markpaco

When I first got my RX I would always lower the suspension when I would drive it. Then I noticed that the tires had some camber wear everywhere but it was more pronounced on the driver side. I regularly rotated the tires every 5k miles but the wear continued. I took it in during a warranty service (a-pillar garnishes rubbed against the tweeter grilles causing the coating to peel away, driver side headlight had excessive condensation during rains/car washes, driver/pass vanity mirrors difficult to open) but they said that the alignment would only be honored up to 20k miles or 12 months which I was over. I figured that I would no longer lower the car when driving it and would monitor the wear. So today, during my '25 month/30k mile service', I inspected the wear and it seems to be continuing even though I no longer lower the car. I was wondering if anyone has problems with excessive camber wear on their tires. Attached are some pics

markpaco

Here is a pic of the passenger tire

markpaco

Here is a pic of the driver side.

My3rdRX

I too have a 04 RX330 with the Performance Package and have just about 30,000 miles on it. I ALWAYS lower the suspension whenever I'm on the open road and don't have nearly as much uneven wear as you show in your pics. I'm not sure what caused yours!

Booyah

That is definantly not right for sure! DID you get the alignment done? If not I would go ask again if they would honor you a one time good faith for an alignment cause thats isnt right---if they say no I would still get it done.

You do know that the car lowers itself when you get over 62 MPH right! But if you lower it youself it does get a hair lower--its in the book at exactly how much lower.

Mine only has 8K on it and I lower it immediatly when I crank her up all the time, so you lowering it ias not the cause

Larry96815

Is there a way to program the Performance Package so the low setting is the defualt on start up?

Aloha,
Larry

markpaco

No, I inquired about this when I first purchased the car. The CBEST settings don't offer that option.

Booyah

There is a programmer put there that allows you to do whatever with the suspension lowering. You can also lower it MORE than stock. I just cannot remember who had the programmer??? I dont know of anyone installing it either

Lil4X

I wouldn't think that running in the "low" position would have such a dramatic effect on the tires - the suspension geometry should not change the camber sufficiently to produce that kind of wear.

Check the surface of the tire to be sure you aren't developing "fins", or scuffing of the tread blocks that shows up as a kind of "stairstep" wear pattern as the inside of each block is worn slightly more that the outside.

As a guess, I'd say you may have a toe-out condition that is causing that abnormal wear on the inside of the tires. Get a good 4-wheel alignment done - with the vehicle at the ride height you normally drive.

LophatRX

I have an 04, RX, that I just took into the dealer for 25k service, and I was told the tires were severly cupped. I haven't seen it yet, but I remember this post. I too have the air suspension, and I lower it mostly when I go on the freeway, normal driving I don't usually, unless to show off , but anyway. I wonder if it is the make of tire that could be the problem. The dealer suggested switching to Michellin tires which are roughly $200 a tire, then also get the 4 wheel alignment. Anyways, just thought I'd throw my experience in.

markpaco

I have the Goodyear RS-As on my car. I understand that the car could also be equipped with Michelin MXV4 S8s. Those are the tires that I ended up ordering to replace the Goodyears. I actually refused to buy Michelin because of the F1 fiasco but they were cheap at Costco. If you plan on getting new tires, now is a good time. Costco has them for $174 each with a $60 rebate if you buy all 4. That includes installation, shipping, disposal fee, and the hazard warranty. The rebate ends at the end of the month but it is cheaper than tire rack because it includes shipping, installation, and the road hazard warranty.

LophatRX

So I was looking at the Tire Rack, and I saw they had a new by Yokohama, called the Advan S.T., which the tire rack sells for 162.00 with about 46 dollar shipping fee. But they don't have any warranty through tire rack. Has anyone used the Tire Rack for buying tires? I like the thought of these tires, because this vehicle is used mostly on the freeway and higher speeds.

tkrussell

What are the stock alignment specs on the RX 330?
I presume they are the same for FWD and AWD.
Also presume they are the same for Air Suspension, and set at the "Normal" ride height.

Anyone know the answers?
Thanks