LS430-Tire tires discussions (The Mother thread)
10-19-05, 11:09 AM
#1
Pole Position
Thread Starter
LS430-Tire tires discussions (The Mother thread)
The short version of my question is "what are good tires for my 2004 LS430 that won't wear out in 20,000 miles?". But there is a longer version and I am posting this on both the general LS board and on the LS430-specific board.
My 2004 LS430 is now about 2 years old with 22,000 miles. The factory Dunlops were pretty well worn when I pulled off the Nokian snow tires last spring. So I went to NTB to buy Michelins but the guy talked me into a cheaper (price) "Cooper Sigma" tire. Well, that was a mere 4,000 ago and the tires are LITERALLY worn by half....they started with 11/32nds and now have about 6 32/nds. IN JUST 4000 MILES!
So the manager at NTB tells me that the tires are "V" rated and that even if they give me a different brand (for yet more money, of course!), they'll wear fast too. My comment to him is my question for you all:
This is Pittsburgh. Up and down hills all day. Take my kids to school and wife to the supermarket. I don't do "touring". I want a REAL WORLD tire for city driving (vehicle has never been on a trip!) that will get, if I am not asking too much, at least 30,000 miles in, I admit, hard driving.
What happens if I don't get "V" rated tires? Will lightning strike? Will the car disintegrate?
What do you Lexophiles recommend?
My 2004 LS430 is now about 2 years old with 22,000 miles. The factory Dunlops were pretty well worn when I pulled off the Nokian snow tires last spring. So I went to NTB to buy Michelins but the guy talked me into a cheaper (price) "Cooper Sigma" tire. Well, that was a mere 4,000 ago and the tires are LITERALLY worn by half....they started with 11/32nds and now have about 6 32/nds. IN JUST 4000 MILES!
So the manager at NTB tells me that the tires are "V" rated and that even if they give me a different brand (for yet more money, of course!), they'll wear fast too. My comment to him is my question for you all:
This is Pittsburgh. Up and down hills all day. Take my kids to school and wife to the supermarket. I don't do "touring". I want a REAL WORLD tire for city driving (vehicle has never been on a trip!) that will get, if I am not asking too much, at least 30,000 miles in, I admit, hard driving.
What happens if I don't get "V" rated tires? Will lightning strike? Will the car disintegrate?
What do you Lexophiles recommend?
Last edited by RA40; 12-01-16 at 03:34 PM. Reason: merge like threads
The following users liked this post:
danforth (10-28-23)
10-19-05, 02:44 PM
#3
Just put goodyear assurance tripple tread on mine and love it, great in water, ice, and snow ,if you are in colorado. A little pricy around 560 if you have the stock 16s but its worth it for me here!
Last edited by joshnoel; 10-19-05 at 02:49 PM.
10-19-05, 04:18 PM
#4
Daryl,
Guessing that your LS430 is on 17's? I see some of the latest versions on 18's. My older LS400 is about to give some Kumho SPT's (Ku-31) a try but I don't expect to get more than 25'000 miles.
I have a little over a month wait until it is available in 235/45/18
Give us a tire size & someone will have a rec.
Guessing that your LS430 is on 17's? I see some of the latest versions on 18's. My older LS400 is about to give some Kumho SPT's (Ku-31) a try but I don't expect to get more than 25'000 miles.
I have a little over a month wait until it is available in 235/45/18
Give us a tire size & someone will have a rec.
10-19-05, 04:27 PM
#5
Pole Position
Thread Starter
215/55vr17,6f71
10-19-05, 06:25 PM
#6
What you are describing is certainly not touring! Also sounds like you have absolutely no concern or need for a V or Z rated tire.
I am a huge proponent of the TireRack and have done all my tire business with them for 5 + years. You have the interesting phenomenon of choices in this size!
On my list would be the Avon TechM500 & M550, Kumho Solus KH16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 225/50/17 should have a diameter of 25.9 & be very close to the 26.3 of the stock size.
