Which Tires Would Be Best For My 2005 Es 330

[tyuzwa]

I already have winter Blizzack's but I need to buy 17" tires for spring and summer for my 2005 ES 330. I have problems with the wind pushing the car around when driving on the highway and also trouble with hydroplaning. I had those problems with the factory tires. I'm new to this board and need tire advice. I love the Blizzack's. They stay on the road and do not hydroplane. What would be something similar in an all season tire when I take my Blizzack's off until next winter? Thanks for any input.

Tammy

[dcfish]

I already have winter Blizzack's but I need to buy 17" tires for spring and summer for my 2005 ES 330. I have problems with the wind pushing the car around when driving on the highway and also trouble with hydroplaning. I had those problems with the factory tires. I'm new to this board and need tire advice. I love the Blizzack's. They stay on the road and do not hydroplane. What would be something similar in an all season tire when I take my Blizzack's off until next winter? Thanks for any input.

Tammy

The popular tire is the michelin Primacy MXV4. It is up to you thoufg, Price range and preferable name brand etc... Check out www.tirerack.com and do a tire comparison. That will get you in the ballpark. B)

[Lexusfreak]

Welcome to the club Tammy! :)

The Michelin's are popular & a good choice, but I will (as usual) go with the Goodyear Triple Treads for my 05 ES in the spring.....better in the wet weather (especially heavy rain) & a longer treadlife too. More info on both here...

Michelin Primacy MXV4...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...;speed_rating=V

Goodyear Triple Tread...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...;speed_rating=V

Both came in 1st place overall in their respective Tire Rack Test comparo categories....Grand Touring All Season (Michelin) & Premium All Season (Goodyear). B)

[tyuzwa]

Thanks for all the help so far. Does anyone recommend Firehawk GT's or Turanza EL or Turanza Serenity? Someone suggested those to me also?

Tammy

[Lexusfreak]

Thanks for all the help so far. Does anyone recommend Firehawk GT's or Turanza EL or Turanza Serenity? Someone suggested those to me also?

Tammy

I'd personally stay away from the Bridgestone & Firestone tires you mention....the Turanza EL42's are the original tires that most ES models were equipped with (including mine). I can wait to get them off my car they are that bad on anything but dry pavement (the previous owner put a new set on & they only have about 6,000 miles on them) & same goes for the Firehawk GT's. You can see how those two tires on tirerack as well & what owners have said about them.

The Turanza Serenitys are a newer tire on the market (replaced the LS-V) & I they have not been on the market long enough imo to recommend at this point. B)

[tyuzwa]

Does anyone have the Yokohama S drive tires? That is what tire rack is recomending.

Tammy

[tyuzwa]

Lexusfreak,

I am down to the Michelin Primacy MXV4 or the Goodyear assurance triple tread. Have you owned the Michelin's too or just the Goodyear's? I think I will probably go with the Goodyear's because you said they go better in heavy rain. That is one of the problems I had with the Turanza's. I also have trouble with the wind blowing the car around and want a tire that grips (I'm not sure how to phrase that) the road. Any further advice?

Thanks,

Tammy

[Lexusfreak]

The Yokohama S Drive is an Ultra High Performance Summer tire...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...reModel=S.drive

You mentioned in your original posting you were looking for an all season tire. The S Drive tire is overkill for an ES 330.

[tyuzwa]

The Yokohama S Drive is an Ultra High Performance Summer tire...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...reModel=S.drive

You mentioned in your original posting you were looking for an all season tire. The S Drive tire is overkill for an ES 330.

I do have winter tires that I put on every October and remove every February/March. I guess I don't need anything that goes in the snow. Did you see my next reply/question?

Tammy

[Lexusfreak]

Lexusfreak,

I am down to the Michelin Primacy MXV4 or the Goodyear assurance triple tread. Have you owned the Michelin's too or just the Goodyear's? I think I will probably go with the Goodyear's because you said they go better in heavy rain. That is one of the problems I had with the Turanza's. I also have trouble with the wind blowing the car around and want a tire that grips (I'm not sure how to phrase that) the road. Any further advice?

