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Tires Ls430 02


Pasha

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Need to get New tires mine are old and also snow tires from up north, I'm in FL. Anyone can recommend something? I have 17”. I ask sears guys they told me Goodyear Assurance TripleTred($139) or Goodyear Assurance ComforTred($ 129), but they are H rated. Of course I went to TireRack.com and reading a lot of reviews, but I really don’t know if it comes from “real” people of usual “sales reps”. A lot of people say it’s very noisy. I really don’t know what should I get H ,V or W rated. Some bad reviews on Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus(H-V)($155).

Thanx for your comments.

Thank You all.

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I agree 150% with David and Steve that MXV4s are excellent tires! I have have over 50k miles on mine with about half tread left. The only complaint that you'll find about the Energy tires is the cost, but once you step back and look at the $$/mile, it all equals out or you come out ahead...with their long tread life and none-low maint. costs.

I'd recommend the H rated tires since your 430 is governed to 130 or so. ;)

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  • 3 weeks later...

My vote hands down goes to the Goodyear Triple Treads....I think your size is 225 55 17 ? B) The H speed rated TT's will serve you just fine for your LS. Here some more info...& good luck!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...re1=yes&place=2

:cheers:

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My vote hands down goes to the Goodyear Triple Treads....I think your size is 225 55 17 ? B) The H speed rated TT's will serve you just fine for your LS. Here some more info...& good luck!

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...re1=yes&place=2

:cheers:

Falkens would cost you 75.00 a piece and I have 2 tires your size brand new for $100.00 they are great tires I am on my second pair I liked them so much.Just an idea ask around see what others think.PS,thats free shipping also... :cheers:

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Falkens would cost you 75.00 a piece and I have 2 tires your size brand new for $100.00 they are great tires I am on my second pair I liked them so much.Just an idea ask around see what others think.PS,thats free shipping also...:cheers:

Do many folks have Falkens on their LS? B)

:cheers:

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Falkens would cost you 75.00 a piece and I have 2 tires your size brand new for $100.00 they are great tires I am on my second pair I liked them so much.Just an idea ask around see what others think.PS,thats free shipping also...:cheers:

Do many folks have Falkens on their LS? B)

:cheers:

not sure, i have them on my current car, and i had them on my ES250, best tires for the money hands down.

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I don't think the TripleTreads or the Falkens are well suited to the LS, they're too aggressive a design and are bound to increase road noise on this car.

It needs a good touring tire, Michelin MXV4 + or S8, Dunlop SP Sport 4000 or 5000, Bridgestone LS-V, something sedate.

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I don't think the TripleTreads or the Falkens are well suited to the LS, they're too aggressive a design and are bound to increase road noise on this car.

It needs a good touring tire, Michelin MXV4 + or S8, Dunlop SP Sport 4000 or 5000, Bridgestone LS-V, something sedate.

With the amount of sound insulation a vehicle like the LS has (or sound deadening materials) I doubt one would be able to hear excessive road noise........I know I don't in my ES & notice things a little quieter as a matter of fact. B)

:cheers:

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You'd be shocked.

A Lexus actually has relatively little sound deadening and sound absorption materials compared to something like a Lincoln and tires make a HUGE difference in road noise and ride. You can put Sears tires on a Lincoln and you won't know the difference, but you definately will on a Lexus.

Lexus' are designed to eliminate the sources of noise instead of just blocking it. Lincolns are designed to block all noise. Thats why Lexus teamed with Goodyear in 1990 to create a tire specifically designed for the LS400.

Drive over a rough peice of pavement in a Lincoln and in a Lexus, you'll notice the difference in the road noise more in the Lexus.

Turn your radio on and step outside the car, you can make out the music perfectly. Won't hear anything from a Lincoln.

Trust me, I have nearly 250,000 miles worth of hands on experiences with the ES and LS sedans, on many different sets of tires. The difference in the car between different sets is so distinct you'd swear that it were a different car.

The best match I've found yet is the Michelin MXV4+. The Dunlop SP Sport 4000 A/S is about the same but their life is pretty short at ~20k miles.

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Just to put it into perspective, I've got experience with approximately 14 sets of tires on Lexus sedans over the past 8 years, counting OEM rubber. 11 of those sets have been on the LS. So while you do know a lot about tires, I do have more experience with this particular vehicle and how different sets of tires effect it than you do.

To the original poster, buy the MXV4s. If you don't want to spend the cash get Dunlop SP Sport 4000s but be prepared for shorter tire life. Stay away from higher rolling resistance tires that have long treadwear that are designed for mainstream sedans and minivans like the TripleTreds, ComforTreds, Continental ContiPremierContacts, Michelin Hydroedge, Falkens, Toyo Proxes TPTs etc unless practicality wins over preserving the Lexus quiet ride. In my experience you'll replace the tires with plenty of tread left because you'll get sick of the noise so you may as well go for a shorter lived tire that has softer compounds and gives a quieter ride. You're fine with an H rated tire on this car since thats what it came with from the factory.

