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TIRES and replacement of them with 19 inch wheels ! Mine came stock with Toyo tires and now at 33K miles it has become time to search for replacements. Guess what...! NOBODY except ONE company has 19 inch tires from which to choose and these are quite inferior tires from what I have been told.
Dealership can get TOYO tires (original OEM) from warehouse in Colorado, but at premium price of $1,200 installed for 4 tires.
I had hoped good companies like Goodyear or Michelin would have quality tires with good treadwear by now for a 2008 vehicle. I believe the other company is Bridgestone or someone else and research on this tire from readers indicated stay away from them due to poor wet road handling and NOT good on ice or snow. Living in Michigan, I NEED both and getting ready for WINTER 2009.
I cannot believe this mess and only ONE, maybe 2 tire companies out there having a mediocre tire to install on vehicle.
Will appreciate any feedback from fellow Highlander - 2008 - LIMITED owners of this vehicle.
Have YOU replaced your OEM tires yet?
Thanks,
Mike
Yes, same issues on my end. I have 2008 Highlander Limited and now I cannot find decent tires to fit 19 inch rims. Only two mediocre tires will fit that I found.
TOYO tires came on vehicle but after 30K miles they are about shot and looking for new tires for Fall-Winter snow-ice-wet road conditions that will give a decent ride.
NO luck in Michigan and dealer told me same thing about changing rims.
Any news or updates on tires and experiences appreciated at:
skypilot1953@yahoo.com.
I did not find these on Michelin website and sent note to them.
Now that it is mid-September, are you still happy with tires you purchased? Wider tires but not an issue with gas mileage? Ride pretty good?
Need them for wet roads - snow real soon - and icy conditions. Where did you purchase?
No issues with mounting on standard rims that came with 08 Limited?
Thanks and will stand by at: skypilot1953@yahoo.com
I still hope Michelin builds them in the near future. When I talked to them a few weeks back, when I couldn't get any Xice snows in this size, they told be they were seeing more request and not just from Toyota owners so they were going back to the engineering group on them.
Before I ordered H/T I called Toyo to moan about A20s. I was told that Toyo does not provide warranty on its tires which are sold as OEM on new cars. When I questioned them how is the set of new A20 (If I was to buy one) different from A20 sold with a new car, I was told that neither one would have mileage warranty. I was told that H/T have 60K (or is it 40K?) warranty.
Can't wait til I get H/T on my car. I only got 25K off A20.
Regarding the Bridgestones... Read the reviews of "unhappy" owners on various tire websites like KANROCK and other websites. Apparently, there are more than a few "unhappy" customers with these Bridgestone tires. In the past, I have been very happy with Michelin all season tires on vehicles I have owned.
Trying to stay away from TOYO tires due to their "extreme" wearing even though I rotated them every 6K-8K very faithfully.
Seems very strange that manufacturers and especially TOYOTA would have done more research with regard to putting 19 inch wheels on this vehicle in first place.
Rims and salt: Yes, they can beat the rims up pretty bad. I used a good clear coat finish on the rims and try my best to keep the "SALT" off the rims with good cleaning as often as I can during WINTER months. Do not have storag capabilities or extra CASH to spend on different rims and tires just for Spring-Summer driving.
Will let you know how I make out on the Michelin tires. TOYO are $965.00 installed in my area once they "arrive" from God knows where.
In flicking back through posts on this page I see that it is three years (and about 75,000km or 45,000 miles) since I fitted the Geolanders to my Kluger. They have proven surprisingly good and still have about 4.5mm or 3/16" tread left. Minimum standard in Australia is 3/32" but I tend to swap tyres before this. That suggests likely life in excess of 100,00km or 62,500 miles.
Handling is still good and I have been very pleased with performance. Wear is about twice that of the original Toyos and performance dramatically better.
Cheers
Graham
should I believe them???
Klaas
Heck no ! Why would same brand, same model tires give you MORE miles just because YOU are purchasing them. Another ploy from the dealer to ROB your checkbook and put inferior tires on your vehicle. I am getting Michelin Latitude Tour HP tires installed. One size bigger though: 255/50R/19. These are supposed to be good tires giving good ride, last much longer, and also good on ice and snow. Getting mine from Discount Tire in local Saginaw, MI area. Belle Tire can also get them. Stay away from TOYO and Bridgestone. Bad reviews posted on tirerack.com about the Bridgestone tires. My current TOYO tires have 31,000 miles and rotated every 6,000 miles since new. Now they are JUNK. Getting ready for Michigan WINTER.
Good luck.
Tirerack.com does NOT give the Bridgestone Duelers a very favorable rating and TOYO are the next choice . .. That's it. Anyone else having same issues or hearing the same thing from the TOYOTA folks, I'd be interested in hearing your thoughts.
