I have an 08 GS350 with 18" spyder wheels. The car drove great for the first 28K miles on fairly low profile and somewhat aggressive Dunlop SP tires. I was told that my oem tires had lasted longer than many others.

I replaced them with same sized Michelin's. Immediately, the car began to pull hard to the right. However, I did not immediately take it back to the tire shop. I looked around for someone good to align it, since the tire shop is old and very low tech. After about 2000 miles, it needed a dealer required visit, so I had them align it. They claimed it was way out of spec and that it was still pulling to the right after their alignment but it would eventually resolve itself.

Does this sound reasonable? I am skeptical as the car drove perfectly before replacing the tires, and since I am the only driver, I know it hasn't hit anything.

 

getting tires replaced wont throw off your alignment. if anything it might ride funny if they didnt properly balance the tires.

 

What tires.. A/S sport plus by chance?

 

BTW, i'm going through the same thing. Mine is light drift to the right.
6 tires and no change. Just spent a lot of time at the dealer and tire place. Please tell me they are the same tires.

BTW, only toe is adjustable on this car. Don't think that will make the car pull unless the rear toe is way out..

If the tires are worn bad from a bad align, it may track odd.

 

I've been having the slight-right pulling issue since the dealership did the 3 recalls on my car. (fuel rails, rear calipers, and steering rack) They said it was my tires but it was never doing that before and I notice when I drive I have the steering wheel slightly to the left to make the car go str8.. Freakn weird

 

^^

OMG Me too. Only difference is I got new tires at the same time.
However they just hosed my wheel... now if i hold it straight, the car goes left.
I

If it is the tires, try moving the LF to the RF. If it is directional, only do it as a test. If the drift changes, then you know it is the tires.

 

My GS pulled to the left after the service campaign. I took it to my tire shop and they did a 4 wheel alignment. They showed me the pre specs and it was out. When I took the printout to my dealership, they admitted the car should not have gone out the door. They only did a two wheel front alignment as called for in the campaign but should have done a four wheel.
Take it back and have them to a four wheel or take it to a tire specialty shop.

steviej

 

No it does not sound reasonable. Did they say how long it should take to resolve?

Swap the tires from side to side if they are not directional tires. If the pull goes to the left side, then it is a tire issue. If the pull stays to the right it is an alignment issue. It wasn't there before, it shouldn't be there afterwards if the tires are true and a four wheel alignment is done properly.

Just out of curiosity, where the new tires road force balanced or just regular balanced?

steviej.

 

daepp, What Michelin's did you put on your car?

 

Yes, it can. Especially if the tires are defective. It has happened to me before. If you had the car realigned and still have the issue it is the tires.

 

I experienced drifting almost immediately when I purchased my "06 in Feb. '06. I had alignments performed 4 times within 1 yr of ownership & had uneven wear at 1 year. Lexus District Mgr inspected entire suspension system & tires while visiting a nearby Lexus dealership & concluded I was sold a bad set of OEM run flat Dunlops that the dealer sold to me off a GS430...I guess from sitting at dock/car lot since October '05 'til I bought it in Feb. 06. Lexus gave me a new set of Dunlop run-flats in June '07 & drifting (disconnect feeling between steering wheels & where you pointing the car) feeling has been gone ever since. In fact, have not had to perform alignment until dealership performed those 3 recalls mentioned above earlier this month. After that service, I began noticing a scrubbing noise at low speeds, when driving along side a car or wall (like a drive thru). Dealer thought it was high spots on rotors which they machined, but its still there. They concluded it is noise from runflat tires that sounds differently at high/normal driving speeds (which we are all familiar with). They claim at slow speeds (sub 5 mph), the tires sound as if something is scrubbing. I hope they are right, but at least its documented & I got factory warranty remaining 'til Feb. 2010...I'll continue to monitor it.