Snow Tires

[webjeff]

Also,

So, people with snow tires are ok driving in the snow with the IS 350 or similar RWD cars?

I have had previously a FWD with all-season tires and it worked just fine in the snow, it was a lot less powered, but I wasn't sliding when I broke (at least a majority of the time)

Jeff.

[lexusaddict]

I reccommend that you trade your car in for a IS250 AWD or an Audi Quattro...the audi's handle awesome in the snow

[webjeff]

I reccommend that you trade your car in for a IS250 AWD or an Audi Quattro...the audi's handle awesome in the snow

Do you have a 350?

Does anyone with Snow Tires and drive the 350 have any issues in the snow? I'd like to hear from those who have tried or who currently do drive. I called the dealer and of course they said it will be night and day difference and that some of their customers drive the 350 all year round, but I want to hear from people that do that.

Anyone?

Thanks again!!!

Jeff.

[bartkat]

Do a search on "snow tires". There's been plenty of discussion here about that.

[1990LS400]

No one can guarantee that using snow tires on your car will make it perform like you would like it to. Even with snow tires, you will have to drive with extra caution on snow and ice - especially to keep out of the way of those who are not using snow tires.

All I can tell you is that the dealer is right - there is a "night and day" difference between using dedicated snow tires (with the mountain/snowflake label representing a certification) and using summer or "all season" tires.

I get a kick out of driving up hills with my Blizzak equipped 2000 LS400 while passing stuck 4-wheel-drive vehicles helplessly spinning their all season tires.

[Gaugster]

I have BridgeStone Turanza ER33. Are these all-season tires?

Yes, it appears that those are summer tires. Therefore they are going to be poor performers in the winter.

For years I have driven rear wheel drive cars in Chicago winters but mostly they were not high performance cars with wide tires. Now I have an AWD car with snow tires and drive in the snow with a grin.

ConsummerReports.ORG and TireRack.com are two very good resources for winter tire applications. There are many options to choose from. Basically you can just have your tires replaced so that you will keep using your stock wheels and TPM sensors. Another option is to by a new set of wheels with new sensors etc… This will cost more.

Some snow tires have a low speed rating like 80MPH which normally isn’t a problem but the tire will feel different when driving on dry winter days.

Do as much homework as you can before pulling the trigger on snow tires or a new car.

Regards,

[tsantoro]

Also,

So, people with snow tires are ok driving in the snow with the IS 350 or similar RWD cars?

I have had previously a FWD with all-season tires and it worked just fine in the snow, it was a lot less powered, but I wasn't sliding when I broke (at least a majority of the time)

Jeff.

A RWD vehicle with traction control and four snow tires will outperform an AWD with all season tires. Get yourself a set of snow tires. If you can afford it, buy a set of rims to mount them on. Remember, you need to purchase a set of TPMS sensors ($400+ extra) with the new rims, and have your dealer set them up for you.

This is the best possible solution for an IS 350.

[gordonw]

Just buy four decent snow tires and you'll be all set, like some speed rated Blizzak LM25s. It is after all a rear wheel drive car. Its funny how times have changed. We've been driving front wheel drive cars for so long, people, particularly the newer generations, have forgotten there was a time when cars were primarily rear wheel drive. I can still remember as a kid, my father would put on snows on his Olds Cutlass in the winter.

Here in the northeast right now, we're doing alot of winter tire change overs. We're changing over LS400/LS430/LS460, GS, IS, etc.

[Craig F]

While I don't have an IS 350, I have an Acura TL with summer tires - 235's. In the snow, they are horrendous. I mean terrible and unsafe. I just installed some dedicated snow tires - Blizzak WS-60's. The difference is night and day. There is a huge difference between summer tires and winter tires in terms of snow traction. In my mind, this isn't really about the fact that the IS 350 is RWD. The IS 350 has high-performance summer tires. These tires are wide and have a tread compound and tread design that was developed for uncompromised summer performance. Everything that makes them perform in the summer makes them terrible in the snow - they are wide, have hard rubber, the tread blocks aren't as deep, etc....

I say get some winter tires on dedicated rims - go to Thetirerack.com and pick them out. It will cost you around $1,100 or so, but that's probably cheaper than selling your car and buying a new one. Obviously, when there is snow, you need to drive with more caution, but the winter tires will make an enormous improvement in your traction. If you want, you could probably put some extra weight in the trunk, but that won't do much if you don't change your tires.

C.

[joeb427]

Take off the summer tires.Summer tires harden in cold weather and lose grip on dry roads let alone snow and cold rain,tires wear faster and have longer panic stops.

Get a set of snows for the rear or Blizaks all around.

[webjeff]

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

[joeb427]

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 is outrageous for tires...unless you're getting rims too.

Do it right and get Blizzaks.

[webjeff]

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 is outrageous for tires...unless you're getting rims too.

Do it right and get Blizzaks.

