Quick Facts:
- Vehicle: Lexus LX, Japan-market update on sale October 1, 2026. The US counterpart is the 2027 Lexus LX.
- Steering and suspension: Retuned on every Japanese variant.
- OVERTRAIL+ tires: 265/70R18 in Japan, up from 265/65R18, with higher minimum ground clearance.
- New grade: F SPORT for the LX 600 and LX 700h, on 22-inch forged wheels.
- Added paint: White Nova Glass Flake on every variant.
- Japan price: From 15,600,000 yen for the LX 600, tax included.
- US status: No change announced. The US truck starts at $109,050, and tire-maker guides list 265/70R18 for its Overtrail.
 6 min read
In This Article
Overview
Lexus put an updated LX on sale in Japan on October 1, 2026. It adds an F Sport grade and a taller OVERTRAIL+ tire, and it changes the steering, suspension and paint list. If you shop the 2027 Lexus LX in the US, Lexus has announced no matching tire, steering, suspension or paint changes for your market. The US already has a close match for the F Sport grade, and tire-maker guides suggest the US Overtrail already wears the taller tire.
Lexus revealed the US truck on September 18, with pricing from $109,050 and dealer arrival later this year. It carries its own changes, including darker 20-inch wheels on the Premium grade. The Japan list differs, and one item on it matters to anyone who airs down and heads for the rocks: the taller OVERTRAIL+ tire, which looks like a catch-up to the US truck.
Airing down is where a taller sidewall earns its keep. A deflator such as the ARB E-Z Deflator Kit and a JACO ElitePro gauge handle the first half, and the VIAIR 400P compressor handles the trip back to road pressure.
Gear for airing down
ARB ARB505 Deflator Kit 10-60 PSI Tire Pressure Gauge Rapid Air Dow…
2027 Lexus LX Overtrail+ Tires Grow to 265/70R18 in Japan
Lexus enlarged the OVERTRAIL+ tire from 265/65R18 to 265/70R18, according to Toyota’s Japanese release. While the wheel stays at 18 inches, the sidewall gets taller. Specifically, the size codes work out to an overall diameter of about 31.6 inches before and about 32.6 inches after.
Notably, the extra sidewall adds roughly half an inch on each side of the wheel. Because the tire is bigger, Lexus also raised the minimum ground clearance. It gave no figure, though, so treat any clearance number online as unconfirmed.
The sidewall also gets a block pattern. In addition, Lexus optimized the tire structure and tread pattern to keep the tire quiet on pavement. Toyota made a similar move on a smaller scale with the 2027 Grand Highlander Woodland, which gets a half-inch lift.
Steering, Suspension, F Sport and Paint
Beyond the tires, Lexus retuned the electric power steering on every Japanese variant, aiming for steering feel faithful to the driver’s intent. It also reworked the suspension so the ride feels consistent, whether you choose gas or hybrid power. Lexus published no spring rates, damper rates or steering ratios. Therefore, the promise of sharper handling and a smoother ride stays Lexus’s own description until someone drives one.
The new F Sport grade comes on the LX 600 and the LX 700h. Specifically, Lexus fits tuned front and rear performance dampers, a Torsen limited-slip differential and a rear stabilizer bar. It also adds F Sport tuning for the adaptive suspension and the steering. Finally, the wheels are 22-inch forged alloys with 265/50R22 tires.
Two smaller changes complete the list. The standard LX 600 gets new 20-inch wheels with a dark clear coat. Likewise, every variant is now offered in White Nova Glass Flake paint.
Japan vs. the 2027 Lexus LX in the US
Lexus’s September 18 US release mentions no tire change, no model-wide steering or suspension retune and no new paint. However, the two lineups overlap more than the headlines suggest.
