RXREY

I guess you never read anything about the first-year Mercedes SUV. It was so full of squeeks and rattles that sales plummeted for years. I don't think they ever fully recovered from the bad press they received after that fiasco. Even today, Mercedes Benz has one of the worst reliability ratings of any carmaker. I think if you were to poll RX400h owners, you'd find that the majority of them have few-to-no rattles or squeeks. Ours is virtually perfect in that regard. My interior lights turn off after a few seconds of closing the door. Not being to use the GPS protects Toyota from getting sued by all the sue-happy leeches out there. It's sad that there are so many, but they are there, waiting to sue after a collision that happened while they were entering an address in the NAV system. The ML500 gets 12 MPG in real-world city driving - no thanks! Yes, other gasoline-only vehicles are quieter during brisk acceleration, but that is a small price to pay for the extra power and twice the fuel mileage if the RX, IMO. Have you ever compared the "real world mileage" to that of any competing SUVs? The Mercedes and Volkswagens are horrible and the BMWs are not far behind. I'd go broke driving any one of the German SUVs, believe me. It sounds like you never test-drove your RX before you bought it. While this is not the vehicle for everyone, it is rated #1 by Consumer Reports for very good reasons. I kindly suggest that you buy the Mercedes and don't forget to wave to us as we pass you at the gas station. Year and a half...No rattles...don't work for Lexus. I had two rattles and I found out what they were like any clever man...one was the deelie bobs in the rear hatch area...they always need to be pushed in or have felt on them...OK, one rattle figured out,, the other was the backing for the back seats....they rattle when the seats are all the way back without passengers...that's it...amazingly great car...RX400h...I've never had a Mercedes...my sister does...it seems to always be in the shop. End of story. Rey

Don't worry RX400h, I didn't take it wrong....it's all good. Everyone has always been very decent on any of my topics. I would love to drive an RX with the Alenzas to see how they differ from my Toyos...maybe when I'm in San Diego we can swap cars and go around the block and see if we can feel the difference....well, anyway, we're all just lucky to have this great car no matter what,ey? Oh, I don't have a Corvette as my other car so I do want my 400h to look more sporty and have the tires fill the wheel wells better, took off the roof rack, added the side chrome step bars...must be nice to have a Lexus 400h AND a Corvette! Ayayayeee, paleeeze! Happy trails, Rey

Well after a couple thousand miles I haven't noticed a change in MPGs but I do think that I might have lost 1/2 of an mpg if I'm pressed to give an answer, but at 1/2 MPG, it's too hard to tell if it's the new tires, the type of driving I'm dong now that I've had the car a while, the fact that I am more agressive with one tank than another,less careful, who knows. I have found that it really takes a lot to change the MPGs one way or the other on any car,or at least the ones I've had. When I had my PT Cruiser,it was advertised as a 29mpg car, I was NEVER able to get it past 19 MPGs for the three yeras that I had it before I got my 400h. I tried a cold air intake, new Borla exhaust, nothing got it to even be 1 MPG better. I averaged about 17-18 MPGs for those three years, so I don't think I can do anything to mess up my 25 MPGs that I have gotten for the past year and a half of having my "Peggy Hill", as I now call my 400h! I love the Toyo tires though. I know many on this site afterwards have told me that they will sound like I have a leaf blower in my car, but so far they are quiet, sure footed and look smashing! They look so much better than any tires I've seen on any RX and because they are bigger, they fit the wells so much better. So if those of you are right and I start to hate them...well, like in other things in life, I'll "fire" them and get the Alenzas next year and every year I'll try different tires...no big woop! Life's too short. Happy trails my good Lexus friends from Rey Bustos in sunny L.A.

