Maineguy

I just purchased a 2002 Gs300 with 124k miles and it will be needing new tires in the next few months. I currently use Goodyear Comfort Treds on my wife's 2005 ES330 and they seem to ride very nicely. It would be interesting to see what brands (Goodyear, Michelin, Pirelli, etc.) Gs300 drivers prefer and why. I live in Maine where we get a lot of snow, so I need an all-season radial that will work well with rear wheel traction in snow and also get me good gas milage.

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

if you get a lot of snow, I would recommend a dedicated winter tire. The GS is a handful in slippery conditions due to the lack of LSD, rudimentary traction control, and fair amount of torque. Not in a frightening way, it's just stubborn and unpredictable. So if you want an all-season that works well in the snow, you will not find one. You will only find maybe some that are less terrible than others. For winter, select either a tire that specializes in ice traction, or snow traction depending on how your roads are mostly. In summer, select an appropriate performance tire and enjoy your GS. Yes, you will have bought two sets of tires, but they will last nearly twice as long and you will have maximum performance year-round.

cptndan

The continental control contact touring is a good all season tire and carries a 90k mile warranty. Does very well in wet weather, and being comfortable. However, like stated above, an all season tire won't compare to a snow tire in snowy conditions.

lexo98

iTrader: (2)

I could be wrong, but I don't think that tire comes in the correct performance ratings for the GS. I'd lean more towards the Michelin Premier for smooth and comfortable with good braking and performance or Bridgestone serenity plus if your leaning more towards high mileage.

MattyG

I won't add too much more to the good advice already posted, but you didn't specify what size wheels/tires the car has now.

The GS3 and GS4 had 16 inch narrower tire sizes and then the optional 17 inch size which was much wider. The GS300 is down significantly on torque so it's going to react a little different in slippery conditions than the 400/430 V8's which will spin the tires on cue on dry pavement if you want.

I had to go to dedicated tires and even then I have to put two 50 lb bags of sand/gravel in the trunk. These cars don't make ideal winter vehicles. But they are manageable if you know how to drive a rwd car in snow/ice.

Maineguy

I have 16" factory rims on my 2002 Gs300. I have owned rear-wheel drive cars all my life here in northern New England....... including 2, Mercedes E-300's. I have never had a problem driving those cars in the worst of winter snow storms. You just need to know how to drive in winter, most people are so spoiled with front-wheel and all-wheel drive. I have no idea as to how a 2002 Gs300 compares to the Mercedes E-300 in winter snow. I guess if worst comes to worst, I will have to put 2 snow tires on the back BUT, I prefer to stay with all-season radials if possible as I did with my 2 Mercedes. The only problem I had with Mercedes was the poor amount of tire wear that I got with the MXV-4's even with rotation and balancing and alignments done yearly. I'm hoping that maybe Michelin's will give better tread wear on the Gs300 than on the Mercedes E-300.

firelizard

iTrader: (1)

It's not a merely complaining that RWD cars are difficult in the snow. The GS is difficult in the snow, even compared to other RWD cars, it just doesn't handle well. It understeers a lot, and if it loses traction it will just sit there spinning one wheel.

MattyG

I would probably say that unless you have an urgent need to drive this GS300 in the snow belt in the next two months... defer the decision because the annual arrival of spring and summer is imminent!

MattyG

A couple of years ago with dedicated Toyo Garrits, I couldn't even get out of my parking spot. Just spinning with wide 17 inch winter tires. After that I put the sacks of ballast in the trunk and it made a big difference.

Late last year I delayed changing out my Michelin AS3's because I was enjoying them but of course it snowed. Nearly swapped ends on a very low speed turn out of my neighborhood. You have to be very careful with these cars. But with the right tires they are absolutely predictable.

GS300ENTHU

The Continent Tire on my 04 gs300 works excellent as an all season tire, and I live in VA where we get a decent amount of snow. And I never use snow mode, I love drifting around a corner for fun in the snow lol

aldondawad

hi

The Continental Control Contact Tour is a superb all-season tyre with a guarantee of 90,000 miles. It performs admirably in rainy conditions while being comfortable. In snowy circumstances, however, an all-season tyre will not compare to a snow tyre, as previously indicated. villa for sale in turkey