Given
47%
while driving a
Lexus IS250SE
(245/45 R17) on
mostly country roads
for 15,000
easy going miles
These tires are fitted to the rear of my RWD is250. The front tires are Autogrip P308s. All four were fitted by the previous owner.
Dry grip: My driving style is quite gentle, and the tire grip in dry conditions is good - nothing special, but good. I can drive with reasonable speed and the tires cope well.
Wet Grip: This is where things appear to go wrong. I have been driving for over 23 years. I have driven multiple types of car, both manual and auto, front and rear wheel drive ... but I have never known tires to have so little grip in the wet. The F107s fitted to the rear of my car are an eye-opener. Incident #1: making a left-hand turn at a junction, in wet conditions, at approximately 5-10mph - I applied light throttle power, and the stability control kicks in/starts bleeping .... what the ......?! I put the incident to the back of my mind. Incident #2, a month later: carefully negotiating a large roundabout at 15-20mph, in moderately wet conditions ... I apply light throttle ..... the tail steps out approx 20 degrees, and the stability control kicks in ... thank God there were no cars alongside me! This can't be right?! There was no warning .... the back end just went! I will have to drive very slowly in the wet from now on. The front tires (P308s) seem to be better in the wet. I have driven a RWD W124 Mercedes in the wet ... with completely different tires ..... no sliding ....
Wear rate: good - the tire compound must be quite hard .... hence the above problems!
Comfort: reasonable. Maybe a tad firm!
Conclusion: A reasonably good dry weather tire with a good wear rate ... but I wouldn't trust these tires in the wet!