Best Tires For Lexus IS: Complete Guide

‍7 Best Tires For Lexus IS

All tires selected for this guide have been grouped into a specific category to meet the criteria for drivers. The list includes all season tires, winter tires, summer tires, and more.

Here is a list of the 7 best tires for the Lexus IS:

Michelin Pilot Sport A/S4 - Best All-Season

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The Michelin Pilot Sport A/S4 was released in 2020 as part of a new upgraded lineup of performance tires from Michelin’s lineup. This ultra-high-performance tire puts an emphasis on both dry and slippery road handling while maintaining best-in-class durability. The all season tire brand can provide driving support at reliable performance levels across all four seasons.

Michelin uses the Helio+ Technology in the tread compound to create a sunflower oil and silica tread. This tread compound allows for the tire to remain flexible in cold, near-freezing temperatures.

Michelin also offers this tire in different styles using a 4, 5, or 6 rib tire design. Wider tires will have larger ribs to maintain driving performance and handling. Upgrades across the board were made on this release with 4% better braking, 5% more accurate wet road braking, and 10% better snow traction.

Michelin is known to provide the best warranty options for drivers. They include extra coverage with special warranties and flat-tire changing coverage too. This particular tire includes a 6 year or 45,000-mile warranty for limited tread life wear.  

Pros:

• Accurate steering responsiveness.
• Low noise levels at high speeds and on highways.
• Elite traction and cornering on both dry and wet roads.
• Long-lasting tread life.

Cons:

• Ride comfort is slightly below average.

Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus - Best Touring

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Our best touring tire for the Lexus IS is the Pirelli Cinturato P7 All Season Plus. This is an upgraded tire from previous Pirelli releases focused on providing more reliable four seasons handling.

High strength, performance treads are a specialty for Pirelli tires. This tread is made with a silica-based compound for better rolling resistance and durability. The asymmetric pattern creates a more balanced tire that can provide comfort too.

Pirelli has used newer technologies to build this tire. The upgrades in tread compounds and groove design have added a new layer of comfort to driving. Pirelli also creates tires with performance in mind and this tire can handle higher speeds while driving, cornering, and short distance braking.

The flexible sidewall on the Cinturato P7 gives more support on cornering and braking. The added strength improves the tire tread life and performance too.

Pirelli provides reliable warranty coverage on touring and all-season tire models. The Cinturato P7 includes a 70,000-mile limited tread life warranty. As a tire manufacturer, Pirelli ranks slightly above average for overall warranty offerings.    

Pros:

• Extreme driving comfort and quiet riding.
• Fuel-efficient tire made with natural materials to increase efficiency.
• Reliable warranty offerings and high-level tread life.
• Better stability with a 5-rib tread pattern.  

Cons:

• Below average winter performance compared to competitors’ all season, touring tires.

Dunlop Direzza DZ102 - Best Summer

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Summer tires provide reliable, high-performance traction dry roads. The Dunlop Direzza DZ102 can give an upgrade in handling, steering responsiveness, and cornering for sporty sedans and coupes making it the perfect match for the Lexus IS.

This performance tire is made from a special compound mixed with high-grade silica and black carbon. Dunlop uses this tread to create a tire that can handle high temperatures without sacrificing traction and durability.

The directional tread pattern uses extra-wide shoulder blocks, three center ribs, and circumferential grooves for better stability and wet surface traction. The wider blocks create more rubber to road contact on cornering, braking, and wet pavement driving.

This summer tire should not be driven at near-freezing temperatures. The rubber compound is made from a more firm compound that does not perform well in the winter. The cold temperatures cause the treads to crack and wear down quickly.

Dunlop provides warranty coverage on all seasons and other touring tire models but this summer tire does not come equipped with a warranty policy. The summer tire is vulnerable to wintry conditions and performance tires are difficult to insure with warranty coverage.    

Pros:

• Upgraded tire design compared to previous models.
• Affordable tire option.
• Top-tier road grip during dry driving conditions.
• High-quality ride comfort and minimal road noise.

Cons:

• Wet traction is good, but it could be improved.

Firestone Winterforce 2 - Best Winter

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Firestone has built a reliable winter tire with the Winterforce 2. It is specially made for performance coupes and sedans looking to upgrade to a studdable winter tire. The unique design incorporates the revolutionary tire technologies Firestone has created through the years.

The Winterforce 2 is made from a special winter compound rubber with extra flexibility in cold temperatures. It is made with a softer rubber for added pliability during temperature changes. The directional tread pattern is layered with sets of grooves and sipes to assist with high-performance in wintry conditions.

The circumferential grooves are made extra deep on this winter brand to handle thicker snow, ice, and slush along with rain too. The high-density sipes provided extra traction with the help of bite particles and edges that are released during snowy driving.

