DEREKC

Ok, got the new LS430 in Sept 04. I have been driving it locally for the first 500 miles. I felt the pulling already but I thought it was the uneven local road. I put on some new 20" rims and toyo tires (and sold my factory ones) when odometer read about 600 and since then I have started driving on freeways. It pulls to the right constantly and I have to keep my left hand on the steering wheel. It pulls even on the roads that I know is level (as my 2000 GS goes straight on them without pulling.)

I took it to the dealer for 1000 miles service and at the same time report to them this pulling problem. They immediately said it is the aftermarket rims+tires and they said they would do the aligment for me.

Next day I picked it up. On the paper they said out of alignment found and corrected and no mention of aftermarket rims+tires (so that they can collect charge from Lexus headquarters I think). I test drove it and found no improvement. Decided to try it out on freeway so I left.

Yeap, it made no difference. Maybe it is really because of the aftermarket rims+tires OR maybe this car was off alignment from the factory. Afterall, I did noticed the pulling BEFORE I changed the rims+tires.

So today I had Big-O done a balancing on the wheels and rotated the two front with the two rear. And it is still pulling to the right.

Now I don't know what to do. I don't have the factory wheels to put back on (they were sold) to duplicate the problem and eliminate aftermarket rims+tires problem AND I strongly suspect it needs an alignment (even at 1100 miles ??!!). Should I take it to a tire shop to do the alignment OR take it to another Lexus dealership to ask them to do the alignment?

Oh, the new rims+tires are ASA RT8 20" from tirerack.com and toyo proxy4 255/35-20. It is definitely wider and about 3% more in overall diameter. Does that really make the car pull?

houstonnw

Just a guess, but maybe the wider wheels and tires make the car follow the crown of the road more. I don't think that any road is level, otherwise the rainwater wouldn't drain very well.

You might try finding an empty two-lane road and move over to the wrong side. The slant should be the other way and the car should pull to the left.

I've thought my car needed an alignment in the past and it was simply a crosswind that I hadn't noticed. I'm really sensitive to the car pulling also.

DEREKC

The main road outside my house is considered straight and level as my other car 2000 GS300 run straight on it all the way without me touching the steeling wheel. It has 245 in the front and 275 in the read. But the LS430 just pulls to the right. If it is the wider and bigger tires making my LS430 pulling, then it must be something on this LS making it VERY sensitive to the road with wider bigger tires.

I believe I will take it to a tire shop for them to check the alignment.

usermel

Whenever i get 18"-20"inch wheels i have to get the ailingment done. Bigger wheels act differently on different cars. I had the same problem with my LS430 with 19"inch wheels on it. I went from 16"inch wheels to 19"inch and right after that noticed a pulling. Also the bigger wheels react more to the curves and shapes of the road more than the smaller ones. Also if the don't balance and rotate tires correctly it can cause this. But mostly when changing wheel size you notice things like your going threw more often. Don't worry it's nothing wrong with the LS, you will find out by checking thins out further and maybe someone else who reads your thread can better tell you the exact problem. Good Luck and don't worry nothings wrong with your car its just the change in wheel sizes. LOVE GOD NOT MONEY.