The Lexus RS350 checks all the boxes you expect a luxury SUV to check. It offers a cushioned ride, has an elegant interior to woo its passengers, and supportive seats to help them fall asleep. Plenty of technology is also on offer to keep the tech-savvy occupied and entertained.
Yet there are areas where this luxury SUV could have done better. Its real-world fuel economy lags as far behind lab estimates as this SUV trails competitors on most rankings tables. Acceleration is another area where the RX 350 disappoints, especially when compared with rivals.
Another area where this model frustrates is tires. Or, to be more precise, factory-installed tires. The RX 350’s OE tires don’t have what it takes to last multiple years in the real world. As a result, there will come a time when you’d have to replace them with aftermarket tires.
As you might already know, not every tire out there is ideal for this crossover. Only those models that can complement your driving style and play to this SUV’s strengths deserve a place on its wheels. That is why we’re going to provide you with the 10 best tires for Lexus RS 350.
#1. Michelin Premier LTX – Best Overall
The Michelin Premier LTX is a premium all-season touring tire. This model offers the kind of excellent performance people usually associate with Michelin tires. Unfortunately, its asking price is also as high as that of its fellow tires. So, be prepared to pay big bucks.
A silica and sunflower oil tread compound ensures this model is as useful in the summer as it is in mild wintry conditions. Silica gives the tire the toughness to grip dry tarmac. Sunflower oil, meanwhile, enhances the tread compound’s flexibility for increased wet traction.
EverGrip Technology Premier LTX with consistent and long-lasting traction. It does that by replacing the built-in grooves with new ones once the former are worn out beyond repair. As a result, this tire’s traction will be as reliable on the 1st day of use as on the 1000th day.
A tough sidewall gives the tire all the protection it needs against punctures. Plus, its lightweight construction means that the Premier LTX won’t pose much in the way of rolling resistance. This, in turn, will improve the RX 350’s already impressive fuel economy.
Given that most premium touring tires are backed for 80,000 miles these days, this tire’s 60,000-mile treadwear warranty might prove to be a deal-breaker.
Pros
- Dynamic handling characteristics
- Marvelous performance in dry and wet conditions
- Ensures a comfortable and quiet driving experience
Cons
- Relatively small treadwear warranty
#2. Continental CrossContact LX25 – Best All-Season
The CrossContact LX25 has replaced the LX20 as Continental’s flagship replacement tire for SUVs, crossovers, and light trucks. This means that you can expect this model to have better road manners and last longer than its predecessor. Here’s the proof.
Compared with the LX20, this tire is much more dependable on dry and wet roads. Its sturdy internal construction helps this tire resist premature deformation better. A longer treadwear warranty (70,000 miles vs. 65,000 miles) further enhances its reputation.
It isn’t only its predecessor that the LX 25 can get the better of. This all-season tire offers the kind of plush ride people usually expect from pricey Michelin and Bridgestone models. Its rolling resistance (an indirect indicator of fuel economy) is also among the lowest in the class.
This tire’s fuel consumption is so low it has made the LX25 one of the best tires for gas mileage. Which is something we weren’t expecting, given that this tire isn’t astronomically priced, a property shared by the majority of fuel-efficient tires you can see on the list.
Wet performance is another area where this model excels. Deep circumferential grooves don’t waste much time evacuating water particles from the tread area. The result? Reduced risk of hydroplaning and improved traction on wet/slippery roads.
Pros
- Backed with a generous 70,000-mile warranty
- Excellent ride quality and handling in all conditions
- Cheaper than most of its rivals
Cons
- Not the best for spirited driving
#3. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus – Best Highway
Every premium tire has that one defining feature that distinguishes it from rivals. For the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus, its 80,000-mile treadwear warranty is that quality. Such an extensive warranty means this tire won’t require replacement for 5 to 6 years at the very least.
You can also count on this tire to offer a plush driving experience. Its symmetric tread pattern soaks up road vibrations and deflects road noise before it can reach the cabin. On top of that, the tread pattern ensures consistent road contact for an even and long-lasting wear.
A continuous center frame helps the tire in more ways than one. On its own, the frame’s ruggedness helps the tire stay stable at higher speeds. Together with the tire’s knurled shoulder blocks, the frame boosts the Dueler H/L Alenza Plus’s traction in wet/slippery conditions.