Time will tell if the MXV4s have long life AND maintain the quiet ride. So far so good, but my experience with them was cut short on the 98LS because it was traded, and is just beginning on the ES and the 04 LS. So far, so good though.

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Just to put it into perspective, I've got experience with approximately 14 sets of tires on Lexus sedans over the past 8 years, counting OEM rubber. 11 of those sets have been on the LS. So while you do know a lot about tires, I do have more experience with this particular vehicle and how different sets of tires effect it than you do.

To the original poster, buy the MXV4s. If you don't want to spend the cash get Dunlop SP Sport 4000s but be prepared for shorter tire life. Stay away from higher rolling resistance tires that have long treadwear that are designed for mainstream sedans and minivans like the TripleTreds, ComforTreds, Continental ContiPremierContacts, Michelin Hydroedge, Falkens, Toyo Proxes TPTs etc unless practicality wins over preserving the Lexus quiet ride. In my experience you'll replace the tires with plenty of tread left because you'll get sick of the noise so you may as well go for a shorter lived tire that has softer compounds and gives a quieter ride. You're fine with an H rated tire on this car since thats what it came with from the factory.

That's more than fair sw.....I do hear where your coming from & yes you do have more experence with the LS specifically than I do.....however, the above mentioned tires (such as the TT's, Michelin Hydroedge, Conti's, Falkens etc.....how many of those specific tires did you personally have on your old LS? Or how many on the ES (We know about the Toyo's) ? I too have owned a fair share of vehicles in my 14+ years of driving (driven approx 7,000 - 8,000+ vehicles in my time......everything from a Lada....remember those? :lol: to a Viper & pretty much everything in between) & tried a very wide variety of tires to boot, I didn't fall of the turnip truck either. ;)

The reviews on tirerack reflect the fact that the LS owners are a very happy bunch who do have the TT's fyi. :)

I had the MXV4's on my Lexus when I purchased the car & they had a good amount of tread remaining that were all evenly worn......but the wet traction was abysmal & were actually louder than the Toyo's I replaced them with......now that the TT's are on......like I said it's like a church mouse the car rides so quiet (same goes for my wifes 2003 Forester.....they are sure quieter than the Michelim X radials that were on there) so I have a difficult time (Lexus aside for a moment) with so called 'road noise' that some folks mention.....I can't hear it & I've tried. :blink: 15 People that I know personally have the TT's on a variety of vehicles from a Cavalier all the way up to a Volvo, Infiniti & even 1 MB......I've driven in about half of these vehicles (MB & Infiniti included) all of them have commented on how much quieter their vehicles have been compared to the what was on before.....and not a 1 road noise complaint.

We are not the be all & end all so called 'tire advisors' on this site (I agree we both know a fair bit & offer our advice & suggestions, which I sincerly hope helps out fellow members to at least narrow down several of the best possibilities depending on what they are looking for in a tire....isn't that the overall goal to begin with....to help other members? :unsure: ) but we are far from 'Czars' on the subject (unless you have some kind of a tire engineering degree?). My 'speciality' & emphasis is geared more towards factory spec tires, mainly all seasons & mostly on FWD vehicles & occasionally SUV's......you won't see me chime in too often on someone looking for '22's' as an example. ;)

Also to the original poster Pasha, it would be helpful if you could tell us exactly what you are looking for in a tire.....we know your in FL so obviously snow is not on that list.....but what things specifically are you looking for in your set of replacements? B)

:cheers:

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I've not used those particular tires, but I have used several mainstream passenger tires with high treadwear ratings and have enough experience with the difference to say the car is noticably quieter and smoother on tires with lower treadwear and softer rubber.

and I'm not talking about the ES, just the LS.

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I've not used those particular tires, but I have used several mainstream passenger tires with high treadwear ratings and have enough experience with the difference to say the car is noticably quieter and smoother on tires with lower treadwear and softer rubber.

and I'm not talking about the ES, just the LS.

Understood sw. I have only driven older LS's personally........96 if memory serves. B)

:cheers:

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What's yall's opinion about the Michelin Symmetry GHX tire? Anyone had them, like them, hate them...etc...460 tread count, SR speed rating "115 mph" and such. I don't need a fast, high speed tire as i never go that fast anyway, and doubt I ever will.

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What's yall's opinion about the Michelin Symmetry GHX tire? Anyone had them, like them, hate them...etc...460 tread count, SR speed rating "115 mph" and such. I don't need a fast, high speed tire as i never go that fast anyway, and doubt I ever will.