I talked with the tire specialists at Lexus and they said I'm getting the Nokian brand. He claims it's better for the IS 350 since it's a lighter car and says the Blizzaks are good, but they are for heavier cars and says I should get the best tire for the car (I agree). Any of you agree?

The $2300 is for new tires, rims, and storage of my old tires till summer, its a one time charge, then I can go in and out in fall and spring or whenever.

Jeff.

[Gaugster]

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 sounds like the Lexus dealer price for complete wheels as well as storage of your summer wheels. You can save at least 1000 bucks if you purchased from any other place but you have to store your own wheels. Lexus will charge full dealer price for the TPM sensors etc... so you get hosed really good.

Any snow tire should do well but Blizzaks are hard to beat. I chose Dunlops Sport 3D's based on a great deal of research. Make sure the tire you get has the snowflake / mountain icon on the tire sidewall.

I spent about 1400 for 4 snow tires with TPM sensors and aftermarket 17" rims. This includes shipping and ~$50 to have the TPM sensor ID's programmed by a Toyota dealer. Lexus wanted about 140 for the same service. Go Figure?????? There are even lower cost setups too.

The traction button you refer to defaults to the "ON" setting. You disable it when you push the button! This may explain some of your problems. Read the FM before you do something you will really regret.:chairshot:

[joeb427]

Thanks for the responses so far. I am getting the idea, Get snow tires! :)

I have an appointment for Saturday morning to get them purchased and installed for $2300 (ouch!). Well worth it to keep my car though. I just hope its enough traction, I don't expect to be doing 80 round corners, I do drive very cautiously in the winter, but I just want to feel like my car will stop given enough time and slow enough speed. If im going 5mph, I should be able to stop, easy as that.

They said a brand of tire that wasn't blizzaks tires, it was something different but the guy said they are really good... should I trust what they put on, or demand blizzaks?

One more question: I see that traction button down by my steering wheel the little picture of a car and 3 wayve lines. When I turn that on, it will eventually go off after a while, is that ok? I wasn't sure. Even when I turn it off, it still seems to turn on when I started sliding (weird, why even have a button then)

$2300 sounds like the Lexus dealer price for complete wheels as well as storage of your summer wheels. You can save at least 1000 bucks if you purchased from any other place but you have to store your own wheels. Lexus will charge full dealer price for the TPM sensors etc... so you get hosed really good.

Any snow tire should do well but Blizzaks are hard to beat. I chose Dunlops Sport 3D's based on a great deal of research. Make sure the tire you get has the snowflake / mountain icon on the tire sidewall.

I spent about 1400 for 4 snow tires with TPM sensors and aftermarket 17" rims. This includes shipping and ~$50 to have the TPM sensor ID's programmed by a Toyota dealer. Lexus wanted about 140 for the same service. Go Figure?????? There are even lower cost setups too.

The traction button you refer to defaults to the "ON" setting. You disable it when you push the button! This may explain some of your problems. Read the FM before you do something you will really regret.:chairshot:

I doubt that $2300 includes wheels.All 4 wheels alone not even without the sensors list for that.I got to believe it's just the usual Lexus service dept ripoff.

As far as Nokian being better than Blizzaks,I wouldn't know but have read that Blizzaks are the best.The Nokians are a good tire,though.

Lexus will go with the bigger profit maker.

[Gaugster]

I talked with the tire specialists at Lexus and they said I'm getting the Nokian brand. He claims it's better for the IS 350 since it's a lighter car and says the Blizzaks are good, but they are for heavier cars and says I should get the best tire for the car (I agree). Any of you agree?

The $2300 is for new tires, rims, and storage of my old tires till summer, its a one time charge, then I can go in and out in fall and spring or whenever.

Jeff.

I checked out a CR from November of 2006 (kind of old). They rated the Blizzak LM-25 and the Nokian WR All Weather Plus almost the same performance. The blizzak had a slight advantage but i doubt that it would be noticable in a real world application.

Since I am in the suburbs of Chicago, what dealer are you working with?

Also for "joeb427" - The dealers around here do the winter packages with aftermarket rims not factory Lexus wheels. It still a rip-off though.

Regards,

[jrobsea]

Check out tirerack.com. Even if you don't want to order your wheels/tires online, it will give you a ballpark for what price is reasonable. $2300 does not seem reasonable to me. I priced out a setup for my IS, and it came out to a little about $1400 for 4 snow tires (Blizzak), 4 aftermarket alloy wheels, 4 TPMS sensors and installation.

I wouldn't pay a $1,000 premium to go to the dealer for wheels and tires.

[joeb427]

Check out tirerack.com. Even if you don't want to order your wheels/tires online, it will give you a ballpark for what price is reasonable. $2300 does not seem reasonable to me. I priced out a setup for my IS, and it came out to a little about $1400 for 4 snow tires (Blizzak), 4 aftermarket alloy wheels, 4 TPMS sensors and installation.