Unlike the majority of premium touring tires, the H/L Alenza Plus hasn’t opted for circumferential grooves for water evacuation. Instead, this tire has parallel channels running the length of its tread, reducing the risk of hydroplaning and keeping the contact patch dry.
Poor snow driving is the only flaw that kept this tire from ranking higher on this list. Zero biting edges mean that even mild wintry conditions might be too much for this tire. For this reason, it’s recommended to park this tire in your garage when winter comes around.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Offers year-round traction
- Quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- Not designed for snow driving
#4. Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady – Best All-Weather
The Goodyear Assurance WeatherReady highlights the various differences between all-weather and all-season tires. This all-weather model has much shorter braking distances than its A/S counterparts. It is also much more dependable in snow, ice, and even slush.
Fortunately, there are a few areas where this tire borrows from its all-season rivals. Its dry and wet traction is as outstanding as we have seen from Michelin Premier LTX. This model takes equally long to wear down. And its drive is as comfortable, too.
A Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) emblem tells you all you need to know about this tire’s reliability on light snow and icy roads. This logo is only imprinted on tires that have met the rater’s strict criteria for sure-footed winter performance.
It isn’t only in light snow that this model excels. Goodyear’s Weather Reactive Technology makes sure it’s equally reliable in dry and wet conditions, too. Then comes the 3D TredLock Technology, which sees to it that this tire’s dry gripping power is the best-in-class.
What can you expect from a tire that grips the road so tightly? Lots of noise. So, be prepared to drive with your RX 350’s windows rolled all the way up.
Pros
- Excellent treadwear warranty for an all-weather tire
- Great winter traction
- Supreme wet performance
Cons
- Makes a fair bit of noise
#5. Michelin CrossClimate SUV – Best Premium All-Weather
The Michelin CrossClimate SUV and Lexus RX 350 have much in common. Both are big on luxury and comfort, are surprisingly fuel efficient, and fail to offer outright performance. As such, they have all the tools to be a perfect match for each other.
A winter-specific tread compound boosts this tire’s snow and ice traction. It also shortens its braking distances, a key indicator of how well a tire performs on snow. Plus, no matter how low the temperatures drop, the tread compound will stay flexible (and useful).
Circumferential and lateral grooves enhance this tire’s wet traction. In doing so, they minimize the risk of hydroplaning. They are helped in this by this model’s self-locking grooves and perfectly floating tracks, both of which also increase the tire’s grip in inclement weather.
CrossClimate+, this model’s predecessor, also contained circumferential and lateral grooves. But it lacked the other two design elements. As a result, it gasped for traction in mild wintry conditions, a problem you won’t have to face with the CrossClimate SUV.
Unfortunately, despite this tire’s premium price point, Michelin backs it with a meager 50,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Pros
- Sure-footed performance in winter
- Outstanding braking distances on light snow
- Excellent dry and wet handling
Cons
- Small treadwear warranty (50,000 miles)
#6. Bridgestone Dueler H/P Sport – Best for RX 350 F Sport
The Dueler H/P Sport is one of the best tires for RX 350 F Sport. This model’s low rolling resistance and perky acceleration, aggressive steering response and feedback, and excellent wet traction help it enhance everything that is good about this sporty SUV.
Start with the low rolling resistance. A high-silica tread compound has managed to reduce this tire’s weight as well as rolling resistance. The shedding of pounds, in turn, means your SUV’s engine will have to output less power to keep the tire rolling.
Such low rolling resistance means that this tire will improve the RX 350 F Sport’s gas mileage, a huge benefit even though this SUV is by no means a fuel guzzler.
Then comes steering responsiveness and feedback. This model’s stiff sidewall and high-stiffness close shoulder make it their mission to provide as much feedback to the driver as possible. However, as you might guess, this takes a toll on ride comfort.
Wet traction is next. Bridgestone’s decision to provide this tire with a combo of high-angle and deep circumferential grooves has made it game over for water particles trying to settle down in the tread area. As a result, there is little risk of hydroplaning with this tire.