I must have missed something and I hope I don't sound naive,well, I am about cars,nevertheless...what's "ICE"? I keep seeing this pop up. Just so that I know what you are all talking about...Rey

Well so far,it's May 2007, the new Toyo tires(Two months old) nor the lack of roof rack make any noticeable difference in MPGs. I still get 25 or 26 MPGs so all is great. I don't know if anything would make any difference MPGwise good or bad that you would notice outside of some drastic modification. Anyway, happy trails, Rey

Rey Bustos, happy Lexus 400h owner with his 2 cents......Color, where you live,garage,no garage,etc. should all be mentioned in suggesting cleaners/waxes.....OK, here's my story.....I love keeping my cars clean,always have, but I am a little lazy about the toil of some of the processes that some people go through when cleaning their car(s). I have my handy,dandy dusting brush,microfiber wash cloths that come in a resealable pouch (they're like big WetNaps) and Mother's detail spray. I do have Zaino something or other but haven't use it in a while. Yesterday I put on for the first time Turtle Wax's ICE polish and it was fantastic. I was able to go over the rubber/plastic trim and clean that as well which I couldn't do before with waxes,etc. The pillar posts which are suseptable to minute scratches were sparkly and the car is slick and smooth and it took very little time. It went on clear and clean and came off easily and shiny. Of course my car is only a year and a half old, the color is SAVANNAH,light,champagne-like, much easier to keep looking clean than Flint Mica or Black, and it's almost always garaged even at work. I also live in Southern California so the weather is perfect.... so all this should be taken into account. I am now very curious about ReJex,mentioned above. It sounds great and I want to get some. Thanks for all of the info Lexers.

Any chance you could post a picture or two of the tires on your vehicle? How much did you pay for them Jim? How many miles do you have on them now? What were the OEM's you replaced? Thanks... Yes, I have a few pictures on this site...look up "New Toyo Tires"...let me know what you think. I paid less than $600 for four and everything was included...I think it was $540 out the door. I got a great deal though... I LOVE the new look, the car looks totally different and much,much better and more ...well, masculine! Or since I called her the "Princess" before, I now call her "Xena"! Rey Bustos

Thanks Jim, I wonder if the ResponsEdge is better than the Bridesone Alenzas. Either way, I'll have these Toyos for a while,I hope, and if they start acting up or making themsleves heard too much after 10,000 miles as some have said, I'll switch to either the Alenzas, first choice, or the GY RespnsEdge after your glowing review. I have nothing against Good Year, just the ones that came with my 400h. I have noticed at the dealership that NO Lexus vehicles have Good Years any longer...hmmm, I was just the unlucky one that had the GY on my car and had to buy new tires after only 13K and a wee bit over only one year of ownership. Thanks for the input. Rey

I didn't intend to get a different tire size, it was from ignorance...I got the 255/55 thinking that if the "55" were the same,it would match the "55" on the 235...yes, I now know that it's a RATIO...but now that I made my mistake, I do love the fact that they fill the wells better. They are much heavier so maybe that's why I feel that my mileage is lower. Jtitom has the Toyos also but since he's a wee bit smarter than I am, he got the 255/50s which,as he said, are in fact virtually the same circumference as the OEMs so he seems to have the same stats as before. Live and learn. I am still very happy with the Toyos...anyway thanks to all of you for all of the help regarding the calibration system. It's all very advanced and sometimes I can't figure out what the system can and can't do or all of the things that I am not even aware of yet. It's just like a courtship , with all of the ins and outs of a great love affair...OK, I do get overly dramatic...it's a car and it's complicated,lets leave it at that. Warmly, Rey Bustos

RX330 Driver, does that mean that I should still be adding .03 to the total miles at each fill up? Actually I think I do have to...I measured a known point today,24 miles exactly, and I made it in 22.8 miles according to my trip meter ...so I don't know what the feature on our computer is for if it's not to recalibrate for the new tire size which is what the manual said it would do...hmmm. I like the thought of me having to boost up 3% so that it gets closer to the MPGs I was getting before I changed o the Toyo tires. They seem to be hurting my gas mileage...but I will post that data when I put more time on them. So far I seem to have lost 2MPGs which is too much to lose but the feel of the car is amazing so I'll take the MPG hit for a better ride and better cornering and even the really great look. It's amazing how much better the car looks with the Toyos! Rey Bustos

