ski2days

Found a great buy on some Michelin X-ice on wheels that will fit.
Wondering if using these 215/70r16's instead of the stock 225's or235's will cause any issues with speedometer, 4wheel operation, handling etc.

Lexmex

Search on Google,

Toyota Harrier 215 70 16

That's the OEM Size those vehicles use around the world, and as you may know a Toyota Harrier and Lexus RX300 are practically the same vehicle.

Any time you cange out the size it is going to cause differences. With a 215, you might get a bit better (hardly noticeable) gas mileage and acceleration (again hardly noticeable).

On handling, the vehicle won't feel as wide. I noticed when I went from 225 to 235 on mine, the vehicle felt more like a tank.

ski2days

thanks for the insite!

ski2days

So you're saying there is no real reason for concern in going down to the 215/70r/16?

My 02-rx300 has Michelin LTX with 7/32 tread left.
Debating weather I really need snow tires for my twice weekly ski trips.
My 04 subaru forester had studs and I loved it when it snowed and on ice.
Not sure is the lexus will be as sure footed as the Subi.
Any body else have snow tire experince as far as
Brand?
Studded?
Studless?

Any imput is appreciated.

carguy07

I would stick with the OE size. It's really not that wide and if you go with the 215's you will have a shorter tire which means more revs and less sidewall. Studs are only good on really hard packed snow and ice. At least where I'm at they are not beneficial most of the time and normally hurt performance.

I have these and love them.



http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....cleSearch=true

Carver

Here in Texas when it hits 30-31 degrees and we've had one of those killer frosts overnight we usually stay home or get the chains out or just wait until it burns off about 10:00 AM. Lawdy, we hate these hard winters!

Lexmex

Snow is a different story, you'd want a wider tire, but keep in mind the vehicle weighs almost 4000 pounds. I know of some friends in Russia who brought in Toyota Harriers to Siberia (quite common to import them or the RX300) and those Harriers run fine on 215-70-16, but they've switched those tires out to something more snow-friendly (which it is for a good part of the year).

lexina

Narrower is better in snow condition, not wider. when you are at 60mph, you are actually going 58.8mph, thats 1.9% diff. You should be okay. On dry braking, of course you have less surface friction than 225. If you are a conservative drive, you will benefit from it. I am not concerning about 215, but concerning about the look of it. if you don't mind about the look of it being narrower, then you should be okay as harriers has that size.

Lexmex

I agree narrower is better on most cars in snow (and particularly in a ditch when you have to rock front and back), but not this vehicle, and I'll tell you why...turning (and this probably goes for some other vehicles).

I think Lexus screwed up here with going 215 (Harrier) or 225 (RX300) for winter climates (something I wouldn't worry about in Florida). I definitely noticed when I'd go through muddy areas in my first few months in Mexico that the vehicle almost felt like it was not holding to the road on a turn (like I was sliding to the left or right depending on the turn). I actualy had even had a bit of time in Washington, DC with my RX300 in snow before going down to Mexico and even with AWD, on turns, those tires did not do the vehicle justice, I would slip. Until July 2002, I had the Goodyear Integritys (225-70-16) and then was until present on Michelin CrossTerrains 235-70-16.

Going straight forward out of a ditch or straight on snow, the narrower tire would do better on the RX, but it really freaked me out on any turning issue with wet, muddy or the few chances I had with snowy weather, how the narrow tire fared.

In rainy weather my first few months in Mexico, at higher speeds coming into a turn, I had to slow down on turns, but with those 235s in place, it was a whole different story at high speed.

However, the caveat here is that if you take the turns slowly in snow, mud or rain on a narrower tire like the 215, you shouldn't have issue.

carguy07

I think most of what you were experiencing was the difference in POS Integrity's vs Cross Terrains. A bald Gatorback is better than an Integrity in mud and snow.

Lexmex

There was no integrity with the Integrity.

ski2days

Thanks for the opinions. Yes a narow tires is ALWAYS better in the snow.
Just trying to economize my winter traction needs.