I've read a lot of positive comments about the Michelin Primacy tire, so I bought a set. They aren't much quieter than the old tires. There is still too much tire noise on all but the smoothest of roads. I thought the LS430 would be quieter than it is.
Is there a quieter tire?

 

What size wheel/tire? I'm assuming the factory 18's. I have driven the factory 18's with Dunlop 5000's and Michelin Primacy tires and the Primacy's were quite on the roads that I drove, but the road surface can make a huge difference in how a tire sounds (in the Pacific Northwest, Portland for example, the roads are LOUD!). You might have to switch to the 17's on a total "comfort-oriented" tire. Both of my LS came with the 17's and they were essentially silent on most roads around here.

I am very picky about tire noise but I'm pretty happy with my 19" Pilot Sport A/S Plus, in terms of road noise. They aren't quite as low in noise as the 17's though. BTW, my research indicated that the Pilot Sport A/S Plus is a quieter tire than the Primacy, but I'm not sure that would be the real-world case or not. I wouldn't have thought so based upon the types of tires they are, but that's what I concluded from my research.

 

I agree that there is more road noise than one would expect from an LS. My memory might be too golden, but I would swear my '90 LS (with MXV4 Energies) was quieter than either my '99 or my '04 (both with Primacys).

That said, on a nice new asphalt surface all those cars are nearly dead silent so the mechanics of the car can't be blamed. Get on a rough surface like well-worn concrete and the noise is telegraphed right on through.

A friend who owns an LS460 said his car is the same. I do live in the Portland, OR area (across the Columbia, in Vancouver, WA) and the Interstates are in need of resurfacing. I-5 for example alternates from nice, new surface to old concrete with the aggregate poking though. Perfect for noise comparison.

Gene

 

Those Portland area roads are awful for noise -- it's like they used charcoal briquette sized aggregate in the hot mix, then once the tar got worn away.... I was out there a few months ago and at first I thought there was something wrong with the rental car, then I noticed the bolders embedded in the road. I guess it helps for wet traction though...

 

I live in Portland, too, and agree that many of the roads around here are NOISY! When I get away from town, the road surfaces are quieter.

 

Anyone try 235/50VR 18s when replacing their tires? Just wondering what they ride was like? Thanks.