How do you guys think an IS 350 with snow tires will do? I live in lower NY just outside the city so we get a "decent" amount of snow every year. I really don't wanna get the IS250 AWD if I don't have to. Thanks.
Joe

 

Do a search, you'll find a number of "real world" reports of how those of us with IS350s and snow tires made out this winter.

After a season on Pirelli SnowSports on my IS350, I'd certainly choose it over the IS250AWD for my (central NJ) driving if I was buying the car today. Even though it was nowhere near as good as my AWD Audi S4 on the slippery stuff, it was acceptable.

 

i answered this in a previous thread, my answer was "with snow tires you'll be just fine with the 350" especially if you're not upstate. take a look back at some of the older thread, right before winter (oct/nov/dec), a bunch of us were concerned about sleet/snow and we all went with a couple different options and for the most part, it worked out well....full reports were posted. i can tell you personally with snow tires, the 350 is like night and day vs. stock tires.

 

Would it be acceptable with all seasons? Or not? Maybe Ill look into the old threads also.

 

I live near Toronto Ontario in Canada (despite my Florida address which was my parents home address and used after originally having problems listing a Canadian address) and my dealer has ordered me a set of 16” steel wheels and corresponding tires for winter use. Several Lexus dealers in the greater Toronto area have equipped IS350's with this setup last winter with reported good results. My other option was to put snows on the 18” wheels but considering the low profile tire and sand and salt on the roads…not likely the best situation. Also my winter tires are 225/55's and a norrow tire will certainly be better in snow. Talk to your dealer. Mine is giving me free storage of my winter wheels/tires in summer and visa versa in the winter. I definitely would not subject your good wheels to the abuse of winter. Also, considering the short tread life of the Dunlops, you get 4 or 5 months of the year when they are not on the road. My winter tires/wheels cost me around $1100 Canadian, less than a new set of Dunlops.

 

Really? The saleman I spoke to at the Tire Rack told me that 16" wheels wouldn't clear the brake rotors on the IS350. First time they've ever given me a bum steer.

 

Just telling you what my dealer did for me, based on other IS350's prepared the same way last winter. I will definatley question my dealer, but this setup was recommended to my dealer from the Service Manager at Performance Lexus in St. Catherines Ontario where my car was aquired.
This was actually recommend to me for winter at the time delivery, telling me it was a great way to go for driving in snow.

 

I think that performance-oriented snow tires should do OK. I'm looking for some myself. I live in CT, we get snow but only a few times a year.

 

I would consider your plan if we only had a few snow falls a year, but with the amount of snow, salt and sand on roads in Ontario, I might as well be sandblasting my rims.

 

I don't see any way a 16" wheel will clear brakes that are over 13" when you factor in the size of the caliper hanging off the rotor.

 

My service manger still says he did this set up on IS350's last winter and has told me if I don't believe him to come in sometime over the next few weeks and he will mount one of my front winter wheel and tires for me, to eliminate any concern I have. I plan on taking him up on this and will report back with the results. He tell's me it has worked in the past but will do whatever to convince me. I unfortunatley will not be able to do this for several weeks, as I will be out of town on vacation from this Wednesday until July 11th.