Pros
- Outstanding steering responsiveness
- Low fuel consumption for a sporty tire
- Impressive dry and wet performance
Cons
- Refinement could have been better
#7. Kumho Crugen HP71 – Best Budget Tires
The Kumho Crugen HP 71 is a luxury touring tire in everything but price. This model gives you the performance of premium touring tires at the price of a mid-range model. As a result, don’t let it escape your attention if you are on a budget.
A close inspection of its tread design will convince you of this model’s wet weather credentials. Four circumferential grooves, deep sipes or biting edges, aggressive shoulder blocks – all these design elements help provide a sure-footed driving experience in the rain.
The HP 71 is also stable at higher speeds. The wide center rib and 4 ribs on the shoulder area make this model controllable on the limit. In addition, the ribs and the reinforced shoulder blocks make this model more responsive than your average all-season touring tire.
This tire also does well in the comfort department. A symmetric tread design will make light work of minor road imperfections and smaller road bumps. Add the RX 350’s cushier suspension to the mix, and the Crugen HP 71 will be able to provide you with a smooth ride.
Having said that, this tire is not useful for snow. Neither should you rely on it for any kind of off-roading, light or otherwise. This tire is only meant to be used in the city or on the highway. Drive it in any other condition, and all you’d be doing is inviting needless trouble.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Plenty of size options to choose from
- Has an excellent 65,000-mile treadwear warranty for a budget tire
Cons
- Poor performance on snow and ice
#8. Continental TrueContact Tour - Best Tires for Lexus RX 350 Hybrid
EPA estimates that the 2022 Lexus RX 350 Hybrid offers 31 mpg in the city and 28 mpg on the highway. These numbers could go up and down depending on the tires you install on this luxury SUV. It is this crucial to pick tires that could enhance the Hybrid’s fuel mileage.
Enter TrueContact Tour. Continental’s EcoPlus Technology has reduced this tire’s rolling resistance to enhance its fuel economy. The result? More miles with fewer gallons of gas. Plus, the low rolling resistance might also cause the Hybrid’s bland acceleration to perk up.
Continental has molded the TrueContact Tour’s all-season tread compound into an asymmetric tread design for consistent road grip regardless of weather or road conditions. This tire’s road grip is so good even higher speeds cannot break its contact with the dry tarmac.
Treadlife is another area where this tire impresses. Continental’s internal tests reveal that the TrueContact Tour has a 27% longer treadlife than TrueContact, its predecessor. It has also been proven that this model’s fuel economy is much better than the one it replaced.
Lastly, Continental offers QuickView Indicators with this tire. These markings will show when the tire’s performance is no longer safe for Dry, Wet, or Snow conditions. An Alignment Verification System, whose name reveals its intentions, is on offer as well.
Pros
- Comes with QuickView Indicators
- Some models have an 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Will enhance your RX 350’s fuel economy
Cons
- Long braking distances on icy roads
#9. BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 – Best All-Terrain
The BFGoodrich All-Terrain T/A KO2 is one of the best AT tires for Lexus RX 350. This model provides the driver with incredibly high levels of traction and responsiveness, regardless of whether you’re driving through mud, slush, sand, or even gravel.
A double-thick tread compound and the Tri-Gard sidewall design make this tire a reliable option for extreme off-roading incursions. But they do so in their separate ways. For instance, the tread compound gives the tire the ruggedness needed to withstand challenging terrains.
The sidewall design, meanwhile, uses a doubly thick rubber compound than that used in the T/A KO’s sidewall. The result is better cut, chip, and puncture resistance, translating into higher durability. Small wonder this tire comes with a respectable treadwear warranty.
Mud buster bars give the tire the traction it needs to excel in muddy terrains. Side biter lugs do the same job on snow-laden surfaces. In addition, the lugs boost the T/A KO2’s rock-crawling abilities, provided you have aired down this AT tire beforehand.
Sure, this tire could get noisy at higher speeds on gravel. But that is the cost you have to pay if you intend to take advantage of its other features we discussed above.
Pros
- Tough and durable tread
- Excellent performance on extreme off-roading exploits
- Very impressive treadlife for an all-terrain tire
Cons
Can get noisy at higher speeds on gravel
#10. Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra
The Bridgestone Alenza AS Ultra is an extremely reliable tire for dry, wet, and (light) snow conditions. This tire has the firmness needed to stay glued to the road in the summer. At the same time, it has the grooves and siping detail to stay useful in rain and mild winter.