I just wasn't sure so I was hoping one of you smart types might lend a hand in telling me whether this works or not...I did notice that it didn't have any tire size entry but I figured it just could have been one of those magic things that computers do somehow. If it doesn't work then why have that option on my computer in my car? I read about it, it didn't mention anything about tire size it simply says that after putting on new tires of a different size to go to "MENU", then to "Setup", then to "Adjust" and then to hit the "Tire Change" button. I recalibrated my GPS arrow icon pretty easily...I don't know how I can check to see if my Spedometer is dead on but then I only changed the tire size a wee but.....hmm, it's all very interesting though don't you think? I was just amazed at how much I DIDN'T know about my GPS. Happy trails, Rey Bustos in L.A.

I got my new Toyo tires a few weeks ago, they are the Proxes STs...great tires...anywho they are 255/55 18"...so they are larger in circumference than the terrible Good Years that came with the car therefore the mileage that I get is now 3% less than I actually show...so when I drive 350 miles I actually have driven 360.5,well, enough of math time at Lexus Mission Control...I just read in my GPS manual that you can recalibrate the setting with the "New Tire" button in the MENU page and under "SETUP"...has anyone tried this after getting different sized tires? The one thing that I was able to see right off the bat that I didn't know you could do was to calibrate your position on your screen! I was a wee bit short every time of,say a street that I was crossing, the arrow would actually be lagging. Now it's exactly where I am. I figured if after 1 1/2 years I didn't realize this maybe others haven't as well. Again, it's in the MENU page under "Setup" and in the calibration line push "Adjust" and then you have the option to move your arrow forward or backwards to be in the same exact position as your car. Hope this helps. Happy trails, Rey Bustos, educator/artist in L.A. and happy Lexus owner!

I seem to be losing MPGs after the new Toyo tires, so I'll keep my eyes on that data. I have never felt any change in MPG from taking off the roof rack but I definitely think that the new Toyo tires are killing my MPGs...enough to be a negative but I'll keep track for a few more months before posting any results. Rey Bustos

Av8tr (are you a pilot?)...anyway, I totally understand checking with the Toyota dealership since it's so close and it is good to at least know what things retail for as long as you remember that it is a retail price and way overpriced. I hope I helped in any way. Lexus themselves are adding emblems finally after so many of us complained so they should be accomodating to you. BTW, I had my RX400h in today for its 15K checkup and colonoscopy,or whatever they do, and I got to drive around all day in an '07 ES350 sedan. It had the push button start which was really cool, I wish my hybrid had that. It was really nice but I was so glad to be back in my RX and the shifting of the ES seemed so evident to me now after the seemless CVT of my RX400h! I also looked at the LS 460L in the showroom...WOW!!! what an amazing car, a world class car. I think I heard that it was voted the best car on the planet! Anyway, let me know what happens with your emblems. Rey

Whatever the price was, I wasn't about to spend a dime. Lexus isn't hurting in the profit department and within reason I ask and get things for free. I'm not cheap, it's more the principle of the thing... No one there is missing any meals and all I was asking was to ...as you so well put it, advertise the fact that I have a hybrid and that I got it at Glendale Lexus...so it benefits everyone. As far as what the emblems were from, the HSD"wave" was definitely from a Prius, but the logotype?, I thought it was also from a Prius but if you have something different perhaps mine was from an older Prius or a different model...anyway, as long as we got what we wanted,cool. BTW I had Lexus get the emblems I didn't go to Toyota. That might be the difference. Toyota will charge, Lexus won't or at least you can ask if they'd waive whatever it is that you want,again, I'm ferering to the "little" things. Happy trails! Rey Bustos ,happy Lexus owner in L.A.

