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Once again I am in appreciation of this site. I have LS-V's and after looking around today to replace them, I found they were no longer available. I stopped at tirerack.com and then here and found this thread. Looked into the Primacy MXV4's, saw some reviews (see links below) and decided I'm pulling the trigger. Thanks for the info and your discussion here guys.Test/Review 1: http://cars.about.com/b/2007/06/01/testing...rimacy-mxv4.htm Test/Review 2: http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests/testDisplay.jsp?ttid=86

Did you have the MXV4's as OEM or the Dunlop? I'm curious as to whether you had experienced the MXV4 before buying them. Thx

Well, it is tire time again for me. I previously came here and ended up purchasing Toyo TPT's to replace the OEM Michelin MXV4's at 30-35K. I'm nearing 70K and 1.5 years later, the tires need replacing. MICHELIN MXV4 Liked: Quiet Didn't like: Squeeling tires around easy curves, not good traction in foul weather (snow, rain, slick surfaces) TOYO TPT Liked: Great traction, very hard to squeel Didn't like:Far louder on road (I don't think the ride was worse, but am not 100% positive) WHAT TO BUY NOW? It is 1.5 years later. That is an enormous amount of time in the technology world. Have there been any breakthru's in tires? I see mention of the Goodyear triple thread and another brand named Falken (new to me). Basically... I want 2 things, good traction in all seasons, and then good ride/no noise for driving with windows down and long trips. If I had my way, I'd combine the MXV4 and the TPT and be willing to pay a premium for it. Does such a beast exist?? Thanks in advance for any and all help.

Your first choice should be the Goodyear Triple Treads - www.goodyearassurance.com second choice should be the Falken Ziex ZE-512. Third, I would go with the Yoko's. Keep us posted & good luck! B) ← Lexusfreak, Hmmm... I see from other postings that you have the Toyo TPT's (I bought those for my 2002 ES300 1.5yrs ago). Other than the very much increased road noise, I love the traction being a big improvement over my OEM MXV4's. I'm back in the market for tires, having worn mine out at 35-40K. I see in the note I am quoting that you're recommending tripple threads, Ziex, and Yoko's. Are Toyo's out of the picture? Or were you simply responding to the options listed in the beginning of this thread?

It is very strange that your experience is so opposite my experience (unless of course the aftermarket-OEM theory, see note above this one, is correct and my OEM tires just sucked). I had MXV4's as OEM on my car, and when I went to replace them at about 30-35K, I read the forums and chose the Toyo TPT's. I noticed 2 things immediately and consistently thereafter. 1. The Toyo's were much louder than the MXV4's (I did not notice a degradation in ride) 2. the Toyo's gripped far far better than the MXV4's and performed better in foul whether (was driving them in Detroit MI). Unfortunately after 35-40K, I am not looking at getting tires again and am going through the same thought process.. which to get, is there better technology/tires out there, etc. See this thread on the MXV4's just caught me off guard... I will consider them again (they had been out of the running due to traction/handling) ... I miss the quiet, but don't want to sacrifice traction where I'm living now (hilly, snowy, etc.)

OEM tires are made and priced to suit the auto manufacturers. In most cases their prime consideration is nice ride and low noise. Yes, they get a really good price due mostly to volume. Distribution costs are minimal when you are shipping to car makers. If you look at it from a roundness, balance, comfort standpoint, the tires going to OEM are at the tightest end of the spec. ← I don't agree with the theory proposed by SW03ES (or vbdenny?) on Automotive manufacturers putting less than aftermarket quality tires on new cars (or b-stock). It makes sense in one direction from a pure pennies standpoint, but not from a warranty/complaint/customer satisfaction standpoint. While I cannot speak for tires, I can speak directly from job experience at a Tier I automotive supplier for radios and say this is most definitely not the case. The radios that go into a vehicle on the production lines have far tighter specs than aftermarket radios you pick up off crutchfield.com, etc. (A stock versus B stock). I recognize that tires are a consumable and are therefore a different beast, but before I accept said argument, I'd want to see proof. Good lord... can you imagine the bad press after the Ford Firestone saga if it came out that some automotive manufacturer was putting b-stock on all their new cars? On top of that... how foolish would it be for a tire manufacturer to allow people's first impression of their tire to be of their b-stock? (it is my opinion that many people stick with whatever tire they already have on a car, so the only time they see a new type of tire is when they change cars). Anyway... those are my thoughts on this.

