Don't speak for everyone. If conditions permit I like drive fast and had my LS at a 130mph limiter many times. LS is very well built and can handle more than 130mph. Do you know that all euro and arab LS 430s have 150+ mph electronic speed limiter? And the only reason why USA LS got a lower limiter is due to H rated tires car came with?

 

I had a Honda Accord which needed new skins and I had just put Turanza T's on my minivan. I thought I would cheap out on my Honda even though it was rated for H's and I put on T's. Well the difference was like nite and day on the freeway to work having to microsteer the Honda and my arm got very tired and sore and in 3 days I couldn't take it and went back to Firestone like a whiney puppy.

They agreed to upgrade me back to Turanza H's and my problem was gone. The tread on the H's and the T's was exactly the same, balancing the same, alignment the same. It is not just about the ability to drive fast.

 

Yuri I PM'd ya

 

Well I just got back from getting my Primacy MXV4's put on and the Pilot Sports removed. Ahh, sweet silence!

 

Good move, congrats...

 

I believe the mxv4's are geared towards more performance. I currently have these as well. As you guys mentioned, you like to push it to the limiter. I have also opened her up a few times but it is not the best idea.

T rated of sustained speeds is not a bad rating is my point. Check out the chart below. I disagree with your broad statement that a t rated tire is not worth considering. Especially, if it will last another 30,000 miles. For the vast majority of owners who do not run their cars that fast it would probably be a better decision. They have fantastic reviews.

 

So why is opening it up not the best idea?

You should run S's then you will really get more miles 30 k miles of compromised handling.

 

On a closed course people can do what they want. On public highways its just not a great idea.

The Pilots have better traction then the MXV4's and are obviously softer rubber. The op choose to go back to a more touring tire. The difference between the Defenders and MXV4's is rather minimal. Less then the Pilots vs the MXV4's

 

I just returned from my local Costco. They installed a set of Pilot Sport A/S Plus on my LS430 Sport. In the limited drive home (about 8 miles), I LOVE THEM! They are much quieter than the Continentals I had previously and more forgiving on potholes and cracks in the road. I saved over $200 by ordering the Sport Plus online and having the store install them over getting the newer Sport 3's. Just my 2¢.

 

I don't believe that tire shops are legally allowed to sell and mount tires that don't meet the speed limiter on the cars. Our cars are limited at 129 mph. That doesn't leave many options on having low rated tires on your car. I could be wrong on this, but that's what I seem to remember.

 

Does anyone have any experience with Hankook Ventus S1 noble2 ?? Survey data on Tire Rack is extremely high and with a price nearly $70 cheaper (per tire) than the MXV4's, I'd really like to go that route if they're a good tire. Thanks.

 

just to add its not about a t being able to handle the speed its about the dynamics of the tire in ride and handling with the stiffness of the sidewall, if you took a yoko t rated and a michelin h rate tire it would completely change the ride and the handling. the speed rating is used for max speed and safety but what we all want is enhancing the user experience with the car, the michelin primacy when you factor in the longevity of tire life and fuel economy is the best value reliable tire out there. also the defender that lavrishevo mentioned has a different compound made of some kind of sunflower oil thats how it last longer the mxv4 i picked up the mxv4 for 178 balance and installed on my car with a price match guarantee at lexus how do you even compare another tire for that kind of money it pays for itself in gas savings
happy new year to all

 

I am not sure if this helps but I picked up some Conti LX20 Eco's for my Highlander. They where rated like the Ventus you speak of #1 in their class. I picked them over the Latitude HP's to save a few bucks and they are a real nice tire I do not regret.

Problem with the Ventus is you see ratings and surveys on only 130k miles driven. The test they did against 3 other tires is a good indicator short term but like any tire ya gotta keep em aligned and pressures at OEM specs for best indicator long term.

 

I replaced my factory tires on my LS430 at 50,000 with Michelin MXV4. I just finished 230,000 miles on the car on my 2nd set of MXV4s. Over 80,000 miles per set. I'm buying my 3rd set shortly. Go MXV4s.

 

The Ventus is rated well on Consumer Reports with treadwear life the only questionable circle.