Rey Bustos, Lexus man in L.A.,I hope that you all compare the old Good Years with my new Toyo tires as seen on the other post. RB

I will also be a guinea pig! But so far no one has any experience with the Toyo Proxie ST. I had them on my BMW X5 for 15,000 miles and loved them but that is sold so I have no experience long term. Even with the negative comments I still would have bought them since no one has used this tire. As far as comparison I sold back the OEM Michelins after 300 miles and I can tell you these Toyo's are better in every way. So if folks want to keep chiming in and telling me how there grandma etc had noisy Toyo's (not ST's) fire away. Rey and I will post follow ups but I only put 10,000 miles a year on her so it may take a while. MPG on Toyo's First 2 tank = same as OEM tires. Third tank > 0.5 mpg better than OEM (but still breaking her in) Rey when you are figuring your mpg don't forget to add 3% to you total miles before dividing by your gallons. Since you went with the larger tires they travel 3% farther than stated so your on board trip computer will be off and show less mpg than is real. Of course the on board computer is off anyway so maybe it will be right on now :D Happy Easter Well, I only use my own figures to get the MPGs, meaning, I filled up today: 350 miles and I used 13.6 gallons which meant I got 25.7 MPG...so do I add 3% to the 350 miles? That would bring it to what I usually get,26.5 MPG...I think that's what you meant right? No, I never trust the on board computer but it is always higher by around .5 of what I get. So if it reads 27, I know I will figure it to be 26.5, so I'm getting exactly the same MPGs as before....... anyway, I will just have to see what happens in the long run. I too only drive 8-9K a year so it'll be a while before the tires start becoming impossible to live with from what everyone is now saying. Take care and I pray that we survive the horrors of TOYO tires. (Yes, I'm being facetious!). Toodles, Rey That is correct if you traveled 350 miles you really traveled 360.5 miles. Solid mpg by the way! City/highway mix? Mixed and yes, I have been very happy with the MPGs. I was only getting around 17 with my PT Crusier...I only bought that because it was so cool at the time...before they made 50million of them. I t was rated at 24-29mpg but I NEVER got better than 19 and after three years the average was between 17 and 18 so I knew when I bought my 400h and they claimed 33...I hoped to get over 25. Thanks for the positive posts, I got tired of hearing about the Toyo tires and how they will be too loud to hear the radio. Isn't it just the case, I talked about them for over a week before I bought them, asked for opinions about Toyo on this forum, did my research and it wasn't until I bought them, put them on my car that NOW I hear everything bad about them. Oh, well, live and learn. At least I got rid of those terrible Good Years! So it looks like next year I'll have to buy new tires again. Rey

I will also be a guinea pig! But so far no one has any experience with the Toyo Proxie ST. I had them on my BMW X5 for 15,000 miles and loved them but that is sold so I have no experience long term. Even with the negative comments I still would have bought them since no one has used this tire. As far as comparison I sold back the OEM Michelins after 300 miles and I can tell you these Toyo's are better in every way. So if folks want to keep chiming in and telling me how there grandma etc had noisy Toyo's (not ST's) fire away. Rey and I will post follow ups but I only put 10,000 miles a year on her so it may take a while. MPG on Toyo's First 2 tank = same as OEM tires. Third tank > 0.5 mpg better than OEM (but still breaking her in) Rey when you are figuring your mpg don't forget to add 3% to you total miles before dividing by your gallons. Since you went with the larger tires they travel 3% farther than stated so your on board trip computer will be off and show less mpg than is real. Of course the on board computer is off anyway so maybe it will be right on now :D Happy Easter Well, I only use my own figures to get the MPGs, meaning, I filled up today: 350 miles and I used 13.6 gallons which meant I got 25.7 MPG...so do I add 3% to the 350 miles? That would bring it to what I usually get,26.5 MPG...I think that's what you meant right? No, I never trust the on board computer but it is always higher by around .5 of what I get. So if it reads 27, I know I will figure it to be 26.5, so I'm getting exactly the same MPGs as before....... anyway, I will just have to see what happens in the long run. I too only drive 8-9K a year so it'll be a while before the tires start becoming impossible to live with from what everyone is now saying. Take care and I pray that we survive the horrors of TOYO tires. (Yes, I'm being facetious!). Toodles, Rey

