Michelin Tire Issue
10-09-11, 04:24 PM
#16
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Au Contraire...
I just bought an '03 LS430 with virtually new Bridgestone Turanza Serenity tires on it and they sound like a truck! The dealer even deducted an amount off equal to a new set of tires as they agreed. They look brand new but are so noisy I'm ready to ditch them for something else, just can't decide what.
I just bought an '03 LS430 with virtually new Bridgestone Turanza Serenity tires on it and they sound like a truck! The dealer even deducted an amount off equal to a new set of tires as they agreed. They look brand new but are so noisy I'm ready to ditch them for something else, just can't decide what.
10-09-11, 04:54 PM
#17
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If they agreed to replace them what was the reason? I spoke with the lead tech at the Toyota dealer and he felt Michelins where the easiest tire they have to balance and keep balanced and he buys no other brand personally. The tire rated above the MXV4 on tire rack is Comfortred Touting. they are 1 and 2. Maybe they have changed the formula or location built but I usually. I think I called Michelin also and was on hold so long I hung up.
10-09-11, 05:02 PM
#18
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It's just amazing how opinions can differ. I put the Conti DWS on my LS 430 and have the Primacy's on my LS 400. While the Conti's are fairly quiet on most surfaces they have a pronounced noise on some very smooth newer blacktop roads. This is very annoying . Overall, mine are not as quiet as the Primacy's.
My biggest beef with the DWS's is the flatspotting. It takes more than 10 miles for them to completely smooth out. Sitting more than a couple of hours and they're bumpy again. They've also had to be rebalanced at about 1K miles and are slightly out again at 3K. I wish I had bought the Michelins now.
My biggest beef with the DWS's is the flatspotting. It takes more than 10 miles for them to completely smooth out. Sitting more than a couple of hours and they're bumpy again. They've also had to be rebalanced at about 1K miles and are slightly out again at 3K. I wish I had bought the Michelins now.
10-09-11, 06:55 PM
#19
If I could I would even put Primacy's on my Infiniti other than it happens to be more of a "Touring" tire. Great tire.
10-09-11, 06:56 PM
#20
Pole Position
I think the LS is absolutely brutal on tire subjectives because it's otherwise so astonishingly quiet and vibration-free. It's a tire crucible. 
The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.
The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.
10-09-11, 07:44 PM
#21
Moderator
I think the LS is absolutely brutal on tire subjectives because it's otherwise so astonishingly quiet and vibration-free. It's a tire crucible. The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.
The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.
10-09-11, 07:59 PM
#22
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I think the LS is absolutely brutal on tire subjectives because it's otherwise so astonishingly quiet and vibration-free. It's a tire crucible. The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.
The tires are pretty much the only thing making any appreciable noise, and that noise changes with brand, condition, wear on tires, etc. so to not notice them they have to be perfect, and no tire is. People may notice different aspects of the noise and have it bother them more or less than others.. I just want the car to perform as it always has, quietly. I guess all my tires have been perfect up to now if one was to follow your logic.
Last edited by DNC; 10-09-11 at 08:09 PM.
10-10-11, 05:28 AM
#23
Pole Position
I'm not saying that DNC, and I'm not doubting your experience. Just saying that if there's anything remotely noticeable about any particular set of tires the LS430 is the car to notice it in.
10-10-11, 07:32 PM
#24
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I agree w/ Thinkin. My Michelins are very quiet on my '04 LS, but not as quiet as the OEM Dunlops. Problem was, the Dunlops were junk after 10K miles, noisy, hard to keep balanced. I run Michelins on 4 of 5 vehicles, and they have been a big improvement in ride and noise on each. But in the LS, you notice everything, however slight.
Speaking of, now that I have 80K on my LS, I can hear it idle, and when outside the car, I hear some bearing noise/whine. When it was new, I couldn't tell it was running from insde, and very slightly from outside. Anyone else notice this?
Speaking of, now that I have 80K on my LS, I can hear it idle, and when outside the car, I hear some bearing noise/whine. When it was new, I couldn't tell it was running from insde, and very slightly from outside. Anyone else notice this?
10-10-11, 08:01 PM
#25
I bought mine with 45k and have put on 17k since. I can hear mine idle slightly, and i can hear it running outside. I don't think there is anything wrong with my car though. It's quiet for a v8. I see/hear other cars going down the street and I think my car is as quiet or quieter than they are. it's a quiet v8, not a hybrid. I think the way people describe the quietness is subjective. I don't really think one can truly expect to not know the car is running to SOME extent.
Last edited by Lust4Lexus; 10-10-11 at 08:12 PM.
10-11-11, 04:16 PM
#26
It all really depends how they wear I bet. Chopping, side wear, center wear a good aligemnt inflation and rotating cannot be over estimated. My primacies have 65 k on em with a bunch of tread left and are smooth all across and silent.
10-11-11, 04:38 PM
#27
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There has to be a defect with these tires. They have to go. I cannot live with them. I called an old college friend who owns a tire store and asked him about the issue. He said he is completely aware of the issue and it runs just as described by owners on this site; one set is quiet, the other is loud. I think probably as quiet as the LS430 is the noise would be much louder on other cars.
On the subject of idle, I hear nothing from inside my car at idle. I know my car being an Ultra is suppose to be quieter than the base model LS but a friend of mine has the base model and her's is the same at idle.
On the subject of idle, I hear nothing from inside my car at idle. I know my car being an Ultra is suppose to be quieter than the base model LS but a friend of mine has the base model and her's is the same at idle.
Last edited by DNC; 10-11-11 at 04:42 PM.
10-11-11, 07:11 PM
#29
Lexus Test Driver
DNC,
I wouldn't go to the Pilot AS Sport tires if that's what they're offering you as an option. I ran them for 21k miles on my 05 LS and they have more road noise than the Primacy MXV4's. The Primacy is what I'm running now (2k miles). I also have the Primacy tires on two other Lexus vehicles and love them. I'd let them try another set of Primacy's.
Also, I know you mentioned you got them through the Lexus dealer. I had mine installed at a local shop that uses a Hunter 9700 road force balance machine. They did a horrible job of balancing them and I had vibrations. I ended up bringing the car into my Lexus dealer. The mechanic broke the tires & rims back down and phase matched them to get the road force numbers as low as possible. Hopefully your Lexus mechanic is willing to take the time to get the tires and rims matched correctly.
Jim
I wouldn't go to the Pilot AS Sport tires if that's what they're offering you as an option. I ran them for 21k miles on my 05 LS and they have more road noise than the Primacy MXV4's. The Primacy is what I'm running now (2k miles). I also have the Primacy tires on two other Lexus vehicles and love them. I'd let them try another set of Primacy's.
Also, I know you mentioned you got them through the Lexus dealer. I had mine installed at a local shop that uses a Hunter 9700 road force balance machine. They did a horrible job of balancing them and I had vibrations. I ended up bringing the car into my Lexus dealer. The mechanic broke the tires & rims back down and phase matched them to get the road force numbers as low as possible. Hopefully your Lexus mechanic is willing to take the time to get the tires and rims matched correctly.
Jim
10-12-11, 07:18 AM
#30
Pole Position
Hmm... I second the recommendation to have them re-mounted and balanced. If that doesn't work they'll take them back, right? Even if you don't have to try a new set please report back with your findings. If there's really something going on with quality control on the Primacys I'm sure many on this forum would appreciate a link and update.
