im24601

I seem to recall from somewhere that tyre pressures should be recorded "cold". Cold, or whatever terem was used, was defined as less than 3km worth of driving on them. Tufor

Dear All As you may be aware from the thread "Initial Post...Treat Me Gently" I have experienced problems with the excesive wear to my inner front tyres on my IS200 SE (2001). It has been a problem since I had it (bought at 22 months old from my local Lexus Dealership). It had new tyres at 30k (I bought it at 29229 miles, as I recall and Lexus did the 30k service, with tyres prior to selling it). Every service since then it has required at least 2 new tyres - and always the front ones. Lexus Dealership have timelessly advised a 4-wheel alignment (done by them now in total 3 times) and still the problem persists. I have all sorts of reasons from Lexus as to why this is from not using their recommended tyre (though compliant with the Owners Manual) to under-inflation and my driving style. I have spoken to the previous owner and he changed tyres regularly as well. So, perhaps not my driving style after all... The settings Lexus have used and purportedly found pre-adjustment will appear here soon for your information and interest, as will photos of the most recent set of old tyres - Dunlop SP9000, as advised by a Lexus Regional Manager in August '07. You will see the wear after less than 7200 miles. The Dunlops were recommended as I was told they are a harder, more durable tyre than the Yokohamas and/or Bridgestones. I have got less wear from those than the previous Yokohamas. Lexus GB have shown disinterest in this and are resolute that my car is a one-off and the liability and culpability lies firmly with me. Of course, that may be the case... I have asked to speak to the Director of Customer Relations at Lexus GB but no-one will put me through. Does anybody know who he/she is now that Steve Settle has jumped ship to Toyota? However, has anybody else has experienced the same with their Lexus - if so, could they please add their names to the bottom of this post? If you have any photos of the worn tyres, please add them too if you can. I shall shortly being taking whatever information I have to Lexus GB in Epsom to make my case. Should anybody wish to join me, please let me know. I look forward to hearing from you. Chris

How did I get on...? Well, General Manager at Lexus GB said that she was unaware of any problems with tyres and that it must be driver error. The previous owner of mine who did just shy of 30k in it, is probably 20yrs older and lo and behold had the same problems I had when he bought it and replaced tyres at every service until he got shot of it at 29220 miles or so. I am 35-yrs old and not a "boy racer". I'd like to think I know how to drive a car better than the average punter out on the road - having worked for the Emergency Services previously - and having sympathetic driving hammered into you from Day 1! Then I mentioned WIM... Tony, she said (sorry, her name is Samantha Betts) that he (Tony) has a vested interest to correct Lexus' settings! When I mentioned to her that Lexus Oxford told me the reason was under-inflation - something that Dunlop-Goodyear in West Midlands completely dismissed - she said I should believe the manufacturer not the tyre experts!!! Another Lexus dealership not too far from me told me that they have revised geometry settings from Lexus because the other ones (previous ones) were "too wide"... Too wide? I have asked them for the new settings and am still waiting on them. Apparently they can't locate the website with them on. The obvious way to get them would be to go into the sodding workshop area and speak to one of the technicians for the current settings! However, I am evidently over-simplifying things and don't feel it is my place to make recommendations to them. And curiously, why would a different "less wide" settings have been adopted if the previous ones were as good as Lexus have made out? The old adage of "if it ain't broken, don't change it" springs to mind. Lexus Oxford, however - do not accept that the other local dealership have new settings, they don't accept that WIM's findings are accurate and the thought of anyone questioning the manufacturer is abhorrent. So, Lexus Oxford won't speak to me now (at least the Service Manager won't - apparently the Dealer Principal has told him so). I now have the readings from the 4-wheel alignment in August '07and the ones taken 7000 miles later (Jan '08). [For those interested, Tony has taken a photo of my tyres and put it on the WIM forum] I shall be emailing Tony as soon as I have finished this post with the settings for his opinion, albeit an opinion with a vested interest Very shortly, there will be a thread starting here for people to add their names and experiences re:inner wear on front tyres. I am not a technical person by any means but I do recognise when something is awry. Please, please, please add your comments to that thread - that will be the evidence to give to Lexus GB and whoever else can make a difference. That's where we are so far. Cheers Tufor

Right, thanks. I'll get it done sooner rather than later. Only 41k over so far!

