Pics please!

 

You have 255/50 or 55? I’m very interested in keeping the 55 sidewall and going wider if the only negative affects are the speedo.

 

DMPesso, Can you elaborate on how you got a dealer to switch your Ecopias for Michelins?
Thank you in advance

 

I had bought the car two months prior so that helped. This dealer has the best reviews and is always sending follow up emails and calls after each visit for me to leave a review. So you already know they don’t want an unhappy customer. I told the guy who sold me the car I hate how it drives with these tires everyone says the Michelin’s are much better. Sent him a long email said I’d be forever grateful if he can get this done. Two days later he replied saying he found another RX with 20” Michelin’s and said if I paid for mounting and balancing they can do it, which I gladly accepted.

 

That was a fair & awesome deal!

 

Perhaps not for the guy who buys the "other" RX!

 

Gadgetman1,

Thanks for all your advice and research on this thread. Yes, I read all 28 pages.

Going to price tires @ Discount Tire. The OEM Bridgestones have 30K and are @ 5/32 and 4/32. Seriously considering the Pirelli Scorpion Verdes. What's the latest with your experience? How many miles now and are you still happy with them? My experience with Pirelli is good as well as Michelin. Also, I have had good success with Discount haggling over price and expect something back from the Bridgestone warranty.

Also considering the wider 255/55/20s. Same price and I like the more aggressive look.

BTW, my speedometer runs about .4% faster than actual speed (Waze). We got a AWD with the cold package after Lexus sent northern RXs to Htown after Harvey. I've always wondered if that package originally had bigger tires and the dealer swapped them with slightly smaller. The dealer says "Speedometers are not warrantied to be accurate". <Start $50k car rant>

 

.4% faster? Do you mean 4% faster? Mines 3% faster at 110 kph.

Don't know about the US but in Australia speedometers are ALWAYS incorrect. Our Australian Design Rules allow for inaccuracies of 10% + 4kph so when the speedo shows 100 kph you may only be going 86 kph, and the speedo must always show a higher or equal speed. The vast majority of vehicles though are only out around 3-5%.

 

I have almost 27,000 miles now, as we haven’t driven it a whole lot. I’m noticing a little more wear on the front tires. I had the alignment checked & dealer said it was within specs, but I don’t believe them. I’m taking it to another dealer in a few weeks. As far as the tires go, they are smooth as butter. I don’t think the car could ride any smoother. The difference between the Pirelli & the Crapstones is like night & day. So, yes, I’m still very happy with these tires. I haven’t checked my speedometer against anything - I never felt like I was traveling out of sync with traffic. I’ll have to check it with Waze next week when I’m back from my trip. Discount Tire has been great so far, aside from the wheel issue. They replaced my wheels, so it’s all good.

 

Sorry, I meant 4%

 

With this forum's assistance today I replaced the 235/55/20 Bridgestones Ecopia with 255/55/20 Pirelli Scorpion Strada. I expect improved handling, ride, quietness and tread life. Just on the 5 minute ride home I felt the improved handling. The car sits a bit higher, which is nice. Here are the before and after pics for those that want to see the difference. My wife loves the look and so do I.

235 Driver Front 255 Driver Front
235 Driver Rear 255 Driver Rear
235 Passenger Front 255 Passenger Front
235 Passenger Rear 255 Passenger Rear

 

I spoke with my salesperson and she brokered a deal where they swap OEM Bridgestones from Michelin Premier LTX and I pay $275 for just the labor.
I jumped on it immediately. Thank you for the idea - the ride quality is a night and day. Plus my 15 yr old RX330 had Michelin A/S for many years, so I know exactly the handling I am getting during NJ winters.

 

I’ll probably go with this size next. Did it make the car any slower since these are obviously heavier then the stock size. Any negatives about the switch ?

 

Glad to hear! It’s amazing what a difference the tires make. Those Bridgestone’s handle nice but they are way too hard. What dealership?

 

Before the switch the speedometer ran fast, about 4%. After the switch the speedometer matches WASE nearly exactly. I haven't noticed much change in the acceleration, only the improved handling around corners. The road noise is not significantly better than the old Bridgestone tho. I have 30 days to return to Discount Tire and I will be considering returning these Pirellis for the Michelin Defender. About $40 more per tire but supposed to be quieter. Walking out to the car after church my wife said, "Man, those tires look hot". LOL