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What is this discussion about? Lexus LS 400, Lexus LS 430, Sedan

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#2032 of 2081 Re: Snow tire question [nvbanker] by bobloveslexus Sep 01, 2006 (4:24 am)
Replying to: nvbanker (Aug 31, 2006 9:27 pm) For comlete technical data on SIPING tests, visit http://www.sipers.com/sipers/siping_tests.asp.   According to the literature, "The tread surface on your tire is made up of many smaller surfaces known as 'tread blocks'. These surfaces are especially important when it comes to icy or wet road conditions. The Tread Blocks get their grippping power not from their many smooth surfaces but from the even more numerous sharp surrounding edges. SIPING improves the job started by your tire manufactuerer by providing more of these gripping surfaces. SIPING is done by placing your tires (new or used) on a specially designed machine that rotates your tires while making small vitually invisible 90 degree cuts in your tread. Don't be alarmed. Although the process is actually cutting your tread, it doesn't harm your tire in any way, it improves on it. Only under very close inspection can the SIPES even be seen, and you're more likely to tell by your improved driving experience than by visual inspection. SIPING gives your tires a Micro-Flexibility, reducing the wear on your tires' carcasses and sidewalls. This effect not only inceases tire life but will result in a smoother ride. To SIPE in mass production after the molding process would be too expensive and time consuming for the manufacturer. A molded SIPE (becoming more popular) would leave vacant gapss in the tread. Siping creates edges without gaps. Repeated tests proved that SIPING increased starting, stopping and driving traction by as much as 200%." Hope this helps. I don't work for Discount Tire. I am retired from 40 years at Ford, VW, Porsche, and Audi. Sincerely, Bob Replies to this message: nvbanker (Sep 01, 2006 4:24 pm) bobloveslexus (Sep 01, 2006 4:37 pm)
#2033 of 2081 Re: lxusrules [bobloveslexus] by n16uel Sep 01, 2006 (7:56 am)
Replying to: bobloveslexus (Aug 29, 2006 10:33 am) Bob: Shortly after buying a 1991 LS400 in 2002 I removed its noisy 15-inch Pirellis and put on four MXV4s on 16-inch 2002 LS430 rims. I had run four MXV4s for 100,000 miles on a 93 Camry V6, and they still had about a third of the tread remaining after 100K when I sold the car. On the LS400 the Michelins provided a much quieter and surer ride, but they weren't as durable on the heavier Lexus as they had been on the Camry. Recently bought a 2002 LS430 that came with some aging Coopers. Again, I replaced them with MXV4s and am getting a quiet, sure-footed ride and about 27 mpg on a long run. My advice: you won't go wrong with the Michelins. I should add that I put some cheap snow tires on the old 15-inch rims for New Jersey winters, and the LS400 ran fine in snow. I guess for the LS430 I will put some Blizzaks on some 16-inch rims. Replies to this message: bobloveslexus (Sep 01, 2006 2:28 pm) n16uel (Sep 01, 2006 3:34 pm)
#2034 of 2081 Re: lxusrules [n16uel] by bobloveslexus Sep 01, 2006 (2:28 pm)
Replying to: n16uel (Sep 01, 2006 7:56 am) Thx for the info. Re the durability of the MSV4s on the LS400, I was wondering the speed rating you had. I understand H is less than V which is less than Z. H is rated to 130 mph. Evidently as the speed rating goes up, so does the sidewall stiffness. For that reason, I will probably go with the V rating. I admire your 27mpg. I haven't had it on a road trip. Today, for the first time, I broke the 18mpg number driving at 50mph on an X-way. The car is so darn responsive it rose to 80mph in a few seconds. I am enjoying this car much more than I did my '86 911. Of course, at age 70 I don't have the need to run a car through its paces at redlights. So, what was the speed rating on your Camry tires?   bob Replies to this message: n16uel (Sep 01, 2006 3:34 pm)
#2035 of 2081 Re: lxusrules [bobloveslexus] by n16uel Sep 01, 2006 (3:34 pm)
Replying to: bobloveslexus (Sep 01, 2006 2:28 pm) Bob: That's a good question, and one that I can't remember the answer to. If I can dig up any record of the exact tire spec on the Camry, I'll let you know. However, I would not have gone for the top speed-rated tire for the Camry. The MXV4 Plus tires I have on the 1991 LS400 are H rated. I should add that for the 2002 LS430 to get 27 mpg (which is best-case and suffers in the hills) I have kept the inflation on the MXV4s quite high at 37, a pressure that seems to be paying off in good mileage but without any signs of uneven (center-weighted) tread wear so far. Here's hoping that lasts. Side note: much as I admire everything about the LS430, I think it falls short of the old LS400 in the suspension department. From the LS430 I watched the damping on the LS400 as my son drove slightly ahead and alongside, and that 15-year-old sedan floated along on its original struts and springs as if on glass, motionless except for moving forward, its wheels gently undulating over each wart in the road. The 400 has failings (inadequate brakes in particular) that the 430 has solved, but its suspension is superb. Good luck with your 430.
