oeo

That's great to hear - thanks, and glad you like them! No one in the US had them. Sounds like they were only available in England/Europe........... For other performance sizes, they had the best ratings of the all season tires rated at tire rack....

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.

Back to drawing board..... now the tire rack tells me that the Pirelli PZero Nero M&S non-runflat tires in the SC430 size are back-ordered until December...... Originally they were due in the end of August.... Too bad... I was looking forward to some nice fall driving on these Pirellis! Maybe I'll wait... since these seemed to have the best overall ratings....

Back to drawing board..... now the tire rack tells me that the Pirelli PZero Nero M&S non-runflat tires in the SC430 size are back-ordered until December...... Originally they were due in the end of August.... Too bad... I was looking forward to some nice fall driving on these Pirellis! Maybe I'll wait... since these seemed to have the best overall ratings....

LOZ, Yes, I did have the top down when I was driving in the 90mph range... I didn't think about that when i posted my last reply... I'll try it again with the top up....

I guess in Great Britain Lexus has sold far fewer SC430, so it's not a huge deal to update tires and suspension in those few cars... They've probably sold 20,000 to 25,000 here.... and most of the SC430 customers are not ex-Corvette, or real sports car customers... so I guess we don't know any better, so that's why we're mostly very happy here in the U.S. with our SC430. This past weekend I drove my 430 with 14k miles Bridgestone run flats well past 95mph and it felt like I lost control of the car... like it was gonna take off in the air or something... just couldn't feel the road....it was a scary feeling so I slowed down... I remember the steering in my 96 & 98 SC400 really tightend up at high speed.... I don't know if the way the SC430 drives at very high speed is the car or the tires... I'll let everyone know after I get my Pirelli PZero Nero M&S non-runflat tires....

PSC, A good place for the cell phone when driving the SC430 that works for me... mine is a small Nokia in the Nokia protective cover... On your drivers door, mine fits nicely and snugley through the leather padded door handle - that's the handle that you use to pull to close the door when you're inside the car... otherwise thanks for comments and thoughts... keep them coming... because I hope my next car will be another SC430 with everything on our wish lists.... especially including a couple more inches of leg room and more reclined back seats... I still think the back seat is a very good to have for emergency for a third person, maybe fourth, and storage. I've never been comfortable driving a car without some space behind me, either for storage or seats... I guess I'm not a race car driver... Also definitely more trunk space when top is down to better accomodate a spare,etc... I have thoght about re-designing this car for more leg space, but the reason Lexus couldn't do it is because, they'd not only have to make the top roof panel 3 to 4 inches longer, then in turn they'd have to make the trunk length 3 to 4 inches longer to accomodate the hard roof..... making the car 8" longer.... i don't know how that would look? Now if the metal roof top had a discreet seemless fold in the middle....... that would open up much more & better design possibilities!!! Just ordered my Pirelli Pzero Nero M&S tires... I'm really looking forward to dumping the run flats!!!

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... I hope Lexus SC430 designers read this stuff.... 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 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... 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! Also, according to Edmunds SC430 owner reviews 95% of american SC430 owners are very happy with their cars....

dusi, thanks I've been leaning to PZero.... I've decided I'm going for the Pirelli... Sounds like the 18" size is realtively new, and I have to wait for a special order.... I'll let everyone know how they do on my SC430 in a few weeks! oeo

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...

I have a 2002 SC430. The run-flats are fair to the first 5K miles... After that they get very noisey, lose grip, and handling... I have run flats and I'm getting rid of them....

thanks for the warm welcome Supra, I really do enjoy my SC430... Looks even better with the new 5 spoke wheel covers I just picked up at my Lexus dealer last week! I'll change to Michelin non-flat tires soon! oeo

ColinBarber, Thanks for the reply and suggestion. I will test drive a 2003 or 2004 SC430 and ask about the changed suspension bushing/settings and if available for the 2002 model. I definitely will switch to Michelin non Run Flat tires.... if I decide to keep this car. That'll depend on how Lexus responds to my requests. I have read here that in Great Britain Lexus is updating tires and suspension. So that tells me Lexus knows the 2002 SC430 suspension isn't quite right and can be improved, not to mention the bad run flat tire idea.... thanks again, oeo

Mine is a 2002 dark green SC430! Always looks best clean and shiny! Over 2 years old with 14K miles. By far the best car I have ever owned. The ride, tire noise level, and tire grip have gotten a lot worse as the tires have worn...however the ride and handling has never been that great even when the car was new. The car has a heavy feel to it, kind of drives like a very nice big car...although it's 2+2 and looks like it should drive like something between a roadster and very, very nice cruizer.... My Lexus dealer now recommends non-run flat Michelin Pilot Sport AS and a tire repair kit, however they don't know anything about an upgraded suspension??? Does anyone know if Lexus is only making both suspension and tire change available only in the UK and Europe? Has anyone in the states changed the suspension and changed to non-flat tires at a US Lexus dealer and is that a lot better? I'm thinking about either upgrading and customizing my SC430 or just selling it while it has some decent value and buying a new 911 Carrera 4 Cabriolet, Mercedes SL500 or something like that... however the Lexus SC430 is a far better value, especially if I can improve the ride feel and handling.... I wish Lexus would recognize they need to do something to make their SC430 owners happy. I had 96 SC400 and a 98 SC400 that hadled much better than the SC430. Not sure if I'm going to remain a Lexus customer right now... Of course there are so many things I like better in the SC430... technology, luxury, nav system, wow factor, automatic hardtop convertible, very high quality, etc, etc, etc. I think Lexus put so much focus and effort on the looks, convertible, engine, luxury, runflat tire convenience but the handling, no spare tire and ride became secondary... Any thoughts about this topic from other SC430 owners?