GC09GS

2009 GS350 AWD has just hit 19,000 miles and the tires are pretty worn. The front driver side tire is almost bald around the outer edges. The tires are Dunlop SP Sport 5000M. A few questions:

1. Is 20k miles all I can expect from a set of tires on this car?
2. What tires would you recommend?
3. I need to get the car serviced, should I get the tires replaced elsewhere (better price?) or just let the Lexus dealership do it?

Thanks!

SNiiP3R

iTrader: (3)

Get new tires and get an alignment after

*Batman*

What tires you get depend on what you are looking for:

If you want performance, there are 2 new tires out which blow away all other performance tires:
1) Michelin Pilot Super Sport (300 treadwear rating)
2) Bridgestone Potenza S-04 Pole Position (280 treadwear rating).

If you want comfort:
- Bridgestone Turanza Serenity
- Michelin Primacy

If you want value for money
Continental Extreme Contact DW

Ken300

There are some keywords to keep in mind when purchasing tires, I'm not by any stretch of the imagination an expert but I did learn the following:

Performance Tires = Low Miles Tires

So if you want to get more then 20K miles, avoid Performance rated tires

GC09GS

Thanks for the replies! I'm taking a look at the Bridgestone Turanza Serenity and the Michelin Primacy tires. I'm more interested in comfortable ride and better wear for this car. No need for high performance tires that I have to replace every year.

Coolpop

I have the Michelin Pilot Sport A/S Plus - UHP tires - with 30,000 miles on them and they look like they'll go another 30,000.

Bavaria

I still have the original 18" Michelin MXV Primacy's, and am at 35k miles. I also rotate them every 5k. I like the tires, but they're very expensive. I probably will be replacing them with the Conti Extreme DWS. Do the research on Tire Rack. If you have Discount Tire in your area, they'll beat any price for the same tires offered at Tire Rack or anywhere else. I really pays to do the research.

dunnojack

outer edges almost bald?

sounds like a tire inflation mistake.

*Batman*

Those are both great choices. Another I have been very impressed with is the Goodyear Excellence.

pkp207

I have the Bridgestone Potenza RE960AS Pole Position, and they're great tires. I think I've put nearly 10k on them and they barely look used. Then again, I don't drive like a madman

I do have a tire question though. Since I live in NY near the city... except for this winter, a dedicated snow tire isn't necessary since it's just a few inches here and there. And the rain is never too bad either. Between a Grand Touring All-Season and a Ultra High Performance All-Season, is the grand touring tire going to be worse in different weather conditions?? Or is the really the only difference between the 2 tires is one is about comfort and one is about performance?

Kcook700

iTrader: (2)

I'd love to get 19K out of my tires..

Maybe when I get my camber issues straightened up...

GC09GS

Got the Serenities installed yesterday and they are great so far. Very smooth and very quiet. But I went back early this morning for an alignment that I didn't want to wait another hour for yesterday. So after being there for an hour they tell me that my wheels are out of alignment but my car has some sort of automatic sensor/adjustment that they don't know how to get around. Anyone else ever run into that?

Kcook700

iTrader: (2)

Sensor? Maybe the headlight one? That shouldn't affect the alignment..

GC09GS

I can't remember what specifically he said it was....I think it was automatic ride adjustment or alignment adjustment. Haha it was too early for me to be listening that carefully. And I didn't get the sense he knew what it was either, he was just relaying the message from the guy who was doing the work. Either way, it didn't make much sense. But this is a 2-3 year old car, shouldn't they know by now that they can't adjust the alignment instead of making me wait over an hour just to hear that?

I've got a call in to the lexus dealership now, need to get the oil changed and whatever else they do to it so I'll ask them when I get an appointment.

Sango

iTrader: (10)

Sounds like alignment right out of the factory is not that good, just like the IS = tires wear out fast!

If you bring your car to a dedicated alignment shop which knows what they are doing, your tires will last longer.