I wouldn't pay a $1,000 premium to go to the dealer for wheels and tires.

But he has 18" wheels.

Odd but Tirerack doesn't seem to have any 18" tires for him for a IS 350.He can go with a 17" set of Blizzaks with rwheels.

[Gaugster]

But he has 18" wheels.

Odd but Tirerack doesn't seem to have any 18" tires for him for a IS 350.He can go with a 17" set of Blizzaks with rwheels.

Everything that I have read suggests that doing all four wheels is a must. This is especially true for modern cars with stability control etc...

Also you need good tires on the rear to accelerate but you also need good tires on the front to slow down in bad conditions.

EDIT I saw "rwheels" in you post and though you meant just rear wheels. Maybe this was a mistake.

You can go a -1 on your rim sizes typically. My car came stock with 17's so I don't have any experience with the lexus 18".

[webjeff]

Gaugster

Since I am in the suburbs of Chicago, what dealer are you working with?

Bredeman Lexus in Glenview.

I don't remember the size of tire they are putting on. They also said it's a one time charge, so I should be able to walk in there come spring and have my tires put back on free I think ?? Just need to pay for new tires if these go bad.

Even if I order from Tirerack though, that's just the tires & wheels & sensors, fine and dandy, but I don't know how to put tires on, so I'd have to go somewhere for that. It just seems easier if they do it and store my old ones. Seems convenient even if it is a little pricey.

I'm only concered with how much better traction I will get and if I will be able to commute to work (SAFELY) driving slow, but not tons slower than traffic, to get to work and back.

Jeff.

[joeb427]

Gaugster

Since I am in the suburbs of Chicago, what dealer are you working with?

Bredeman Lexus in Glenview.

I don't remember the size of tire they are putting on. They also said it's a one time charge, so I should be able to walk in there come spring and have my tires put back on free I think ?? Just need to pay for new tires if these go bad.

Even if I order from Tirerack though, that's just the tires & wheels & sensors, fine and dandy, but I don't know how to put tires on, so I'd have to go somewhere for that. It just seems easier if they do it and store my old ones. Seems convenient even if it is a little pricey.

I'm only concered with how much better traction I will get and if I will be able to commute to work (SAFELY) driving slow, but not tons slower than traffic, to get to work and back.

Jeff.

Tire rack can send the tires,rims and sensors to a Tire Rack installer in your area.It's easy and I've done it twice.You will have to store your own tires,though.

Whatever floats your boat.

Gangstar,I was talking about going with all four tires.

[stirling]

well there are these new tires out that i have seen advertised that are made especially for the snowy winter months and they have small sharp metal beads flat on the tires so you can grip with still a very smoth and safe ride without being worried of slipping

[webjeff]

well there are these new tires out that i have seen advertised that are made especially for the snowy winter months and they have small sharp metal beads flat on the tires so you can grip with still a very smoth and safe ride without being worried of slipping

I wonder if anything should or can be added to my up and coming winter tires like this? Is it even neccesary?

Also, Thanks again for everyone's who's chimed in. I'm still curious from anyone who actually drives an IS 350 in the snow with winter tires, what they think.

Thanks

Jeff.

[Gaugster]

Gaugster

Since I am in the suburbs of Chicago, what dealer are you working with?

Bredeman Lexus in Glenview.

I don't remember the size of tire they are putting on. They also said it's a one time charge, so I should be able to walk in there come spring and have my tires put back on free I think ?? Just need to pay for new tires if these go bad.

Even if I order from Tirerack though, that's just the tires & wheels & sensors, fine and dandy, but I don't know how to put tires on, so I'd have to go somewhere for that. It just seems easier if they do it and store my old ones. Seems convenient even if it is a little pricey.

I'm only concered with how much better traction I will get and if I will be able to commute to work (SAFELY) driving slow, but not tons slower than traffic, to get to work and back.

Jeff.

Yes, I can see your point. I am a gear head that loves working on cars and researching this type of stuff to death. Going through the dealer is the most convenient because they will store the unused set of wheels. From what I remember, they will switch the wheels on & off per season for free after the initial purchase. I would confirm it in writing though.

As stated before - The difference will be Night and Day. Do Not hesitate if the money doesn't concern you. Once you get snow tires, your only problem will be over confidence because your traction will be so much better. So be cool. Also remember that you will be able to stop more quickly then most other cars. So if you make a panic stop, there is a good chance that the car behind you won't be able to stop as quickly. You alway have to watch out for the other drivers.

Regards,

[stirling]

another good idea is to get some pirelli optional studded winter tires that you can insert studs for the harsher days as well as just having good winter tires for light winter days.

also heres a nokian that is optionally studded for max grip:

http://www.tirefactory.net/Hakkapeliitta%202.htm

basically a really good snow tire should serve you good