Best Tires For 91 Ls400

[CanadaCraig]

You may be right - SRK - but all I can go by is my own personal experience. Yes - perhaps - it was the tires [and nothing specifically to do with their speed rating] but all I can say is that the T-Speed rated Michelin X-One's that WERE on my car handled horribly - that's why I changed them for the Bridgestone Turanza LS-V's. I'm convinced [for the most part] that the higher speed rating of the LS-V's have a lot to do with WHY they are better handling tires. [in comparison to the X-One's - at least]

Craig!! :)

[1UZ-FE]

im not going to stoop to your level of childish bickering and one upping just to see if i know what im talking about. i dont need to explain myself mother.

[SRK]

I politely asked a simple question, looking for a simple answer. If you are not willing to provide one, go to your room. No dinner for you and just wait till your father gets home.

[1UZ-FE]

IM SICK AND TIRED OF THIS STUPID FAMILY. I WANT OUT.

[SRK]

Good one!

[Lexusfreak]

Calm down guy's, have some dip! B) sorry, George Carlin line there :P One shouldn't put a lower speed rating than what the car maker has called for simply because that what they have designed & built the car to ride on.......it's just not wise. Can you get away with it? sure! But what exactly are you saving by going to a lower speed rating rather that what is recommended or slightly higher? a few bucks a tire? Not worth it in my opinion. Just my 2 cents! :) :whistles:

[SRK]

One shouldn't put a lower speed rating than what the car maker has called for simply because that what they have designed & built the car to ride on.......it's just not wise.

Ah ha! There it is again!

According to your statement, Lexus designed the LS400 to use the V rated standard Dunlop tires, or the optional Goodyears (at least those were the two available for the 1992 model year). Well, I can't buy either tire anymore. In fact tire technology has taken many strides forward since then. Lexus certainly didn't design their cars for the Michelin XGT-H4 Pilots I have on the car now. But the car responded quite well to them. And they're not cheap tires. But they ride better than the Dunlops, and out perform them.....except they can only do about 138 mph continuously. Which I don't do - ever.

So what's not wise? Why? Take the challenge - tell me why a lower speed rating is bad. Not that I shouldn't or "just because" - explain it to me.

One of my customers has a Ferrari Daytona - you know the one that did 175 mph in the famous Road and Track photo? Same car. I put V rated Pirelli's on it - that's what the factory called for- in a very unusual size for today - 215/70-15. Only these Pirellis are far more modern than the original Michelin XWX V-rated. Problem is the car can do 175 mph. Is that bad even when the factory said otherwise? Just try and find a Z rated tire in a 70 profile height. I can't.

You bring the dip, I'll bring the beer. We'll all stay mellow.

[Lexusfreak]

Oh good! :chairshot: Were you a game show host at one time?? Take the challenge? Tell ya what.....why don't you ask a Lexus engineer why not......I'm only going by a simple item called an "owners manual" (and the tire place card on the drivers door jamb) in my case a 01 ES.....which states to use a "V"rated tire as a replacement as that's what the car came with originally. Again, how much money are you saving by using a lower speed rating than suggested by the auto maker? BTW, The Michelin Pilot XGTH4 would NOT be on my short list of tires I would purchase in any category as I have quite a bit of past experence with them in rain & snow conditions as they are & that's being as kind as possible..... Here is the best answer I can provide: M-Kay!?

Speed Rating

In Europe, where selected highways do not have speed limits and high speed driving is permitted, speed ratings were established to match the speed capability of tires with the top speed capability of the vehicles to which they are applied. Speed ratings are established in kilometers per hour and subsequently converted to miles per hour (which explains why speed ratings appear established at "unusual" mile per hour increments). Despite the tire manufacturer's ability to manufacturer tires capable of high speeds, none of them recommend the use of their products in excess of legal speed limits.

Speed ratings are based on laboratory tests where the tire is pressed against a large diameter metal drum to reflect its appropriate load, and run at ever increasing speeds (in 6.2 mph steps in 10 minute increments) until the tire's required speed has been met.

It is important to note that speed ratings only apply to tires that have not been damaged, altered, under-inflated or overloaded. Additionally, most tire manufacturers maintain that a tire that has been cut or punctured no longer retains the tire manufacturer's original speed rating, even after being repaired because the tire manufacturer can't control the quality of the repair.

