Very soon, Friday week, yes the H rating tyres in theory will ride a little softer but I don't know how much of a difference it would be.

Keep in mind I'm talking about the exact same tyre, one H rated and the other V rated, the H should be softer but if you compared different models of tyres or different brands it becomes much more confusing. Brand A may have a V rated tyre that is softer then Brand B's H rated tyre. In general the V rated tyres have a stiffer sidewall to allow that higher speed which in turn means the ride's a bit harsher and the handling is a little better.

 

 

mine came with the michelins, and i already need new tires at the 30k service.

 

For whatever it is worth, in the distant past I remember a Lexus dealer saying that they could/would not give me H-rated tires if V-rated came with the car. I then went to an independent tire dealer who basically said the same but did reluctantly give me an H-rated tire.

 

Well unless you plan on driving at 150 mph for long periods the H rated tyres will be fine. Even in Australia where we have some of the toughest design rules and enforcement of those rules in the world it's legal to go down from V to H (130 mph). Load rating though must be equal or higher then the placard.

 

Gonna chime in cause i just got new tires.

I found out it's not just about the H vs V speed rating difference. It's the way they make the tire differently. In the end, you can do whatever tire you want if the tire installer will do it. I know at Costco they won't.

I went with Michelin's 255/50/r20's. It gives it a better handling but the ride is a little rougher. It also makes you slightly slower.

 

My 20 inch OE Bridgestone tires will need to be replaced at about 35,000 miles. I plant to switch to Michelin but unsure about speed rating. H vs V. Any thoughts or comments?

 

If you tend to be an aggressive/fast driver, I'd stick to the V. If you're a "normal" driver, Hs would be fine.

 

I’ve been told the H rides better. Is that true?

 

I had my oem bridgestone replaced a while ago, Costco had no problem putting the H rating tires on. But I also couldn't find the v rating equivalent on their website when ordering.

 

H is rated for 130mph, V is 149mph. I haven't changed tires on my 2017 RX, so I can't say anything about the ride. I did however, replace the Toyo Open Country OEMs on my RAV4 V6, terrible tires, which may have been Hs but don't remember, with Michelin Defenders, T rated(118mph) because they were the only ones that would fit. The Michelins were ALL OVER the Toyos in every category, ride, quiet, wear and handling. Since I've never gone over 85mph I wasn't worried!
Your call.

 

I found this statement in an article I read. Perhaps a reason why the RX uses V rated tires.

Tires with higher speed ratings offer handling benefits that thrill some drivers, but there are tradeoffs. Since they’re usually made with softer rubber compounds and stiffer construction they offer better cornering, stopping power and steering response. But expect a little less ride comfort, lower performance in cold conditions and shorter tread life. Consumer Reports found that some H- and V-rated tires didn’t last as long as those rated for lower speeds, wearing out closer to 50,000 miles than 60,000 miles.

 

The car has a 124 mph top speed, a little too close to the max 130 for H rated so they would put on the Vs which can take 149. Obviously there would be slight handling improvements but may not be much depending on tyre brands, models.