Some of the things about the AS Ultra defy its all-season credentials. For instance, this tire’s steering responsiveness isn’t as numb as that of standard all-season touring tires. There is a bit of bite to it, originating, no doubt, from the siping detail.
The siping detail is also to credit for this tire’s grip levels on ice, which are higher than you’d normally get from a non-winter tire. As a result, you can accelerate, corner, turn and brake harder with this tire on snow and ice than you’d be able to on a typical all-season tire.
Critically, even when this model loses grip, it does so gradually. Whereas a regular non-performance tire gives up all its bearings when the speed gets too high or the road gets too slick, the Alenza AS Ultra gives you the time to identify the issue and take corrective measures.
Now, all of this isn’t to suggest that the AS Ultra would replace a dedicated winter tire. Still, this tire shows how far all-season models have come and why it deserves to be installed on your RX 350 Hybrid.
Pros
- Comes with an excellent 80,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Gives a highly stable year-round performance
- Available in 23 different sizes
Cons
- Might increase fuel consumption
#11. Michelin Latitude X-Ice Xi2 – Best Winter Tires
Those of you who are looking for a performance winter tire (one which will perform adequately in winter but can also be used in normal conditions) would do well to opt for the Continental VikingContact 7. For everyone else, the Latitude X-Ice Xi2 seems a no-brainer.
This dedicated winter tire might not have the performance touch of the VikingContact 7. Yet there are areas where this model fares better. Take the treadwear warranty, for instance. Unlike the VikingContact 7, which isn’t warrantied at all, the X-Ice Xi2 is backed for 40,000 miles.
Now, this warranty might not look that much on paper, especially now that you have seen touring tires being backed for double that time period. But make no mistake: a winter tire with a warranty, let alone as generous as the one X-Ice Xi2 comes with, is a rarity.
This tire also comes with one of Michelin’s latest technologies – Cross Z-Sipes TM – which locks the sipes at higher speeds for added stability. Its Flex-IceTM tread compound, meanwhile, doesn’t go stiff in temperatures as low as –6 degrees Celsius.
Unfortunately, for all its excellent features, it is difficult if not downright impossible to justify this model’s astronomical asking price. If you’re seeking a more pocket-friendly winter tire, the VikingContact 7 might be a better option for you.
Pros
- Backed with 40,000-mile treadwear warranty
- Best-in-class braking power on snow and ice
- Above-average handling on dry surfaces
Cons
- Steep asking price
Best Tires for Lexus RX 350
Touring Tires
Touring tires are ideal for you if most of your time behind the wheel is spent on the highway or in city traffic. These tires will enhance the already plush ride of RX 350. In addition, their good gas mileage will increase this SUV’s average fuel efficiency.
What’s more, these tires don’t cost astronomically either. It isn’t uncommon for an entire set of touring tires from a mid-range brand to cost less than one performance tire from a premium manufacturer. Most people can thus easily afford touring tires.
Performance Tires
If you own the RX 350F Sport, performance tires might be worth a shot. The RX 350F Sport offers lively acceleration, both from a stop and when already in motion. As such, only a set of performance or ultra-high-performance tires could play to this SUV’s strengths.
Bear in mind, though, that performance tires aren’t without their flaws. These tires usually come at eye-watering prices. To make matters even worse, their tread lives are pitifully short, requiring you to replace them more frequently. As a result, they might not be the best pick for everyday driving.
All-Terrain
If you intend to use the RX 350 for off-roading, invest in all-terrain tires. All-terrain tires have the sturdy construction needed to withstand harsh conditions. At the same time, their tread compound’s flexibility enables them to conquer slippery/dicey terrains.
As is the case with touring and performance tires, all-terrain tires have their own demons to deal with. The most noticeable of which is noise. Even when you’re driving at low speeds, these tires block tread patterns (necessary for traction) won’t let them stay quiet.
Conclusion
The best tires for Lexus RX 350 won’t only play to this luxury SUV’s strengths. They will also complement your driving style as well as the conditions you’ll use them. Make sure to keep these points in mind while picking any model from the abovementioned list.