Thanks,

Tammy

Tammy,

I have had the Michelin MXV4+ tires before, but not the Primacy MXV4's. I have had several sets of the Goodyear Triple Treads & if you compare the tread patterns, you will see how the GY will provide better traction in heavy rain over the Micheln's.

I could not agree with you more on about the Turanza's EL42's.....I think the term your looking for is 'cross winds'. Like I've said, they are aweful on anything but dry roads.

The Michelins & Goodyears are still the two best all season tires available for your ES (imo). Every tire is a compromise however & each has their Pro's & Con's.....it does not matter if we are talking about summer only, winter rubber or all season....in order to gain one thing (say outstanding wet weather traction), you have to sacrifice something else...

The downside to the more aggressive tread on the GY is it will not ride quite as quietly as the Michelin's......it's not really that noticeable to me to be honest (I usually have my radio or CD player going anyways.....and it's something you have to pay close attention to hear). The ES is very well built to isolate road noise to begin with. ;)

The upside? Better foul weather traction (including in the when cornering) with a longer treadlife & better overall snow traction should you need it (say an unusually early snow storm before you had a chance to switch your winter tires over for example). Both tires are within a few dollars of eachother as well.

I have given serious consideration to the Michelin for my vehicles.....I just can't sacrifice the snow & wet weather traction they offer considering where I live (snowbelt region of Southwestern Ontario & I currently do not have the room for 2 sets of winter & all season tires for both our vehicles). These tires are off the charts on a Subaru with full time AWD too.....my wife loves em.

Let us know what you decide. :)

[Lexusfreak]

Here is another site you might want to have a look at...

http://www.goodyearassurance.com/

[tyuzwa]

Lexusfreak,

I am down to the Michelin Primacy MXV4 or the Goodyear assurance triple tread. Have you owned the Michelin's too or just the Goodyear's? I think I will probably go with the Goodyear's because you said they go better in heavy rain. That is one of the problems I had with the Turanza's. I also have trouble with the wind blowing the car around and want a tire that grips (I'm not sure how to phrase that) the road. Any further advice?

Thanks,

Tammy

Tammy,

I have had the Michelin MXV4+ tires before, but not the Primacy MXV4's. I have had several sets of the Goodyear Triple Treads & if you compare the tread patterns, you will see how the GY will provide better traction in heavy rain over the Micheln's.

I could not agree with you more on about the Turanza's EL42's.....I think the term your looking for is 'cross winds'. Like I've said, they are aweful on anything but dry roads.

The Michelins & Goodyears are still the two best all season tires available for your ES (imo). Every tire is a compromise however & each has their Pro's & Con's.....it does not matter if we are talking about summer only, winter rubber or all season....in order to gain one thing (say outstanding wet weather traction), you have to sacrifice something else...

The downside to the more aggressive tread on the GY is it will not ride quite as quietly as the Michelin's......it's not really that noticeable to me to be honest (I usually have my radio or CD player going anyways.....and it's something you have to pay close attention to hear). The ES is very well built to isolate road noise to begin with. ;)

The upside? Better foul weather traction (including in the when cornering) with a longer treadlife & better overall snow traction should you need it (say an unusually early snow storm before you had a chance to switch your winter tires over for example). Both tires are within a few dollars of eachother as well.

I have given serious consideration to the Michelin for my vehicles.....I just can't sacrifice the snow & wet weather traction they offer considering where I live (snowbelt region of Southwestern Ontario & I currently do not have the room for 2 sets of winter & all season tires for both our vehicles). These tires are off the charts on a Subaru with full time AWD too.....my wife loves em.

