Nice. Keep us updated. I'll get my new 2 on Wednesday and I'm taking a 600 mile round trip this weekend. I'll report back as well.

 

Apparently I have the worst luck on the planet. I got the new 2 tires is, but I still have something wrong. Between 70-80 i still get a shake. All 4 tires road forced balanced. I plan to contact Tire Rack and see if I can return all of them and get the Pirellis. This is ridiculous.

 

I'm seeing this just now, so I'm chiming in a bit late, but FWIW...

Indeed, the road force variation (RFV) number is the most accurate and consistent way to identify a bad tire (and to "quantify" the magnitude of the problem). The LS460 is particularly sensitive, with Lexus having an unofficial** specification of 10 lbs or less (note that Hunter's broad standard for passenger cars is 25 lbs).

I have purchased non-Michelin tires four times in the last decade: Bridgestones once (Potenza Pole Positions for our GS350) and Continentals the other three. The Bridgestones were good. Continentals have - every time - had road force problems, last time around on the LX570, which is less sensitive than LS, yet was driving like crap with the Continentals.

My solution has, every time, entailed going back to Michelin. Each time, barring the occasional bad tire, the tire/wheel assembly has been easily brought to proper RFV specs for a nice, smooth ride.

Bottom line, personally, I will never touch Continentals again. I would, however, consider other options (like the Pirellis Steve just got - and, incidentally, I meant to ask about the resulting RFV numbers, if available).

I have little doubt that TireRack will take care of you. Please keep us posted.

_____________________
**This spec. appears in the driveline vibration TSIB for LS460, dating back several years. First test is to check RFV and ensure it is no greater than 10 lbs.

 

I don't see any RFV figures on my invoice unfortunately.

 

This is why I only road-force balance tires, now. It's very easy to detect a bad tire, a bent wheel, ensures the smoothest ride, rules out issues with wheels, etc. And you're less likely to get a wheel with 2.5-3oz of weights on it because the tech is lazy.
Finally, make sure that the techs use a wire brush to clean any corrosion off of the rotor and wheel mating surfaces.

 

I know one tire was 5 and the other 11. I don't remember what the two new ones were. Either way I just want out of these tires. If it occurred at 120mph I wouldn't care but 70-80 is right where I drive and it's driving me insane. I didn't know that about the unofficial Lexus numbers. Thank you. I emailed Tire Rack yesterday but plan on calling Monday morning.

 

If you have the desire, ask to watch them do the work. It puts the pressure on them to do it right, especially to get those road-force balance numbers to what you want.

 

I too have had problems like this. I purchased a CPO 2009 a year ago with MIchelin Pilot Sport tires on it (used). Had a vibration at 70 - 80 like you. Lexus dealer road force balanced twice but vibration did not go away. Said the tire(s) must be bad. Put on 4 brand new Michelins (Pilot Sport). Vibration still there. Checked lots of other things like drive shaft, etc with no luck. Local Lexus dealer talked to regional Lexus service and they said 460 suspension is very sensitive and Lexus has had issues with Michelins lately. They took the Michelin's off and put on OEM Bridgestone Turanza EL42's. Problem solved.

Previously, I owned a 2007 LS460 and ran Michelin Primacy tires with no issues. I have friends with 460's who have had similar balancing issues. I am not sure if the Bridgestone's are a better tire or we finally got a set that could balance easily. In the future, I will be sure to get tires at a shop with a very good balancing system that will stand behind the tires since it appears 460's are susceptible to tire vibration issues.

 

I think the LS460 is more sensitive to tire issues because of the overall smoothness of the driveline. Similar to how lowering a swamp makes the stumps visible (the stumps in this case being tire balance and runout). On other vehicles, these things would be buried in the myriad of other noises and vibrations. I notice this when I drive cars built to lesser engineering standards.

 

Well I got a call from Tire Rack at 9:21 this morning. Since they have been so great to me, I am going to drive 2hrs each way to return these and pick up my Pirellis. (That and I hate these tires that much)

I'll pick up my Pirellis and have them mounted local to the store and return these continentals.

Best customer service ever. I have never dealt with a company that has made absolutely every aspect of dealing with them so easy.

 

Thats great!

 

Just got the Pirelli's mounted. One of them is a 28 on the Road Force balance which is technically more than allowed, but at this point I am so frustrated with this entire experience and tired of it I may just leave it. I only drove it a short distance home, but I can say these tires are a million times more comfortable than the Continentals. They have much more of a floaty feel which I was looking for. I still experienced a slight shimmy at 70 but I am so sick of this entire experience, I'm not dealing with it right now.

I still have to send back these 4 Continentals, and am still waiting to be reimbursed for them plus the balancing and mounting that they are covering. Right now I have almost $2k tied up in tires. I just think I have no luck at all.

 

28? That's ridiculous.

 

One of the original Continentals was 39

 

I wouldn't accept anything over 15. They need to make sure the mating surfaces are clean and they need to check runout of the wheels