LenT

The Xenarc Night Breaker Laser is the latest and brightest Osram xenon light. Check out the Xenarc range at osram.com

https://www.autobulbsdirect.co.uk/d4s-osram-night-breaker-laser-xenarc-next-generation.html This is where I got mine from. £110 a pair. And Osram claims them to be the brightest Xenon bulbs in the world!! (Road legal, I presume that is.)

I had the same problem with my IS250. Originally I’d chosen Michelin Cross Climates, but Michelin don’t do them in both sizes. Fortunately Goodyear had just launched the Goodyear Eagle F1 Asymmetric 5 which tested very well, so I bought a set of them. Wet weather performance is certainly on a par with the Cross Climates on our 4x4 and noise levels and ride comfort are superior to the original tyres on the Lexus. Dry road performance is also well rated. So I’m very pleased with the choice. Rim protection might ward off the occasional kiss, but anything more passionate will mark the alloy rim, much like most tyres. So I fitted a set of Alloy Gators which directly cover the wheel rim and prevent any contact. I hope this helps.

Especially when they’re hidden under snow, as I discovered! Our local Chips Away guy did a splendid repair job on BOTH occasions, but I decided that prevention would be a lot cheaper than cure. So I had a set of Alloy Gaytor rim protectors fitted. I chose black so that they blend in with the tyre and are pretty hard to spot. Now the worse that has happened Is a scuffed plastic strip that is considerably cheaper to deal with than an alloy repair.

I don’t know if you’ve done the deed yet, but I’ve just replaced the HID main/dips on my IS250 with the new D4S Osram Xenarc Night Breaker Next Generation (!) bulbs. I think they’re a significant improvement and well worth the investment. Driving around our narrow, potholed country lanes is now a much more comfortable experience. Previously I would even put the fog lights on to get a better view of the near side verge. The new bulbs now provide a much better defined and brighter light just on dip. Main beam is similarly improved. If you want to be sure about sourcing them, the Osram site lists their distribution partners. I used Autobulbsdirect and their service was excellent. I hope this is useful.

I have just replaced the original main/dip bulbs on my IS250 with the new D4S Osram Xenarc Night Breaker. I’d always felt that the original bulbs were inferior to my previous car (Honda Accord) and had asked Lexus if they could be changed for HID bulbs - only to be told that on my model they already were, Previously I would even turn on the fog lamps to help light up the near side verges of our narrow, potholed country lanes. The new bulbs give a much brighter and better defined dipped beam which is much more comfortable to drive behind. Main is similarly improved. I feel the improvement is significant and well worth the investment.