ooo

Thanks for the pics! Great shots. Is the concept car the future look of the SC430 ? Do you have any full shots of the entire concept car ? thanks again

I agree. Just replaced my runflats as well. Day & night difference. For quality, performance, hardtop convertible, real tires now, reliability... For a luxury sports car - the Lexus SC430 is the best value out there. This car is amazing!

I recently got rid of the run-flats for real tires. So much better! Day and night difference. Question is: Any SC430 owners found a good solution for a spare or what to do in case of a flat? I was quoted $500 for the spare tire kit by a Lexus dealer. Seems high to me, considering the car should have come with a spare tire in the first place. It came with the jack kit, but no spare. 17" wheel $111 wheel cover $137 motor cycle type tire $167 plate $19 bracket $31 bolt $8 Do I really need all this? Or is there another way to go? Has anyone tried anything different? Thanks

Management should consider separating the SC400 and SC430 forums. They are two totally different cars and issues. I realize there are not many SC430 owners, but I think we would use this forum more if we didn't have to weed through all the SC400 info. Thanks for you consideration....

First of all i must say that any real tires will be better than the run crap flat tires. I picked up my SC430 a couple days ago. Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S. I almost cried how they trasnsformed the car. Day and night. Feels right, feels great! I feel like I've got something under me.. the runflats felt like i was riding on the wheels from about 5K to 15k miles. From day one i hated the bridgestone run flats. No more dodgy feel, no more loud tire noise, no more no grip. Also i noticed the car is much quicker because these tires grip and hug the road. Cornering, stopping, cruising, you name WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I wish I had done this from day one! Did I say these tires are very quiet! I've herad the Michelin Pilots have a drone sound at 35 to 45 mph and are about $330 more for a set of four. Lexus wants $335 for the spare tire kit after i paid them $360 just for the removal, install, and balancing. I think that's BS. Should come with the car! The stupid motor cycle spare tire costs almost as much as one Pirelli PZero. RIDICULUS. I will write and call Lexus.

Am picking up my 2002 SC430 - 15k miles with new tires installed today!. After a lot of reserch and waiting for our size to be produced in the PZERO Nero... I got rid of the crappy ridiculus bridgestone run flats that ruin an otherwise wonderful car... I'll let everyone know. These tires had the best overall rating, plus the quietest and best handling at tire rack - are the new Pirelli Pzero Nero M+S $193 per tire. nice price too! Better since the Lexus dealer charges $360 to remove crap tires, balance and mount new ones - the runflats are BEAR to remove and requiree four strong men to do and the sensor has to be reset if not broken when tires are removed from rim... and had to order the spare kit - rim, plate, bolt, and tire. Didn't opt for the ridiculus priced $137 beauty spare tire cover. LEXUS should give us this stuff for free since they F#$kED up this car with those terrible run flats in the first place! What a bunch of jerks for not truly taking care of their customers! I got tired of complaining to Lexus and posting here! Check out my past posts from last year. Anyway I'll let everyone know in a couple days how the new pirellis do on the SC430.

Just got a call from Tire Rack yesterday. They shipped the P245/40WR-18 Pirelli PZero Nero M&S yesterday for my SC430. They finally were made in our size! I've been waiting since summer........ I'll have them on Monday Jan 5 and installed later in the week. I'll let everyone know how they are. They were $771.00 for the set of four. Not bad compared to Michelin Pilot Sport AS.

Yes the SC430 is a sporty car, not a sports car.... in addition, it's a fine, luxury, beautiful, powerful awesome car. For the money with the Michelin Pilot Sports A/S and a good immediate practical road solution for a flat tire..... there is no better value out there for an incredibly reliable great car! Take a porshe on a long 8 hour road trip and see how you feel afterward vs. driving the SC430. Plus it's a automatic hard top convertible. Two different cars! I can't wait to get the michelins installed! If anyone from Lexus is reading... can you guys please come up with a better flat tire solution.... At the very least give us the spare for free... We got the tire jack with the car even though you gave us the crummy Bridgestone run flats!!!!!

Mark, I still have my bridgestone run-flats... 14K miles on a 2002 SC430. The only reason I didn't switch is because I didn't want to carry a spare in the tight space and I'm not sure about the flat fix cans. I wish i could find an inflatable spare like Mercedes offers. I have not liked the runflats from day one. They're noisey all the time and especially when braking to slow down and stop. I'm also a member of the Great Britain SC430 site... much tighter SC community... sounds like they have all switched to non run flats... and from all my reading and analysis the difference is day and night! Much better than 10%. Sounds like a 100% difference and much quieter ... maybe 30% to 50% quieter. The Lexus dealer is full of BS... Sounds like they don't want to deal with it... But you are right!!!!! I am very familiar with the SC430 and ride, etc. Have had mine for about two yeras now.... I plan on on installing the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S in the next few days. They are 291 per tire balanced and installed. Much more expensive than the bridgestones, goodyears and pirellis, but I'm convinced now worth it.... I will let you know.

Check your cold tire pressure. The bridgestones are much better at 35 or 36 psi... rather than the recommended 33 PSI.... at 35/36 much better handling, car feels lighter and quieter................. and probably longer lasting

thanks Sadistic.... My Lexus dealer parts manager is also partial to the Michelin. The Pirelli PZero Nero M+S has not come out yet in the 245-40-18 size yet. Pirelli keeps pushing it back... maybe in early 2004 tire rack tells me. There is one person who owns an SC430 on tire rack reviews that installed the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S for the SC430. He gave it about the best rating you can.... said it transformed the SC430.... day and night difference from his Bridgestone run-flats.... Mark, I think any of the tires you mentioned will be far better from the run flats. If you go with Pirelli, make sure it's only the ones I mentioned that haven't come out yet. All their other models in our size range have poor reviews..... I'll let everyone know when I install either of the two I mentioned....

