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dhoosee

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  • Lexus Model
    2002 SC430 / 2002 IS300

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  1. I sympathize with you! I have a 2002 SC and loved everything about it except for the Bridgestone Potenza run-flat's that came with it. They should be outlawed, and I fully agree that Lexus should be beaten for putting them on their cars, especially the SC :chairshot: I highly recommend replacing the run flats with Pirelli P-Zero Nero's. I got mine @ Dicount Tire here in Chicago (dont know if they have shops in New York). They did a wonderful job with mounting/balancing/etc. Wherever you buy them, be sure to have them mounted at a reputable shop that is experienced in dealing with run-flats and air pressure sensors (which the SC has). An inexperienced shop may not have the proper equipment to take the old run-flats off of the rims, and they will probably break the tire pressure sensors, which will send you to Lexus for replacement (not exactly cheap). Ask the tire shop if they do run-flats and if they'll guarantee the job. Finally...the ride! It took exactly 10 seconds on the road to realize what I'd been missing all along. The Pirelli's offer a much more forgiving ride; no more hitting pot holes and feeling like the car is going to shake itself loose. Run-flats are unforgiving tires after they've been run a few thousand miles, but the standard radials have remained smooth and provide a 100% improvement in ride. They're also quiet; my old run-flats were loud as hell, and made an annoying "whooping" noise at any speed over 15mph. Cornering has improved greatly too, as it used to feel like the car was going to roll off of its sidewalls with the old tires when taking a spirited jaunt off of an exit ramp. Finally, the radials dont "tramline" at all. The old RF's would sometimes get "a mind of their own" and violently pull the steering wheel to the left or right (right out of my hands it seemed!) unless the road was perfectly flat and free of grooves or imperfections. It hasn't happened to me once since I put on the Pirelli's. A spare tire you ask? Lexus will nail you $700-plus for their spare tire kit which is a tire on a steel rim and the hardware to mount it in your already-meager trunk area (the tire would stand up vertically, not lay down horizontally). I bought a mini air compressor that plugs into the cigarette lighter, and a can of fix-a-flat (only to be used in extreme emergency's, as it will ruin the tire pressure sensor if used) that I keep in the tire well with the tire tools in the trunk under the trunk mat. How often do you get a flat tire? Think about it...almost never (except in your case, when you bent your rims badly enough). My "kit" cost me about $30, and if I ever have a blowout, a call to AAA for a flatbed is still a lot cheaper than the spare tire kit. Bottom line: Ditch the RF's immediately, as almost ANY radial tire will be better. You truly will love your car again! Go to this thread to read more: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...wtopic=565&st=0. If that link doesnt work, just search the SC430 forums with the title "SC430 replacement tires". Good luck! Dave
  2. I think that ANY runflat tire sucks! They ride pretty well for the first 10k miles or so, but once they start to wear a little, LOOK OUT! The technology has improved, but still has a way to go. I would forget about RF's, and go performance radials without hesitation! Spare tire? Who cares. Join/call AAA and pay the annual fee for roadside assistance, or dont join AAA, and simply pay for a tow. You can get towed into town several times before you're paying more $$ than the Lexus spare tire kit would have cost you (about $700 without tax). For extreme situations, (ie, you're in the middle of nowhere without a phone), keep a can of Fix-A-Flat and a small air compressor in the trunk (the spare tire well works great) to limp your way back into town. Not many of us can remember our last flat tire...just doesnt happen very often. The better ride with the radials is well worth the "risk" of not having run-craps. Look for other owner's testamonials as to the virtues of radials over run-flats. I'm getting "converted" this spring! Good luck.
  3. Look at this thread for lots of info. http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...wtopic=565&st=0 I, personally, am going to replace my Potenza's with Pirelli P-Zero Nero's. Have read lots of good things about them. check Tirerack.com for reviews on other tires. Finally, look under SC430 on Tirerack, and see what the "best sellers" are. Always interesting. Good Luck!
