To see the speed error you need to compare speedometer with speed on GPS (on your phone)
PS: Because of speed "error" I installed 235/60/18 (60 is the max size for rear tires)

 

The difference between my Speedo reading and my GPS reading is pretty much the same with these tires.

 

Had a bizarre construction company snafu that cut into my rear tire. Need to get all 4 tires replaced due to the AWD issue. A shame since I got the tires in April 2019. They have less than 17,000 miles on them but I'm told they have between 4 and 5/32 tread wear left. Yes, I'm harder on my tires than most but definitely not getting anywhere close to my 60,000 mileage warranty. This is an insurance claim so I can spend anything on the tires. BJ's receipt has a SKU for the 235/55R18's but I can't confirm the actual Michelin tire. I'll double-check the glove box to see if I have anything else that lists the specific tire. I think they were Defender LTX or Latitude Tours. Living in the DC/Northern Virginia area, we rarely get a lot of snow so I'm focusing on the longevity, ride, and handling aspects more than the four-season need. BJs also has a CROSSCLIMATE 2 (100V), X LT A/S (100T), and PRIMACY MXM4 (100V) options. CROSSCLIMATE 2 (100V) is their top-recommended option. Figuring I'd stay with Michelins but really surprised by the 20,000 (25k max) miles I'd get out of the current set if I didn't have to replace the one tire today.

 

Realized I could just look at the tire to see the specific model....DUH! My tires are Michelin Premier A/S All season 235/55R18's.
Did a Google search on Michelin Premier A/S and came up with this review: "Tread life is horrible for a tire with a 60k mileage warranty. I'm just over 30k on them and I'm already down to 3-4/32. Performance-wise they've been great in both dry and wet weather but I expect them to last longer for a $200+ tire."
I could have written that exact review.

After working through tire reviews on several sites, one person stated he always contacts Michelin to identify the latest/greatest for his car. Made sense so I checked the Michelin site. They only recommend 5 tires:
https://www.michelinman.com/auto/bro...---55R18%2099V
- CrossClimate
- Primacy™ MXM4
- Latitude® Sport
- Pilot® Sport All Season
- X-ICE® SNOW Tires
In Northern Virginia, we hardly get enough snow anymore to merit a winter-focused tire so the X-Ice is out. BJs only sells the first three listed (Latitude Tour, not Sport). If it snows a lot here you are foolish to go out on the roads regardless of your car or skills because it's the other drivers who are clueless about driving in bad conditions.
The tread pattern on the CrossClimate looks very different from standard all-season tires. "V-shaped tread pattern, 3-D full self-locking sipes, and emerging grooves to provide maximum traction and braking in both snow and wet conditions." I've never had the V-shaped pattern tread pattern tires on either my RX 350 or RX 300. Tires look cool, but we have 75% dry pavement conditions here in northern Virginia - not the rain of the pacific northwest or snow of the midwest - so if V-Shaped is not primarily/just to push snow/water out of the way they are an interesting option.

Reviews fall into two main camps. Folks who beam about their great new tires - grip, handling, etc. which is pretty obvious since they're writing reviews shortly after having them installed. Camp #2 are the reviewers who after several years and 25-35k are complaining about tread wear. The second group is the one I factor most credibility. Reading through many reviews - especially the Lattitude have folks complaining about tire wear at 30k - half the warranty. Since I'm having the same tread life issues with My Premier A/S I'm thinking about getting the tires with the longest warranty and then heading back to BJs at 28k miles and if I'm concerned about tread wear try and negotiate the best deal to replace the tires with a different option at that time - hopefully, an option that is getting loser to 55-60k tread life with consistent handling - to get the most replacement funds allotted to the new set of 4 tires. Warranties are 55k for the MXM4s, 60k for the CrossClimate, and 65k for the Latitude Tour (not Sport on the Michelin site) at BJs. Interesting how the mileage warranties on Michelin's site are: 55k for the MXM4s, but only 50k for the CrossClimate, and 55k for the Latitude Tour https://www.michelinman.com/auto/tir...titude-tour-hp

BJs also factors time into their warranties. During Covid, we've all driven less. In my case, if I was trying to use the warranty, only 17k miles is good but nearly 3 years counts against me. I'm using insurance so anything above my $500 deductible gets paid by others.

Apologies for the long post here but I'm trying to help RX350 owners nail down the best option for replacement Michelin tires.

Thoughts?

 

With 273,500 miles on our RX330, the Premier A/S was the worst tire I put on the vehicle. It rode smooth and that was the only plus I could give it.
The best -- the Michelin Defender LTX M/S (as of today, the tires have 34,500 miles on them with treadwear at 7/32).

Every other tire we have had over the years (there have been many) would be looking at replacement right now.

 

Thanks for the great feedback and resources from everyone. Long chat with a Michelin Rep and decided to go with the Primacy MXM4. FYI, the rep told me the following tires had been discontinued: MXV8, Pilot HX MXM4 (probably for the Primacy MXM4), and the Premier series (to make way for the new CrossClimate series).