Sadistic, Thanks for sharing your expertise on tires. I'll probably get the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S for my SC430.... but how do you feel about the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S ? They have slightly better ratings at Tire Rack primarily becuase they're less noisey than the Pilot Sport A/S... thanks

I have a 2002 SC430. Just had it's 15K service including transmission oil, and also replaced the AC filter recommended at 10K to 15K. Bought it new in April of 2001. Still waiting for the Pirelli PZero Nero M+S 245-40-ZR-18 non run flat tires to become available. I only drive mine once or twice a week. Probably because I don't drive it that much, the battery became very weak, woulld not start the car without a jump, and Lexus replaced under warranty. Also, I had them replace the trunk shocks under warranty since the trunk didn't pop up the way it should like when new. I run mine with mobil one synthetic oil. Even smoother and more powerful... when it was already fantastic and smooth... I could not imagine driving this car as a 6 cylinder. It would ruin it. This car is excellent!!! Pure perfection. And you can get a golf bag in the trunk if you take out your driver and 3 wood and lay them in first. Then put two more sets on the back seat. What can I say, the interior is so fine, high quality and beyond compare. The paint job is very thick... compare the paint job to the cheaper Luxury japanese competitors. The german cars are unreliable... The only car that might be slightly better and maybe not for reliabilty and longevity is the new Mercedes SL450... but for 100K - I'll keep the difference in price... It's two different cars... A very powerful, luxury high quality roadster coupe and an awesome fun, beautiful refreshing open air vehicle. So, if you don't have to cart around a lot of stuff or large family, or more than two girl friends ---- BUY THE SC430!!!!! I would like to hear if anyone has a good solution for an inflateable spare that takes up minimal space or a reliable tire flat repair system................

After 14K miles and two years.... Overall I no-longer consider the SC430 a sports car. It is a very fine, very reliable, high quality, innovative, high value SPORTY car. It is not a sports car like a Porsche, Vette, MGB, Alpha Romeo, etc. I'm very happy with mine though! Also, according to Edmunds SC430 owner reviews 95% of american SC430 owners are very happy with their cars.... The only complaints and suggestions are... 1. Air Conditioned front seats.. would be especially nice on hot days with top down 2. Ability to lower or raise rear side windows with top up or down. 3. Radio antenna should not go up when using CD player, like the SC400... 4. I hear some very soft light rattles and subtle noises from various roof areas when roof is up... perfectly understandable in a complicated electric hard top roof... it's not annoying to me at all, and I don't notice it when sound system is on... When roof is up or down in the last few months, I'm occasionally hearing a very quiet soft squeak. I can't tell where it's coming from. It doesn't bother me much though.... 5. Offer inflatable spare, tire repair kit, or more room for spare in the trunk or underneath car. The Bridgestone run flats are especially awful after 5K to 7K miles!!!! As far as the suspension, I was told by my Lexus dealer that the suspension in general from Lexus/SC430 for American cars vs British cars have different specs. They said that the american car's suspension are different. Designed for american roads vs. british driving. Overall I'm happy with my SC430 handling and ride. I'm just not pleased with the Bridgestone run flats starting at about 7,000 miles because of lack of grip and they're too noisey, and harsh ride... definitely not good for the suspension.... So, I'm looking forward to changing to Pirelli PZERO non-run flat tires soon... If any SC430 owners have any of these issues or other ideas, I'l enjoy heraing from you....

I've narrowed my search to Pirelli PZero Nero M&S or the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S to replace the original Bridgestone run-flats. Have any SC430 owners experienced either of these tires on their SC430? I'm leaning toward the Pirelli Pzero, Tire Rack reviews give it much quieter and better performing ratings..... Any thoughts, or anything better out there? I definitely do not want runflats again...

Hi everyone, I'm a new member. I've read the posts from the last year or so. I'm a proud owner of a 2002 dark green SC430! Looks best shiny and clean! 2 years old with 14K miles. By far the best car I have ever owned and an incredible value. From day one I was fair to okay with the Bridgestone run flats and had always thought about changing to non run flats... The ride has gotten noiseier, less grip, worse as the tires have worn... My dealer in Virginia recommends non-run flat Michelin Pilot Sport AS and a tire repair kit, however they don't know anything about an upgraded suspension... ??? I think Lexus is only making that available in the UK and Europe? Has anyone in the states upgraded the suspension and the tires at a US Lexus dealer? I understand the 2003 comes with non runflats and an upgraded suspension..... just trying to determine if i should just replace the tires with non run flats, or do the suspension also, or maybe just think about a new convertible..... I like the electric hard top, but a fabric one is okay as long as i can have a hard top available.... The SC430 is my third Lexus. As far as reliability, longevity.... LEXUS is second to none.... Best/reliable quality value high end cars ever made. An FYI for all the SC430 owners.... I work from home and have CNBC on all day. Channel 355 on DirecTV. They've been reviewing convertibles and roadsters since June. They've already reviewed the Jag convertible, Mercedes cabriolet, Porshe Carrera, the new Chrysler Crossfire, Audi TT, and some others. The car review was pre-empted by a Bush news conference, so is now scheduled for Monday 8/11/03. Normally the cars are reviwed on a Monday by a hottie from Car and driver or one of those mags, they make mention all week, the this coming Monday they do a 10 minute full featured review by actual non car people... a male and female host Michelle and Bill from the CNBC afternoon show... I think it'll be intersting to see what they think of the SC430 after driving all those other new cruisers and roadsters... They grade looks, ride, value, convenience, power, handling, etc. Also it'll be interesting to see if Lexus loans them an SC430 with non run flats or run flats and overall what they think of the car.....