CompuMan

I started a new thread on tires because I wanted to share my experience with you all. I have a 2008 ES350 with 25000 miles. I am the second owner and the first owner seems to have never rotated his tires, so the factory Michelin's on the front were very bad. Didn't realize that because the dealer at my last oil change had rotated them to the rear. When I had another oil change, this time at the local Toyota dealer they pointed out the fact that the tires on the rear, which Had been on the front, were in very bad shape. I looked myself and they were right. So I put a new set of Michelin's on.
I chose Micnelin Primacy 94V MXM4's (55,000 mile warranty). I have used this brand and model on my other ES350 and really liked them. And, they are just great on this ES350 also. Finally, I just got my rebate credit card from Discount Auto for $100.00.
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garsarno

I just bought a set of these for my daughter's 2010 Fusion Sport, size 225/45X18. On sale at Tire rack for $119 each plus shipping ($48 total) for $526 less $70 rebate. Worked out to $114 per tire.

ThumperPup

I ended up going with the Primacy MXV4 on my 07 i usualy enjoy michelin alot but i don't really notice anything special about these this time

i know i can go back and change to another tire if i want within 30 days of purchase but not sure what i would go with they don't have the MXM4 they just have the Energy MXV4 S8 wich is the OEM tire i know the warranty is less miles on them because its a softer rubber so might be a softer ride chances are but darn i don't want to change tires every year

don6709

main complaint against the michelin's energy S8's OEM on the 2008 es350 has been treadwear life. if you are happy with a tire that gives you jsut 30,000 miles a set . then you will have no problem with this.

CQRT

I'm happy with 30k miles on a set of good riding, well performing tires . . . My experience with Michelins is pretty good.

jagtoes

So does that include mounting and balance? What's the total price vs. going to a tire dealer for the installation. Did you remove and replace the o-rings on the TPS.

MadMax96

I got the same tires and the same deal from Discount Tire. I also opened a CC w/ them to get another $30 rebate (0% financing for 6 mo).

Then took the rebate cards and used it towards brakes, which were also needed.

smarty666

I just had to replace the OEM Micheline Energy's at 35k miles on my ES350. What annoys me is, I wanted to get to 40k with them but they really wore unevenly and were giving me all kinds of problems driving the car, especially with a heavy pull to the left on highways and interstates, despite the fact I had all wheel alignments done by the Lexus dealer at 15k and 28k miles and they still wore unevenly which really pisses me off.

What I'm worried about now is, I had 4 top of the line Michelin Primacy MXV4s put on, and I still have a heavy pull to the left on highways and interstates. The tire dealership where I got the Michelin did an alignment check and said everything was within spec, yet they did it before putting the new tires on. Shouldn't they have done it after putting the MXV4s on?

In addition, they did a regular balancing on the new tires, but I'm still having way to much shimming in the steering wheel & pedals when I'm doing 70-80mph on the interstate each day. I asked about doing a sport performance balancing, but they gave me the story they only do that on high performance tires/cars like a Corvette, Porsche, etc. I think they should be sport performance balanced since that balances the tires at high rates of speed, don't you. I don't think I should have to deal with any shimmy in the wheel/pedals on top quality tires like the MXV4s.

What do people think I should do. I know something is not right with the alignment/balancing and I don't want to ruin these great tires after spending $800 on them.

garsarno

When you say "regular" balancing, I hope they did a high speed balance. I remember getting one tire out of four that needed a bunch of weights added to the wheel. Sometimes its just one tire that is slightly near out of specification that can throw things off. And yes, they should align with the new tires on and at my garage, they have me sit in the car while they are tweaking the last adjustments out.

smarty666

Thanks so much for the comments. This is what I figured. My local tire shop offers a regular balancing at $13.00 a tire and then what they call sport performance balancing at $18.00 a tire. They told me I didn't need the sport performance balancing b/c I don't have a sports car.

I believe the sport performance balancing is what you call high speed balancing. From what I've read, sport performance/high speed balancing should always be done on Grand Touring, High Performance, and Ultra High Performance tires because of their speed and load ratings.

I could understand just having the regular balancing on all season touring or passenger all season tires but not these.

I don't understand either why they checked the alignment before putting the new tires on. Once you put new tires on, your changing the specs and they should have done it after putting the new MXV4s tires on.

From the pulling I'm having on the interstate/highways and the vibrations at 70-80mph these tires will be shot to hell before you know it if I don't nip this in the bud now. Damn tire dealerships. Just how to hose the customer and make money. If I have to come back in 5-10k miles with tire wear issues, they'd be more than happy to get you new tires or charge you for balancing/alignment again.

SW17LS

The only tires I would put on that car are the Michelin Primacy MXV4.

As to smarty's concern, alignment before or after mounting of the new tires is appropriate. The new tires won't effect the alignment. However, looking back every time I have had tires replaced and an alignment done they have done it after mounting the new tires.

If you have a pull, there is something wrong. If its not the alignment, and that truly is in spec, then they need to really look at all the other components of the suspension and make sure everything is okay. More likely a bad alignment.

Vibration is poor balancing. Michelin tires are VERY round, and its really unlikely that there would be some issue that would cause them to have a lump or a heavy spot. Even so, the dealer's balancing equipment should show that and if a tire does have such a heavy spot it should be replaced...

They will always just do a standard balance on a car like this, thats all it should need, but if you have vibration issues I would have it road force balanced.