RX400h

It could be that the base tires/wheels on the RX450h are 18 inchers. Most of the magazine-tested RX450hs have 19-inch wheels and tires on them, but they are probably optional.

The diameter of the 400h tire/wheel combination must be the same as that of the 450h. If not, there will probably be issues with the active handling feature. If the 450h's wheels/tire diameter is 19', then I would say the 400h's cannot be used.

See my answer to this post: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=59745

The next time you are at the dealership, ask the parts person if he or she would show you the exploded view of those components. I've done this for other vehicles and the parts person was always willing to oblige.

You might want to check this post: http://us.lexusownersclub.com/forums/index...showtopic=59420 I bought my Alenzas from the Tire Rack for $600 or so and I am very happy with the tires.

Yes, it's a new feature with the 2010s - something to look forward to!

https://secure.drivers.lexus.com/lexusdrive...TA:LexusDrivers Dave

Exactly! Often someone has previously done exactly what you are contemplating, but for one reason or another won't see your question for days or even weeks. This is why the search function is so handy. I thought it was fairly clear that cduluk's post assumed the battery was replaced by the owner, but I guess to others, a dealership would replace a battery and not reconfigure important settings. The good news is that everyone is now clear as to the requirements for replacing a battery. Most OEM batteries, if not drained excessively, will last a minimum of 5 years. My Corvette's battery lasted more than 7 years.

You might want to read the post (by Cduluk) at the top of the "Pinned" list.

I have one of the first batch of RX400hs and after 45,000 miles, there is still never any lurching or irregular sensations when driving on the highway. At highways speeds there is never any switching from electric to gas power unless the vehicle is coasting for a while. Even then, the transition is ultra-smooth. My guess is that something is not right with the first one you drove. As far as brakes are concerned, there are times when they feel a bit non-linear, but that is the exception with our RX.

Yes, and it never rains in Texas, either........ :)

90,000 miles is specified in our owner's manual, but apparently, the Canada RX400h requirements are different. Regardless, some owners will change the fluid earlier. I'll probably have the coolant changed after 5 years, rather than the mileage listed in the manual.

We had our dealership install a (what I believe is a Lexus-approved) hitch on our 06 RX400h, so I would have to say that your dealership is either ignorant or just doesn't want to install hitches.

As Skyfish stated, the OEM wheels are aluminum (Lexus doesn't have steel wheels on any of its vehicles.), so most likely, there is quite a large increase in unsprung weight in those 20-inch wheels. Regarding handling, here are some springs that'll lower and stiffen the ride: http://www.tirerack.com/suspension/Susptab...=&brand=all .....but honestly, if you want a sedan-like-handling SUV, Porsche is the answer, although along with that handling comes horrible reliability and sky-high prices!

It is unlikely that a dealership would do this for you, but certainly, if you wanted to retain the original design's braking ability, that's what you would do. I have no doubt that acceleration will suffer with the hevier wheels and there's not much you can do about that. I would consider going to larger wheels ONLY if the combined weight of the new tires and wheels was equal to or less than the OEM weight. Even then, if we're talking about a Lexus, I'd still be a bit wary, due to the fact that the smooth ride would suffer because of the lower profile/stiffer sidewall tires.

I agree and I'm afraid that if this continues to drift away from the original post's topic, I will have to close the thread. Thanks, Dave

Consumer Reports rated the General Grabber HTS as the best 3-season driving tire. Coming in 2nd, 3rd, and 4th places were the following all-season tires: Continental CrossContact LX Kumho Road Venture APT KL51 Cooper Discoverer CTS I have Bridgestone Alenzas, which placed 8th out of 20. So far, they have performed very well under all but snowy conditions (only because it doesn't snow here in San Diego, so I couldn't test them under that type of condition). Now, I haven't checked to see whether any of the top three come in our tire size, so you may want to check www.tirerack for that info.

While wearing higher-perfomance rubber can improve braking, all other things being equal, (like wheel weight) it is common knowledge that reducing unsprung mass, specifically from rotating parts, will not only improve acceleration, but it can greatly improve handling and braking too. On the other hand, increasing wheel weight by even a few pounds will degrade acceleration and braking performance. Assuming your rubber on the larger wheels is sticker, braking may feel like it is better, but your rotors and calipers are now undersized and must work harder to stop all that extra rotating mass. This is why you will see that vehicles having larger wheels as an option also have larger brakes.

Actually, on a full charge, the RX400h does 0-60 MPH in 6.7 seconds - that's faster than a Porsche Cayenne S. The new 2010 Prius looks great to me; I guess beauty is in the eyes of the beholder.......

I think that dealership was out of line for trying to pull the wool over your eyes. That's kind of like selling a house that had major flood damage and never telling the prospective buyers. You were certainly right in getting upset. Sometimes that's the only way to get results.

I guess I'm just one of a few who prefer the Lexus NAV over Garmin. I've used a NUVI 760 and 260 to compare and I prefer the Lexus instructions. The voice recognition leaves much to be desired but how many Garmins have this feature? The ones I used did not. But if we think about many OEM electronics and even ride and handling-related features, how often does the manufacturer use only the very best? Even the OEM Michelin tires are poor compared to the best General, Goodyear, Bridgestone, etc tires. Bilstein makes some of the best shock absorbers in the world, but how many high-end vehicles are equipped with them as factory equipment? I can go on and on about factory equipment vs aftermarket but you get the idea - if you don't like OEM, you can always buy aftermarket. Very few OEM parts or subassemblies are the very best, but that's true of all vehicles, not just those made by Lexus.

Consumer Reports magazine ran an article on hybrid payback some time ago and they noted that the Camry Hybrid produced the shortest payback period. While I don't have one to directly compare to our RX400h, I have read nothing but good things about the Camry Hybrid. I'm not sure where you read that the Prius doesn't drive well, but from what I've inferred from a few road tests in car magazines, the Prius is now more "upscale" - quieter, better ride, and more efficient than it was before. Car magazines like car & Driver always downgrade a vehicle that does not handle like a sportscar, no matter how comfortable, quiet, efficient, or reliable it may be. This is why they prefer the Honda Insight; its only advantages being that it handles better and cost less.

.....great investigative work by Cduluk and Katzjamr. Keep in mind that OEM tires often do not last as long as a good replacement tire. Since Cduluk bought the tires and wheels as a set and for a good price, the wear factor is not as important, but when they do wear out, I recommend you look at the Bridgestone Alenzas. I think I paid $600 for all four and they still look good after 25,000+ miles. Dave

...somewhat true, but you have to admit that you are far more likely to have to apply the brakes, hard in the city (due to sudden yellow traffic lights and crazy motorists) than you are on a typical highway drive. I'm convinced that most of my brake pad wear originates in the city, especially since that's where all the steep hills are! Dave

I still have nothing but good things to say about the Bridgestone Alenzas that we've been using for the last 25,000+ miles. They still have plenty of life in them.