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Lexus IS 250/IS 350 driving experience in the snow

36 messages,  Last post on Mar 01, 2009 at 4:52 AM

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What is this discussion about? Lexus IS 250, Lexus IS 300, Lexus IS 350, Tires, Sedan

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#31 of 36 IS 250 AWD in snow by toydriver Dec 21, 2008 (12:46 pm)
This is my third "winter" driving the IS AWD. Mine has 42K mi now and I have a 25-75mi daily commute in a northern metro area. I am pleased with how the car handles in the snow. I am able to accelerate better than most anyone from a stop and it goes up my steep driveway with fresh snow better than any sedan I've owned. Not quite as good as AWD SUV because of more ground clearance and deeper tread on the SUVs. I recently replaced the oem Dunlop (a/s) with Michelin Pilot Sport A/S tires, and have driven about 2K miles on these tires. They are better than the Dunlops. Better traction and cornering in snow. Quieter on concrete streets and a bit softer ride. ( IS has a stiff suspension, and the new tires help ). I'm sure dedicated snow tires would give even more confidence on snow/ice, but the Mich a/s are fine for me. ( check out Tirerack.com ). I too have owned Toyota Avalon, Camry, Audi S4000, Volvo 240 and this car is far better than those in the snow, imo. Replies to this message: ajmtbm (Dec 21, 2008 2:29 pm)
#32 of 36 Re: IS 250 AWD in snow [toydriver] by ajmtbm Dec 21, 2008 (2:29 pm)
Replying to: toydriver (Dec 21, 2008 12:46 pm) thisis my 3rd winter with a 250 AWD, have the bridgestone potenzas. I live in the northeast   i think the car handles very well in the snow, even withoiut snow mode engaged. drives very well. slips very little   has a 1995 maxima. that thing was awful in the snow.
#33 of 36 Yep, IS350 SUCKS in snow, but I still LOVE it. by gotoyota Dec 21, 2008 (10:34 pm)
To LexusSled: Keep in mind that even the smallest wheels that come with the IS 250/350, which I'm guessing your 250AWD has (and my IS350 also has), are 17 x 8", which means a larger contact patch with the road surface. There is likely nothing wrong with your car that a good set of snows won't fix. I am having the same trouble with mine...had it out in the first REAL snow of the season last week. It was scary beyond all reason, and I was wishing for my old 97 Maxima (don't know why "ajmbtm" thinks his was so bad, mine was great...tires?). I have been sick all weekend so I did not take it out to get new tires but I checked around and got quoted about $700 for Hancook Ice Bear's at Discount Tire and will be getting those put on ASAP. That's pretty expensive in my book, but I was quoted all the way up to $1100...$700 was the bargain price. I have gone back and forth on my car, occasionally thinking I should've just gotten a WRX or something like that. But I've heard that the IS does well with good snow tires and it makes sense, given that the tires it comes with are biased toward dry weather performance. All Season just means that they are not a dedicated summer tire...doesn't mean it's a good snow tire. Besides, I love it and I'm in the same boat as LexusSled where I have not owned mine very long and would take a huge hit trading it in on a more capable snow car, so I'm not even considering that an option. I sort of knew what I was getting into when I bought it. I was set on getting a G35x for its AWD when I went out shopping, but after I drove them back to back, I could not justify the G35x because it did not impress me in certain categories, whereas the IS350 did...so I just just figured I'd find a way to deal with the poor snow traction. I know many people who drive RWD cars with snows and swear they have no trouble. When spring comes, I'm sure I'll forget this Replies to this message: loloi3is250 (Jan 21, 2009 8:40 am) beatben (Feb 14, 2009 12:33 pm)
#34 of 36 I have an IS250 RWD w/ 18" wheels by loloi3is250 Jan 21, 2009 (8:40 am)
Replying to: gotoyota (Dec 21, 2008 10:34 pm) Anyone: I am wondering if there are any recommendation on tires for driving in the SNOW. Unfortunately I don't even have a AWD, since I bought my car in the West Coast but now that i'm in New York, I was researching on Tires, and with our car, the only recommendation I can get for snow tires are Blizzak LM-25's, since I have 18" wheels. They got really good reviews but has anyone drove an IS250 RWD w/ snow tires to the mountains before and/or to go skiing or snowboarding? Just want to hear from hear say that it has been done so maybe I won't get stuck!?   And there has been many people saying that the is250 maneuvers well in the snow when you have the snow-mode on with a good set of snow tires. But I think that may be referring to the AWD though. For those of you that plans to keep the IS, I would say just invest in a set of good snow tires! TireRack.com has a good range of tires for comparison. Replies to this message: beatben (Feb 14, 2009 12:33 pm)
#35 of 36 Re: I have an IS250 RWD w/ 18" wheels [loloi3is250] by beatben Feb 14, 2009 (12:33 pm)
Replying to: loloi3is250 (Jan 21, 2009 8:40 am) I drive a rear-wheel drive 2007 IS 350, and I also have 18" wheels. I live in Boston. I tried driving my car in about 1/2 inch of snow earlier this winter with the stock tires and was appauled by the terrible performance. It was nearly impossible to drive in minimal snow or ice. Believe it or not, I even considered trading in my IS for an RX to improve my chances of surviving the winter commute.   To solve this problem I picked up a set of Blizzak LM-25's and put them on my stock 18" rims. Then it really snowed--and snowed, and snowed. With my new tires I was able to drive in the nastiest conditions -- ice, snow, you name it -- without difficulty. These tires, on stock 18" wheels are miracle-workers. Despite what people say on various websites, I have found that you don't need to get smaller wheels (i.e., 16s or 17s) to get good traction. It got even better in "snow" mode - nice and slow with Blizzaks is the only way I could imagine driving a rear-wheel drive sportscar in New England in the winter.
#36 of 36 Followup to IS 250 AWD in snow? by LexusSled Mar 01, 2009 (4:52 am)
After my initial poor experience with my IS 250 AWD in snow this season I put on 4 Blizzak WS 60s and that made all the difference. With those winter tires the car now performs up to my expectations. Happily the Blizzaks are not noisy and don't change the ride noticeably. All prospective purchasers should know that when the salesperson tells you this car "is like a tank in the snow" what they really mean is it will be AFTER you put on better tires than the tires they sell it with. I just went straight to snows and did not try a better set of all season tires. That may have been a workable solution too. Maybe someone else has experience with that. I really wish Lexus would add a small SUV to their lineup!

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