sasha055

Hi All,

I need to change my Michelins MXV4 tires and I've been looking for Yokohama Parada Spec-x.

Spec-X have excellent reviews everywhere, the only problem is that all reviews are form heavy truck owners, I want to hear if someone had experience with them on a luxury SUV.

I'm interested mostly in ride comfort without trading too much performance?

Which one should I go? they cost almost the same (5$ difference for 235/55R18)

So if anyone swithced form OEM Michelins to Spec-x can ou please tell me:

1. Which one is more comfortable?
2. Which has better handling
3. Which has better thread life?

..4. Which looks better

Thanks a lot

Sasha

LophatRX

I would say you could try the Yokohama, I hated the Michelins and I just put some Yokohama S-drive on my Z4 and they are so quite and comfortable. If you have researched enough, and found more good opinions than bad ones I would take the leap, kind of what I did with my larger tires and made the switch to Toyo Proxes STII, because they offered the 255/50/18, for my RX330. From the looks of them the tread pattern looks like they should be quiet and comfortable. From looking at the tire rack site they don't offer that tire in the 235/55/18. I would research more to make sure they offer that tire in that size elsewhere.

sasha055

Discounttire sells them for 5$ less then Michelins..

I figured since big chunk of Michelins price is for Brand Name.. Yokos could be better

Thanks LophatRX

Sasha

Todd

if its 06 or later I am not sure if Yoko makes the size you will need. Have you checked?

sasha055

It's 04 and currently I have 235/55/18, Tire Rack doesn't have this size but Discount Tire has them

Sasha

rxovermdx

So what's the best tire (18") for RX?? I thought it was Alenza's but I hear that MPG will drop (heavier tires).

jfelbab

My mileage didn't drop with Alenzas. It is slightly heavier but is constructed as a highway tire. I do mostly highway driving and find them quiet and much better handling then the OEM rubber. It is also one of the few tires that offer a 60k mileage guarantee. Lots of positive reviews on tirerack. I have 10k on them and they are wearing well.

rxovermdx

Thanks for info. jfelbab!!

How is the tire roar noise (typical with OEM) and the handling of the Alenzas?? How inflated do you keep them?

jfelbab

I find them to be very quiet, especially when compared to the OEM tires. Lexus says 30 PSI but I usually keep them set at 33 PSI. Recently, I set them at 33 PSI at 2° F and drove to Florida where it was 82° F. The tire pressure was 41 pounds when I got there so the pressure does indeed increase a pound for every 10° F temperature change. I didn't notice much, if any, difference of higher air pressure in handling at highway speeds but over-inflation is more noticeable at lower speeds on poor roads. BTW, maximum inflation for this tire in this size (235-55/18) is 51 PSI. If you do mostly city driving on poor roads I'd set them at 30 PSI if you want the cushy OEM Lexus like ride. I prefer a tad bit firmer feel.