Am I reading this correctly, if I lose my master key I will have to buy a new ecu computer as well as a new key to get a full function remote? Not to be rude, but are these opinions or facts? I've got a master key and a valet key. My car is a 2002 ES300. Thanks

I have an 02 as well.. what is it you do to accelerate the car and not achieve hesitation??

Rats.. no hints on getting the dash off. I may have to actually buy a service manual. Thanks for the empathy though!

I can't even describe how annoyed I was. But, oh well. Having it still happen has me annoyed to the point of buying a manual for the vehicle to figure out how to get the dash off. Hence the posting here (have you seen how expensive the service manuals are ?!)

That should read, GINGER ale saga. I've got a 2002 ES300. Not to be too dramatic, but I had a ginger ale mishap in my car and am now going crazy. I opened the bottle of ginger ale (Vernors) with too much pressure and it soaked my dash. Namely, my radio and environment controls. I tried immediately cleaning a couple of different ways. Unfortunately, starting the next day and ever since then (this has been a couple of months), many of the buttons stick. I had hoped that the residue would wear off eventually, but that has not happened. Can't tell you how frustrating it is to try to push a button that should be smooth as silk only to have to make it go "CLICK". I imagine the only way to address this is to take the dash off and clean each individual button... so (AT LONG LAST, MY QUESTION) how do I take the dash off? I'm reasonably mechanically able, other than the handling of gingle ale bottles, and should be able to follow directions. I simply have no idea how to get the dash off. Any suggestions? Thanks!

I thought someone early on in this thread mentioned doing the lemon law for this in CA and having success.

Strange day... I was talking to a local tire dealer inquiring about prices for the Toyo Proxes TPT and he was trying to stear me into a Continental or Michelin MXV4, stating that both tires were better longer wear tires than the Toyo. I truly get the feeling that these guys look at what size tire you are looking for and THEN try to put you into whatever they have in stock. So many opinions, so many tires.

Right now the two tires that seem to be standing the most out are.. - Toyo Proxes TPT - Continental ContiPremiumContact - Also, had a vote for Goodyear Eagle- HR... any other input on this tire? Has anyone every experienced the Toyo and Continental to compare?

Thanks for your replies... you've all given me more to research now. QUESTION -- Would you recommend those same tires regardless of price? While I don't want to spend more money than I have to, I am more than willing to spend whatever I need in order to get the best performance tire (rain, snow, handling, comfort driving). The reason? The difference between $400 and $650 for a set of tires is a lot. But it is nothing if I can go from a good tire to a great tire. That money spread out over years versus potential improvement in rain / snow handling is a no brainer to me... IF THE TIRE IS INDEED BETTER. The catch is figuring out which tire gives you the best performance.

Hi, I'm new to this forum and look forward to delving into the vast knowledge resource here :) I've got a 2002 ES300 that currently has the Michelin Engergy MXV4 Plus tires and need to replace them. If I replace with same tire, it looks to cost around $670 (Detroit MI prices). MY QUESTION -- What is the best tire to put on the ES300? I do about 25K miles a year with my car, much highway, but a lot on nasty Detroit roads AND snow driving. One of the tire outlets told me a good buy is the Michelin Hydro Edget. He said it is cheaper, wears better, is safer in the rain, better ride, just not as good at corning. True or sales pitch? I will spend whatever I need to. I want the best tire for this car. ANY INPUT WOULD BE MUCH APPRECIATED !!