Let us know what you decide. :)

Finally, after 5 hours of research, I have made my decision. I'll get the Goodyear. I don't care about the road noise if I have better weather traction. I currently love my Blizzack's for winter but was having a very difficult decision buying summer tires. There is not any customer survey results (graph) on tire rack for the Michelin's, only tire rack's opinion. That is why it was difficult coming to a decision. I couldn't get all the facts, or should I say opinions.

Yes, we do get an occassional snowstorm when I am too quick removing my winter tires so the Goodyear's will come in handy there, as well. Also, I like being able to talk to someone that actually owns an ES to get their opinion versus someone in another type of vehicle.

I wish everyone who reads this a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Thanks again for all your help. You'll never know how much I appreciate it.

[Lexusfreak]

Finally, after 5 hours of research, I have made my decision. I'll get the Goodyear. I don't care about the road noise if I have better weather traction. I currently love my Blizzack's for winter but was having a very difficult decision buying summer tires. There is not any customer survey results (graph) on tire rack for the Michelin's, only tire rack's opinion. That is why it was difficult coming to a decision. I couldn't get all the facts, or should I say opinions.

Yes, we do get an occassional snowstorm when I am too quick removing my winter tires so the Goodyear's will come in handy there, as well. Also, I like being able to talk to someone that actually owns an ES to get their opinion versus someone in another type of vehicle.

I wish everyone who reads this a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Thanks again for all your help. You'll never know how much I appreciate it.

That's what we are her for Tammy & we are happy to help. :)

One you have had a chance to put a few miles on the new tires......let us know how they are performing.

Not sure how often you have it done, but consider a 4 wheel alignment when you have the new all seasons installed.

[tyuzwa]

Finally, after 5 hours of research, I have made my decision. I'll get the Goodyear. I don't care about the road noise if I have better weather traction. I currently love my Blizzack's for winter but was having a very difficult decision buying summer tires. There is not any customer survey results (graph) on tire rack for the Michelin's, only tire rack's opinion. That is why it was difficult coming to a decision. I couldn't get all the facts, or should I say opinions.

Yes, we do get an occassional snowstorm when I am too quick removing my winter tires so the Goodyear's will come in handy there, as well. Also, I like being able to talk to someone that actually owns an ES to get their opinion versus someone in another type of vehicle.

I wish everyone who reads this a HAPPY VALENTINE'S DAY! Thanks again for all your help. You'll never know how much I appreciate it.

That's what we are her for Tammy & we are happy to help. :)

One you have had a chance to put a few miles on the new tires......let us know how they are performing.

Not sure how often you have it done, but consider a 4 wheel alignment when you have the new all seasons installed.

I have 31,000 miles on the car and I don't think I've ever had a 4 wheel alignment. I guess that's a good idea. I do get all the service's via the mileage increments that Lexus requires through a toyota dealership since the nearest Lexus dealership is 2 hours away. I don't recall a 4 wheel alignment being suggested yet, but I'll check my records.

I hope to talk to you again in the future. Thanks again.

[Lexusfreak]

I have 31,000 miles on the car and I don't think I've ever had a 4 wheel alignment. I guess that's a good idea. I do get all the service's via the mileage increments that Lexus requires through a toyota dealership since the nearest Lexus dealership is 2 hours away. I don't recall a 4 wheel alignment being suggested yet, but I'll check my records.

I hope to talk to you again in the future. Thanks again.

I get a 4 wheel alignment every time I install new tires. Just good practice to ensure even wear and good fuel economy. A very informative write up here...

http://www.canadiandriver.com/articles/jk/030813.htm

[mburnickas]

Figure this out, my car has over 120K miles and yet to have a front end down. Everytime I go they say it does not need it. Tires wear mint etc! :)

[Lexusfreak]

I hear what your saying Mike.....The TT's have an 80k mile treadlife (with proper maintenance).......$59.95 for a 4 wheel alignment over that period is peanuts anyways. ;) It's the shops that try to get folks into getting one every 6 months to a year that gets me.