235 Michelin "Cross Terrain" vs OEM tires.

Read the following very carefully:

"Most awesome tire I've found for the RX 300 is the Michelin Cross Terrain. Way way way better than the factory Bridgestones, handles very well but not too stiff, great in wet and snow. Michelins usually cost a bit more."

 

This is a quote from a Club Lexus post written by "engin_ear" - Now reread what he said.

The above quote is the most on-target description I've seen and is exactly what I would have said after changing from Duelers to Cross Terrains (CTs). Only, one additional point: No matter what brand you select, don't skimp on spending a few more bucks for the better tire you really want. It's a long time between sets of tires and you will be much happier selecting the brand and model tire you will be most happy with, even if it a couple of hundred more.

I've driven the RX 300 for more than 30k miles on the OEM Bridgstone Duelers. After reading a lot of comments similar to the one above, I selected the 235 CTS on the standard rims. Since most of us have standard size wheels on our RX 300s, I'll keep the discussion here to the standard 16 inch rim or hub. [tire+rim=wheel].

The Original Equipment size is: 225/70-16

See the Tire Rack Tech Page for specific definitions.

Since a wider tire will give the vehicle greater cornering stability, going to 235 width can make a difference. Can you notice the difference? Maybe not. However, in this case of going from Duelers to Cross Terrains, the difference in tire design probably changes the handling more that the extra 10 mm width in the same tire. That is, if you are not sure if you want to go to 235s, staying with 225s should give you similar performance improvements.

What the OEs look like after 65k miles. It was interesting to see the cracks and abrasions.

Below are the Cross Terrains on the left with the Michelin LTX (Light Truck Tire) on the right. One may notice the deeper tread on the LTX which is claimed to give longer service by the tire jockeys. It appears the LTX is different and therefore, may give a different set of handling characteristics. I don't have any experience with them.

So, what do these great performers look like on the RX - a bit "truckish" if you ask me. The pronounced ribbing around the outer edge [roll over the image below] make them look like heavy duty truck tires. If you want a smoother looking Michelin you might consider the LTX.

The handling characteristics are so much improved when changing to the Cross Terrains, it seems like a different vehicle. The cornering sway has been significantly decreased and steering seems to be so much more precise. Also see handling improvement ideas.

The CTS were clearly the right choice for me. I would choose them again if I were faced with another tire change. Yes, I paid around $30/tire more, but feel it was well worth it.

As far as the snow driving goes, New England has its share of winter and the RX 300 has always been great in snow with the AWD. However, with the Cross Terrains on it was like there was no snow this past winter. If my eyes were closed (and other drivers swear they are at times) I could not tell if it was snowing or not. No problem in going through 10 inches of snow down my 200' driveway. No problem on the highway.

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