The Kumho ASX rates well in this size. Shame that the Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S does not come in a size close to yours. I hear great things!!
I guess you have 2 sets of rims or do you switch when winter hits???
Sorry, here in Texas we just shut down operations at the first sign of a snowflake.
I am a huge proponent of the TireRack and have done all my tire business with them for 5 + years. You have the interesting phenomenon of choices in this size!
On my list would be the Avon TechM500 & M550, Kumho Solus KH16
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
A 225/50/17 should have a diameter of 25.9 & be very close to the 26.3 of the stock size.
The Kumho ASX rates well in this size. Shame that the Pirelli P Zero Nero M&S does not come in a size close to yours. I hear great things!!
I guess you have 2 sets of rims or do you switch when winter hits???
Sorry, here in Texas we just shut down operations at the first sign of a snowflake.
10-19-05, 08:39 PM
#7
Lexus Champion
i use V-rated ContiExtremeContacts on my car, but i'm sure you can use a H-rated tire like the Bridgestone Potenza RE950/G009, Firestone Firehawk LH30, Michelin Pilot Exalto A/S, H-rated Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, Toyo TPT and Yokohama Avid series. Some places like Costco WILL NOT install anything rated lower than OEM spec and a OEM or OEM approved tire size, so if you go to Costco for tires, the only choices you have are the Michelin Energy MXV4 Plus, the Michelin Pilot Sport series, Bridgestone Potenza RE730, and BFGoodrich g-Force KDW/KDWS/Sport series on your LS430.
Trending Topics
10-20-05, 03:23 AM
#8
Lexus Champion
Join Date: Feb 2001
Location: SF, CA
Posts: 1,673
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
wow.... 20,000 miles?
I know the oem tires on my ls were there since 2001 and I have put 49,000 hard miles on hot pavement... now the tires are completely bald.
I am trying to find good tires for the LS... they are really expensive. Here on Guam, they are charging me 175 each tire for those cheap coopers.
The goodyear LS's that came with my car are 155 each.
By the way, why is your tire 215/55/17...... mine are 225/55/17.
I know the oem tires on my ls were there since 2001 and I have put 49,000 hard miles on hot pavement... now the tires are completely bald.
I am trying to find good tires for the LS... they are really expensive. Here on Guam, they are charging me 175 each tire for those cheap coopers.
The goodyear LS's that came with my car are 155 each.
By the way, why is your tire 215/55/17...... mine are 225/55/17.
10-20-05, 05:55 AM
#9
Lead Lap
Join Date: Jan 2003
Location: New York
Posts: 534
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I would recommend the Conti Extreme Contacts. That tire has really deep thread, that allows you to get more mileage out of it.
I had them on my old ES 300, and when I sold the car, I had put on almost 20,000 miles on the tires, and when I handed it off to the buyer, there were still useable thread on the tires.
I had them on my old ES 300, and when I sold the car, I had put on almost 20,000 miles on the tires, and when I handed it off to the buyer, there were still useable thread on the tires.
10-20-05, 06:27 AM
#10
Driver
Join Date: May 2004
Location: New York
Posts: 107
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I was facing a similar dilemma when i had to put on new tires on my 99 ls400 almost three years ago. I live in NYC and as some of you know the traffic here is horrendous. My average speed in city driving is 19 mph, that's 19mph combined on the LIE and Manhattan streets. Its a real treat when i have an opportunity to hit 60mph on the highways around the city.
So with that in mind i put on T rated tires on my car, specifically Pirelli P400 three years ago. I've put on almost 40,000 since and there is still about half the thread left. Great traction in the rain but its only fairly good in the snow. Overall I'm very happy with the tires, good price, don't wear out very quickly and quite, perfect for city driving.
So with that in mind i put on T rated tires on my car, specifically Pirelli P400 three years ago. I've put on almost 40,000 since and there is still about half the thread left. Great traction in the rain but its only fairly good in the snow. Overall I'm very happy with the tires, good price, don't wear out very quickly and quite, perfect for city driving.
