Perhaps you have bought a brand new Lexus ES350 and aren’t satisfied with the performance of the OEM tires. Or maybe the tires on your used ES350 are worn out and need to be replaced. Whatever the reason for your being here, this article will provide you with the best tires for Lexus ES350.
Every tire listed in this article is available in a wide range of sizes. So, you can install any of the tires recommended below on all the trims of this luxury sedan. Just make sure to pick the correct tire size for your ES 350 (this information will be given on the sticker on your driver’s side door).
Having said that, not every tire listed below is suitable for every driving condition. For instance, the all-season, touring, and grand touring tires will perform at their best in the summer and mild wintry conditions. None of these tires is designed to be stable on hard-packed snow.
If you live in an area that receives more than its fair share of snow, check out the winter tires recommended below. Alternatively, if you intend to test your ES 350 to its limits, high-performance or ultra-high-performance summer tires should be on the top of your wish list.
#1. Michelin Defender T+H – Best Tire Overall
The Defender T+H shares one key similarity with the Lexus ES 350. Just like this small luxury sedan – which strikes a perfect balance between the sportier IS 350 and the larger LS 500 – this tire is the more sensible counterpoint to touring and high-performance tires.
Michelin has used the next-gen Evertread compound to manufacture this tire. Together with the asymmetric tread pattern (which features higher amounts of silica), the tread compound helps this tire provide consistent grip as it wears down, while enhancing wet traction.
Wet traction is the stand-out feature of this tire. Thanks to Michelin’s IntelliSipe Technology, which has provided the tread area with biting edges, the Defender T+H can plough through deep puddles of water with little risk of skidding or slipping.
Given that the Lexus ES 350 offers a plush ride on the highway, the Defender T+H didn’t have to do much in the comfort department. Still, this tire’s Comfort Control Technology – which has a mesh layer to absorb vibrations and deflect noise – will enhance this sedan’s ride quality.
An 80,000-mile tread warranty is also on offer. This means you can count on the Defender T+H to last 5-6 years with ease. Circumferential and lateral grooves evacuate water from tread area to resist hydroplaning. And independent tread blocks improve dry grip.
Pros
- Excellent handling and braking on dry surfaces
- Quiet and comfortable handling in most conditions
- Excellent treadwear warranty (80,000 miles)
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#2. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack – Best Grand-Touring
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack offers 20% higher traction on snow than its predecessor. This tire also offers 20% more traction on wet roads than the Turanza Serenity Plus. Both these facts indicate that it has what it takes to be a reliable option for your Lexus ES50.
These numbers aren’t to be taken lightly, as anyone who has used the Serenity Plus might verify. That tire was an absolute beast on the highway, dependable in wet conditions and useful in snow. Still, on all three counts, it has been left behind by its successor.
Take aquaplaning for instance. The Turanza QuietTrack features four circumferential (side by side) and multiple longitudinal grooves to evacuate water from the tread area. Both resist hydroplaning and ensure the contact patch remains dry for enhanced wet traction.
Continental’s Comfort Cruise Technology will help enhance your ES 350’s ride quality. The tire brand’s QuietTrack Technology, meanwhile, helps dampen road noise. This indicates that the Turanza QuietTrack ticks all the boxes in the comfort department.
An 80,000-mile treadlife warranty unites this model with our top pick, which is also backed for a similar time period. Unfortunately, that isn’t the only common point between the two – like the Defender T+H this tire is also super-expensive.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Excellent dry and wet performance
- Exceptional ride quality and minimal road noise
Cons
- Might blow your budget
#3. Michelin Premier A/S – Best Touring All-Season
Similar to the Lexus ES 350, the Premier A/S impresses with its sharp looks, hushed highway ride and ability to withstand multiple road conditions. The partnership of the two might weigh heavy on your pocket (as neither comes cheap) yet you won’t rue the purchase.
A reliable year-round performance is guaranteed by this tire’s tread compound. The tread compound features sunflower oil (which enhances its performance in the summer) and silica oil (which has the flexibility needed to stay useful in mild wintry conditions).
A plethora of technologies are also on offer. Comfort Control Technology exploits the tire’s computer-optimized tread pattern for a soft highway ride. The EverGrip Technology, meanwhile, ensures long-lasting wet traction by expanding the rain grooves as the tire wears.
