I'm about to get a 2006 LS430 ML with 41K for 29,000 (in Chicago market). What do you guys think about the price? Also, would replacing the stock wheels with nicer ones ruin the skid control and other steering/alignment specs?

 

you would definitely want to get the new wheels balanced and have the vehicle re-aligned after changing out any wheels, its a pain but you will thank yourself later, or hate yourself if you don't.

if it was an 05 i'd say 25k but for 06 maybe 28k??

 

Thanks for the input. I have an LS 400 right now but it sucks in the snow. So if I get snow tires I would have to constantly get everything rebalanced every time I changed them out? That sounds annoying...anybody know if the LS 430 performs better in the snow using all seaons?

 

I use my 10 year old GMC posi trac for the snow. The pretty lady sits in the warmth of the garage. Wife says I baby it too much.. Like one of the guys here said, The car gets more baths than I do..

 

As I'm from Illinois also it depends. Is it a Lexus dealer car or small dealership? But $29000 sounds reasonable.

 

if you have snow tires, ideally you would want them mounted on snow wheels (rims), but it depends on how long you want to drive on them.

i had a set of 20's that i drove on for about 7-8 months a year (x5 years) (depending on where i lived at and the wintry conditions) and then i would put on my winter (stock wheels with all season thick tread tires) ones for about 4-5 months depending on weather conditions. every time i swapped them out i had the car aligned which was like 100$ or less. its only 2 times a year and for me it was well worth the cost to know that my car was perfectly aligned and what not. i also had the 20's balanced each year when i first put them on in march or april. i am very picky about wheel & steering wheel vibrations, and a set of 20's will cause lots of problems for most and none for others. good luck!!

 

I only align a car if I change the ride height, not just because I change wheels, and I've never had any problems doing it this way. Contrary to what the shops selling you an alignment would like you to believe, there is no need to align a car unless something has worn out or you've hit some bad potholes or something to screw up the alignment. I've had vehicles that were never aligned in 60K-80K miles and they still drove perfectly, wore the tires evenly, etc., showing no signs of needing an alignment.

 

Thanks for the input.

 

well i did have some super heavy chrome lowenhart 20's with like 30 series tires up front and 25 series in the back and i hit many a pothole.

 

Lamar411-it's a small dealership...he gave me 26700 out the door which included a 3200 trade in for a 95 ls 400.

 

LOL That'd be rough on stuff.