MS
Again, I would caution people again getting A20 as replacements, since Toyo will not warrant these tires on vehicles which ship as OEM with these tires. The H/T have at least 40K warranty.
I have H/T mounted week from tomorrow. Will provide update.
What Toyota actually says is:
"Toyota does not recommend modifying the vehicle in any manner, including changing the original tire size or the suspension. Toyota vehicles meet all applicable Federal Motor Vehicle Safety Standards when they are originally distributed, and modification could affect the safety and/or operation of the vehicle and remove it from compliance with specifications and standards mandated by the Federal Government. Additionally, should a condition occur on the vehicle that can be attributed to any type of modification, the warranty on the affected components may be impacted or voided."
The caveats they express are reasonable as some people will seek to drastically modify tyre sizes which can affect safety or alter handling characteristics. Try calling Toyota and finding whether they have knowledge of tyre changes that are permissible.
Cheers
Graham
However, I don't like the "special" pricing to the TOYO 245/ 55 R19 Open Country A20 tires. The dealer charges upward of $260 and internet pricing is ~$234. This tire type is not available at any local replacement tire service stores, and almost none of the popular tire companies make this size tires for the Highlander sport. Basically there are very few choices and no competition.
Yes, indeed, no competition. I have TOYO tires coming from Belle Tire in Michigan where I live. Price installed with road hazard warranty - ready to go is $1,120 with taxes and disposal fees of old tires.
Lifetime rotation and other stuff included.
Not that I do not like the TOYO tires, but mine are shot after 31,000 miles and do not like the ability to choose from other manufacturers like Michelin or Goodyear without the worry of invalidating my Toyota warranty by going to BIGGER size tires on 19 inch wheels. Stay away from the Bridgestone tires. Bad reviews on tirerack.com website. Other's in my area also have had bad road noise and other issues with the Bridgestone tires that will fit this vehicle. Also: Do not wait to get tires with winter FAST approaching. TOYO tires are in very limited supply.
I will go with the HT's when these A20's wear out, cheaper and a 65K warranty, unless Michelin or someone else steps up and starts to make them. Michelin has indicated in notes I had exchanged whith them that this is now becoming a more popular size and they will be looking at offering it next year... but until I see them listed I will just consider it pampering me.
This seems as Toyo question.
Do not know what question you may have about Toyo tires. However, the many posts on this site all say about the same thing. Toyo tires are not *that* bad, but just wear out quickly as any other OEM tires when installed on NEW vehicle. My Toyota dealership is one of the most *honest* and trustworthy dealerships I have ever done business with and give straight answers. The Toyo tires (A20) are on order from my local Belle Tire store. They are only authorized dealer who has access to them. Discount Tire does not and they too, told me so.
Toyo tires are like Goodyear or any other low-end tires that come on new vehicles and this is how they choose to sell and market the cars. Once worn out, they expect you to purchase higher end tires that will give you more miles and better ride perhaps.
However, like the dealership told me, "be careful if your vehicle is still under warranty because different size tires are NOT calibrated to transmissions, speedometer, and 4WD"... and if ANY issues develop with those "related" parts *AND* you have different size tires on vehicle, *YOUR* warranty will be *VOID*.
My choice: install the Toyo tires just before winter driving season. I have them on order and Belle Tire is holding in back room for me since this size for my Highlander Limited is a very *RARE* tire to be had from *ANY* warehouse. I guess it is "first-come-first-served"...
Next tires will be higher grade like Michelin or other brand, but for now, it will be the replacement TOYO tires, not Bridgestones due to NOISE and rough ride as noted on tirerack.com.
I called Michelin and asked if they are planning on manufacturing the 245/55 R19 and they did not know but they took my information and are forwarding it to corporate HQ. Speaking to the supervisor at the customer service center he says that they track requests and will act on it IF they get enough demand.
Lesson here is call Michelin at 1-866-866-6605 tell them you want to request that a tire be made to fit the Highlander. Make sure they take your information. :shades:
Just called the local Costco and can get Michelin Latitude HPs in 255/55/19 at $315 per tire (total price, mounted/balanced with road hazard). Still seems high.
Am concerned from what I'm reading about Toyota possibly not honoring the warranty if using this size so probably will go with the Toyo HTs.
If anyone has any snow experience with the Toyo HT, I'd appreciate hearing about it.
(Sounds like some negative reviews about snow performance on the Michelins, at tirerack.com).