Drivers can expect plenty of support on tread life and road performance. The extra grooves provide hydroplaning resistance and the tire handles extremely well on dry roads too.

Firestone is not known as a brand to provide the best warranty options. For this winter tire, they do not offer a limited tread life warranty.  

Pros:

• Great value at this price range for the performance provided.
• Excellent treadwear lasting multiple winter seasons
• The best snow and ice handling and traction tire.
• Elite short distance braking in difficult conditions.

Cons:

• A noisy tire with below-average comfort on highways.

BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 - Best Performance Street

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A performance street tire is a high-performing option that adds improved cornering, braking, responsiveness, and more to your Lexus IS. The BFGoodrich g-Force Sport Comp-2 combines all of these features into a durable max performance summer tire.

BFGoodrich designed this tire for sporty sedans, coupes, and muscle cars with upgraded features for optimal driving. This tire is meant to go fast, handle with accuracy, and corner with precision. BFGoodrich is sure to include top technologies to make it all possible.

The silica tread is made with a performance racing compound for better performance on roads, both dry and wet. The racing core increases the wet surface performance of the tire by 30% from previous models.

The upgraded element within this tread is the rubber compound. It is built with extra fillers to create more consistent road contact for improved durability and less wear. In fact, drivers typically report over 40,000 miles before they start to see significant wear on this tire.

BFGoodrich includes a unique set of g-Hooks and g-Control sidewall inserts. Both of these new technologies assist with road grip during cornering situations while driving.

Pros:

• Most accurate and reliable dry road-gripping tire.
• Excellent responsive steering and elite handling.
• Handles accurately on wet pavement.
• Lower cost pricing to provide excellent overall value.

Cons:

• Noisy tire when driving fast on highways and over road bumps.

Continental PureContact - Best All-Purpose

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The all-purpose tire is made to give support in all driving areas for the Lexus IS owner. This means the tire can handle rain, snow, and summer heat while maintaining comfort and durability. The Continental PureContact checks all of these boxes as the best choice.

This premium tire is made as a high-performance all season tire with unique technologies to create extra all-weather traction, handling, and longevity in the treads. Continental builds this tire tread from the Eco Plus Technology that includes extra polymers. These polymers add more strength to the tire while reducing C02 emissions and increasing fuel efficiency.

The polymers in the tread respond to the weather temperature to determine the performance required. The tread pattern is asymmetric with wider shoulder blocks to add cornering stability and more responsiveness on slippery surfaces.

Continental also uses +Silane additives in their designs for better traction on snow and ice. Along with the pattern, there are sets of grooves moving in each direction to create flows away from the contact patch on the tire for ice and water. These grooves and layered sipes add extra traction and hydroplaning resistance.

Continental provides the best warranty options too. The PureContact comes with a 6 year or 70,000-mile limited tread life warranty and 3-year flat tire changing coverage.  

Pros:

• One of the best warranty policies on the market.
• Elite road comfort with reliable handling and steering features.
• Awesome winter traction and snow performance.
• Reliable short distance braking on slippery roads.

Cons:

• None that come to mind

Pirelli Spare Tyre - Best Temporary Spare

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The Pirelli Spare Tyre adds an element of comfort and support to your Lexus IS in the event of an emergency flat tire. This temporary spare gives you the option for immediate temporary road mobility without the hassle of calling a tow truck or needing to instantly purchase a replacement tire.

The temporary spare gives you flexibility with your decision and provides enough driving support to get to a place of safety.

This spare has shallower treads and weighs less than your current tire. It can handle higher max loads but the speed and performance are extremely limited.

Avoid driving this tire farther than 70 miles or any faster than a top speed of 50 MPH.

Pros:

• Compact size for easy storage.
• Lightweight design to fit comfortably in your vehicle.
• Easy to handle and install.

Cons: 

• Top speed of 50 MPH
• Max distance of 70 miles

Bridgestone Potenza S001L - Factory Tire

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The Lexus IS comes equipped with the Bridgestone Potenza S001L tire. This is a max performance summer tire to emphasize the sporty, performance feel that Lexus wants you to feel when driving the IS.

This is a run-flat tire model meaning you can drive up to 50 miles after a puncture in the tire before you need to change it out. Bridgestone designed this tire with performance driving in mind to show driving enthusiasts what their vehicle is capable of with the right equipment.

The tread is made into an asymmetric pattern for better dry road grip and long-lasting durability. The tread blocks are spread out wider for a more forgiving road grip and accurate handling. This design separates the center rib from the blocks more to allow stability while driving at higher speeds.    

Pros:

• Corners and handles exceptionally well like a racing tire.
• Steering responsiveness is accurate and reliable.
• Dry traction ranks among the best in the summer performance tire category.  

Cons:

• Tread life is less reliable than competitor options.