Snow Tires and Wheels for the New IS
11-04-05, 10:41 AM
#1
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Snow Tires and Wheels for the New IS
Thanks to the combo of Sewell Lexus parts and the Tirerack, I have a great winter set up coming.
Wheels: 18 inch G spiders with center caps and sensors
Tires: Bridgestone LM 25 in OEM sizes (225 front 255 rear).
I have had LM 22s for my other cars and have liked them a lot.
The LM 25 is what the Tirerack folks are recommending (plus the 225s for the Dunlop M3s are out of stock for the forseeable future).
Price: $2150 includes mounting, balancing and delivery (that is a WOW for me).
I know a lot of folks look for a low cost winter solution.
My view is cold, wet, snowy and icy conditions require the best solution available.
The good news these days is Sewell is there to help. They will order the tires from the Tirerack, mount and balance and ship the wheel tire combo.
The price is only $150 more than it cost to do the same thing for my S2000 six years ago (for 16 inch wheels with no pressure sensors).
Wheels: 18 inch G spiders with center caps and sensors
Tires: Bridgestone LM 25 in OEM sizes (225 front 255 rear).
I have had LM 22s for my other cars and have liked them a lot.
The LM 25 is what the Tirerack folks are recommending (plus the 225s for the Dunlop M3s are out of stock for the forseeable future).
Price: $2150 includes mounting, balancing and delivery (that is a WOW for me).
I know a lot of folks look for a low cost winter solution.
My view is cold, wet, snowy and icy conditions require the best solution available.
The good news these days is Sewell is there to help. They will order the tires from the Tirerack, mount and balance and ship the wheel tire combo.
The price is only $150 more than it cost to do the same thing for my S2000 six years ago (for 16 inch wheels with no pressure sensors).
11-04-05, 10:52 AM
#2
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Shouldn't have put 255s in the rear
You should have stuck with 225s (or even 215s) all around. Even with the Blizzaks, that monster meat at the back is just going ride OVER the snow, not cut through all that well. If you only get a couple of snow days, you'll be fine, but if you get a lot of snow you may be disappointed in the rear traction. Learned this from a 330i BMW with 225/45/17 LM22s. The 225s weren't even all that hot in the rear.
11-04-05, 10:58 AM
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Great point Ratman.
This car will run all winter but on really bad days it will be parked.
My TL can deal with the slop or I will be on the commuter rail.
This car will run all winter but on really bad days it will be parked.
My TL can deal with the slop or I will be on the commuter rail.
11-04-05, 11:17 AM
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Originally Posted by IS250AWD
Great point Ratman.
This car will run all winter but on really bad days it will be parked.
My TL can deal with the slop or I will be on the commuter rail.
This car will run all winter but on really bad days it will be parked.
My TL can deal with the slop or I will be on the commuter rail.
11-04-05, 04:24 PM
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Originally Posted by Ratman009
You should have stuck with 225s (or even 215s) all around. Even with the Blizzaks, that monster meat at the back is just going ride OVER the snow, not cut through all that well. If you only get a couple of snow days, you'll be fine, but if you get a lot of snow you may be disappointed in the rear traction. Learned this from a 330i BMW with 225/45/17 LM22s. The 225s weren't even all that hot in the rear.
Absolutely correct. A 255mm rear tire on a RWD car was recommended?!?!? You'll be slipping all over the place. A snow tire really shouldn't be any wider than 215 all around and I would have gone with 17" rim instead of an 18" as well.
11-04-05, 04:24 PM
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In looking at tire and wheel prices on TireRack, it looks like it's about $700 for blizzaks on wheels. Did you have to pay extra to get wheels with the tire pressure sensors on them?
Just wondering. Obviously, I'd much rather pay $700 than $2,100.
Just wondering. Obviously, I'd much rather pay $700 than $2,100.
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11-05-05, 02:13 PM
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Originally Posted by Dr C
In looking at tire and wheel prices on TireRack, it looks like it's about $700 for blizzaks on wheels. Did you have to pay extra to get wheels with the tire pressure sensors on them?
Just wondering. Obviously, I'd much rather pay $700 than $2,100.
Just wondering. Obviously, I'd much rather pay $700 than $2,100.
11-05-05, 02:42 PM
#9
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So what's the best set of tires, how many, and from where...tirerack? I would like to get mine right away and prepare for winter. Do you go with wheels/tires or just the tires?