Apart from the sunflower oil in the tread compound, the added biting edges around the tire further enhance its traction on snow. That isn’t to say that this tire is as useful as the best winter tires in extreme cold temperatures. Yet its performance isn’t far off.
Warranty is the only negative point we could find about this tire. Its treadlife is backed for a smaller period (60,000 miles) than that of our top two picks. Which is surprising given that the Premier A/S performs equally reliably on the road and perhaps more importantly is equally expensive.
Pros
- Comfortable and quiet ride
- Excellent traction on wet surfaces
- Has all the traits to outlast its treadlife warranty
Cons
- Relatively small treadwear warranty (60,000 miles)
#4.General Altimax RT43 – Best Budget All-Season
The General Altimax RT43 proves that sometimes you get more than what you paid for. This model offers the performance of a grand-touring tire in the price of a standard all-season tire. Its treadwear warranty (75,000 miles) is also much higher than what you usually get from mid-range tires.
A double-layer tread compound helps the RT 43 do magic. The upper layer is slightly firm for an all-season tire and is the reason why this tire doesn’t deform with age. The lower layer, meanwhile, has all the pliability needed to soak vibrations and offer a comfortable ride.
Sound Wave Suppression Technology takes care of road noise. This technology uses independent tread blocks and the double-layer tread compound to dissipate road noise for a quiet ride. Aside from that, General is one of the few all-season tires that come with maintenance indicators.
Visual Alignment Indicators, or VAIs for short, let you inspect the wheel alignment in your garage. To know how to read them, pay attention to the two rubber sipes on opposite shoulder blocks. As long as the sipes are aligned with each other, your ES 350’s wheels don’t need realignment.
A Replacement Tire Monitor (TRM) gives you a glimpse of the tire’s remaining depth. In theory, you can continue using the tire as long as the RTM isn’t completely flush with the tread. Still, if you want to be on the safe side, order a replacement when there’s still 1’’ gap b/w the two.
Pros
- Comes with two highly useful tire indicators
- Has Sound Wave Suppression technology
- Twin cushion silica tread compound absorbs road vibrations
Cons
- Poor performance on snow and ice
#5. Continental ExtremeContact DWS06 – Best High-Performance
Although the ES350’s engine is underpowered than many class rivals, enthusiast drivers have still found ways of making it more agile than its manufacturer intended. One of those ‘techniques’ involves installing a set of high-performance tires underneath this luxury sedan.
Enter the ExtremeContact DWS06. This model spent three years in Continental’s labs before it was eventually released as the brand’s flagship UHP tire.
A tread compound featuring silica and +Silane additives, together with new SportPlus Technology, is designed to offer enhanced dry traction, more precise handling and long-lasting tread life. The combination has also improved this model’s wet traction.
An asymmetrical tread pattern helps it offer an enhanced steering response than many class rivals. Aside from that, the addition of X-Sipe Technology and Traction Grooves has enhanced its wet and snow traction, resulting in shorter braking distances in inclement weather.
Added strength and cornering stability stems from the double-ply sidewall, which is around 35% stiffer than that of the original DWS. Plus, the Tuned Performance Indicators and Alignment Verification System shows how the tire is wearing and wheel alignment status, respectively.
Pros
- Enhanced traction on wet road surfaces
- Offers a more precise steering response than its predecessor
- Much improved braking performance
- Useful wear and alignment indicators
Cons
- Could have performed better on dry roads
#6. Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 – Best Summer Performance
The Firestone Firehawk Indy 500 doesn’t cost you an arm and a leg. Which is surprising considering that a) it is a summer performance tire (which are usually price) and b) this tire has the same tread compound that you see in Bridgestone tires.
Since it is a summer performance tire, it shouldn’t come as a surprise that this tire is uber-responsive. A mere flick of the steering wheel would cause the tire to respond. Enthusiast drivers would thus have no complaints about this tire’s communication with the wheel.
Grip and traction, on both dry and wet surfaces, are excellent. You could attack and leave corners at eye-watering speeds with little risk of the tire spinning out of control. Another benefit that increased grip and traction offer is maximum controllability at higher speeds.
