I am looking to get some snow tires for my 2021 is350. I am still running oem wheels would it be worth it to get snow tires? I was looking at continental ts830, the same tires specs as oem 235/40/19 front and 265/35/19 rear I am currently on Michelin pilot sport 4 all seasons, I got around fine last year but want more traction in the snow. Would those snow tires help me out a lot or would I need to get a whole new setup and run 18” wheels and tires?

 

Snow tires will always give you more bite in the snow than an all season. I run a square set up for winter on 1” smaller diameter wheels so I get a bit more sidewall on the snow tires. Also run narrower wheels/tires in the winter set up, so the tires can cut through the snow to the road surface better.

 

Is your IS awd? I’m going to guess it is if you got around OK last winter on AS tires.

I agree, -1 would be nice and a square set up just fine. More flexibilty, less cost, and you really won’t sacrifice anything. The awd car will not overdrive a smaller tire size. Even thought I am in the washington soviet socialist republic now, I lived in NY and norther VT a long time. Going to northern VT a lot then living there is why I gave up BMWs and went to Audis and Quattros and awd initially. Your car can be a real monster with a proper snow tire set up. There are a LOT of great snow tires from many makers these days - don’t think you have to only buy a premium brand. I was getting great performance out of Yokohama snows even 20+ years ago.

You could swap tires on your existing wheels - but honestly a -1 set and not hassling/paying with mounting/dismounting every year is the way to go. With snows you want sidewall flex as well as snows, so more sidewall is not bad. I found 225/50 to be plenty of flex for excellent snow performance but still be fun to drive on cold, dry days. You don’t have to go too tall on the side wall.

 

A word of caution, AWD doesn't help you stop.

 

Yes I do have awd, thank you very much for your help.

 

No, but it sure does making donuts in an empty parking lot a whole lot more fun!

 

IS's are one of the few models that have an owner friendly Two (2) tire pressure switch. Once the shop trains
the TPMS for the snow set you can make the seasonal swap yourself and not pay each time for the TPMS training.

 

The 2IS was that way I believe, but not the 3IS, unless they’ve added that in the later years. My 2014 only has memory for one TPMS sensor set. I upload the proper sensor code set myself when I swap between winter and summer.

 

What I don’t understand is why Lexus cheaped out on this. My other car ‘learns’ the sensors by itself, within a couple minutes of driving with new sensors.

 

There are several things like that they really “cheaped out” on after the mid 00’s. They took away many features as “standard” and moved them to option packages like a GM or Ford car. They could always keep the base price steady that way over time, but apples-apples was a whole lot more.

This feature became a dealer done procedure, taking it away from being free to now a paid requirement.

 

I refuse to pay someone for something so simple, especially when I swap the winter/summer wheels/tires myself. Bought an ATEQ Quickset tool about the same time as I bought my winter wheels/tires. I’m sure it’s paid for itself some time ago, in both time and money.

 

im from Montreal, Canada. its mandatory to have snow tires by december. im running 17x7.5 square with 225/45 Toyo Observe GSI-6 HP