2005 LS430 with the 18" chrome wheels. My left rear tire blew out today. Lost all air suddenly at around 35mph. May be a small sidewall tear. My previous tires were 2018 Toyo Celsius, replaced in 2023 after a wheel leak trashed it (chrome wheels have had issue at times over the years.) Since early 2023, I have Vredestein Quattrac Pro tires. I only have about 15k mile on them, and the tread is decent still. I had alignment done last year, but my LS430 does not seem kind to tires anyway: wear on edges doesn't look great and I will have all 4 tire checked.

Assuming my tire cannot be repaired, and my other tires are still decent, I am looking for advice on how to replace the tire (I am using my spare temporarily). The Vredesteins are no longer made, although they make a Quattrac Pro Plus now. Can I replace 1 tire? If not, can I replace just two on the same axle? If I do, do I need all weather (since the Quattracs are all weather), or can i not mix and match new with worn (on different axles)? I am concerned what goes with the all weather tires. Generic, symmetric all season tires I would assume can be switched in pairs vs all 4, but no sure about these, which are asymmetric and all-weather. Will a different kind of all weather on one axle vs other cause handling/safety issues, etc.?

Vredesteins got really expensive ($250 now vs < $200 last time) so I would probably not buy them again, especially durability has not been ideal on other cars here I had them, and not just in treadwear.. But the other 3 tires on my LS430 are still just 2.5 years old/15k miles, and I hate to buy 4 new tires now. Options? safety and not damaging car are important, then price... I only drive around 6-7k miles a year on the car, and that may be dropping a bit.

By the way, my spare is a 2018 with around 30k miles on it, It is all weather (Toyo Celsius), and has been in trunk. It is not new, Irealize, but is seems in decent shape, no signs of dry rot etc. I wonder if reasonably safe to leave that as a main tire with the others for 2-3 more years, then get all new when needed. I drive the car typically 20-30 miles, rarely 60-80 on the highway, not hundreds-long trips. Is mixing 1 tire that bad, for local driving? This is not a daily commuter.

 

I had a spare tire in immaculate shape that I tried that on a car and had a blow out. Call discount tire and they will tell you life expectancy of tires.

 

Thanks. I will not keep the current spare on, as 8 years old and the tread is not great either. I am thinking now to try an inexpensive all-weather (two, to change both on rear axle) I see available: Radar Dimax All Weather, around $120 each. I just can't fully justify $500+install on my car for the amount I drive it and am willing to try a cheaper one. I will keep the good Vredestein (on rear axle) as my new spare, since it's only 2.5 years old. I've had high end tires, but this is now in a sense a spare car, or last least, not huge highway drives. Snow has been rare, too. I am willing to gamble on cheaper tires that get decent reviews. If they're a bit rougher/noisier, so be it. My car needs some TLC anyway (rip in passenger seat, A/C went out, etc.) and at 20 year old, it's showing its age a bit cosmetically and I want to have pro spruce up the interior (seat, armrests, etc.). I just got new Michelin Crossclimate 2's on another car with 100k miles on it, but that is my wife's daily driver to work, and it is simply overkill for this. If they still made the exact Vredestein and I could change 1 tire, I would, but I am not buying 2 now when I haven't gotten over 5 years /30k miles on a full new set since my MXV4s got me 6 years/60k a long time ago. Never heard of Radar tires before today, so feedback welcome, but I may take the plunge. (Assuming my tire is damaged beyond repair)

 

You may want to try and find a used tire that will match it. Look on ebay or sites like United Tire. I had a similar situation with a discontinued snow tire and was able to match the tire. A little out of the box but a good solution if you can find it. Good luck.

 

This. I have used United Tire twice in the last three/four years when the butter-soft sidewalls on new Continentals popped. Very fair prices, including the shipping. They have their own website so you do not need to use Ebay.

 

Thanks. United Tire does not have it, but Ebay has 2 separate listings: 7/32 an 8/32. Both sellers have over 15000 sales with 98%+ rating. I have never bought a used tire and have to wonder if they at added risk for blowouts ,etc. One says they are repaired (so forget it), the other seems undamaged. $85, so not cheap, but if decent it would serve the purpose! Also, DOT code 1724, so not old. Once i learn my tire is not salvageable, if this still is available, I may order it. I am a bit nervous, but they claim they re inspected and they are just a year old, so this may be an option. Am I crazy/at risk with this?

 

I’ve done this several times. Always worked out. One had a patch - well done inside; big deal. It’s your best bet unless you want to go buy new tires.

 

i would put 2 best verdunstens on front
3rd best in trunk
and buy 2 new tires, buy what you are going to want all around when possible

 

What's special about Vredsteins?

 

They are all-weather, 3-peak mountain symbol (Quatrac Pro and newer, similar). Better than many all-seasons in snow. They ride nicely in wet and dry too. I tend to be hard on tires, whether through alignment issues or whatever. I had Toyo Celsius before and they were OK (also all weather), but I have had 3 sets of Vredesteins on different cars with good results , except 3 damaged tires. 2 were from severe potholes an this one blew at 2.5 years old for no obvious reason. They are very well rated on tirerack, but I am less enamored of their durability (around 45k miles/5 years) and they have gotten much pricier in the latest versions.

On my other car I just gor Micheiln CrossClimate 2 now that they also have all-weather. I had Mich MXV4 on my LS430 and they lasted 6yrears/60k with no issues: my best ever, eventuall just worn tread rather than any problem. The CrossClimates are supposed to last 60k+ toom so we will see.

I really liked my Vredesteins and the other 3 still have plenty of tread, so I wanted to match. But less likely to buy new now. Still, no huge complaints. I am not so sure how I'd rate their durability, however.

 

Jiust an update, i got a great tire from spinsafe on ebay. 2024 date, like new (if anything, a bit too much tread to match). They wrote back to me to confim up front that no damage/patches, etc. Listed at $85, offered/got $65. I got lucky they had exactly one. Thx to those those who recommended I check used, this was a great solution to match a tire no longer made.