Winter Performance for IS500?
01-30-23, 08:37 AM
#62
Mate/lady, you bought a what, $60,000+ car and by your own admission, had no idea it came with summer tires. Maybe cut the attitude given you apparently know very little about the car you bought. That's OK, but packaging it with a thin-skinned/rude attitude doesn't make people want to help you.
It was $80k btw.
Have a great day. I have better things to do (I am gainfully employed) not a professional forum stalker that prob spent their every penny on a car. Aren't you supposed to be driving electric in CA anyway?
The following users liked this post:
macmaster (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 08:40 AM
#63
Forum Administrator
iTrader: (2)
Knock off the personal comments folks and be polite or don’t post. Let’s get back on topic
01-30-23, 08:43 AM
#64
I am in Carmel, IN. We don't get the lake effect thankfully! Regardless, I am finding it difficult to navigate even in light snow. As stated before, I've never had to switch out tires before. I didn't know my tires were summer tires! ugh. But.. hey I know now due to lots of smartass comments
Yes you have summer tires and they are honestly not happy below freezing even without precipitation.
You could try a better Michelin or Continental all season tire and be OK in the snow but I will say that if you get another set of wheels with dedicated snow tires you will be very happy with how your car performs. Then when the stock tires go you can also replace them because they are nothing special. Lexus like many car companies seem to put tires that seem to be "just ok" to sometime "good for only holding air". The stock tires on my wife's 2013 IS 350 sucked in the rain on a warm day. They also sucked at u-turns on a summer day. Same for my 2018 IS 350 F-Sport. I switched at the time to a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ and also the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus and both were superior in every way over the Bridgestone stock tires I had. The Continental's also got to be driven here in Texas with a few inches of snow and were fine. If I was in Indiana I'd probably get snow tires just because you get more snow than I do in Texas.
The following users liked this post:
karlid (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 08:59 AM
#65
Ahh yes the Indy area. Been there a few times in the past.
Yes you have summer tires and they are honestly not happy below freezing even without precipitation.
You could try a better Michelin or Continental all season tire and be OK in the snow but I will say that if you get another set of wheels with dedicated snow tires you will be very happy with how your car performs. Then when the stock tires go you can also replace them because they are nothing special. Lexus like many car companies seem to put tires that seem to be "just ok" to sometime "good for only holding air". The stock tires on my wife's 2013 IS 350 sucked in the rain on a warm day. They also sucked at u-turns on a summer day. Same for my 2018 IS 350 F-Sport. I switched at the time to a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ and also the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus and both were superior in every way over the Bridgestone stock tires I had. The Continental's also got to be driven here in Texas with a few inches of snow and were fine. If I was in Indiana I'd probably get snow tires just because you get more snow than I do in Texas.
Yes you have summer tires and they are honestly not happy below freezing even without precipitation.
You could try a better Michelin or Continental all season tire and be OK in the snow but I will say that if you get another set of wheels with dedicated snow tires you will be very happy with how your car performs. Then when the stock tires go you can also replace them because they are nothing special. Lexus like many car companies seem to put tires that seem to be "just ok" to sometime "good for only holding air". The stock tires on my wife's 2013 IS 350 sucked in the rain on a warm day. They also sucked at u-turns on a summer day. Same for my 2018 IS 350 F-Sport. I switched at the time to a Michelin Pilot Sport A/S 3+ and also the Continental ExtremeContact DWS 06 Plus and both were superior in every way over the Bridgestone stock tires I had. The Continental's also got to be driven here in Texas with a few inches of snow and were fine. If I was in Indiana I'd probably get snow tires just because you get more snow than I do in Texas.
I just left a message with my Lexus dealer.
My boyfriend drives a Trackhawk - so I'll be catching a ride with him until I get these snow tires!
Saw on the news that TX is expecting ice. Be safe!
The following users liked this post:
karlid (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 09:49 AM
#67
Someone at work just recommended Blizzaks. I have a call into my Lexus dealer.. Hopefully get some winter tires SOON!
