OK, I'm sold, the CINTURATO P7 ALL SEASON PLUS, 225/45/18 going on the ES.....

 

It's a very soft ride. It's softer than my 2000 Toyota Camry.

 

How do you think the 2016 with the softer ride for this generation compares to a 2012?. Especially with dampening bumps on the road. Will it handle bumps as well as a 5th gen es350?

 

Best way to know is to go drive one. I would make sure it has 17" wheels.

I think you will find it rides very similarly.

 

I agree... when I bought my 2013 es I test drove one on the lot that had 17" wheels... had a very nice comfortable ride... but I actually bought one off the show room ( nope, didn't drive it ) and within 2 or 3 miles from the dealership I thought " what the hell have I done? " The ride was considerably rougher... when I got home I looked and realized the one I bought had 18" rims.. I knew that before I bought it, but it just didn't dawn on me there would be a difference in ride... I personally like the look of the car with 18's, but that's just me.. I eventually got rid of the tires that came on the car ( please avoid bridgestone turanza's ).. they are noisy, and ride really rough... I changed over to a set of Pirelli's.. Cinturo P7 Plus and love them. they made a world of difference in the ride...

Roland

 

I have had a 2005 ES330, 2008 ES350 and currently have a 2014 ES350. The 2005 had the smoothest, plush ride-almost zen like. Although I liked the 2008 and the 2014, I never quite get the same relaxing feeling I got from the 2005. The 2014 does handle better than the earlier models and its transmission shifts much smoother. I have gotten a 2013 service loaner with the Bridgestone tires and it rode awful (for a Lexus). I have recently driven two 2017 service loaners with Michelin tires and they rode a little better than my 2014. For tires, I highly recommend the Toyo Versado Noir. I had two sets on my 2008 and they rode as good or better than Michelins and were cheaper. I got almost 50K miles out of one set and had about 20K or so on the 2nd set when I traded the car in.

 

Have you tried airing the tires on your current one down to 30 PSI?

 

That is probably the most valid point made in this thread.

Besides any actual differences in various ES generations, there are multiple other variables in play when comparing the the ride quality the Generation 6 ES to the ride quality of earlier ES generations. Those variables could include wheel size, tire pressure, tire brand, the type of road surface being driven on, subjective bias of the person making the evaluation, etc.

I'm confident in guessing that, if I was comparing ride quality of the Generation 6 ES to that of the Generation 4 and Generation 5 ES, I could conclude that any of the 3 generations had the firmest ride or any had the softest ride by changing and using various combinations of those variables.

 

I agree they deliver a quiet, calm, relaxed ride with minimal bump impact harshness and yet they also have good directional stability and low rolling resistance for good fuel economy. Not high priced either.

 

I normally keep them at around 32 or 33 psi. I have let them run down to 31 but only noticed a subtle increase in smoothness but what seemed like a little more tire noise, but that could be attributed to road conditions.