  4. I'm going 18", stock rims, and OEM-size Pirelli P-Zero Nero's. From what I've read and reviewed on TireRack, they seem to offer a great value for the $$$, excellent performance, and, ultimately, a better riding SC430! Lexus should be beaten for allowing such crappy tires on a world-class automobile.
  5. I've been thru 4 changers on my 2002 IS300 as well, and i bleieve that i just lost #5 the other day! I am getting an "Error3" message, though. It will no longer play discs, eject discs, or accept new discs (I have one slot available out of the 6). Was getting "Error1" message on other units, but never 3. my car just went out of warranty, and Lexus replaced this unit JUST before my warranty expired (50,000 miles). i do not abuse the unit at all, but i do use it a lot. Lexus has been great about replacing the units while under warranty, but now that the warranty is up, God knows how much it's gonna cost to repair/replace this one. Anyone have any idea what an "Error3" message means? Has anyone installed an aftermarket stereo head in place of the factory unit? Crutchfield doesnt have anything that they recommend directly for the IS....
  6. Finally getting ready to get my tires. Going to go with the P-Zero Nero's. I am going to buy them and have them installed through Discount Tire here in Chicago. Has anyone had runflats swapped out for non-RF radials at a tire shop like Discount, or Just Tires, etc..... I've heard that the runflats are a bear to get off, and that the tire pressure monitors could be damaged by amatures doing the job. Should I pony up the extra $$ and have Lexus install the tires, or can most of these shops do the job the proper way? Any feedback either way would be appreciated. Thanks in advance!
  7. Thanks again, Bly. I really appreciate the information. I'll write to Lexus and post here if and when I get an answer back from them. Gotta get moving, though....spring is on it's way! Cheers!
  8. Wow! thanks for the input, Bly! If you have the exact address that you wrote to, could you post it in this forum? I would love to write to them and get in on some of that customer-satisfaction $$$. I plan on buying the spare tire kit from Lexus, so that would certainly help defray some of the cost. You mentioned the performance that you get with your Conti's in the snow and rain, but are they relatively quiet and do they smooth out the bumps and potholes well compared to the run-flats? I'm also assuming that you are not experiencing any more of the pulling and sidewall steering as you did with your old tires. Your post gave me renewed faith that yanking those run-flats will make life with the SC a lot more pleasurable! Thanks again.
  9. I am DYING to get rid of my Potenza run-flats! They are completely ruining the driving experience for me. They make the car feel like it's running on four rocks, cornering is uncertain with the feeling that the tires are rolling over on their sidewalls, the noise that they generate is unforgiveable and especially loud with the top up between 30 & 40mph. But probably the worst reactions are encountered on bumpy stretches of road; if the car picks up on a crack or crest in the road, it pulls violently to one side or the other, so much so that you fear that you're going to be pulled right off of the road unless you make an immediate, firm correction. Lexus should be truly ashamed for offering such crappy tires for such a beautiful automobile. My 2002 IS300 has a better ride than the SC! I was considering Continental SportContacts in a 255 vs. 245 wide tread. Has anyone else tried the slightly wider sized tire on their stock SC430 rims? Also, has anyone else experienced the violent pulling and jumpy road manners described above with their run-flats? My car is a 2002 with 16,500 miles. the tires are pressured up properly and the car tracks straight on smooth, level roads. Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.
  10. Hey, Calvin....wanna buy a set of run-flats ??? :D
  11. I agree with your decision to dump the run-flats. I just purchased an '02 SC yesterday and I'm already wanting to yank the #$@%% Potenza run-flats that are currently on the car! It feels like I'm driving a go-kart rather than a Lexus. Bumps are harsh, and the tire noise that makes its way into the cockpit at lower speeds is horrible. I cant wait for these to wear out (I hear that they're only good for 20-25k miles or so) to swap them for something else. Your choice of Michelin Pilots was excellent...really a great tire. What are you doing about a spare? I hear that the spare tire kit from Lexus is $700 or so. I've seen others post that they keep a can of fix-a-flat in the trunk along with a portable compressor. That to me sure beats the crappy ride that the run-flats provide!
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