My 2003 Lexus GS430 eats tires, especially the left rear tires. I have had three of them blow out in less than 3 years. I'm on my third set of tires in that same amount of time. I buy higher end V rated tires. After the first two blow outs I replaced the wheels with new Lexus wheels. I rotate them at every oil change. I've had it at a dealership and two local mechanic shops and no one can find anything wrong with the suspension. Does any one else have this problem? Any suggestions?

 

What are your alignment specs / readings?

 

I don’t know the numbers, but the Lexus dealership tells me the alignment is exactly what it should be. Also, the tires are not showing any signs of uneven wear.

 

If your alignment is in spec (I wouldn't take anyone's word for it if I were losing a tire per year - get it aligned and request the spec sheet) then either you have some defective tires (unlikely), or your tire pressures are way out of whack. Are you noticing strange wear pattern on the tread with any of these tires? Losing front and rear tires or only one end or the other?

 

what tires have you been using?

 

I'd like to know what tires you are using, and how many miles you estimate you are getting out of them. Needless to say, you are not on a modified suspension correct? Lowered?Wheels aren't excessively negative cambered? The rear has swivel joints called "knuckle bushings" that can be very hard to make move in an inspection and are often overlooked. They do wear out and can cause looseness and noise in some cases. Might be a possible culprit. I wish you could post a pic of the wear that was happening to them. Would be nice to see if the issue involves cupping, feathering, inside/outside only wear, etc. The tread-ware rating of the tires you are using would be interesting to see. In a lot of cases we have customers that feel the same way, like their car is eating tires. But they get 30,000 plus miles out of them. They just put that 30,000 on in a short time with lot's of driving. Especially our uber/lyft drivers.

 

check your actual alignment specs have them give you a printout my money is on the rear camber since that bolt always was seized on every gs I’ve owned. Only on the driver side. Strange.

 

Curious if you think the knuckle bushing should move or not. My mechanic said it’s supposed to move it’s a ball joint. My left rear knuckle. When we were doing the camber bolt and lower arm the other day I noticed it had play he said it’s normal.

 

They swivel to react to suspension movements, but they do wear out and should not have movement when you push/pull on the wheel etc. They will feel like a loose wheel bearing or ball joint. If you can move them, they are worn out. They are a solid joint. They swivel but hold firm in their movement if that makes sense.

 

yea that sounds about right the wheel was off when I moved it so it was normal then. Thanks man!

 

What air pressure and what size/ brand of tire are you running