So I found an IS that I really want to buy but the sales rep was pushing the tire warranty which made me wonder why he was doing that. After some 4am research...there were lots of posts about multiple flats in a year, busted rims, etc.

Is that anecdotal or is it a real problem?

I test drove an is350 but the road was decent so I don't really have a good comparison for road noise/comfort. I currently drive an es350 which has a very smooth ride.

Any insights would be appreciated.

 

On my 2016 IS 300 AWD, I lost two tires and one wheel to potholes over the course of about 3.5 years while driving it out in the KCMO metro area. So, depending on how bad your roads are, it could be a concern.

Now, I live in the ATL area. On my Jetta GLI, IS 350, and IS 500 that I've owned since moving here, I have not had any wheel or tire issues due to road hazards. I have had a couple leaks due to screws getting in my tires, but no pothole damage such as bent wheels or bubbled tires. That's why I say it depends on your roads.

 

That sounds like a useless dealer add-on they're trying to sell you on. Discount Tire, Costco, and others like them will have warranty on tires when you buy them. Don't fall for that sales pitch. Things like nitrogen air in tires, VIN etching, and many others are just ways for the dealership to make more off you. How much are they trying to sell you this for?

 

$600 down from $1,200

 

When I had my road hazard warranty on the 2016, I paid $900 for it. But, I got my money's worth in repairs.
Now, would I buy it again, living where I live now? No.

 

Someone mentioned to me you only get 15k out of the rubber instead of the typically 30k. Is that true?

 

Please see: https://www.clublexus.com/forums/is-...tire-wear.html

However, switching to some aftermarket tires can help also.

 

The inner tire wear, pointed to above, is a big contributor.
Also, if the car has a staggered setup, you can’t rotate the tires, and can contribute to tire wear.

 

I'd find out exactly what that covers before buying something like that. Where are you located? How are the roads where you're driving the car? Did you go through alot of tires on your previous car? I'd probably pass on that unless they dropped the price even lower than $600 you talked them down. Discount tire will show you how much you'll pay for full road hazard coverage on new tires before you buy them.

 

I checked, it covers any damage to the tires or the rims. Rim rash, etching, etc. Doesnt matter if the tire or the rim is damage, it covers any repair and replacement if it cant be repaired. 7 years.

 

I read the article on bushing replacement. It was pretty old though but I dont know if the issue carried into a 2023 model.

 

Not much has changed with respect to the bushings or suspension tuning, so I would say yes.

Here's the thing though. If you own the car and end up going through your first set of tires quickly, then you know you have an issue. It is best not to solve a problem you don't have, I say.

My 2023 IS 500 has not shown any signs of this issue yet. Neither did my 2021 IS 350 - at least, not to the degree I would have expected. I got about 15,000 out of the stock tires on it, but I could have gone a little longer if I wanted to. I was just tired of them.

 

Up to you if you want to roll the dice on the purchase. If you do, I'd try to pay separate for it, wouldn't recommend rolling it into the financing of the car.

 

Without question.

 

I always look at dealer "insurance" programs as nothing but ways for the dealer to make money, why else do they push it so hard?
That being said, after driving my '17 F-Sport for 7+ years, I will say that the low profile tires "can't take a joke". Any pothole is reason for "max pucker" and an immediate check of the TPMS display to see if a tire is losing air.
I once hit a pothole on a Friday night that resulted in the tire going flat, thank goodness I have a 12V air pump in the car, that thing saved my a**.
If you don't go for the $600 protection plan, at least keep an air pump in the car and don't be surprised if you wind up buying a new tire and/or a rim somewhere along the way,