Is this the tire nc?

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...eModel=Symmetry

If so, overall this tire is nothing to write home about. What exactly are you looking for in a tire & at what price range?

:cheers:

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Yep, that be them. I'm actually going to talk with the senior tech at the dealership "same one who works on my car" soon about his recommendations. He told me the original tires that use to be installed on the early LS400's were Goodyear GA's, but said Michelin's have never given him a lick of trouble in terms of balancing or servicing them. I'm looking for a very quiet, comfortable tire that will be safe in the rain and give a nice, cushy ride. I'm not really into performance !Removed!' on this car. I just cruise on along, nice and easy.

I tell you what, I don't know who writes those reviews for tirerack.com, but I don't trust them at all anymore. These Continentials had awesome reviews!! And, they suck! Everyone says Michelin's are the best tire to have, yet those reviews on tirerack say they're no good either....what gives?? Anyway, thought I was getting a good deal and saving some money with the Continentials......wrong...lessoned learned along the way...again.. In all honesty, with all of the repairs I've already done to this car bringing her back to new status, I feel a bit cheap in trying to cut corners on the tires. So, I'm probably going to just pony up the coin and get the right Michelin tires for the car...the energy tires that everyone swears by, and what was on the car to begin with.

Edit: What is the difference between the Michelin Energy LX4 tire and the Michelin Pilot XGT H4 tire? They're both $117 at Sams and can't figure out which one is better for the LS400??

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The Symmetrys are a lousy tire and not at all suited for the LS400 (thats a Ford Escort tire). You need a good quality grand touring or ultra high performance tire with soft to medium rubber compounds and a conservative tread.

Since the MXV4s are out of your price range I'd reccomend the Dunlop SP Sport 4000s. They were OEM on the LS from 95-00 and are a well suited tire to the car. I think TireRack has them for $85 a peice. If you can't find them locally the SP Sport 5000s are a reasonable alternative although not quite as quiet or smooth. Just make sure you get V rated tires and not Zs.

As for the Energy LX4, thats a pretty sedate tire that comes standard on the Ford Crown Victoria and on Lincoln Towncars. Not suited for the LS. The Pilot XGT H4 are a decent choice, as are their V rated cousins the V4s, but they're going to be harder and sportier.

I'd do the Dunlops.

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The Symmetrys are a lousy tire and not at all suited for the LS400 (thats a Ford Escort tire). You need a good quality grand touring or ultra high performance tire with soft to medium rubber compounds and a conservative tread.

I agree that there are better choices for your LS400 over the Symmetry....assuming they are for your 1995 LS with tire size 225 60 16 (for which you have many choices....so much so that it is easily to get cofused). Having said that, I wouldn't limit your choices to only Michelin. I also agree that one should not necessarily treat the reviews on the tirerack site as 'gospel' but as a frame of reference in general.

Based on what you have mentioned your looking for in a tire nc (very quiet, comfortable, good in the rain with a smooth ride) I suggest the following (in order):

- Goodyear Triple Treads (premium all season with an H speed rating & I no doubt sound like a broken record here). Not suprising that this tire is my first choice, I have them on my 2001 ES 300, my 2003 Subaru Forester XS.......I have recommended these to friends & family members over the course of more than a year that own everything from Honda's to Buicks, Infiniti's to MB (and have driven many of these same vehicles after these tires were put on). There are some that have said due to the 'aggressive tread' pattern that they will be noisy.....I'm pushing 30 here & have very good hearing......I have no idea what these folks are talking about! :blink: They are one of the quietest set's of tires I have installed on my personal vehicle & the over 15 set's thus far & counting for the aforementioned people.......rest assured, I still have all my friends & family in their good graces & have not heard any complaints. In fact, they go out of their way to tell me how happy they have been with their selection......& the outstanding performance & traction they provide in bad weather conditions including heavy rainfall......I know snow is not a huge concern in NC.....but even that aspect is covered should you experence it, plus all the qualities your looking for in tire with an 80,000 mile treadwear.

They came in first overall of 18 all season tires in a recent CR tire test. The "Noise" category BTW was rated as excellent to further reinforce the noise issue.

