anything like it. Then, he said "well it happens if you drive it and there isn't enough air, if it was flat". To which I told him that I would expect the da*n flat light to come on.. Anyway, my situation is this. I need to replace at least 2 of my tires. I need to make a command decision and I'm really leaning towards replacing them with NON runflat tires. However, I would like your input on which tires are best to replace them with. ooo--were you able to figure out how you're going to get around the spare tire situation? This is a nightmare. Also, can you tell me where you ordered the tires you purchased? I honestly didn't realize that runflats have such a short lifespan (we're at around 17K miles)....UGH. I don't know what to do, it's such a pain in the a*s. The car has been fantastic up until I realized that this tire situation would be such a headache. And I don't have a car until this thing gets straightened out!! (Bought the car from a dealer in CA, so the dealer here in NY isn't providing a loaner)... I'd appreciate any feedback you can give. THANK YOU!!

I just dropped off my car at the dealer here in NYC. Two days ago I went to pick it up at the garage, and one of the parking attendants showed me where the front left tire was coming apart from the rim. I've never seen anything like it. Luckily there is a Lexus dealer about 3 blocks from my apartment in NY. Anyway, I just brought the car to the dealer, it has less than 17K miles on it, and he said that the run flats need to be replaced every 15K miles. In NYC, with the number of potholes and everything else it's a good idea to have the run flats. We had a blowout on the freeway with an M3 about 3 years ago and it was a nightmare. I'm kind of *BLEEP*ed that he told me the tire was coming about from the seam due to "wear and tear". I said, what kind of wear and tear makes the seam come undone? And he said, "well if you were driving it on a flat that would make it do that"...to which I responded, "if I were driving it on a flat, wouldn't the indicator light come on?"... Well, now I'm just trying to figure out if I should pay for run-flats again or go with the other tire recommendations that you received.. Will Lexus replace tires that I buy from another place (other than the dealership?). I've also found that since I purchased the car at a dealership in California, the dealerships here in NYC are not very friendly... Shame on them, because I'll be looking for another car in early 2005...