Mostly On-Road Tire Suggestions?

[JAdamz]

I'm about to upgrade to '05-'07 wheels on my '98 LC and I'm looking for tires for mostly on-road driving (maybe about 95% of the time on-road). I'm also considering going 2" taller than stock, from 275/70/16 to 275/70/18. I called Tire Rack and they suggested the Continental CrossContact LX (Continental CrossContact LX), however in the 275/70/18 size it has raised white lettering on the sidewall and I would prefer a blackwall.

So, any suggestions on good, non-white lettered tires in that size? Thanks!

 

[Trunk Monkey]

Mich LTX

 

[cmfhsu]

Yup, I'd recommend michelin LTX m/s. They wear like no other and are supremely quiet on the road. Plus it was OE spec for some years, IIRC. Perfect for you, because it goes juuussttt a little bigger than stock and has black lettering on both sides. If you're going to be doing any off-roading at all, though, I'd recommend the michelin LTX at/2's. They have just a bit more aggressive of a tread, wear nearly as well as the mud/snows, and are just as quiet.

P.S. you can always specify white lettering on the inside. I don't think there are that many tires so desperate for sales that they run white lettering on both sides. When you get it installed, just ask for the white lettering to be put on the inside face of the rim, instead of the outside.

 

[1loudLX]

Tire companies should pay you for putting the white out.

 

[JAdamz]

Thanks guys, I figured they must have only one side whited-out but Tire Rack doesn't seem to indicate that. Also, the M/S isn't manufactured in a 275/70/18, but the M/S2 is. They only come in "E" load rating though for that size. Do you think they will be too stiff for everyday driving? I do tow a ~4000lb 21ft boat twice a year, but that's about it.

 

[cmfhsu]

Any particular reason for wanting the upsize? Are you doing it just for looks or do you have another reason? If you're going to be doing very little offroading, upsizing isn't very useful. It's more expensive, sometimes louder, and eats up your gas mileage. If you aren't planning on going offroad, and don't need the ground clearance, I'd stay with a stock sized or just slightly larger tire. As for the stiffness of E rated tires, it all depends on what you think is too harsh. My dad thinks his new 06 LX is too harsh on comfort compared to my 99 with saggy shocks. It's all relative. I don't think E rated tires are too harsh, but I'm young, and I've got a spine of steel. I think E rated tires are also slightly worse in the snow, so you might want to take that into consideration.

 

[JAdamz]

Just for looks...I figured they would fill out the wheel well a little more and give a slight lift. I've always felt that larger wheels look better on a car/truck when there's less wheel gap, but I'm not about to lower an LC just to fill in the gap

But you are right, it may just make more sense to go with the factory-spec size tire for the 18" wheel for those reasons...

 

[cmfhsu]

These are the exact reasons I am planning on going to 295/75/16's on my truck. Seen pictures of that and it looks oh so good. But I am a vain, vain man...

 

[calstyl2]

Nitto Terra Grapplers, AT or Toyo Open Country AT.

 

[T4RBoarder]

M/S or A/T2....I've had both, great tires. I like the slightly more aggressive tread on the A/Ts

 

[Phrog]

I just replaced my Dunlop Grandtreks (okay on the road, but very
bad in snow) with 265/65 R18 Michelin LTX MS2s. Heading off into
the mountains today - curious to see how they'll do. $935 including
everything.

-Phrog
1972 FJ40
2003 100

 

[SWUtah]

I did the research on tirerack and from a friends experience and put on a set of OEM sized Bridgestone Alenza tires. They are performing better then my Mich's that came on my LX.

 

[cmfhsu]

SWUtah: Any comments on how it performs in the wet/snow/mud/light offroading?

 

[pman]

Any particular reason for wanting the upsize? Are you doing it just for looks or do you have another reason? If you're going to be doing very little offroading, upsizing isn't very useful. It's more expensive, sometimes louder, and eats up your gas mileage. If you aren't planning on going offroad, and don't need the ground clearance, I'd stay with a stock sized or just slightly larger tire. As for the stiffness of E rated tires, it all depends on what you think is too harsh. My dad thinks his new 06 LX is too harsh on comfort compared to my 99 with saggy shocks. It's all relative. I don't think E rated tires are too harsh, but I'm young, and I've got a spine of steel. I think E rated tires are also slightly worse in the snow, so you might want to take that into consideration.

Saggy shocks on an LX.....dont you still have AHC on the 99? More likely the change from 16" rims to 18" rims.

The advice on sticking with stock size for road use is very good. As for a road tire, I highly recommend the Michelin CrossTerrain SUV....in my opinion it is better than the LTX M/S in just about every aspect. In particular tread life and wet weather grip......they have crazy amounts of sipping.

 

[cmfhsu]

They're veeryyy slightly saggy. They bottom out on bumps they shouldn't bottom out on. I thought of the rim size change too, but the sidewalls on the 18' wheels seem much less stiff than the LTX's on my car. It might also have something to do with the fact that according to the lexus dealer, my front sway bar is sheared clean off. Any word on road noise from the CrossTerrains, pman? My dad's gotta get four new tires pretty soon, and he's the old-man squishy comfy type. Considering the loudest noise in the 100 is tire roar, I'd like to see if i can get quieter tires.

 

[JAdamz]

Ended up ordering Michelin M/S2's in P275/65/18, which was the closest I could find in that tire to the factory size (they're an inch larger in diameter overall than factory size). Figured this way I could still get away with using the factory spare if needed and wouldn't have to deal with any issues with being too stiff or decreased gas mileage.

Thank you for the help!

 

[SWUtah]

SWUtah: Any comments on how it performs in the wet/snow/mud/light offroading?

Great in the snow and this year was a good one to have them. What I've noticed the most is the great ride they provide. My LX is a mall cruiser so off road was not a consideration or I would of gotten the Michelin AT2's.

 

[REDrum]

Nokian WR-G2s IMO, the best all season made.

Wear like iron, very quiet, and 80% of a dedicated snow tire when the rain chages phase 4 months of the year.

Ran'm on my 4rnr for two years. Been run'm on Subarus for 4 years. IMO the Michelin LX are over rated (I'm just sayin...)

 

[540NJ]

Saggy shocks on an LX.....dont you still have AHC on the 99? More likely the change from 16" rims to 18" rims.

The advice on sticking with stock size for road use is very good. As for a road tire, I highly recommend the Michelin CrossTerrain SUV....in my opinion it is better than the LTX M/S in just about every aspect. In particular tread life and wet weather grip......they have crazy amounts of sipping.

Second on the cross terrains. I replaced the original Dunlops grandTeks (what a POS tire!) with them many years ago. Cross terrains got 55K miles, even wear, no rotating, replaced them last year more due to age than anything else, probably another 10K in them. Same tire, same great performance. Offroading limited to dirt roads and snowy driveways.

dave
2000 TLC

 

[Liam]

Nitto Terra Grapplers, AT or Toyo Open Country AT.

I loved my Toyos on the road....Macneil is running the same tire right now and loves them on the road.

I was using 285/70/16's if i recall right