Need Your Opinion - 1997 Es300 Tires

[young94lex]

First timer to forums, so please excuse if I appear to be a newbie!

Own 1997 ES300. Desparately need new tires that are safe, dependable, etc. because car will be for my 16 year old son, newly licensed, very little driving experience. Cannot really afford an arm and a leg.

Live in Houston. Will be driving mostly stop and go, to school, to job, to friends, etc.

What would you recommend? Thanks for helping!

[Lexusfreak]

First timer to forums, so please excuse if I appear to be a newbie!

Own 1994 ES300. Desparately need new tires that are safe, dependable, etc. because car will be for my 16 year old son, newly licensed, very little driving experience. Cannot really afford an arm and a leg.

Live in Houston. Will be driving mostly stop and go, to school, to job, to friends, etc.

What would you recommend? Thanks for helping!

Welcome to LOC! B) Very nice ride for a 16 year old. I assume it is the stock tire size you are looking for... 205 65 15? If so there are many choices out there. Since your in Houston, I think it's safe to take snow & ice out of the equation. However, I would suggest spending a little more for a very good brand name tire as opposed to Walmart's own brand for example or a lower line tire.

A few I would recommend that provide excellent traction, a long tread life with very good wet weather performance are the Yokohama Avid H4S at around $78 a tire. More info here...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...inSpeedRating=H

The Yokohama YK520 (available at Discount Tire only)....several here have had very high praise for this model but no personal experience. More info here...

http://www.yokohamayk520.com/ & here...

http://www.discounttire.com/dtcs/findTireD...06159&ar=65

Another would be the Goodyear Assurance Triple Tred at $96 a tire....but Tire Rack is currently offering a $40 rebate on these (I have these on my Lexus & my wife's Subaru Forester & swear by them.....although we get a fair amount of snow & ice here in the great white north so that was a consideration as well). You would be hard pressed to beat these tires for wet weather performance however & they have a 80,000 mile treadlife. More info here...

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires.jsp?ti...inSpeedRating=H

And here...

http://www.goodyearassurance.com/

Michelins are an excellent choice as well....but the price is over $100+ each.....I've tried to keep the price below that.

Don't forget a 4 wheel alignment when you put the new shoes on. ;) Good luck!

[Lexusfreak]

Also, please have a look at this link...

http://www.edmunds.com/insideline/do/Colum...photopanel..3.*

Just an FYI about young drivers & high powered vehicles......I know a 94 ES 300 is not even close to a 2008 BMW M5 in terms of raw horse power & performance.....but his new ES can go well over 100 MPH and figured it wouldn't hurt to mention to both you & your Son.

[young94lex]

Hello Lexusfreak,

You have been very helpful with so many suggestions. Thanks! I have Yokohama Geolanders on my Pilot, and I am really please with them. In fact, I have to replace those too and will go again with Geolanders. I am loyal Yokohama customer, so I really appreciate your mentioning that one to me. I'd never have thought about Yoko for the 1997 Lexus.

And thanks for the warm welcome as well as the info regarding how powerful this car can be. I was so surprised when I bought it 3 years ago for my oldest son, drove it myself and felt the power! Yikes! You are so correct.

Hmmm, now what to do? Maybe I will pay moms who have more time on their hands to chauffeur the twins and pay for their service. Will end up cheaper and safer.

Can't you tell? I am superb in decision making!

Hey, thanks a bunch!

[Lexusfreak]

That's what were here for....enjoy! B)