Lexus GS 450h Tire/Wheel Questions

I have the runflats on my GS450h and have had no problems. They are somewhat rougher and noisier but one gets used to them. Except for size BMW uses the same tires. THe hybrid has a 50-50 weight distribution and a lower center of gravity so it handles and corners exceptionally well.

#6 of 13 Run flats.. by jlo_one

Apr 13, 2007 (7:40 am)

Hi,
I was told that there is no room for a spare tire so that is why they use the "run flats." You have no need for a spare tire.

dunno

Replies to this message:

bmwconvert (Apr 16, 2007 10:23 am)

#7 of 13 Re: Run flats.. [jlo_one] by bmwconvert

Apr 16, 2007 (10:23 am)

Replying to: jlo_one (Apr 13, 2007 7:40 am)

There's room for a donut spare but not a full size one. Mine came with one. I think the determinant is whether they need the space for some optional electronics (stability/handling package or something?).

#8 of 13 pre-collision and active stabilization options by cbonetto

Apr 19, 2007 (8:17 am)

I am trying to decide on buying a GS450h with or without the (pricey) pre-collision and active stabilization options. Are they worth it? does anyone have experience with both versions of the car.

#9 of 13 Runflats by tricky73

May 05, 2007 (6:52 am)

My 450h was delivered with Bridgestone (summer) runflats. In trying to learn what is inside the carcass, apparently there are 3 or 4 different approaches...tire within a tire, gummy stuff that plugs the hole, extra stiff sidewalls, etc. The only information I can find on my tires is the Firestone/Bridgestone phamplet included with owners manuals which implies they use the gummy stuff. Going to their link there is no mention of the gummy stuff trademark...they don't even list the tire that is on the car. The Lexus dealership is no help...anybody have a clue? The only comments I can find in talking with some tire dealers is they are very expensive and must be special ordered.

#10 of 13 Brake Dust Wheel covers by salsags450h

Jan 21, 2007 (4:53 pm)

I just picked up my 2007 GS 450h and the front wheels generate a lot of brake dust. Kleen Wheels does not have a brake dust cover designed for the GS hybrid. Do you know of a manufacturer that makes a brake dust cover?

#11 of 13 val by frivolous56

Jul 12, 2007 (10:04 am)

My 05 crossfire has the stock wheels, the front wheels always have alot of break dust on them. Would different brake pads help or is this something I need to get used to.

#12 of 13 Replacement Tires - Your Experience? by drivecat

Feb 22, 2010 (10:58 am)

I recently purchased as set of Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus (Ultra High Performance All-Season) tires which are highly rated by consumers on www.tirerack.com AND by my local tires retailer. After mounting, balancing, and a 4-wheel alignment done by the Lexus dealership where I purchased my GS450h, the car pulls to the right. (Even though the alignment was more expensive at the dealership, they convinced me to have them do it because the GS450h is a performance sedan with highly technical alignment adjustments that the "joe blow" tire shop can't do.) I brought it back and had the service/alignment technician confirm the pull. Unfortunately, after tweaking the toe & camber multiple times and over 3 weeks he was not able to eliminate the drifting/pull like with the OEM tires (which cost 50% more than even these Michelins). He even got a replacement set of Michelins from the tire distributor and the pull persisted. While the service manager at the dealership is nice, he is frustrated because the alignment tech has spent so much labor time on this. He's now telling me that he believes the pulling is likely being caused by the fact the tires have a DIRECTIONAL tread pattern, which apparently the OEM tires do not have. Bottom line question: Has anyone out there replaced their tires on their GS450h with ones that they are happy with and does not pull? If so, please kindly share the brand, model, and size you selected. Thanks in advance.

Replies to this message:

capriracer (Feb 23, 2010 5:09 am)

#13 of 13 Re: Replacement Tires - Your Experience? [drivecat] by capriracer

Feb 23, 2010 (5:09 am)

Replying to: drivecat (Feb 22, 2010 10:58 am)

There's a simple test to find out if the pull is related to tires or the alignment.

Swap the front tires, left to right.

1) If the oull changes direction - just the direction, not the magnitude - then it's the tires. A tire property called "conicity" (root word "cone")

2) If the pull doesn't change, it's the alignment.

3) If the pull disappears, or substantially changes (other than just direction), it's both tires and alignment.

My experience says that the published alignment tolerances are too wide. Not the target value, but the allowable deviation from that value. I think it ought to be half of what is published.

Put another way, the alignment should be within the inner half of the spec.

You should be aware that even vehicles that do not have a pull can be out of alignment. There are settings where one out of spec condition is offset by another out of spec condition � typically camber vs toe.

Also, many alignment techs think that if the factory did not make provisions to make adjustments for the alignment, then they can�t make an adjustment and will declare the vehicle �OK�. This is totally wrong.

ALL alignment settings are adjustable, but it may require an eccentric bolt, some shims, or slotting a hole. A GOOD alignment tech will know what to do and the vehicle should leave a shop with ALL the alignment settings close to the nominal.

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