kensteele

Are you getting the tire pressure sensors or around you skipping them, what are the pros/cons? I leaning towards skipping them for the 4 months but would like to know problems or annoyances encountered with warning lights, etc.

Also if your OEMs are 18s, are you going with snow 17s and are there any adjustments to your vehicle that need to be considered?

I'm about to make this purchase and want to do it right the first time. Thanks.

clubfoot

You will have the amber brake light and red caution on the instrument panel. Also the information display will return to the low tire pressure warning everytime you use the information display. Very annoying!

I went with 18 wheels and tires.

diablo1

Do people think it makes more sense to get new wheels AND tires, or put winter tires on the existing rims, and just switch them out every year?

clubfoot

Would not recommend switching them out twice a year. The wear and tear on the OEM rims and tires would certainly cause some damage.

diablo1

So I need to buy a new set of rims AND tires? Oh man, this is going to be expensive.

kensteele

From tirerack.com:
2 225/40VR-18 Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport XL In Stock $168.00 $336.00
1 Pirelli Registration Card In Stock N/C N/C
1 Pirelli Warranty Packet In Stock N/C N/C
2 18x8.5 Kazera KZ-A SML In Stock $195.00 $390.00
2 Required centering ring In Stock N/C N/C
10 Required lugnut for vehicle In Stock N/C N/C
1 Lug adapter In Stock N/C N/C
2 255/40VR-18 Pirelli Winter 240 SnowSport In Stock $203.00 $406.00
1 Pirelli Registration Card In Stock N/C N/C
1 Pirelli Warranty Packet In Stock N/C N/C
2 18x8.5 Kazera KZ-A SML In Stock $195.00 $390.00
2 Required centering ring In Stock N/C N/C
10 Required lugnut for vehicle In Stock N/C N/C
1 Lug adapter In Stock N/C N/C
2 Mount and Balance (No Charge) N/C N/C
2 Mount and Balance (No Charge) N/C N/C






Some products above selected for the following vehicle(s):
Vehicle: 06 Lexus IS350

Shipping: $78.25
Tax: $.00
Excise Tax: $.00
State Disposal Fund Fee: $.00
Order Total Including Shipping:

$1,600.25

diablo1

How come you bought two sets?

Also are you buying new rims?

AndyL

I have gone for the 17" winter wheel+tire solution as I am afraid the 255/40R18 may be too slippery in snow (usually the narrower the better snow traction).

kensteele

Hehe, don't scare me like that. 4 tires and 4 rims. I'm going off most of the advice I got here on CL about stressing out the oem rims, saving money d-i-y, etc.

No sensors.

For the Pirelli's, only 18s were available. I'm hoping here in Kansas the snow and ice is not that bad so slippery as to make a difference between 17s and 18s.

upbull340

Those with a 350. . .and living in snow country. . .and those thinking of a second set of wheels.

Have you considered buying a set of Lexus 17" 10-spoke wheels to mount winter tires on?

I was wondering if this would be better than UHP all season year around vs. putting winter tires on the 18's each winter.

Other than cost any reason why this option doesn't make sense?

S2000toIS350

The 17s would be a rational approach.

I have not seen pricing for the factory 17s and that would certainly be useful information.

I went with the 18 inch G spiders because they were a good deal.

Here is a picture of the wheel and tire.

gologic

I live in Wisconsin where we get the worst of both snow and ice conditions. Today I will be receiving 17" Lexus rims with sensors installed from Sewell. The Tire Rack has shipped out the Dunlop M3 (225 front, 245 rear) and a local shop will be mounting and balancing them for me. I will post as soon as I have some real world experience with this set up. This shouldn't take long as we are having one of the worst starts to a winter in years! Looks like I picked the wrong year to get rid of my A8.

lexus_x_2

I also live in Wisconsin and I'm having my winter tires and rims put on my IS 350 tomorrow.

TIRE RACK

QTY SIZE & DESCRIPTION
2 255/40VR-18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 XL
2 18x8.5 Kazera KZ-A SML
2 Lexus gs/is tpms sensor

2 225/40VR-18 Bridgestone Blizzak LM-25 XL
2 18x8.5 Kazera KZ-A SML
2 Required centering ring
2 Lexus gs/is tpms sensor

clubfoot

So far the 18" Tirerack combo that kensteele pointed out has been good for me here in Canada in SNOW mode. We're expecting more snow from tomorrow so I'll see how it goes for the next few days. Wish I had gotten the sensors as well, they were $117.00 each

kensteele

Why sensors, is it that annoying in the cabin? Can sensors get added later? :nervous:

Since this is d-i-y, I plan to take these winter tires off if I can see a 2-3 week stretch without snow/ice and maybe put them back on each time for the 3-5 annual occurances of inclement weather here in KC.