Yes indeed - a voided warranty. You can see my many frustrating posts on this subject under Highlander 2008. Spoke with my dealership management as well as numerous other individuals whom I trust and all say the same thing. Granted, the chances of anything going wrong are slim. However, the dealership has told me the following:
A. Speedometer is calibrated to OEM size tires.
B. Transmission is same thing since it is computer controlled.
C. Suspension is tuned to OEM tires.
D. Other things.
Thus, you may get different feel, different ride with different tires and also will VOID the warranty and you will need to FIGHT tooth and nail with Toyota to get any warranty work reimbursed to you IF it ever occurs. Same thing was told to me from my local tire store in MI (Belle Tire). Thus, I have TOYO tires on order from their warehouse and plan to run those another 30K. Hopefully, by then.. a "decent" wearing tire will be available. I plan to call Michelin as previous poster above has suggested. Good idea. My advice is to stick with the TOYO tires and not Bridgestones. Start looking NOW before other Highlander owners see the same results and TOYO tires will become "hard" to find. My OEM -- Toyo tires have 31K and are "shot" as one would expect for "cheap" OEM tires. Rotated them very faithfully at every other oil change as well to no avail.
Michigan winter season is fast approaching and I'll have the new TOYO tires installed within next couple of weeks. Happy searching and I would seriously wait until Michelin or other companies come out with suitable 19 inch replacements.
Cheers,
Skypilot1953
Not voiding the warranty on "Entire vehicle". . . Only those parts that need replacement due to incorrect tire size. Dealership told me it is the same as putting inferior oil in crankcase, or choosing NOT to perform routine maintenance on vehicle. Dealership in my area is very honest and has excellent reputation. This is why I bought a Toyota in first place. Another story for another day . . .
Thus, if you "Ever" had transmission problems or other "related" issues with vehicle and they can trace it back to "you" and incorrect tires, "you" will need to hire a "fleet" of lawyers and subject matter experts to "fight" with Toyota. Are you an attorney by chance looking for some work? I surely cannot afford the time and expense of big court fights just to get money reimbursed by Toyota. Look on door panel of vehicle and you will notice the tire size correctly stated on the door jamb of vehicle. It is also stated in owners manual. Thus, I decided to got with Toyo tires one more time until my warranty is "done". Then, I will go to better quality tires from Goodyear or Michelin and take my chances on my "trusty" Toyota with full understanding my my own liabilities for my choices.
pretty good. One thing I noticed right away is that thread is about 30% thicker than A20. I bought HL in Oct few years back. Did not pay attention to tires until first winter when I was sliding all over. I was somewhat shocked how thin were the 2-3 months old A20 at the time.
Will be interesting to see if the H/Ts are better on snow than the A20s. Would almost have to be!
Thanks, all, for your experiences. Looks like ordering the H/Ts is what I'll do.
I too like the idea of letting Michelin know about our wish that they would make this size.
The Toyota answer stated:
The recommended tire size for your 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport is P245/55R19 103S.
If the tires differ from the recommended size found on page 539 of your Owner's Manual, it will be a modification to your vehicle and could affect the vehicle’s performance, safety or durability, and may violate government regulations. In addition, damage or performance problems resulting from the modification will not be covered under warranty.
http://toyotires.com/tire/pattern/open-country-ht
and
http://www.treadepot.com/group/ophtp.html
(If you go here and plug in the vehicle you will get the size and offerings... Note the A20 is a 40K tire for $200 each and the HT is a 60K tire for $158 each)
If you look around you can get them for about $155.00 each + shipping.
For the winter I bought the Blizzak's in the correct size from the Tire Rack and a set of OEM 19's takeoffs on eBay to mount them on. Cost a little more but I've found in the winter nothing works better and gives you a better safety margin than Winter tires Vs M&S tires.
My response would be "why" ? Do not mean to be sexist, but there are tire chain stores and other places that do "not" treat lady customers very well. I have experienced this issue while waiting in a waiting room and talking with other customers who happened to be female. Tires could be getting bad if they have not been maintained (air pressure + rotation, etc.) However, after only 18K, I would say they should have enough tread to last awhile. Have you completed the Lincoln penny test on them? Place penny head-side down on each tire tread and if you can see entire President head on the coin, tread is getting "pretty-low". You can find pictures of this test and how to peform it on Internet.
Next is finding replacement tires. As previous poster, take a read on the tire situation with this vehicle. Make sure you get exact tire size since this vehicle is still under warranty. Toyo and Bridgestone are only mfg. having correct size tires at this time. Mine were "shot" after 30K on vehicle and I do regular checks on pressure and rotations.
If you live in a snow area, you might want to perform the tire tread test and see how much tread is left on the tires and/or go to "reputable" tire store that knows how to treat a lady like respected and valued customer that will give her "straight" answers to her vehicle issues.
Sorry to say, but I have seen this first hand in last several weeks.
Never heard of the tire brand you noted in message. As noted in prior posts, be *VERY* careful and fully understand the issues with going to *Bigger* tire as you note in your post. You indicate driving an '09 Highlander. I suspect your vehicle is still under warranty? IF yes, you may have issues with any warranty work on vehicle suspension and other underbody components by going to different tires. I am going with Toyo tires for "one-more-time" on vehicle with hopes that Michelin or other companies will "soon" have more 19-inch tires from which to choose.