SW03ES

Okay everyone here's my dilemma. The ES300 comes standard with V rated Bridgestone Potenza tires, and I've heard some very bad things about these tires including poor ride and lots of road noise. I was looking on TireRack and would really like to replace the stock tires when I get it to Bridgestone H Rated Turnaza LS-H's. They're around the same price as the Potenzas, but get MUCH better ride and noise ratings. My question is, what kinda luck do you think I'll have getting the Lexus dealer to deal with me on the tires. I'd even spring for them if they'd mount them for free.

Whats everyone think? If it won't work then I'll have them swapped anyway, I just hate to waste and the Potenza's it comes with are perfectly good tires...

SW03ES

Yeah, I just did a little more research and the Potenzas are gonna have to go. Here's how it breaks down from where I sit (1-10 ratings, 1 being poor 10 being excellent).

Potenza ($97)-
Handling rating: 6.8
Dry Trac: 7.2
Wet Trac: 6
Snow Trac: 4.8
Ride Comfort: 6.8
Noise Comfort: 6.6
Wear: 5.9

Turanza LS-H ($96)-
Handling rating: 8.3
Dry Trac: 8.4
Wet Trac: 8.3
Snow Trac: 3
Ride Comfort: 8.8
Noise Comfort: 8.6
Wear: 9.2

Dunlop SP Sport A2 ($76)-
Handling rating: 8.4
Dry Trac: 8.9
Wet Trac: 8.6
Snow Trac: 7.2
Ride Comfort: 8.4
Noise Comfort: 8.2
Wear: 7.9

Now, the Potenzas just look like horrible tires all around. They have no treadwear warranty at all, while thw Turanzas and the Dunlops have a 50,000 mile one. Plus, the Potenzas are the most expensive! Now, the Turnzas look great, except for the snow traction rating, a 3 is pretty harsh. I'd say the Dunlops look like the best bet, but I've had bad experiences with horrible Dunlop treadwear and them becoming easilly scalloped.

Whats everyone's opinion?

zexen

i really wouldn't mind the turanza's. i need to get new tires too. but the only reason the snow traction doesn't really matter to me, is becasue there is NEVER snow in Texas... well rarely. what tires is everyone running if you have stock rims?

i have some wierd Conquest's... on my front... (don't ask... my dad got em)

SW03ES

Hey I got a response!

Yeah I think the Turanza's look great. If I can get them to swing for them I'll go with them, but if I can't I'll give the Dunlops the go. Not enough better about the Turanzas to justify paying $100 more on my own. Its also going down from a V rated tire to an H rated, which sounds fine to me since the ES wont do 150mph anyway...

The Potenzas are horrible though. I've seen some ES'es with Michelins too, so I'm fairly confident I can get them to make the switch.

Rockville has the car on the lot, I'm tempted to go put a deposit down on it...

zexen

hey SW, i thought you already paid for the Lex.

XenonES3

Rollin' on a 4 month old set of Firestone Firehawks. Appearance wise; they look mean!!!! They handle great, haven't tested them in the snow as of yet.

I remember we use to have Dunlops on one of our cars, they wore pretty quickly and had dismal snow traction.

-zeta- my dad too put these tires on the lex...i didn't have my license at this time

zexen

lol these tires are so old... but the tread is still there... it's like really wierd. i sorta like running on these tires. i don't know what they are, but they have really good wet and dry traction. the snow traction really doesn't bother me. since i'm a texan.

SW03ES

Xenon- The only problem I've seen with Dunlops is the treadwear, but the Bridgestones in question have a snow traction rating of 3 vs 7.9, might just be because the Dunlops have more survey respondents.

Zeta- I haven't put the deposit down yet. We're in the middle of a refinance and any type of credit check etc could cause us not to get it, so I have to wait until thats over and done with, which hopefully should be this week or next. I could go ahead and order it but then with my luck it'd come in, then I'd want to go and get it, take a risk on going ahead and signing the lease and screwing up the refinance. Thats just how I am lol.