Last edited by vedro; 10-20-05 at 06:38 AM.
10-20-05, 05:22 PM
#11
Rookie
Join Date: Oct 2005
Location: CA
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
All you ever want to know about rubbers....I mean rubber...
http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/...tTreadwear.htm
http://www.safercar.gov/tires/pages/...tTreadwear.htm
10-24-05, 11:46 AM
#12
What kind of wear characteristics...are they worn evenly across or are there signs of an alignment issue? What tire pressures do you drive at?
Real world tires vary with car set-up and driver. I've had tires that were rated to go 40K replaced at 12K miles and tires expected to last 10K miles go 28K miles. This is one area where a good alignment buy can make or break tire wear if the suspension is in good form. Tire Rack is a great resource. PM Brandon, he may have some suggestions to pursue based on your desires in a tire.
These days, I would like a tire to perform well up to about 25K miles. Afterwards, the heat cycling usually has changed the characteristics that I'm wanting fresher rubber. I experienced that with the Michelin MX4V. They were acceptable to about 22K then it became more apparent to me that the tire was not performing as I liked it. There was sufficient tread but handling and grip were dropping. YMMV of course.
Real world tires vary with car set-up and driver. I've had tires that were rated to go 40K replaced at 12K miles and tires expected to last 10K miles go 28K miles. This is one area where a good alignment buy can make or break tire wear if the suspension is in good form. Tire Rack is a great resource. PM Brandon, he may have some suggestions to pursue based on your desires in a tire.
These days, I would like a tire to perform well up to about 25K miles. Afterwards, the heat cycling usually has changed the characteristics that I'm wanting fresher rubber. I experienced that with the Michelin MX4V. They were acceptable to about 22K then it became more apparent to me that the tire was not performing as I liked it. There was sufficient tread but handling and grip were dropping. YMMV of course.
10-24-05, 12:17 PM
#13
Pole Position
Thread Starter
Very even wear. No alignment problem (I have it checked 2-3 times/year), Pressure at 32PSI as per "the book" on the car and checked "religiously" every 1st and 15th of each month.
10-25-05, 09:37 AM
#14
Don't know if this helps anyone, but I have some initial impressions on the Kumho SPT's. They came in over a full month early from what the TireRack had predicted.
Mine are 235/45/18's mounted on SC430 wheels. Handling is vastly improved over anything I ever had on my old 16's. Turn in is loads easier & quicker. Tire is also nice and quiet since I just made a round trip to Austin w occasional speeds over 100mph.
Does not work for Daryl since it would be a poor tire for snow.
Interestingly enough I had to get Discount Tire to mount these for me & they charged a very reasonable $40.00. I had asked for them not to balance and did not pay for it , I think the guy balanced them out of habit I wanted to put on 250-300 miles prior to a proper balance.
Mine are 235/45/18's mounted on SC430 wheels. Handling is vastly improved over anything I ever had on my old 16's. Turn in is loads easier & quicker. Tire is also nice and quiet since I just made a round trip to Austin w occasional speeds over 100mph.
Does not work for Daryl since it would be a poor tire for snow.
Interestingly enough I had to get Discount Tire to mount these for me & they charged a very reasonable $40.00. I had asked for them not to balance and did not pay for it , I think the guy balanced them out of habit I wanted to put on 250-300 miles prior to a proper balance.
10-25-05, 11:06 AM
#15
Originally Posted by damon
Interestingly enough I had to get Discount Tire to mount these for me & they charged a very reasonable $40.00. I had asked for them not to balance and did not pay for it , I think the guy balanced them out of habit I wanted to put on 250-300 miles prior to a proper balance.
I knew they were going to hit me hard, but they have very good equipment and good personnel working it. I just didn't know anyone else I could trust not to damage the wheels (I'm sure they are around, but I don't know who they are).