A plethora of grooves in the tread area demonstrate this tire has what is needed to resist hydroplaning, while Firestone’s exclusive Pulse Groove Technology boosts traction on wet pavement. The technology also equips this tire with the shortest braking distances in its class.
The fact that this model is available in a wide number of 16-20 inch sizes means it can be fitted on almost every Lexus ES350 trim. A 65,000-mile limited treadwear warranty is also on offer.
Pros
- Highly responsive
- Usable in rainy conditions
- 65,000-mile limited treadlife warranty
Cons
- Not for wintry conditions
#7. Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 – Best for Winter
The Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 demonstrates three characteristics that make it ideal for snow driving. It has a flexible tread compound that remains pliable to cater to the extremes of weather. You won’t have to insert any studs in the tread area for this model to be useful on snow.
Secondly, this model comes with Bridgestone’s MultiCell Technology. One which removes water from the tread area, while not letting go of snow and ice. The result? A snow-on-snow contact for better friction and more surefooted performance in harsh wintry conditions.
Thirdly, an asymmetric tread pattern features the EdgePerformance Technology Package. This package increases the tire’s contact patch (the area which will come into contact with the road) and provides it with more block edges for better traction on ice and snow.
For a winter tire, the WS90 has excellent dry road manners. Amateur or newbie drivers will find it hard to notice the difference between this tire and an all-season or summer tire.
Bridgestone has also equipped this tire with TWI’s (tread wear indicators). A 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMS) gives you all the assurance you need to believe in this tire’s excellent wet performance. Still, the absence of a treadwear warranty might be a deal-breaker.
Pros
- 3-Peak Mountain Snowflake rating
- Offer excellent traction on snow and ice
- Comes with tread wear indicators and winter wear bars
Cons
- Doesn’t come with a treadwear warranty
#8. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 – Best for Ice
The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is another dedicated winter tire. Yet it has several key differences with the Blizzak WS90. This model has a longer treadlife and displays much better cornering performance than its counterpart. Plus, it consumes less fuel than the WS90.
Start with the tread life. Michelin’s Flex-Ice silica tread compound is more pliable than the majority of tread compounds you see in winter tires. The result is even wear and an excellent year-round traction, a rarity for a dedicated winter tire.
Next comes fuel efficiency. Michelin’s GreenX Technology has enabled the X-Ice Xi3 to strike the perfect balance between traction and rolling resistance. The technology has reduced this model’s weight to bring down the rolling resistance, increasing fuel economy.
Cross Z sipes on the tread area are to credit for this model’s excellent cornering performance. These biting edges are also the reason why this tire behaves as superbly as it does on ice and snow. You could thus count on this tire to safely carry you from point A to point B.
Unfortunately, the X-Ice Xi3 doesn’t come cheap, even for a winter tire (which are on average pricier than all-season and summer tires). So, be prepared to pay a higher amount up front to enjoy the offerings of this tire.
Pros
- Offers exceptional snow and ice traction
- Very comfortable on the highway and the street
- Low rolling resistance translates to better fuel efficiency
Cons
- Pricey, even for a dedicated winter tire
#9. Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS
The Bridgestone Potenza RE980AS will help you make the most of whatever power the Lexus ES350’s engine produces. An all-season tread compound has been molded into an asymmetric tread pattern to pose little to no rolling resistance, making this tire an absolute beast on the highway.
High-speed stability is also top-notch, helping you retain full grip over your ES350 at high speeds. Similar is the case with steering responsiveness, an area where this tire can compete with its summer counterparts. Traction, grip, and braking on dry surfaces are best in-class, too.
A combination of circumferential and lateral grooves help this tire pose maximum resistance to hydroplaning. The partnership does a fantastic job of evacuating water from beneath the tread area, ensuring the road contact stays intact in wet conditions.
Unlike the majority of high-performance tires, the Potenza RE980As is fairly quiet. Or as quiet as high-performance tires can be at eye-watering speeds. Still, don’t expect this tire to wear evenly, especially if you are fond or hard acceleration and sudden braking.
Yet the RE980AS is not without its flaws. Many users complain that this tire wears quickly, a gripe you often hear drivers make about high-performance tires.