01-30-23, 09:58 AM
#68
Intermediate
We've had little to no snow/ice so far in S. Ontario . Why do I need snow tires again? Just kidding! LOL.
01-30-23, 10:28 AM
#69
Lead Lap
karlig - I agree with TGPCanada - Answer has had his LE for about a year now and has a square tire set up and has had no issues and he lives in a very snowy area (I do too but mine is garaged all winter). To me, the two brands I go with are the Michelin X Ice or Bridgestone Blizzaks. Bottom line, winter tires will greatly help but the rear-wheel biased and the fact it has a lot of HP means that you will still need to be cautious on snow/ice covered road since the weight will not be where the wheels have the traction/propulsion but you will be in a much better situation than the summer tires currently on, I drove my car in December when it was around 28F and I didn't feel safe despite being dry so yeah, don't drive your IS 500 in winter conditions without proper tirs 
And welcome to the forum...
And welcome to the forum...
The following users liked this post:
karlid (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 10:42 AM
#70
I spend most of my time between Carmel, Indiana and Chicago. Nice to see another is500 close by!
I got my car on December 16th and winter tires were immediately put on. Still not a great car in the winter by any means, but the pirelli winters have basically given me zero issues in the winter we have so far
I got my car on December 16th and winter tires were immediately put on. Still not a great car in the winter by any means, but the pirelli winters have basically given me zero issues in the winter we have so far
lol.. I am being rude? I didn't realize anyone was still talking to you?
It was $80k btw.
Have a great day. I have better things to do (I am gainfully employed) not a professional forum stalker that prob spent their every penny on a car. Aren't you supposed to be driving electric in CA anyway?
It was $80k btw.
Have a great day. I have better things to do (I am gainfully employed) not a professional forum stalker that prob spent their every penny on a car. Aren't you supposed to be driving electric in CA anyway?
The following users liked this post:
karlid (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 10:46 AM
#71
I am in Michigan across from Windsor Ontario my area gets hit too with snow. Plus the lake affect suck too.
01-30-23, 10:59 AM
#73
I had either a Blizzak or I think a Dunlop snow tire back in the day. I would bet they are even better today. Good all season versus snow tire is different for sure. You know when you hit the brakes normally but that last inch or two the ABS kicks in at the very end before you are completely stopped on snow or ice? When I switched from the good all season tires to the snow tires, the ABS never kicked in at the end. They had more grip and the car stopped with no protest at all. Now my car was AWD but that would not affect the braking only acceleration. In the snow tires my car would do exactly what I wanted in a few inches of snow with no issue.
The following users liked this post:
karlid (01-30-23)
01-30-23, 11:25 AM
#74
karlig - I agree with TGPCanada - Answer has had his LE for about a year now and has a square tire set up and has had no issues and he lives in a very snowy area (I do too but mine is garaged all winter). To me, the two brands I go with are the Michelin X Ice or Bridgestone Blizzaks. Bottom line, winter tires will greatly help but the rear-wheel biased and the fact it has a lot of HP means that you will still need to be cautious on snow/ice covered road since the weight will not be where the wheels have the traction/propulsion but you will be in a much better situation than the summer tires currently on, I drove my car in December when it was around 28F and I didn't feel safe despite being dry so yeah, don't drive your IS 500 in winter conditions without proper tirs And welcome to the forum...
And welcome to the forum...
Do I need to change out the rims, too? (I have the launch edition rims).
Thank you for the nice welcome to the Lexus forum
I am on my 4th Lexus (I've owned 2 RX350 and an AWD IS before - hence no need to really switch out tires)!
01-30-23, 11:27 AM
#75
I spend most of my time between Carmel, Indiana and Chicago. Nice to see another is500 close by!
I got my car on December 16th and winter tires were immediately put on. Still not a great car in the winter by any means, but the pirelli winters have basically given me zero issues in the winter we have so far
I got my car on December 16th and winter tires were immediately put on. Still not a great car in the winter by any means, but the pirelli winters have basically given me zero issues in the winter we have so far
I lovvve mine.. (except for when it snows)..