Pirelli Cinturatos are Quiet!
Okay, so back in August I responded to this thread saying how quiet my Pirelli Cinturato P7 Plus tires were. And they still are, but now I want to ask you all several questions. I noticed about three months ago, while they are still fairly quiet, they are beginning to ride a little rough.. and when you hit bumps, you really feel it now, where as before it those tires really helped absorb the blow. So I stopped at a local tire store and asked them to check the tires.. Gentleman inspected the tires and told me I still had great tread left on all 4 tires.. I think he said one tire had 10/32' left, two were at 8/32' and one at 7/32'. And apparently when it comes to tread they don't recommend replacing them until you get down to around 3/32'. However the guy at the tire store said he did see a few places on the outside tread that showed signs of "dry rot" and even said he saw a place further into the middle of the tread that had some shaving of tread. He also said the tires felt really hard. I only have 30K miles on these tires, but when I told him I had them put on 6 years ago, he suggested replacing them, telling me that most tire manufacturers recommend replacement at 6 years regardless of tread depth. So here are my questions.. 1- Is this guy just trying to sell me tires or is he correct? So let's say I replace them. I know Perelli's have a new version of the Cinturato on the market.. but I've also been looking to see if I could find a tire that rides even smoother than my pirelli's did when they were new. Some of those I'm looking at are the afore mentioned Pirelli's, Yokohama Avid Ascend GT OR LX... Goodyear Assurance Comfortdrive and Goodyear Assurance Max Life. I called a firestone dealer and he wanted swore the new Bridgestone Turanza's were outstanding, but my Avalon and my ES both came with those tires and I couldn't wait to get rid of them. So given all this I've given you, what say you... replacing at 6 years a good idea or scam, and recommendations for the SMOOTHEST riding LOW NOISE tire.. and by the way, I do a lot of highway driving, 75 mph and I live in the south where the temperature is normally in the upper 90s to triple digits.. Appreciate your input folks. Thank you in advance.
They are nice. FYI: I was Michelin only guy for years and years. For the expensive price they just wear way to fast. I have had Michelin tires crack like that too in age. Time to get some new shoes!
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
Thanks ESULLY.... Tires on my ES and on my 4 Runner are 6 hitting the 6 year mark right about now, and that is by date code... I actually stopped at another tire shop and had them look at the tires on my ES... They said the tires looked fine.. So I have one tire shop telling me it's time to get new shoes, and another saying they're fine. It's not a huge deal, obviously putting new tires on would give me peace of mind.. it's just that in my old age I kind of like hanging on to my money, and since tires on both my vehicles are at the 6 year mark, this could run me up to 2 grand or so if I replace them all... still, better that then sitting on the side of the road at midnight with a blowout.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
Dont do anything Goodyaer. They went downhill years ago. I have the newest P7 A/S Plus III on my GS nothong could be more quite or smoother. If it ain't broke, dont try to fix it. lol!
They are nice. FYI: I was Michelin only guy for years and years. For the expensive price they just wear way to fast. I have had Michelin tires crack like that too in age. Time to get some new shoes!
They are nice. FYI: I was Michelin only guy for years and years. For the expensive price they just wear way to fast. I have had Michelin tires crack like that too in age. Time to get some new shoes!
jgscott... thank you for the reply. Really? I'm kind of surprised to hear that about Goodyear tires, the assurance max life and assurance comfort drive both got excellent reviews. I currently have Pirelli Cinturato P7 Plus tires on my ES and I've been looking at the newest version that Pirellis have out that you have on your GS. Glad to hear that you think they're smooth and quiet. And I may very well go back with another set of Pirelli's. My only hesitancy there was that they have started riding "hard" in the last few months on my car after 30K miles.. bu then again they are six years old.. and truthfully, I can't remember getting much more than 30 to 35K miles on any V speed rated tire I've had before. like you said.. Time for new shoes. Appreciate the reply sir.
On the old tires hard ride? If the side wall showed outside damage and other, the struture would break down and affect the ride, but again old 6+ year old rubber and cords? I would not be surpise if some absortion materials deteriorated.
Seems all the diffrent model Lexus CL forums have the P7 as the go too now. Michelin too, but like me most tired of Michelin = lots of money, fast wear out. Read back a few pages also. ex.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...l#post11333504
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2014
Posts: 756
Likes: 168
From: Louisiana
So of recent that Goodyear was on the Acura my Daugther just bought. Brand new they roared and were a hard ride. I took them off sold them and put on a new set of P7 A/S Plus III's, night and day. Those reviews can be tweaked to the profit and if someone has old bad tires, any new tires would be a positive to them rght away.
On the old tires hard ride? If the side wall showed outside damage and other, the struture would break down and affect the ride, but again old 6+ year old rubber and cords? I would not be surpise if some absortion materials deteriorated.
Seems all the diffrent model Lexus CL forums have the P7 as the go too now. Michelin too, but like me most tired of Michelin = lots of money, fast wear out. Read back a few pages also. ex.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...l#post11333504
On the old tires hard ride? If the side wall showed outside damage and other, the struture would break down and affect the ride, but again old 6+ year old rubber and cords? I would not be surpise if some absortion materials deteriorated.
