The 2000 "Platinum Series" LS400 I bought in 2003 came with the same wheels that were standard on the 2001 LS430 and OEM on some 2002 LS430's.

None of several shops (including one Lexus dealer) that have balanced the wheels have used the correct rim weights. All have used rim weights that their charts say should fit all LS cars from 1990 through 2002 but the weights do not fit flush with the wheel face and do not match the unusual factory rim weights on my spare wheel. Everyone has been puzzled about why their rim weights do not fit even though their documention say they should.

There is not enough clearance between brake caliper and wheel to use tape weights - even the ultra thin ones.

The attached photo of an 01 LS430 wheel is from an Internet wheel seller. Its rim weight fits correctly and the rim weight style exactly matches the one on my unused spare wheel.

Has anyone else encountered this issue? Is there a particular rim weight style or "number" to ask for?

 

Thanks for the reply. The guy at the specialty wheel shop who trying using stick-on balancing weights a couple of years ago told me that moving the stick-on weights inward to clear the calipers would not give an acceptable dynamic balance. He said that static balancing was the only alternative if I wanted him to use stick-on weights.

I will drop by the other Lexus dealer location in town to see if they have the correct hammer-on rim weights. The static balance job done last week is just not cutting it. That shop used rim weights only on the back side of the wheel so that the poorly fitting hammer-on rim weights could not be seen.

I suspect if would be different if my car had 17" wheels like your 2004 LS430 and that there would be plenty of room between the calipers and inner wheel rim for stick-on weights.

 

MeanLex was right. The south location of the local Lexus dealer was today able to do a dynamic balance and move the outer stick-on weights inward to clear the brake calipers while using traditional rim weights on the inside rim of the wheels. To accomplish this, an incredible number of stick-on weights were required to compensate for not being able to attach the weights further outward on the wheels.

Interestingly, at least to me, the dealer service writer had never seen seen a 2000 Platinum Series LS400 that came from the factory with 01-02 LS430 wheels.

The rim weights the dealer used today on the inside rim of the wheels do not fit correctly but at least they can not be seen. I was told that the factory rim wheel weights are not available in the U.S. -- a bit hard to believe.

The bottom line is that there is absolutely no steering wheel vibration at highway speeds - very nice at last. Thanks MeanLex.