Tyres And Geometry

[stringbender]

My original tyres (Dunlop) were very badly worn on both outer edges at 22,800 miles and I drove all the way to Watford to see Mr. Bones to get it set up properly. The tyres were nearly down to the carcass by then. Tony worked very hard for me but sadly I had to get the tyres he put on (Dunlop) changed after only 13,500 miles as they had worn practically down to the carcass on both outer edges as well. I went to Lexus Bristol and said what had happened and had a full geomentry done there which was September 2008. I'd put on four new Bridgestone Potenza'a and have found them quieter and haven't found the problems some say happen with them on this forum. So far I've done 22,500 miles on these tyres and still have a good deal of tread left to go. I'm also very happy to report that the wear is very uniform across the full width of both front tyres so I feel that the cost of the Lexus geometry was money well spent.

Alan. :)

[messa red]

My original tyres (Dunlop) were very badly worn on both outer edges at 22,800 miles and I drove all the way to Watford to see Mr. Bones to get it set up properly. The tyres were nearly down to the carcass by then. Tony worked very hard for me but sadly I had to get the tyres he put on (Dunlop) changed after only 13,500 miles as they had worn practically down to the carcass on both outer edges as well. I went to Lexus Bristol and said what had happened and had a full geomentry done there which was September 2008. I'd put on four new Bridgestone Potenza'a and have found them quieter and haven't found the problems some say happen with them on this forum. So far I've done 22,500 miles on these tyres and still have a good deal of tread left to go. I'm also very happy to report that the wear is very uniform across the full width of both front tyres so I feel that the cost of the Lexus geometry was money well spent.

Alan. :)

Hi Stringbender

I have just bought a 05 RX 300 se-l and the tyres were worn badly on the outer edges as you have described. The dealer ( not Lexus) changed the front tyres as part of the deal. Should i take the car to the Lexus center and get geomentary set to stop problems reocurring on new tyres or can a local tyre fitter do it. What would Lexus charge me for this.

Also if there are any other issues large or small you think i need to get looked at i would appreciate your advice. Fabulous car by the way!!

Cheers

Tony

[JBPRX400h]

Hi

I did have exactly the same tyre wear happen on the Bridgestone Potenzas on my previous RX400h. Lexus MK did a full 4 wheel alignment for £113.85 which solved the problem and noticeably improved the general feeling when driving the car.

The Tech who did the alignment came out and spoke to me afterwards and suggested running the tyres at 36PSI as that helps prevent the wear on the outer edge of the tyre tread.

Hope that helps

JBP

[lexynik]

i had mine done at wim twice - problems not rectified unfortunately ,,,, lexus brighton had the geo sorted for me straight away,,, my advice is stick to main dealer (mine was an is200)

[stringbender]

Fabulous car by the way!!

Cheers

Tony

Hi Tony, I can only speak from experience and suggest you use Lexus. They won't want to get it wrong! It's also quite reassuring to know that as you drive you're not eating away at only half of your tyres - plus the car feels a whole lot better too. I think it'd cost about £120 but in comparison to the cost of the tyres - well, you decide. Also, I too was told to keep the tyres at 36 so maybe that's helped in evening out the wear.

Mine is also an 05 SE L and I'm trying to keep it as best I can. It's had a good few doses of Autoglym polish and I think this has helped reduce the corrosion on the alloys. I've not had major problems so far but there is a problem with the parking brake cables on these cars. Water (and salt) can get in where the cable enters the brake back plate at the bottom and can cause corrosion which causes the cable to bind and so the shoes can be held against the drum. Pity a better seal wasn't employed as the cables are expensive to replace if it gets that bad. One other thing I am pleased with is the mpg. I log every drop of fuel that goes in and do a proper brim to brim calculation after at least 5,00 miles so as to be reliably accurate. The worst I have had is 22.8 and the best 24.7 mpg which I think is pretty good for such a heavy car. And, after 6 years of driving (only) an Rx I still enjoy it. Now wait for something serious to go wrong!!

Alan

[Lydiamight]

You don't have to go to Lexus to get a good job done. Some tyre specialists will have the correct equipment, often the American made Hunter digital alingment system. In fact, as the kit is so expensive some Lexus dealers won't have the equipment themselves and will take your car to a specialist who does have the equipment.

I recently had a full four wheel alignment carried out by SE Tyres in Tunbridge Wells using the Hunter digital alignment and the mechanic was kind enough to let me watch the whole of the process. The care and attention to detail was most impressive. It's not a job that can be rushed as often an adjustment in one plane will have the effect of changing the wheel alingement in another plane.

I was charged £25.00 for the check and then there is another £75.00 if any adjustments need to be done. The whole job took nearly one and a half hours. No connection other than a very satisfied customer.

[rhosneigr]

Any machine will only measure against what is input into it i.e the manufacturer's figures and if they are wrong in the first place as is claimed by WIM then what ???????????????