Well, I did ask for all of your opinions and this is the first time I heard anything negative about the Toyos, so better late than never isn't true here. I just spent a lot of money and now you tell me that they will be be loud as they wear down. Well, as I said, if they turn out to be bad or less than the amazing experience that I'm having now,I'll get something else. Thanks anyway, Rey Let me add, I don't mind being the test pilot. I will be very honest in the next few months and keep everyone posted so that maybe I can save someone else from making my mistakes. I'll keep track, as always, of my mileage, the wear and noise of the TOYO Proxes S/Ts. Right now they are new, quiet,amazingly smooth, the cornering is great. I know, the Good Year OEMs were so bad that anything would be great by comparison but these are really great tires and if at 17K they start to sound like a leaf blower, I will have gotten 4K more than I did with the GYs and all of you can learn from my mistake. Have a blessed Easter, warmly, Rey

Proxes TPT are different than the S/T s but ANYTHING would have been better than the garbage GY...and if the Toyos turn out ot be less than what I am feeling now, which is they are amazing, then I will get a set of something else and keep posting info! Life's too short and I just want the best and "I tell you what" (Said like Hank Hill) my car feels like a new ride! Rey

"SKYFISH 400h"....I think what jditom meant was to calculate the MPH not MPG.

No I didn't think of any MPG stuff when I chose the TOYOs...life's too short and prices are so rediculous that it's almost moot now to think about the gas prices, it's so frustrating so I just stopped worrying...I get 10MPGs more than when I had my PT Cruiser and with a car that's ten times better, bigger and with 120 more HP!...anyway I didn't realize that the tires would be bigger and I don't think about MPGs as much as most folk. I drive about 800-900miles a month which isn't much but I will as usual keep track of my mileage as I have for years with any car that I've had, so I will know to within one MPG if I am losing, gaining or staying the same and I will post for all of you. It's the same for when I took off the roof rack, I didn't like it and I didn't take it off for any other reason except that I hated it, but while I was at it and since I was asked, I let everyone know that it DIDN'T make an MPG difference. The only time that I saw a small difference in MPGs, and that is still debatable, was when I went from 32psi to 36 with the Good Years. Anyway, yes, the Good Years did wear down too fast but I just think that the TOYO tires are way bigger even though I kept the same sidewall number....55, so I don't know why they are so much bigger...do you? Anyway, the one thing that I know is that my car rides great now, better than ever, and it looks very different to me. The car went from timid looking and sweet to an amazonian, if that makes sense....I used to call my 400h "Princess" but that doesn't seem to fit any longer....now she's more like...hmmm,... "XENA"! Happy trails fellow Lexies...Rey

You are so right, I now notice that the new Toyos do fill the space more and noticeably! Look at these two pictures, before and after:left; Good Year......Right; TOYO, I really like the way that the new tires look and they do change the look of the car considering it was such a small size difference. Rey

Rey, Just to make sure the size you want is 255/50/18 not 255/55/18. If you want your speedo to be correct. Respnse from me, Rey...I got the 255/55/18 because I thought that would be the same sidewall height as the OEM ...aren't they 235/55/18? So only the width is bigger...Right? This is a directional tire. You will have to lefts and to rights. They get balanced on the rim like any other tire and only get rotated front to back. Hope this helps.

Do you really think that they are that much bigger than yours? They are 255/55/18 ...anyway, thanks and yes, I am extremely happy with them...it's just my first day....but I know certain curves that I monitored knowing that I was going to compare...so when I still had the bad Good Years I paid attention to a curve on the freeway here in L.A when the 5 freeway splits,north/south...it's tight and at 60mph the car didn't feel good with the GYs...now at the same speed with the Toyos...it's like a different car! It's so smooth now too. I don't have any of the rattles that people complain about,I fixed the ones that I had by deduction...so the car is marvelous and luxury to the hilt. I have 36PSI and I am curious to see how yours do at a higher PSI. They feel great at 36 so I am not going to mess with perfection. Thanks so much for turning me on to these great tires. Note also that without the roof rack, the new tires, chrome nerf bars...the car looks really great and I do think it looks very different than the other RXs that I see...and I do like that. Warmly, Rey Bustos