Over the years, tire speed rating symbols have been marked on tires in any of three ways shown in the following examples:

225/50SR16 225/50SR16 89S or 225/50R16 89S

Each of these was an acceptable method of identifying speed ratings.

Early tires had their speed rating symbol shown "within" the tire size, such as 225/50SR16. Tires using this type of branding were not to have been produced after 1991.

225/50SR16 112 mph, 180 km/h

225/50HR16 130, 210 km/h

225/50VR16 in excess of 130 mph, 210 km/h

Beginning in 1991, the speed symbol denoting a fixed maximum speed capability of new tires must be shown only in the speed rating portion of the tire's service description, such as 225/50R16 89S. The most common tire speed rating symbols, maximum speeds and typical applications are shown below:

N 87 mph 140 km/h Temporary Spare Tires

P 93 mph 150 km/h

Q 99 mph 160 km/h Studless & Studdable Winter Tires

R 106 mph 170 km/h H.D. Light Truck Tires

S 112 mph 180 km/h Family Sedans & Vans

T 118 mph 190 km/h Family Sedans & Vans

U 124 mph 200 km/h

H 130 mph 210 km/h Sport Sedans & Coupes

V 149 mph 240 km/h Sport Sedans, Coupes & Sports Cars

When Z-speed rated tires were first introduced, they were thought to reflect the highest tire speed rating that would ever be required, in excess of 240 km/h or 149 mph. While Z-speed rated tires are capable of speeds in excess of 149 mph, how far above 149 mph was not identified. That ultimately caused the automotive industry to add W- and Y-speed ratings to identify the tires that meet the needs of new vehicles that have extremely high top-speed capabilities.

W 168 mph 270 km/h Exotic Sports Cars

Y 186 mph 300 km/h Exotic Sports Cars

While a Z-speed rating still often appears in the tire size designation of these tires, such as 225/50ZR16 91W, the Z in the size signifies a maximum speed capability in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h; the W in the service description indicates the tire's 168 mph, 270 km/h maximum speed.

225/50ZR16 in excess of 149 mph, 240 km/h

205/45ZR17 88W 168 mph, 270 km/h

285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h

Most recently, when the Y-speed rating indicated in a service description is enclosed in parentheses, such as 285/35ZR19 (99Y), the top speed of the tire has been tested in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h indicated by the service description as shown below:

285/35ZR19 99Y 186 mph, 300 km/h

285/35ZR19 (99Y) in excess of 186 mph, 300 km/h

As vehicles have increased their top speeds into Autobahn-only ranges, the tire speed ratings have evolved to better identify the tires capability, allowing drivers to match the speed of their tires with the top speed of their vehicle.

[spiller91ls]

The tire that I run, and had them put on when I purchaces the car (91 ls) in April 2003 are BFGoodrich Comp T/A's 225/60ZR15 (96W). as you can see these are W rated. The car had 152000+ miles on it when I purchased it, and it now has a little over 188000 miles on it. The tires have never been rotated, mainly since I don't belive in it, and also because they are directional tires. So far the only tire that needs to be replace is the right rear, the other three still have over half of there thread on them. I'll probably just buy two new one's for the rear and put the right rear on the spare. By the way these tires cost around $130 each. YOU GET WHAT YOU PAY FOR. STOP PUTTING CHEAP TIRES ON YOUR EXPENSIVE CARS. The only downside to these tires is they are very noisy on certain types of roads, and are sticky enough that you will never make you car squeal the tires again.

[SRK]

You have certainly got great mileage out of those Goodrich tires!

Thanks for the answers guys.

Right now I have an 04 ES330 as a loaner while the dealer sorts out a problem with my 92 LS. The ES has Michelin MXV-4's on it, right speed rating according to the manufacturer, but a very mushy tire, and pricier than the XGT. The ES would be a better car with the Pilots on it for sure. I have had two sets of MXV-4's in the past, and never again.

Anyhow, we are all probably agreed that this topic has been beat to death, and that its probably my fault.

[Lexusfreak]

My Lexus dealer offered to put on the MXV4's to replace the same as mine needed new tires......I said no thanks & put on the "V" rated Toyo Proxes TPT's...a much better tire overall......especially in the handling, rain & snow performance departments.....also about $50+ cheaper a tire. :D Good thread guy's! ;)