#2036 of 2081 Re: Snow tire question [bobloveslexus] by nvbanker Sep 01, 2006 (4:24 pm)
Replying to: bobloveslexus (Sep 01, 2006 4:24 am) Thanks so much for your kind response. I'm amazed I have not heard of this previously, as much as I'm around cars. Or, as I have said, perhaps where I live, this isn't recommended because of the heat, or we just don't have the "latest" here... Anyway, great answer, and thanks again. Replies to this message: bobloveslexus (Sep 01, 2006 4:37 pm)
#2037 of 2081 Re: Snow tire question [nvbanker] by bobloveslexus Sep 01, 2006 (4:37 pm)
Replying to: nvbanker (Sep 01, 2006 4:24 pm) nvbanker, I felt compelled to check out why my LS400 (we bought it from a Lexus dealer two mo. ago) got a little slippery in fresh rain. I'd driven RWD cars at Ford for years. I never had one where the rear end slipped 6". The Lexus anti-skid control is super; but, I would prefer the car to stay on a straight line regardless of the rain. I think the major problem is the Cooper Trendsetter SE tires. They have five straight tracks. I know the LS400 has a lot of torque, but the correct tires should keep it from slipping if I'm not goosing it or acting crazy on a turn. Hopefully the MXV4 Plus tires will help. Even though I live outside Detroit, the car will not be driven in snow unless my wife's car ('06 Jetta)is not available. Would appreciate your's or any other reader's thoughts.   Bob
#2038 of 2081 Interesting..... by nvbanker Sep 01, 2006 (4:47 pm)
I have had 2 LS430s, an 02 and currently, an 05. I never had the 02 in inclement weather to speak of, we only have scattered mud showers here most of the time. But the other day, I was trying to back my 05 up a curb to park it. The rear wheels were up against the curb, I goosed the pedal to walk it up, and instead, it slid sideways..... Very interesting response, I thought. Tried it again, same thing. So, I made a run at it and got up.   Anyway, I think I know what you mean about the 6in. slide. I've heard that Toyota's traction control has issues before. Not likely to get me in trouble, so I'm not angry, but I'm learning.....   I also am a former Ford guy, who has migrated over to Lexus. They are amazing, as are the dealers, as you say.
#2039 of 2081 One more thing, bobloveslexus..... by nvbanker Sep 01, 2006 (4:48 pm)
The Ford of today is just not the Ford we knew, is it?
#2040 of 2081 best window cleaner? by famwald Sep 07, 2006 (9:22 am)
We've had our '05 LS for almost two years. Using Windex on the interior windshield window glass does not get it clean. I end up with streaks, etc. that do not go away. I've used linen toweling as well as microfiber cloth. We have never had this problem with other cars we have owned in the past. This is why we're stumped.   What do you use to clean the interior windows? Any tips or recommendations?
#2041 of 2081 Cleaning windows by bobloveslexus Sep 07, 2006 (1:22 pm)
I can't speak to the streaking issue; however, we once had a large cabin cruiser with laminated windows. The ammonia in Windex seaped into the laminate and caused de-laminate "staining" between the glass pieces. I don't know if Lexus uses laminated glass; if so, there are glass cleaners that do not have ammonia. Sorry I can't help with the streaking issue.   Bob Replies to this message: sail (Sep 07, 2006 4:27 pm) famwald (Sep 09, 2006 11:23 am) nvbanker (Sep 09, 2006 5:52 pm)

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