CFO

I have recently replaced my 2008 ES350 with a 2014 CPO ES350. I have been pretty happy with the 2014 so far, but have one question for the group. My car came with brand new Hancook Ventus tires. I questioned the sales rep about this and he claims that Lexus is now using Hancook in addition to Michelin and Bridgestone.
Has anybody used Hancook Ventus's on their car? My impression so far is that the Toyo Versado's that I used on my 2008 were quieter and rode smoother over bumps.

Dave Mac

I don't know about that - I haven't been in a Lexus dealership for a couple of months now but I always notice what tires are on new cars and I have never seen hancook Ventu tires on a Lexus. I think the salesman might have been a little less than truthful with that statement.

Dave Mac

Poppa

I recently stopped at our Lexus dealership and I didn't notice any vehicle with Hankook tires on them. Only Bridgestone and Michelin..... If you decide to swap out tires, I would recommend staying away from Bridgestone Turanza's.... they came on a new Avalon and Lexus that I bought and I hated them.. Rough riding and noisy tires... I've had good luck with Michelins in the past.. and the most recent tire I put on my lexus were Perelli's P-7 Plus Cinturato... Had them about a year or so and so far, no complaints.. nice riding tire.

Poppa

bc6152

I don't think that a Japanese auto manufacturing company would use Korean tires on any of their cars...
Think that salesman was blowing smoke at you CFO...

lesz

For a used Lexus to be certified as a CPO vehicle, the tires are required to have a minimum of 5/32" of tread left on them. It is only a guess on my part, but I suspect that, when dealers are required to replace tires to meet CPO requirements, many of them replace the tires with the cheapest tires that they can find. Since, according to the Tire Rack website, the Hankook Ventus tires cost less than 60% of what Michelin MXM4 (or other "premium" tires) cost, I would guess that is the reason why your car has the Hankook tires.

bc6152

+1 Sounds like a sound theory to me Les.

lesz

Adding to what I said above, for the 2014 model year, all ES vehicles came from the factory with either Michelin MXV4 tires or Bridgestone Turanza tires. So, when the tires on your car were replaced, they definitely were not replaced with the same brand of tires that originally came with the car.

newyerker

maybe he meant all CPOs get the hankooks at the dealership lol
if its a new tire, i wouldnt mind it though.

bc6152

Yeah, well as Les stated, the Hankooks are a lot cheaper than the Michelins or Bridgestones so that's why the dealership would use them on CPO and other vehicles. Not to say that they're bad tires 'cause I don't know... I seriously doubt that Toyota Corp. is providing them on any of their new cars.

WNC

I think you’re on to something here!!!