Check out www.goodyearassurance.com for more info but this is Goodyears 'Flagship' premium all season tire & should be at least on your radar screen before you make your final decision or to be honest.....I think you would be doing yourself a dis-service if you didn't & they will be quite a chunk of change less than pretty much any Michelin for more tire. More info...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/041201.htm

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...e1=yes&place=59

- Yokohama Avid TRZ This is classified as a 'standard touring all season tire' & is also highly rated (in the same CR tests.....it placed 4th overall). Very good & long lasting treadwear & was rated "Very good" for noise & wet weather performance. They are a T speed rated tire in your size & will be even less expensive than the GY's. More info....

http://www.canadiandriver.com/news/041105-5.htm

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...e1=yes&place=56

- Goodyear Comfortread Part of the Assurance line of tires, but a step below the TT. Having said that, GY goes out of it's way to promote the ride comfort above all else. It is a T speed rated tire in your size but unfortunately this placed 13th overall in the CR tests as the 'handling' was more of a weak spot (rated 'good') for this tire, however "Noise" was rated very good as was wet weather performance. More info...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...e1=yes&place=58

There are a lot who like the Bridgestone Turanza LS line as well......I am not a huge fan of BS tires due to past & bad experences, nor have I driven with these tires.....which are up there with Michelin price wise.

I hope this is of some help....& feel free to ask any additional questions & keep us posted. You might want to see these tires for yourself 'live & in living color' so you can get a better idea of what your getting rather than pictures online......I suggest going to your local tire shope that carries these & others. B) If there are any other folks here that have these tires, please provide your feedback....I am curious as to your opinions. Good Luck! ;)

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Again, based on feedback I've heard from people who have put the TripleTreds on their cars and my experience with similar tires designed for mainstream vehicles with high treadwear warranties, I would never even consider putting them on a Lexus. That goes for the Comfortreads too.

I would also never put a T rated tire on this car since the suspension geometry was designed around H rated or V rated tires.

Here's what I would choose between

Michelin MXV4+ or S8

Dunlop SP Sport 4000 A/S

Dunlop Sp Sport 5000

Bridgestone Turanza LS-V

All of them V rated. Why V rated when the car ships with an H? Because V rated tires have softer rubber compounds when compared to H rated tires and typically have a good boost in road noise to boot.

Again, the ComforTreads and the TripeTreds are designed for Dodge Caravans and Ford Tauruses, not a Lexus LS430.

Remember LF that you thought the Toyos were quiet too when people that rode in my car while they were on often commented about their suprise by how loud it was being a Lexus. Several people, including my fiance who cares nothing about such things, noticed the drastic difference in the road noise when I installed the Michelins.

You've spent a lot of time talking about how road noise isn't your primary concern over handling and grip, and you like having the latest thing. Road noise however is my primary concern, and I bet it is for most LS owners as well.

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Again, based on feedback I've heard from people who have put the TripleTreds on their cars and my experience with similar tires designed for mainstream vehicles with high treadwear warranties, I would never even consider putting them on a Lexus. That goes for the Comfortreads too.

I would also never put a T rated tire on this car since the suspension geometry was designed around H rated or V rated tires.

Here's what I would choose between

Michelin MXV4+ or S8

Dunlop SP Sport 4000 A/S

Dunlop Sp Sport 5000

Bridgestone Turanza LS-V

All of them V rated. Why V rated when the car ships with an H? Because V rated tires have softer rubber compounds when compared to H rated tires and typically have a good boost in road noise to boot.

Again, the ComforTreads and the TripeTreds are designed for Dodge Caravans and Ford Tauruses, not a Lexus LS430.

Remember LF that you thought the Toyos were quiet too when people that rode in my car while they were on often commented about their suprise by how loud it was being a Lexus. Several people, including my fiance who cares nothing about such things, noticed the drastic difference in the road noise when I installed the Michelins.

You've spent a lot of time talking about how road noise isn't your primary concern over handling and grip, and you like having the latest thing. Road noise however is my primary concern, and I bet it is for most LS owners as well.

I agree that a T speed maybe not the absolute best choice for a 1995 LS 400......(I was focusing more on nc vehicle.....not the LS 430 which are different). Having said that, I disagree with you that the TT & CT are designed for only vehicles like minivans & the Ford Taurus.

It's not that I like & 'have to have' the latest thing on the market sw........it's just the way it worked out this time around with the TT's. I didn't choose the MXV4's because they weren't the latest thing........they just didn't compare well for what I was looking for in a tire at the price they command. Again, I am not aware of the noise complaints that you mention for the TT's

One has to ask when they were installed if they were properly installed, balanced, 4 wheel alignment at the correct tire pressures.....many get a new set of tires (or 2 at a time instead of 4) & just have them installed & balanced....no 4 (or even 2 wheel) wheel alignment & many tire shops don't even set the tires to the proper air pressures when you leave the shop (or the owners over inflate as was the case the other day that was posted here). There are many different factors here that can lead to owners complaints & it's easy to blame the tire itself without checking everything else first. ;)

Yes I did speak very highly of my Toyo's.......so did others that had them (not just yourself...at the beginning) and generally I was quite happy overall with mine......the pro's outnumbered the con's for most of their useful life......but I knew when it was time for a change. But the road noise wasen't a factor.....so it could come down to the different generations of ES' we own.

:cheers:

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