bmore430

Time to replace factory Dunlops on my LS. This will be the first set of tires I have replaced on the car. I beleive the previous owner had the OEM dunlops re-installed at the 60k service and im now at 85k miles. I have no real complaints with these tires but want to know my options for a good all season that will see daily driving summer through winter in Maryland. We do get snow storms so I want something that will be safe in all conditions. The Dunlops did OK when i put extra weight in the trunk with all my tools and aluminum jack but there has to be a better option.

Would the Michelin Premier A/S be my best choice?

Tom57

For all-season tires, yes, it would IMO. There are existing threads where this is debated.

An even better choice is Michelin X-Ice winter tires. Either swap them onto your current wheels, or if your budget allows, get a dedicated set of 16" wheels for the snow tires. You won't be disappointed.

bmore430

I have factory 18 inch wheels as well.

I know dedicated winter blizzaks or x-ice would be best but we dont get enough snow to warrant 2 sets of wheels as far as cost and storage is concerned.

I got through everything on the dunlops just was a little scary at times lol. i know there has to be a better all season out there.

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

Of course I would say MXV4's, Primacy A/S, or P7's are good choices. The Continental Extreme Contact is rated well too.

StanVanDam

I drive in the Northeast (Ottawa, Canada) - 5 years on the Michelin Primacy MXV4 225/55/17 97H and 41000kms. They seem to be slippery in the rain and even more slippery on snow and ice - several other reviews online say the same thing. Other than that, I find them very smooth and quiet, perfectly balanced and tracks perfectly straight at low speeds and high.

If I were to buy new all-seasons today, I would try the Michelin Premier A/S H-rated (not W or V).

Source: Michelin.ca

Lexus says W and V rated tires have worse comfort, increased road noise, faster wear, and less grip on non-dry pavement. I don't drive fast enough to benefit from the increase in speed rating.

Source: 2002 LS430 Owner's Manual

If I were to buy new winter tires, Michelin X-Ice Xi3. I have the Xi2 and they are fantastic - had them for 5 years, 18000kms on them. A word about separate winter wheels: avoid ones that have wide gaps between the spokes - snow gets packed inside the wheels and then you'll have severe tire imbalance at highway speeds.

yuri.ber

iTrader: (7)

Don't get Continental Extreme Contact. They are notoriously noisy after about 20k miles and begin to become more and more noisy.

warminwisc

Pilot Sport A/S do not look back if ya do trade em for Premier with the 30 Day Promise Plan. Yur LS will be transformed with Pilot Sport. The P7 Premier Mxv4 are all sleepy tires for comfort not sport but maybe that is what ya want , Pilot Sport ya can have it all. Less treadwear rating 45k versus 70 but cheaper than Premier.

Cheap play is the Generals

tcr101

iTrader: (2)

They are also noticeably louder when I first installed mine (compared to the Turanza Serenity). Currently have ~2k miles on this set and they howl over 80. Drove in light rain and they seem to be ok. Waiting for some rain/wet conditions to really see how they hold up.

bmore430

Thanks for the input guys. Looks like its going to come down between the Pilot A/S or the Premier A/S.

Anyone had any winter experience with the Pilot or Premier aka driving in few inches of snow, sleet etc?

Lavrishevo

iTrader: (1)

I don't think any all seasons will handle snow well and like real snow tires. The pilots are a lot softer then the premiers. Seriously doubt you will get much life out of them vs the premiers.

MattyG

2GS430 owner here (hope I'm not intruding). I went with Pilot Sport AS3's this past spring - W rated. Very good handling and they are true 3 season tires. But then the GS430 is all about handling. Noisy? Yes. But that's what you pay for that kind of performance. (the 2GS is not very well insulated).

Also using dedicated Toyo winter tires since I'm in the winter belt. One thing that hasn't been mentioned aside from the issues of noise/handling/wet performance is temperature.

Heat and cold degrade tire performance so it's always good to see what tire gives you a safety margin. UHP tires have a built in safety margin if your driving in extreme heat. So do dedicated winter tires when the temps hover around the freezing mark and well below that.

Premiers would be a good choice so would Bridgestone Serenitys.

warminwisc

I am 56 so take this with a grain of salt hearing. The 245/45/18's Pilot Sport A/S I found to be not any noisier than the MXV4's.

yuri.ber

iTrader: (7)

I had Michelin Pilot Sport Plus before the Contis Extreme and I will never buy Michelin again. They were good for the first year but then all 4 started to crack and fall apart. Had plenty of thread left so called Michelin to exchange under warranty. Was told to come in for tire inspection into one of their shops. Shop told me I had to pay the difference of half the price for each tire since the warranty is prorated.
Drove out pissed of.... Never michelin again.

bmore430

premiers seem to be the way to go then from what everyone is saying on here and from the reviews Ive read everywhere. I'll report back how they do with the winter right around the corner.

Like I mentioned i have gotten through almost every storm we have had with up to 3-6 inches of snow on the dunlop all seasons so I will not be doing an extra set of wheels with dedicated snow tires just yet but I know the premiers are supposed to be much better all around so Im hoping they are worth the price tag.