I forgot how much I hated these tires. They were the OEM tires on my last car (G35 with staggered rims) and the front tires only lasted about 15,000 miles. I can't wait to replace them.

Is it just me or are they super LOUD?

 

Having come from a CT, the IS is quieter despite the Turanzas and compared to my 2IS which had the outdated Bridgestone Potenza RE92s, NVH is about the same.

I do hear some slight tire noise intruding into the cabin at higher speeds, more so than our RX with Michelins. I believe you they will only last 15k miles (~25k km) due to their poor 260 treadwear rating. They won't be on my shopping list in a year or so when it's time to buy new tires since they're also pricey for what you get. Will look for at least a 400 treadwear rating (~35-40k km).

 

Before the IS, I had a Mini Cooper S...with the 45 series run-flat tires. Compared to that, the IS's Turanza's are an absolute joy!

It really depends on the pavement for me. Decent pavement results in very little noise, but there can be a low roar with older pavement. I'm very satisfied with the road noise level of the car, and the traction in both wet and dry are good for me. We should have some snow here east of Seattle tomorrow morning, so we'll test the snow abilities.

 

That's a fair statement; it's not like I'm riding on fresh pavement around here. I guess when the time comes, I'll have to figure out what to buy.

 

These tires are great compared to the BMW run flat tires.

 

.....compared to any run flat tires. All of the IS 350 F Sport's close competitors (Q50, ATS, 328i) are in love with run flats. I'll take the OEM Bridgestones over them anytime. When I burn the Turanzas down though, I'm going for Michelin Pilot Super Sports. I have them on my Mustang GT and I love them. A less expensive, almost as good tire is the Continental Extreme Contact DW.

 

Dealership said most people replace the tires at 25,000 miles. If I keep the IS that long, Michelins are going on the car. My preference is the MXV4, but this tire may not fit the IS with 18 inch staggered wheels.

 

This is true about the tires on the IS, because the fronts sit pigeon-toed. Although the tires last for an average of 15k-20k miles, my 2IS' tires lasted for a little over 45k miles. I may or may not drive like a grandma.
It all depends on how you drive your car, but extending the life of the tires can be done. I'm hoping I can do the same for my 3IS.

 

Since I don't want to extend the life of these tires, I'll be sure to not drive like a grandma.
I'm still adjusting my seat to get the "perfect" fit. It takes a while for me to become one with a car.

 

Is it just the Turanzas that have a life of 15 - 20 K on the IS? Is this for the summer tires or the all season as well? Would some other brand , e.g. Michelin or Continental be more durable?

 

I replaced my Turanza's on my last car with Michelin Pilot Sport AS Plus and got many more miles. This of course was a switch from summer touring to all-seasons high-performance, but the tread pattern looked better anyway.

 

If the time comes to replace the tires on the 3IS, which tires would you recommend? Would those recommended tires affect the mpg at all?

 

Treadwear is the indicator for life expectancy. Don't pay attention to tire manufacturer mileage claims since they're way overly optimistic. From my experience over many tire brands and cars owned, average about 10k km for every 100 treadwear value or real-world use. This is for mostly daily city driving with occasional spirited driving. So for the Turanzas, expect about 25-30k km which doesn't mean they'll be bald at that point but with a minimum amount of treadwear left - an amount low enough to warrant them to be replaced due to safety (traction) concerns (I typically replace them no lower than 3/10 in tread depth left).


I heavily consult TireRack for real-world reviews and testing, then balance my wishes against the price I'm willing to pay. The most expensive tire is not necessarily the best tire suited to your needs. Your needs may be comfort and fuel economy versus ultimate dry grip for instance.

For mpg consideration, you want to consider tires labeled LRR (Low Rolling Resistance) if you want to optimize fuel economy. The Turanzas are not LRR tires.

 

The first thing I told my dealer before talking about the price is to replace the Bridgestone for Pilot Super Sport !!!

 

Mike, if you get LRR tires, plan on kissing performance goodbye. What you sacrifice in handling is not worth the 1 or 2 mpg gain. My wife had them on her Accord (Michelin "Energy") and they were abysmal. As I stated previously, at the other end of the spectrum are Michelin Pilot Super Sports (summer performance) which are sensational, but very expensive (I paid Tirerack $305/tire for 4 255-40-19's for my Mustang). Great tires for the sunbelt, and no mpg loss on my car. Don't underestimate what good tires can do for handling and overall enjoyment of the car.