11-05-05, 02:46 PM
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Oops. The tirerack catalog lists $712 for tires and wheels for the 2005 IS, not for the 2006. I just checked online and it says something to the effect "do to the unique characteristics of this application, tire and wheels will not be listed online. Call TireRack for more information."
That spells money to me. Damn. Guess that I'm just going to see how my 250 AWD does with the OEM tires. I can't justify over $2,000 for snow tires -- at least not until I find out that the 250 AWD is as squirrley as my Audi S4 or my Mitsu 3000 GT VR4. Since both my Audi A4 Quattro and my current BMW 325xi have done well in the snow, I'm just going to have to see.
That spells money to me. Damn. Guess that I'm just going to see how my 250 AWD does with the OEM tires. I can't justify over $2,000 for snow tires -- at least not until I find out that the 250 AWD is as squirrley as my Audi S4 or my Mitsu 3000 GT VR4. Since both my Audi A4 Quattro and my current BMW 325xi have done well in the snow, I'm just going to have to see.
11-05-05, 03:52 PM
#11
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Yes, the package has the pressure monitors and they are $96 each.
.Again, I went with wheels tires center caps mounted and balanced. .
A Jeep or other winter car is a great idea but my wife let's me have two cars and that's it.
Regarding the IS 250 AWD, the one I drove had RE92s. Take a look at the reviews of those tires on the Tirerack.
Regarding size, I run 235s on my TL all around and it goes great.
I do not expect to run the IS in much snow. For me the snow tires make the car more usable in the cold and wet where the summer tires would be useless.
I ordered LM 25s, a high speed snow tire. The basic Q rated Blizzaks are cheap, will grip fine but not make you happy at speed.
.Again, I went with wheels tires center caps mounted and balanced. .
A Jeep or other winter car is a great idea but my wife let's me have two cars and that's it.
Regarding the IS 250 AWD, the one I drove had RE92s. Take a look at the reviews of those tires on the Tirerack.
Regarding size, I run 235s on my TL all around and it goes great.
I do not expect to run the IS in much snow. For me the snow tires make the car more usable in the cold and wet where the summer tires would be useless.
I ordered LM 25s, a high speed snow tire. The basic Q rated Blizzaks are cheap, will grip fine but not make you happy at speed.
11-05-05, 05:37 PM
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Winter tires from Tire Rack
I have been talking with Tire Rack about winter tires/wheels for me IS350. Tire Rack hasn't gotten an IS in for measurements, so they can't recommend any wheels because they don't know the offset. I would like to have some 17" wheels with all season tires. The local Lexus dealer has been helpful but you can imagine that the wheels are expensive (over $350apiece) but I may have to do it.
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
11-05-05, 06:17 PM
#13
Lexus Champion
Originally Posted by BradmanOH
I have been talking with Tire Rack about winter tires/wheels for me IS350. Tire Rack hasn't gotten an IS in for measurements, so they can't recommend any wheels because they don't know the offset. I would like to have some 17" wheels with all season tires. The local Lexus dealer has been helpful but you can imagine that the wheels are expensive (over $350apiece) but I may have to do it.
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
11-05-05, 06:50 PM
#14
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Bradman,
Give Sewell a call. they can probably get you the factory 17s for short money.
I completely agree that 45 series tires on 17s will ride better and have a better chance of surviving potholes.
The way my deal broke down, the set of of 18 inch wheels with center caps was only $900.
Does anyone know if the 17s fit over the brakes on the 350. From what I remember of the configuration program, you can't buy the 350 with 17s.
Give Sewell a call. they can probably get you the factory 17s for short money.
I completely agree that 45 series tires on 17s will ride better and have a better chance of surviving potholes.
The way my deal broke down, the set of of 18 inch wheels with center caps was only $900.
Does anyone know if the 17s fit over the brakes on the 350. From what I remember of the configuration program, you can't buy the 350 with 17s.
11-05-05, 11:23 PM
#15
Originally Posted by BradmanOH
I have been talking with Tire Rack about winter tires/wheels for me IS350. Tire Rack hasn't gotten an IS in for measurements, so they can't recommend any wheels because they don't know the offset. I would like to have some 17" wheels with all season tires. The local Lexus dealer has been helpful but you can imagine that the wheels are expensive (over $350apiece) but I may have to do it.
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
The advantage of 17" wheels is that you can have a "taller" profile tire to give you a bit more shock protection from pot holes. Sure the summer performance won't be quite as good but that is what the 18" are for. I'm on the fence about true snow tires and just good all season tires since we don't get that much snow here in Cincinnati.
Bradman