Pros
- Extremely short braking distances
- Has top-notch responsiveness and dry handling
- Less noisy than high-performance tires
Cons
- Wears quickly
#10. Continental TrueContact Tour
The TrueContact Tour might force you to doubt whether it is one of Continental’s tires. Not because its performance is in any way inferior from that of other tires of this brand. Instead, it is this model’s budget asking price that might make you question its origins.
Continental’s EcoPlus Technology is out in full force in this tire. The technology has resulted in reduced rolling resistance, and, by extension, fuel consumption. At the same time, it helps the TrueContact Tour wear evenly. So, you won’t be needing a replacement anytime soon.
Data released by Continental backs these claims. The TrueContact Tour has a 27% long treadlife than the standard TrueContact, its predecessor and competitor. If any of you is currently using the TrueContact, it’s time you start thinking seriously about the upgrade.
Availability in all the popular sizes (15- to 19-inch) means this tire can fit almost all the trims of the Lexus ES350. The wide size range means that this model’s utility isn’t limited to sedans. If you own a coupe, compact car or even a minivan, this model would still be handy.
The only area this tire could have done better is grip on icy roads. Which is an unexpected flaw given that touring tires usually have short braking distances in winter conditions. Not the TrueContact Tour, though, whose best performance is reserved for dry and wet roads.
Pros
- Comes with QuickView maintenance indicators
- Short braking distances for a tire in this category
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty on some models
Cons
- Braking distances aren’t short on icy roads
#11. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady – Best All-Weather
All weather tires have shorter braking distances on wet roads than their all-season counterparts. They also have a clear in in slush, ice and snow. And while they have relatively long braking distances, the difference is so negligible not everyone can feel it.
Take the Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady as an example. In addition to possessing all the qualities (and the flaws) mentioned in the previous paragraph, this tire offers the same excellent traction when it is worn down, thanks to the hidden grooves which appear as the wear sets in.
Weather Reactive Technology enhances its traction in wet and dry conditions. A Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) emblem means this model is reliable on light snow and icy roads. Plus, Goodyear’s exclusive 3D Tredlock Technology boost its dry and gripping power.
All in all, the Weather Ready is an all-weather tire that is perfect for Lexus ES350, an all-weather car. Both will offer a comfortable drive as long as you stay on the highway. And neither is made for off-roading, or any other extremes enthusiasts subject their vehicles (and tires) to.
Pros
- Excellent treadwear warranty for an all-weather tire
- Great winter traction
- Supreme wet performance
Cons
- Makes a fair bit of noise
Best Tires for Lexus ES350
Touring and Grand Touring
Touring and grand-touring tires are ideal for luxury sedans like the Lexus ES350. Have doubts about this claim? Then you must check out the OEM tires on this vehicle – almost all of whom are grand-touring tires.
Touring and grand-touring tires are a dependable year-round solution. They don’t cost much and come with treadlife warranties from 60,000 – 80,000 miles. And the best thing about these tires? They satisfy almost all kinds of drivers on the highway.
High Performance Tires
High-performance tires are the top choice for ES 350 F-Sport. These drives are meant to be driven hard, offer excellent steering response and let you attack corners with a vengeance. Their excellent responsiveness means the moment you turn the wheel, your car will react.
Having said that, these tires aren’t ideal for base trims of Lexus ES350. Neither are they the ideal choice for everyday drivers – their high upfront cost nor higher running cost (these tires consume more fuel) means daily drivers would be better off with touring or grand-touring tires.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tires come on Lexus ES350?
Almost all the trims of Lexus ES350 come with grand-touring tires.
How long do tires last on a Lexus?
It depends on your driving conditions, driving style, and the type of tires you’re using. Still, it’s common for tires on a Lexus ES350 to last more than 30,000 to 40,000 miles.
Conclusion
As you can confirm by going through our list of the best tires for Lexus ES350, all of them come from reputed manufacturers. The main reason why we didn’t pick mid- or low-tier brands is safety – dirt-cheap tires from unknown companies fail to offer a safe driving experience.
Another reason we opted for premium tires is that the Lexus ES350 is a premium vehicle itself. This premium luxury sedans thus deserves nothing but premium tires from globally renowned brands.
