Uneven Tread Wear - LX's

[TG1]

I'm in the market and have been looking at quite a few LX's (mostly virtually via Lexus Service Records). Most recently it's been 2016 and 2017's. What I'm noticing a lot is uneven tread wear especially wearing thin on the inner third of the tire. Also many alignments trying to correct the issue without luck in many cases.

Am I just running into 'the few' or is this an issue with 'the many'?

Thanks!

 

[grinchy]

Not on my 2009.

 

[CharlieS]

I've always wondered how alignment works on variable height vehicles. If you set the alignment in low and drive a lot in high, isn't your alignment (especially camber) different while driving? I could see that leading to uneven tire wear.

 

[Tex68w]

We just traded in our 2019 and it needed an alignment at 16K miles. I thought this was odd but the wear on the front tires indicted/confirmed it. I am certain it has something to do with AHC, possibly using the low entry/exit mode?!

 

[04UZJ100]

Same thing on our LX. Must be religious with tire rotations.

The alignment is changed when it’s lowered on the highway.

 

[Tex68w]

We rotated every 5,000 miles as I do on all of our vehicles but I am convinced that the AHC trucks should probably get rotated more often. Maybe go back to the old 3,000 mile service for the LX?

 

[TG1]

Not on my 2009.

Thanks.

 

[TG1]

I've always wondered how alignment works on variable height vehicles. If you set the alignment in low and drive a lot in high, isn't your alignment (especially camber) different while driving? I could see that leading to uneven tire wear.

I had never even considered the variable height to be a characteristic causing it. Great scoop! That’s why this site and the folks who participate are so valuable to folks like me! Thank you!

 

[TG1]

We just traded in our 2019 and it needed an alignment at 16K miles. I thought this was odd but the wear on the front tires indicted/confirmed it. I am certain it has something to do with AHC, possibly using the low entry/exit mode?!

Yeh this is becoming more clear now. I have seen people getting alignments even more frequently trying to fix the uneven inside tire wear and when they can’t they’re replacing tires at mileage way lower than they should be. Thanks.

 

[TG1]

Same thing on our LX. Must be religious with tire rotations.

The alignment is changed when it’s lowered on the highway.

And that would probably make sense on Inside edge wear right??

 

[grinchy]

Thanks.

I do rotate my tires frequently. . .
I have one additional anecdote - I bought some Duratracs well used. They had 2/32nd of wear different inside to outside edge. I remounted them all to have the 'high side' out. Drove for a few thousand miles and they were about flat when I took them off. So if anything that alignment was doing the opposite of what you're seeing.
New tires, new alignment, flat across - over 12,000 miles I think it's been.

It could be alignments happening in 'L' because owners and shops don't know how to keep the suspension in 'N' for the work?

 

[TG1]

We rotated every 5,000 miles as I do on all of our vehicles but I am convinced that the AHC trucks should probably get rotated more often. Maybe go back to the old 3,000 mile service for the LX?

Great idea. What rotation pattern does the LC recommend ... front to back, or X pattern or something else? I would think side to side would make sense given the inside edge issue?

 

[04UZJ100]

And that would probably make sense on Inside edge wear right??

Yes. More camber and toe in. Slight but present.

 

[Tex68w]

IDK, we owned our LX since new, it was serviced religiously at the dealer. Tires were BFG KO2's which were installed with less than 1,000 miles on the clock, they were rotated every 5,000 miles and air pressures were meticulously maintained. The alignment was done at the dealer and was clearly needed both from the table readings and visually due to tire wear. Our LX was driven mostly on the highway and rarely did it see High mode but it was in Low mode often for the entry/exit option. There's no reason why it should have needed an alignment so soon and the AHC is the only culprit I can think of.

 

[grinchy]

It would be interesting to have the truck on the table and print the alignment readings for H, N, and L.

 

[TG1]

I do rotate my tires frequently. . .
I have one additional anecdote - I bought some Duratracs well used. They had 2/32nd of wear different inside to outside edge. I remounted them all to have the 'high side' out. Drove for a few thousand miles and they were about flat when I took them off. So if anything that alignment was doing the opposite of what you're seeing.
New tires, new alignment, flat across - over 12,000 miles I think it's been.

It could be alignments happening in 'L' because owners and shops don't know how to keep the suspension in 'N' for the work?

Was the low side originally the inner side? Does the suspension release into L mode when it goes up on a lift or do they typically stay on the setting they were at prior to being lifted?

 

[Tex68w]

Suspension should stay in Normal mode unless switched. There's a lock out feature as well to keep it set in whatever height you prefer.

 

[grinchy]

I always turn AHC off when I give keys to a mechanic.
If Kneel mode is on, it could kneel on them when they're under, which probably own't kill any one, but would get their attention.

I'm skeptical that a bunch of LX are getting aligned in L mode. It seems more likely aggressive toe setting so people don't complain about tracking.

There is also the real contributor that there aren't that many grizzled alignment veterans around anymore . . . I asked around the local area for a couple months before settling on a shop. And the alignment took over an hour. . . and it's held perfect for over a year with several hundred miles offroad.

 

[TeCKis300]

There's no systemic issue with alignment on the LX nor AHC. Tire wear is down to the specific vehicle examples, and potential use or misalignment.

In my experience, the LX holds solid alignment. It has giant bushings and control arms capable of heavy duty use while still keeping great alignment. If there's a wear issue, do what every other vehicle owner does and get the alignment checked out. Toe is the major contributor. Far more than camber.

AHC does not cause or create wear. It always returns to normal height at speed where wear can become significant. It's mile lowering at freeway speeds won't change alignment appreciably - because well designed suspensions have very little tow steer in the optimal part of the suspension stroke. Which is why even as modified as my rig is, I keep the neutral heights close to factory.

In my experience with tires, at least AT tires, they last so much longer than I need or want them to. I don't need 80k out of a set. At 50k with my Falken AT3Ws, they had tremendous and even tread left.

 

[joyRidaz]

Just got my LX back from my wife after several years of stop and go kid hauling, city driving. I quickly noticed uneven tire wear and some minor jiggling(very light shake) at highway speeds. Stock tires/rims.

tires are a couple yrs old with about 25k on them, shame on us, they hadn’t been rotated…

front tires were severely worn on the outer edges but insides were good, and the rears had slight wear on the insides but the outer side was almost brand new.

was considering going to have Lexus do an alignment due to familiarity (hopefully) to ahc. I am due to flush my ahc fluid.

I assume it’s just a bad alignment (toe). Is there a chance that my neglected AHC (fluid old hovering around 60-70k miles) system could be contributing?

secondly is the Lexus dealer recommended (ahc familiarity) for an alignment or is a specialized shop better?