Seems all the diffrent model Lexus CL forums have the P7 as the go too now. Michelin too, but like me most tired of Michelin = lots of money, fast wear out. Read back a few pages also. ex.
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/gs-...l#post11333504
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 82
From: Nukewastedump
Although this is an older thread, didn't see newer posts related to tires especially pirellis. Our 2017 es300h has p7 pluses (not plus ii or iii) date code 2017. We switched the OEMs out within a year of getting the car in 2017 for the P7s as the OEM were crap (can't remember what they were). Our biggest issue was poor wet traction. The P7s still slipped but much less so than the OEMs, Now that the P7s are nearly 7 years old, but 6/32 tread still (yeah it doesn't get driven much), the wet traction is horrid. The front tires always try to spin when moving from a stop when wet. Basically have to slowly roll from a stop to get going when wet. I can't find tire rack reviews of the P7 plus anymore since it's no longer made, but the P7 plus iiis have great reviews on wet. Curious if anyone else recalls the P7 plus wet performance compared to the current P7 plus iiis? I'm hesitant on getting P7s again despite the reviews. Thank you.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 1,362
From: IL
Although this is an older thread, didn't see newer posts related to tires especially pirellis. Our 2017 es300h has p7 pluses (not plus ii or iii) date code 2017. We switched the OEMs out within a year of getting the car in 2017 for the P7s as the OEM were crap (can't remember what they were). Our biggest issue was poor wet traction. The P7s still slipped but much less so than the OEMs, Now that the P7s are nearly 7 years old, but 6/32 tread still (yeah it doesn't get driven much), the wet traction is horrid. The front tires always try to spin when moving from a stop when wet. Basically have to slowly roll from a stop to get going when wet. I can't find tire rack reviews of the P7 plus anymore since it's no longer made, but the P7 plus iiis have great reviews on wet. Curious if anyone else recalls the P7 plus wet performance compared to the current P7 plus iiis? I'm hesitant on getting P7s again despite the reviews. Thank you.
Instructor
Joined: Jun 2008
Posts: 835
Likes: 82
From: Nukewastedump
Price point mainly, michelins are universally pricier than pirellis or others. The P7 plus 3s have good reviews for price. The Michelin CC2s look even better, but $$$$. Thanks
Pole Position
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 1,362
From: IL
Two good sources for ratings that break down tires in a category by specifics like quietness and rain/snow performance are Consumer Reports and Tire Rack dotcom. You should be able to find good alternatives for sub-Michelin bucks.
Pit Crew
Joined: Feb 2017
Posts: 208
Likes: 67
From: New York
afpj's tires are at the end of their lifetime now. 6-7 year old tires no matter how much tread are at the end of the recommended life of most tire manufacturers. All tires age and lose traction over time.
I put the Pirelli P7AS Plus 3 on my 2016 ES350 this past November. They are great tires. Comfortable and quiet ride, and handle in the dry, rain, and snow extremely well.
They are much better than the Michelin's my car was originally equipped with.
I put the Pirelli P7AS Plus 3 on my 2016 ES350 this past November. They are great tires. Comfortable and quiet ride, and handle in the dry, rain, and snow extremely well.
They are much better than the Michelin's my car was originally equipped with.
Pole Position
Joined: May 2021
Posts: 2,545
Likes: 1,362
From: IL
afpj's tires are at the end of their lifetime now. 6-7 year old tires no matter how much tread are at the end of the recommended life of most tire manufacturers. All tires age and lose traction over time.
I put the Pirelli P7AS Plus 3 on my 2016 ES350 this past November. They are great tires. Comfortable and quiet ride, and handle in the dry, rain, and snow extremely well.
They are much better than the Michelin's my car was originally equipped with.
I put the Pirelli P7AS Plus 3 on my 2016 ES350 this past November. They are great tires. Comfortable and quiet ride, and handle in the dry, rain, and snow extremely well.
They are much better than the Michelin's my car was originally equipped with.
Pit Crew
Joined: Jul 2022
Posts: 153
Likes: 42
From: Texas
I can also provide some input. I have P7AS Plus3/s on my 2017 ES350 and have been more than happy with them. Tire Rack did do a review and said the wet traction was less than the other competitors, but it still retains a 95% overall rating vs other tires in the class. (Michelin CC2's are at 99% as a reference point),
I did go from the OEM Michelin Primacy MXM4's though.
The P7 AS Plus 3's are also around $40~$50 cheaper per tire than the Michelin CC2's so I went with them instead. Ride is comfortable, quiet, able to drive in the rain (barely any snow/ice here in Texas), and handles surprisingly well.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=288
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve....jsp?type=GTAS
I did go from the OEM Michelin Primacy MXM4's though.
The P7 AS Plus 3's are also around $40~$50 cheaper per tire than the Michelin CC2's so I went with them instead. Ride is comfortable, quiet, able to drive in the rain (barely any snow/ice here in Texas), and handles surprisingly well.
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/tests...y.jsp?ttid=288
https://www.tirerack.com/tires/surve....jsp?type=GTAS
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post