Hello everyone, I'm trying to get a survey of the tires of 235/55/18 that you have on your RX's that h
Perform well, quiet, smooth, lasting etc.

Also if you have difference sizes, please post reviews to this post. I'm am in the market soon and certainly do not like my Michelins.

 

Tires are one of the most discussed topics on this forum. Here are some prior postings:

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...e-choices.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...new-tires.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...for-rx350.html

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/rx-...ion-verde.html

 

I have this exact size in pirelli scorpions and love them

 

The criteria you mention is also a bit subjective. What you dislike others may prefer.

Beyond the readings Rainbird provided, you might take some time to hop over to the Tire Rack web site. There, you can look up the available tires and read the reviews and testing notes they have. You will want to filter the reviews to look at only those for the RX or similar sized SUVs as tires will behave differently on different vehicles and classes of vehicles. What works on a small car in one size may not hold true for a heavy SUV and its appropriately sized tire.

 

2004 RX 330 with Bridgestone Dueler Alenza tires after 20K miles so noisy ear plugs are needed. Tire wear seems ok but really disappointed with noise. Any one else have similar problem with this tire?

 

Have been quite happy with mine so far with some 50K miles on the clock. Not any noisier than the OEM Michelins they replaced.

 

Have Continental ExtremeContact DWS and enjoy them. Haven't used them in the snow yet. Had the DW versions on my 3 series and they were great.

 

My RX330 AWD has a set of Alenzas with over 60,000 mi and they are still very quiet. I run them at 31 psi and really like the tire for handling, quietness and wear. They are measuring 6/32nds of tread depth remaining. I drive mostly highway. Wear is even on all tires and I look after the tire pressure typically every week.

About the only time I find them noisy is when I hit a stretch of I-35 in MN that has been cut with grooves in the concrete but every tire I've ever driven on that section is loud. The tires sing on that I-35 stretch. Fortunately I don't need to run that route often. I can't recall any other areas in my travels that have made the tires sing like that. I suspect it has something to do with the spacing and angle of the grooves cut into the concrete.

 

I bought 2010 CPO 450 H in Jan. although tires were in great shape (Dunlops) and only 12000 on car, opted for new michellin's in May. Dunlops were bit smoother but not great handling. With Michellins got 2 mpg minimum better mpg, better handling. Still great ride but a bit firmer . Recent mixed driving ith A/C on getting a bit over 30 mpg. So can't complain. Trips only 33 mpg. Read all the reviews on tires and went with Michellins based on past experience with my vehicles.

 

looked on consumer reports and they rated Michilin Lattitude one of the best tires, just ordered a set, will let you know how they perform.

 

While the Michelin Latitude may be a very good tire, in the 235/55-18 tire size its load rating is "99" (= 1709 lbs), its speed rating is a "T" (= 118 MPH) and its temperature rating is only a "B".

The original OEM Michelin tires for this +1 size on my RX were rated at "99" load index, "V" speed rating and "A" temperature rating.

With a gross vehicle weight of 5245 lbs minus a curb weight of 4065 lbs you are left with a max payload of only 1180 lbs (numbers are approx.). Put four adults along with a bunch of luggage in the RX and you reach that max value very quick which puts extra stress on your tires.

Now, while I would probably never reach anywhere near those speeds in my RX I would personally prefer a tire with higher specifications for heat dissipation at speed due to the road temperatures I am apt to drive on during the summer and a equal to or higher load rating for those times when I am fully loaded and running heavy on a long trip. Getting tires which are over specified for my needs gives me some peace of mind.

Of course, this is just one person's opinion.

 

I had Alenzas for about 50,000 miles. They are an average tire. The Pirelli Scorpion Verde is highly rated and a couple of posters here have recommended them. They are a new tire compared to the Michelins and Alenzas and Bridgestone Ecopia.

 

I switched to the Michelin Latitude Tour 6 months ago. They are great and I wish I had switched sooner. IMHO they offer better high speed stability than the Energy S8s they replaced. Also, they are not cupping like the S8s did. I have contacted Michelin and requested they discontinue the S8 and replace it with a VR rated Tour . BTW the 2010 and up RX come with the Tour HP which is the VR version.

 

The stock S8s are also rated at 1709 lbs.

 

Unfortunately, the new Tour HP is not available in our size. Yes, would be nice if they made it in our size with a V speed rating.

I did point this out in my post that the load ratings of the two tires were the same -- 99. My current Bridgestone Alenzas have a load rating of 100 (= 1764 lbs) while the current Pirelli Scorpion Verde All Season have a load rating of 104 (= 1984 lbs).