| Item | Japan (October 1, 2026) | US 2027 LX |
|---|---|---|
| Sport grade | F SPORT, new | F SPORT Handling, adds red calipers |
| Sport hardware | Tuned dampers, Torsen differential, rear stabilizer, 22-inch forged wheels | Tuned dampers, Torsen differential, rear stabilizer, 22-inch forged wheels |
| Overtrail tires | 265/70R18, up from 265/65R18 | 33-inch all-terrain tires on 18-inch wheels (Lexus.com); tire-maker guides list 265/70R18; no change announced |
| Model-wide steering and suspension retune | All variants | Not announced |
| Standard 20-inch wheels | New dark clear-coat design on the LX 600 | Darker finish on the Premium grade |
| White Nova Glass Flake paint | New, every variant | Not on the 2027 color list |
| Starting price | 15,600,000 yen (LX 600) | $109,050 (LX 600 Premium) |
| Overtrail price | 17,000,000 yen (LX 700h) | $118,055 (LX 700h) |
The F Sport row is the notable one. Japan’s list of dampers, differential and stabilizer matches what Lexus already lists for the US F SPORT Handling. In addition, both grades carry dedicated steering and suspension tuning. Japanese prices include 10 percent tax, while US prices include a $1,550 delivery fee.
Lexus’s US page lists the Overtrail with front and rear locking differentials and calls its tires 33-inch. It prints no size code there, but tire-maker fitment guides list 265/70R18 for the 2025 and 2026 US Overtrail. The code works out to about 32.6 inches, so the 33-inch label is rounded up and Japan’s change looks like a catch-up. Compare size codes, not labels, and confirm the 2027 size with your dealer.
For a related Toyota story, see the 2027 Land Cruiser 300 hybrid, which borrows its hybrid system from the LX 700h.
What This Means for You
If you already own an LX, nothing changes. Lexus has announced these changes only for Japan. If you plan to order a US Overtrail, there is no announced reason to wait for a taller tire, because the US truck already wears a 33-inch-class tire.
The 2027 LX is due at US dealers later this year. At $118,055, the Overtrail LX 700h grade costs $9,005 more than the LX 600 Premium at $109,050. Ask your dealer whether the Overtrail tire size changes for the model year. Then ask for the minimum ground clearance in writing.
My read, from the spec lists alone: the Japan tire is the one change likely to alter how a truck handles rock, and US Overtrail buyers likely have it already. The electric power steering and suspension work might make the truck nicer to drive, but Lexus has shown no numbers yet.
Rivals are updating too, including the 2027 Defender Vertex trim. Whatever you pick, a heavy full-size SUV is hard to free once it is stuck. MAXTRAX boards, a rated recovery strap such as the ARB snatch strap and soft shackles are basics worth carrying.
Recovery gear to carry
ARB ARB710LB 3-1/4" x 30' Recovery Snatch Strap Minimum Breaking St…
Final Thoughts
This Japan update is a careful refresh, not a redesign. The best news for off-road buyers in Japan is the OVERTRAIL+ tire and the higher ground clearance. However, the weakest part is the silence about the US.
I would not hold a US Overtrail order for a tire Lexus has announced only for Japan. Lexus has said nothing about these changes for the US, so watch Lexus’s US newsroom for any announcement.
If you mostly stay on pavement, the LX 600 Premium at $109,050 already meets your needs. Head to the trailhead most weekends, and the Overtrail is the grade built for the job. On paper, I would look at it first. Whichever LX you pick, I hope it takes you somewhere worth airing down for.
FAQ
Is the 2027 Lexus LX Overtrail+ getting bigger tires?
In Japan, yes. Lexus moved the OVERTRAIL+ from 265/65R18 to 265/70R18 and raised the minimum ground clearance. The US Overtrail tire is labeled 33-inch, and tire-maker guides list 265/70R18 for it, so US trucks likely already match.
Will the 2027 Lexus LX get the Japan steering update in the US?
Not yet. Its September 18 US release lists no model-wide steering or suspension retune, so treat the Japan work as Japan-only for now.
How does the Japan F Sport grade compare with the US F SPORT Handling?
It is new to Japan, but the hardware list matches the US F SPORT Handling. Both also use tuned dampers, a Torsen differential, a rear stabilizer and 22-inch forged wheels.
How much does the 2027 Lexus LX cost in the US?
The LX 600 Premium starts at $109,050 and the LX 700h Ultra Luxury tops the range at $143,350. Both prices also include the $1,550 delivery fee.
How much taller is the 265/70R18 tire?
Worked out from the size codes, it is about one inch taller than the 265/65R18, roughly 32.6 inches against 31.6 inches. However, Lexus has not published its own diameter figures.
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