2021 Lexus RX Tires & Wheels Problems

The tire (Bridgestone Ecopia 422 Plus 235/55R 20 102V M+S) failed within seconds while driving on the highway at 70 MPH. Luckily I did not lose control and was able to steer the car from the middle lane to the birm thanks to the semi driver on my right who allowed us to get off the road quickly. There was almost no rubber remaining on the rim and the tire pressure sensor was gone. The tow truck driver and NTB tire technician said the tire appeared to have failed due to delamination of the steel belt. Subsequent searches on the internet seem to support belt failure as the cause of the rapid loss of the tire. Walmart has refunded the cost of the failed tire. Bridestone is being less than helpful relative to the remaining three tires, which have less than 2,000 miles on them.

While driving, the front driver's side tire and wheel detached from my vehicle, causing significant damage. My vehicle was last serviced at dealer on September 2024. During this service, significant maintenance and repair work was performed, including machining rotors, wheel alignment, and tire rotation. I am concerned that either a malfunction or an improper connection of the wheel has led to this incident. Since service, I have driven approximately 2,000 miles and have not had the car serviced by any other provider. My driving has been limited to general day-to-day use, with no long road trips or encounters with curbs or potholes. The evening prior to the incident, I noticed minor steering wheel shaking while driving over 60 mph and a slight grinding noise. I decided to make an appointment for service on the next day. Unfortunately, while en route to the service appointment, the entire driver side wheel and tire detached as I was making a right turn to enter the highway.

I had previously owned a 2018 Lexus RX350L that came with OEM Michelin Premier LTX tires. That car handled very well on rain, snow and ice. I eventually replaced those tires with Continental Crosscontact LX25 that were even better to the point that I woud say they were excellent on snow and ice. When I purchased my 2021 Lexus RX350 F Sport, it came with Bridgestone Ecopia H/L 422 Plus tires in 235 / 55 R 20. The Bridgestone tires were more prone to hydroplaning but I was able to adjust driving in wet rainy situations. The Bridgestone tires however are absolutely useless in even the slightest dusting of snow. They are prone to locking the Anti-Lock Brakes at single digit speeds and are resistant to making even slight turns or steering corrections. On the morning of February 6th 2021 I experienced driving in light snow for the first time with new car equipped with the Bridgestone tires. While making a right turn, I noticed that there was a multiple car accident on the road I was entering. As I had only begun to enter the turning lane, I decided to abort that turn. I attempted to ease the car back to the left but it would not correct. At this point, I was at single digit speeds already and I pressed the brakes. The Anti-Lock brakes locked and the car began sliding forward regardless of steering input. I released the brakes but they remained locked which I assume is because the car kept them applied because it was sliding. I slid into a car at the opposite stop light. After the accident, I drove to an empty parking lot and attempted snow driving maneuvers such as stopping slowly and making gentle turns. These tires proved incapable of the slowest, gentlest of maneuvers in a light snow situation. I am attaching both the Review and Ratings from the Tire Rack website which support that these "All Season" tires should likely not see rain and are most definitely dangerous if not deadly on snow and ice.