raywest

I drove 200 miles today on rough roads at 80 mph with the RFTs on, and boy the ride was rough! It was extremely harsh on many of the surfaces, harsh enough that I think I was damaging my baby SC. Could Lexus really stock those "premium" tires that can destroy the car? It would seem moronic if so. What do you all think? I know that we should replace them with regular tires, but c'mon...can't I just drive them until they're worn out?

UnSub

When I bought new tires last year, I went with run flats again. They seem fine to me. I have an 06. My brother has an 03 and his ride is very rough. Maybe someone knows why mine rides fine. Both cars are low mileage.

raywest

Mine is an 07 with 40k. Very, very rough...even at low speeds with bumps. Frustrating....

sixonemale

I had run flats not that long ago and as long as they were only inflated to PSI listed on the drivers door, which I believe is 33 PSI, they were tolerable.

cyberlexus

iTrader: (2)

Lexus did some minor changes to the suspension in 05 to compensate the rough ride of RFT

rcroller

Raywest, my '07 ride is very harsh too and I have to slow down for every little thing because if you don't you get your teeth jarred. Also have worried about damaging the car crossing RR tracks, manhole covers, etc...My rears are finally getting pretty worn so will be changing them out for non-RFTs soon. All I can say is I feel your pain...use em up and move on but be careful in the meantime.

raywest

To update, I planned on changing to normal tires after these RFTs have worn out...but surprisingly one of the tires has a bubble, which means that I needed to replace it. I guess the ride to New York and those darn potholes made a mess out of my SC! My headlights had to be readjusted also. Dealership gave me a price of $500 to replace the 1 RFT that will be unusable. I decided to go with the Bridgestone Turanza with Serenity ($1200). Will have them on soon, but heard that these are very nice tires. Will update when I put them on.

Those damn Run-flat tires. Hate them so much. That's the only thing I wish I had known before purchasing this car so I could negotiate for a better deal. Didn't know that RFTs were so bad. Didn't even think Lexus can be so mindless as to put them on the SC.

Yes

You have to consider they were chosen by Japanese engineers who are used to driving on Japanese roads. In other words, roads without potholes.

MDames2

iTrader: (1)

A couple of years ago my wife was driving her 2003 with RFT's over some railroad tracks. She was going about 15 mph. It was so jarring that it broke the left front shock tower. Fortunately, the car is CPO. So it was covered under warranty. Two days later we got rid of the run flats and put on conventional tires. The difference in the ride is night and day. I would never go back to run flats.

mandyfig

The 02~04's had stiffer suspension. The 05's and up changed. Softer ride.

raywest

Update -Bridgestone Turanza with Serenity

Just one word: ***-kicking, or two...like everyone else has said, the difference is night and day. Replace your Run-flat tires with these and the car is entirely different, but you'll still get the same compliments as always. I came in this morning and the mechanic complimented my car. When I left this evening, a bystander complimented and said "you must be a doctor, a surgeon" to own that car...I denied that I was but yet he insisted. Well...I can't keep denying so I said thank you...hahaha

Anyhow, change your RFTs!!!!

EJC

I had an '02 and followed that with an '03 SC430. The first thing I did was dump the run flats and put on high performance tires. I put the RFTs basck on when I turned in the cars.
You may have realized by now that many others have done the same.