Ok are the stock bridgestone turanzas notorious for poor traction (dry pavement)
#1
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I've got traction control on/vsc on. Pavement is COMPLETELY dry.
To test my traction (I have 2500 miles on my 09 IS 350) I decide to stomp on the accelerator from a dig with nobody around.
I stomp on it and this immediately initiates a burnout. Then, traction control obviously kicks in and cuts power, as expected.
But am I expecting too much from these stock bridgestone turanzas?
In the beginning (with less mileage) I stomped on the accelerator once or twice and traction was fine.
Now after 2500 miles I feel like it's already starting to go. I'm not necessarily an aggressive driver, I don't accelerate hard from a dig all the time at stop lights or anything.
Anyone else with an '09 having these issues with their turanzas?
Can anybody recommend better tires with better grip? I'm seriously considering changing tires at 10k miles instead of 15k or 20k like I had originally planned.
I am not an expert on treadwear, but honestly the tread looks and seems fine. Perhaps the traction is just not good for other reasons or I am expecting the tires to do too much with 300 horses at the crank
To test my traction (I have 2500 miles on my 09 IS 350) I decide to stomp on the accelerator from a dig with nobody around.
I stomp on it and this immediately initiates a burnout. Then, traction control obviously kicks in and cuts power, as expected.
But am I expecting too much from these stock bridgestone turanzas?
In the beginning (with less mileage) I stomped on the accelerator once or twice and traction was fine.
Now after 2500 miles I feel like it's already starting to go. I'm not necessarily an aggressive driver, I don't accelerate hard from a dig all the time at stop lights or anything.
Anyone else with an '09 having these issues with their turanzas?
Can anybody recommend better tires with better grip? I'm seriously considering changing tires at 10k miles instead of 15k or 20k like I had originally planned.
I am not an expert on treadwear, but honestly the tread looks and seems fine. Perhaps the traction is just not good for other reasons or I am expecting the tires to do too much with 300 horses at the crank
#2
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
u have the r33? no, i don't have that problem. but they're not the greatest, they are only summer touring tires. perhaps the road is a little dirty or slick, u never know with public roads.
personally, i find the pirelli pzeros a bit too soft (which may be good for ride and for ppl living in areas with few/minor potholes) and don't protect the rims as much (2 bent rims).
i like bridgestone potenzas much better. have gone thru S-01, S-02, S-03, and RE-050. i like them all, altho S-02 probably had the coolest tread design![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
if u lack for traction, and yes, 300 is a bit, then go for summer max tires. tirerack.com has a lot of selection, as does tires.com. edumacate urself and pick one u think u'll like
personally, i find the pirelli pzeros a bit too soft (which may be good for ride and for ppl living in areas with few/minor potholes) and don't protect the rims as much (2 bent rims).
i like bridgestone potenzas much better. have gone thru S-01, S-02, S-03, and RE-050. i like them all, altho S-02 probably had the coolest tread design
![Smilie](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/smile.gif)
if u lack for traction, and yes, 300 is a bit, then go for summer max tires. tirerack.com has a lot of selection, as does tires.com. edumacate urself and pick one u think u'll like
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#4
Tech Info Resource
![](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/ranks/rank-smod2.gif)
iTrader: (2)
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You don't need Sport Cups for an IS - even an F. Turanzas are some of the worst tires I've ever driven. I would get them off the car ASAP. PS2s are great, RE050PPs are great, T1Rs are great...LOTS of choices out there that pimp slap the Turanza in every performance parameter. What ever you do, don't try to push them in the rain, that's when they're worst.
#5
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You don't need Sport Cups for an IS - even an F. Turanzas are some of the worst tires I've ever driven. I would get them off the car ASAP. PS2s are great, RE050PPs are great, T1Rs are great...LOTS of choices out there that pimp slap the Turanza in every performance parameter. What ever you do, don't try to push them in the rain, that's when they're worst.
I can definitely attest to this.
I have an '09, I have turanzas. I didn't even PUSH them in the rain. I was at a stoplight and I made it a point to just barely press the accelerator and was on the verge of losing control. Lots of wheel spin, my rear end started to sway into oncoming traffic (part of my rear end did sway)
Thankfully traction control kicked in + I just flat out let off the accelerator (from the 5 cm i was pressing it anyways) and instinctively punched the brakes, bad idea I know but I was only going 10 to 20 MPH thankfully and all was well in the end, but still that was a very scary experience.
#6
Lexus Test Driver
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
For 95% of IS drivers, I would wager the Turanzas are fine for everyday driving. If you floor any 300+ hp car from a stop, you are going to light up the tires. That is an aggressive move and maybe a more aggressive tire would suite such a manuver.
If there ever was a traction issue with the IS, it's around the corners and that's more suspension related.
My two cents.
If there ever was a traction issue with the IS, it's around the corners and that's more suspension related.
My two cents.
Trending Topics
#8
Rookie
Thread Starter
Join Date: May 2009
Location: TX
Posts: 83
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Thanks for all the responses.
Also just for clarification
No power braking at all. Literally was just flooring it as fast as possible.
I am disappointed that they switched to turanzas for the 09. I believe they used potenzas for the 06-08
Edit: I'm beginning to think that maybe an alternative explanation is that I just happened to try this in an area where the road was more slippery than usual due to dust or something.
I'll give it a shot another time (again when nobody is around) and will report back.
Also just for clarification
No power braking at all. Literally was just flooring it as fast as possible.
I am disappointed that they switched to turanzas for the 09. I believe they used potenzas for the 06-08
Edit: I'm beginning to think that maybe an alternative explanation is that I just happened to try this in an area where the road was more slippery than usual due to dust or something.
I'll give it a shot another time (again when nobody is around) and will report back.
#10
Lexus Champion
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
You can go to tirerack.com and see what the best sellers are for each model, and get a lot of good info on ratings and feedback there.
#11
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I had Turanzas with my 07. Potenzas were a different tire package. I liked my Turanzas while I had them. They were pretty quiet and for my daily commute they performed well enough. Keep in mind that I didn't push them that hard because I need my tires to last. Nice and quite for 30k until a nail in the sidewall led me to the Pilot Sport A/S Plus. Love these new tires a lot more
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#12
Pole Position
Join Date: Jul 2007
Location: California
Posts: 222
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
Turanzas suck *****. I could easily get them to lose traction; they'd squeal in corners and it wasn't much of a feat to chirp them from hard acceleration... and I drive a 250. I can only imagine how much worse they would be on a 350.
#14
Driver School Candidate
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: VA
Posts: 4
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I had Turanzas with my 07. Potenzas were a different tire package. I liked my Turanzas while I had them. They were pretty quiet and for my daily commute they performed well enough. Keep in mind that I didn't push them that hard because I need my tires to last. Nice and quite for 30k until a nail in the sidewall led me to the Pilot Sport A/S Plus. Love these new tires a lot more ![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
![Big Grin](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/biggrin.gif)
#15
![Default](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/icons/icon1.gif)
I have about 5k on the tires. To be honest I haven't pushed the car much since it's my DD and I need these tires to last
The tires are quiet, smooth and a huge step up from the Turanzas. One thing I've noticed is that they seem to be dropping PSI a faster than the Turanzas. I'm down 1-2 PSI when I do my monthly checks where with the T's I would lose 1-2 every 2-3 months.
![Stick Out Tongue](https://www.clublexus.com/forums/images/smilies/tongue.gif)