Ok, I'm a tad confused - spoke to Lexus Reading today and they said it used to be recommended at 100k but now they (Lexus) advised timing belt change at 6yrs (which mine is a little over). Does anybody at any of the dealerships in the Thames Valley area know what they are talking about? Definitive answer - what is required at 100k service and when should timing belt be changed, pretty please????????? Ta muchly. Tufor

Hi All Now that my 2001 IS200SE has tipped the 100,000 mile mark I guess it is time to have the big service. Unfortunately, it's due a timing belt change and current tyre issues make me very reluctant to let a Lexus dealership touch my car ever again (especially Oxford). Any ideas who can do it locally? My usual excellent independent hasn't the the tools for the timing belt change and so can't/won't do it. I promised myself that hell will freeze over before I take it to Lexus to rip me off. I don't care for the "FLSH" - just somebody who knows what they are doing, who others have used and comes recommended - and who doesn't want a king's ransom for the work... Cheers, in advance... Tufor

2001 IS200SE - 101k

Simply moving on would be accepting that Lexus were right and that it is ok for them to do what they do. It isn't. On principle alone I shall see this through - the one thing I haven't got is definitive "proof" - what I hopefully can get hold of though, is lots of pee-ed off people like me who have bought new tyres after Lexus, in their infinite wisdom, wrongly set-up the geometry on a costly 4-wheel alignment. I have told Lexus time and time again that there is "something wrong" - all they have seeen fit to do is charge me for this and that. I am fed-up of costly fire-fighting. Now it is time to do something about it: if I have to sit in Epsom everyday for a week until someone in authority sees me I will. Lexus will not even entertain the idea currently that the reason there are so many owners experiencing extreme inner tyre wear because of their miscalculated figures. Must someone die before they take note? Because they will. Or, they'll lose their license - who knows what effect that'll have on them/their family. Not if I can help it. I will not be dissuaded. This is the right thing to do. Are you with me? Tufor.

Watchdog emailed. Fingers crossed for a response.....

Aztec et al Yeah, I said to them that it was only by the grace of God (or whichever divine spirit you believe in) that they didn't blow out on me. Let it be said that Lexus picked the wrong person to pi5s of in me. I need evidence from individuals - we can all assume that Lexus GB will say that (and already have) that Tony has a "commercial interest" in changing the settings. I pointed out that they have a commercial interest in recommending another 4-wheel alignment and another set of new tyres. At that point the General Manager of Customer Services (can we name names here? - oh well, sod it - I will) Samantha Betts told me that Lexus have no commercial interest in selling me tyres!!!!! Funny that, as National Tyres sell the Dunlops £40 cheaper than the dealerships (certainly Lexus Oxford). No commercial interest, my arse. Anyhow, if anyone wants to join me at Lexus GB for a show-down - let me know... Perhaps I should contact BBC Watchdog? I think I will.

Hey Gord I am more than happy to organise or as be involved as I can. It's been a while since I last got arrested for harassment... What we need though is hard-evidence and experiences of as many as possible....

Suffer? I think the pics of my fronts at 7115 miles (5 months) on Dunlop SP9000 Made in Japan which Tony took yesterday will answer that question! What I would like is as many people as possible to let me know their experiences (just of tyres :winky: ) and I will make the drive to Epsom and sit in Lexus GB's reception until someone is prepared to listen and take note of what we, the owners and everyday drivers, are saying. Lexus Oxford have been happy to fob me off with "under inflation" as the cause which is absolute rubbish (confirmed by Dunlop) as the cause of the front inners wearing to the wire after 7000 miles - and this from the "harder and more durable tyre" of the ones Lexus recommend. Love the car - hate the after-sales service/customer service. I wouldn't touch Lexus Oxford with a barge pole. 3 four-wheel alignments from them and several tyres fitted by their own techs to their specs and the problem hasn't gone away. An muggins here keeps footing the bills. Lexus have also told me that the reason for the excesssive wear is that I have fitted "Made in Germany" tyres previously and, given that the Germans drive on the wrong side of the road, German-made tyres aren't suitable for those who drive on the left. If anyone wants the powerpoint presentation emailing to them - let me know (as a newbie do I have restricted PM abilities?). Rant over for now...

Hi all. Been an IS200SE owner for approx 5 years now and amassed a respectable 70000 miles in that time - all happy, comfortable driving. The only mods I have had made are the covert blue lights and sirens fitted a few years ago (all legit, I swear!) I stumbled across this site a few days ago and already have taken on-board some advice given - a 40-or so mile blat to Hemel Hempstead to see Tony at WIM. More on that shortly, but needless to say - I will be looking for help very shortly, as Lexus Oxford and Lexus GB and me are about to fall-out bigtime. 24601