[Russell-H]

I heard a rumor that Lexus had released revised figures for the IS but can not remember where I heard this so do not know if correct.

Regards

Russell.

[Gra56]

Every Lexus I have owned (I am on my sixth) as suffered with wearing on the inside or outside edge after a few miles from new. Each time I have paid £90 or so for a geometry test (the last one within 5 months of buying the car) and it has made absolutly no difference. I just think this is a Lexus "fault" and I doubt there is much you can do. Other cars we have/owned have never had the same problem

[Tony-Bones]

Several years ago LOC admin approached me in regards to the historic inner front tyre wear problem. I rewrote the front calibration positions to stop the wear. Lexus UK are well aware of the problem and our solution but they are not allowed to deviate from the official Lexus settings.

[Russell-H]

this whole area of owing an IS Lexus seems very hit or miss to me unless you live near WIM. My IS300 scrubs out Potenzas every couple of months so what should I do, i do net get the time to go to WIM and there is waiting list so i can not go last miniute if things change, i go to Lexus whole may set it to original settings and not solve problems or go somewhere else but not know what settings they have.

I have tried geting the settings and would like to see old and revised but have failed to get either set so far, if i had these i could then try both settings and hopefully cure my tyre scrub but it seems that i have to accept that owing an IS means always being on the lookout for partworns.

Regards

Russell.

[Tango]

this whole area of owing an IS Lexus seems very hit or miss to me unless you live near WIM. My IS300 scrubs out Potenzas every couple of months so what should I do, i do net get the time to go to WIM and there is waiting list so i can not go last miniute if things change, i go to Lexus whole may set it to original settings and not solve problems or go somewhere else but not know what settings they have.

I have tried geting the settings and would like to see old and revised but have failed to get either set so far, if i had these i could then try both settings and hopefully cure my tyre scrub but it seems that i have to accept that owing an IS means always being on the lookout for partworns.

Regards

Russell.

If you look on the WIM website you'll see that you can purchase tyres online from them and have them fitted by one of their network UK partner fitting centres. What the site does not fully make clear is that Tony has personally approved the equipment they use and is operating a training program with their technicians. If you give WIM a call they will provide contact details and arrange for your car to be set up correctly to the Proven WIM settings at a centre nearer to where you live. http://www.wheels-inmotion.co.uk/

[Russell-H]

Thanks Tango, been there done that. I called WIM direct and they said they did not have any body closer to me than they are, I also phoned STS who are shown on the WIM website and they had never heard of WIM and did not know a thing about updated settings, so my conclusion is that STS and WIM is not a useable partnership.

I have access to the equipment to do the checking but without the updated WIM recommended setting this is useless to me.

I am lucky to live close to a big supplier of part worns and just see this as part of IS ownership.

Regards

Russell.

[Tony-Bones]

Thanks Tango, been there done that. I called WIM direct and they said they did not have any body closer to me than they are, I also phoned STS who are shown on the WIM website and they had never heard of WIM and did not know a thing about updated settings, so my conclusion is that STS and WIM is not a useable partnership.

I have access to the equipment to do the checking but without the updated WIM recommended setting this is useless to me.

I am lucky to live close to a big supplier of part worns and just see this as part of IS ownership.

Regards

Russell.

All the managers/ assistant managers and the staff we train are aware of the relationship, if you get a fitter on the phone or indeed a new manager they won't be so wise.

If a purchase is made from our site we arrange everything from there.

[Russell-H]

So is it possible to get the settings and do it myself as i do not trust STS because last time i used them the wheel came off my car on the motorway.

Regards

Russell.

[Russell-H]

So in conclusion Tony Bones as you have not responded to my request for the settings, I guess the answer is you do not give them out, so the only way to sort my IS300 out is to bring it to you, which as already said is not an option for me, or use STS who really are useless and do not even appear to know you, or accept that i always need to be on the look out for part worns.

I do not expect something for nothing and am prepared to pay for the settings, i just do not have the means to bring it to your workshop and i do not trust STS.

Russell.

[SHAHZ]

Mate, I dont think Tony gets a chance to visit here that often, go over to the wim forum and contact him, im sure he will be able and willing to help you, i went through about 3 sets of front tyres in less then 6 months when i first got mine until i went to wim :winky:

[NickS]

I'm inclined to think it's a Lexus problem too. Can only speak for the RX though.

I went to Tony almost 3 years ago. It certainly felt different, but 6 months later the wear was obvious, but on the outside (not the inside as he said above). It usually looks feathered, even though I was mainly using motorways at the time.

Now we do far fewer miles, and a branch of Pro-tyre last did alignment using the same gear Tony used to have (the printout is almost identical). They said the RX is notoriously sensitive and recommend checking every 6 months.

I also run the tyres at 34 to 36psi and this seems the best solution, and a lot cheaper than regular tracking.