The Michelin Rep really likes the CrossClimate and it became the second choice but living in Northern Virginia I don't need the aggressive V tread to address snow and water. Unfortunately, the Primacy MXM4 has the lowest mileage warranty at 55k, but the rep said they only had a few treadwear complaints and those were at 37 or 42k --- much more than the 25-28k I and others here on Club Lexus have been getting with the Premier A/S. Learned a lot about Michelin's treadwear warranty and if it's 55k, it's also 6 years - meaning low mileage vehicles like mine can probably get some money back if in year 5 or 6 tires with 30k miles are having issues. The Key is the inspection done by the tire mechanic. Another key is if you, unfortunately, have a terrible blowout on the highway, make sure to collect any large pieces of the tire so they can be inspected.

I was strongly considering the Defender LTX but then learned about speed ratings. T (100T) rated tires max out at 118 mph. H-rated tires are at 130 mph. V-rated tires max out at 149. While I'm certainly not going to get near 149 mph, I did have a wonderful cross country trip (3000 miles) where I did exceed 100 a couple of times on extended flat highways - thank you Iowa, Kansas, etc... I also figured the V-rated tires, to accommodate the higher speeds, had to be built stronger in some capacity. The Primacy MXM4 (100V) is Michelin's luxury performance tire and had the highest across the board ratings [10 being the highest - treadwear 9, comfort (including noise) 9, handling 10, fuel efficiency 9, braking 9.

I asked the BJs Club Tire mechanic about the Primacy MXM4 and he really likes them too. BJs was out of stock so the tires I ordered will be installed next week. I'll be sure to return with a post-installation review.
Options at BJs: https://tires.bjs.com/tires/search/?...im=18&brands=3

One final note, I was in Baltimore this weekend and experienced a completely flat tire - one that hadn't been one of the nail repaired tires. Damn Premier A/S tires!!! I was a few days from replacing all 4. I hadn't changed a tire in over twenty years. That tire will be fully inspected when the tires are changed because
I couldn't find an obvious source like a nail and the Michelin rep is interested.

 

http://Tirerack.com, Have a look at the different test vids. Figure out what your priorities are & take it from there. I wouldn't stick to just one tire manufacturer unless you've had great results from them.

 

If your tires last longer than 5-6 years, I recommend visiting a tire shop every 4 years to replace air valves.

I have a sedan with 6 y/o tires. They would last another year or two (regular rotation = normal wear, not bold), but yesterday the 6 y/o rubber air valve died, and tire lost air very fast. I was able to leave the road and park fast, but tire still got the run-flat sign on the side (because of age). So, tire shops didn't take it for valve replacement ($12) because of the risk that tire could blow out. As a result, I had to order a full set of new tires.

 

I'd sit down & figure your tire priorities, Whats your #1 you want out of a set of tires, #2 #3, ect? Stick= friction cost wear as well as low rolling friction, cost braking distance, handling. IDK why your not checking out other quality tire manufacturers, as possibly your leaving what you could use behind. Kinda similar to some ppl say they won't buy a such & such auto manufacuturer. So, I said name one manufactuurer that puts out a quality product from entry level to top tier? Sorry, but IDK any set of tires that'll wear like iron & stick.......Have you emailed/called http://tirerack.com to see what they'd reconmend for your use? A few cars, I get right around 30K out of set, one truck I was getting 30K out of set, another truck I was around 40K. For this rx I swapped the new tires, (the dealer installed) which possibly would of worked for you for a set that stick.

 

Being an owner of a 2005 RX 330 since it was new I am looking for a tire that affords a soft highway ride and delivers good tread life. The RX has 166,000 miles. I have had several Michelin's that did not provide decent tread life. The last and current set ar Tigerpaws. They have been on for about 7-8 years but tread life is shot at about 33,000 miles. My wife was the main driver, now it is mine. It is mostly an around-the-area car now but occasionally is on the highway. Given the age of the car, I don't want to spend a large sum of money but my main concern aside from tread life is the ride and highway noise. I live about 50 miles west of Knoxville, TN, and could travel to Nashville 120 miles away or Atlanta 300 miles away. We get some snow but for the most part that is not an issue, more rain than snow. I have seen previous posts about tires for the RX but most were from years past and tires have improved over time.

Thanks in advance.

 

Get some Bridgestones. All my cars are on them, except my SC, tire place convinced me on Sumitomo's went cheap on it and it is so-so. Would rather have Bridgestones. If I can sell them decent, I would switch over.

 

I commented on the wrong thread, whoops

 

Hit up your local Discount tire..........

 

I would have said without question, the Michelin Defender LTX M/S. Even though it only has a T-speed rating, from our use, the Defender had lots of tread life left at 40k, provided a smooth/quiet ride and performed well in the Colorado weather. However, as of last month, they quit making the 18" size. I am pretty disappointed as it has been the only tire to last longer than 38,000 miles and with 282,000 miles on our RX330, we have been through lots and lots of different brands of tires.

 

Mine is a 2005 RX330 AWD 18" Wheels and P235/55/18 tires, that is what is listed on my door jamb for the tire size.
I run Goodyear Assurance Maxlife tires with a 65k miles Treadlife Warranty.
a bit pricey @ $195 a tire. They are Quite have Great Traction/Grip and deliver a Smooth Quiet Ride.
They work Great for me on this car.