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Toyota Highlander Tires and Wheels

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Comments

  • gager44gager44 Member Posts: 6
    Anybody looking for the impossible to find replacement size for our 19" Highlander Wheels needs to look at the Toyo Versado CUV's. Our Bridgestone H/L 400's were gone by 30K miles and I spent months researching and originally settled on the Hankook's, but when they were backordered until January (or later) I ended up going with the Versado's. And we are so glad we did. They do everything well, they are quiet and ride smooth, and are very sporty (they take corners with ease and a slight sporty stiffness), but the most amazing thing to us has been the snow traction. We are outside Chicago and have been engulfed with snow and these things just bite on the Highlander. We even spent a week in Wisconsin after Christmas where the roads are not salted and we were able to drive, accelerate, and corner with ease.

    I drove my parent's Mazda CX-9 with the 20" Goodyear Eagles and those tires were junk on the same roads on the same day. They couldn't corner or accelerate without slipping even with AWD. Plus, those Goodyear's were so much louder than the Versado's.

    With all the issues on the stock Toyo's that came on Highlander's, they at least make up for it with a fabulous tire. We got our's from tiresdirect.com (or .net, I can't remember) for like $175/each, which I think is warehouse price (I think it is Cassidy tire's wholesale business in which they sell to dealers).

    We only have about 3K miles on the tires, so I can't peak for wear and tear. But you won't be dissapointed in all they can do.
  • catcincatcin Member Posts: 3
    I have a 2005 toyota highlander. Bought new. Now with 54,800 miles. Both rear wheel bearings went out Dec. 2010. Because I was over 60 months, warranty would not cover. Has anyone else had this problem. The service dept at Toyota was surprised at this .
  • toyotafiedtoyotafied Member Posts: 1
    Thanks to this forum, I just came from the AtoZ Tire store here in Austin with a set of Toyo HTs for my 08 HY w/30K miles replacing the OEM Toyo A-20's. Toyo provided a 25% credit due to the excessive wear on the A-20's making for a very sweet deal on the new HTs. $750 out the door for the set with install/road hazard/lifetime rotation and balance. I love a good deal and I think Toyo made up for the inferior A20's. Love Love Love my Highlander and so glad I was not out the Grand I was expecting before I read this forum. Thank you guys for the valuable information. :D Oh yeah...The AtoZ Tire guys were great to work with too!
  • danielldaniell Member Posts: 128
    edited January 2011
    I have read this thread with great interest, since I need to replace one of my vehicles within a year or so, and the Highlander is on my short list. I have seen a great deal of concern about matching the exact specs of the OEM 19" tire, but nothing about the 4 tires being matched on the AWD models. As an owner of 9+ years of an AWD vehicle (Subaru Forester) with snow tires (on a second set of wheels) on it 4 months a year , I am going to bring my 2 cents to this discussion:

    - for the 19" wheels, there are other combinations that will put you within 1-3% of the specs of the OEM tires. For example, 255/50/19, 255/55/19 etc. Always make sure that the load index of the new tire is at least as high as the OEM tire load index.
    - minimum tire tread effective in the snow is 6/32". Below that you lose control easily. AWD won't help.
    - minimum tire tread effective in the rain is 4/32". Below that you hydroplane easily.
    - for most people and snow driving conditions, snow tires are better than AWD. Snow tires allow you to corner and brake much better in snow/slush than all season tires. AWD does not help with braking and cornering. But if your driving involves lots of hills, AWD definitely helps.
    - for snow, skinny tires are better than wide, since they dig in the snow better. If possible, go down 1-2 wheel sizes for winter, since a taller sidewall helps too. For example, go from 19" wheels to 17" wheels.
    - another big advantage of snow tires is the special rubber they use, which stays relatively soft even at very low temperatures.
    - having the 4 tires match each other on an AWD vehicle is much more important than matching the exact size specs of the OEM tire. Some manufacturers recommend to stay within 1/4" circumference difference for the 4 tires. In particular, if you have a flat, and it's not repairable, you either have to replace all 4 tires, or buy an identical tire and have it shaved to match the remaining 3. Not doing that may damage the AWD system.
    - this is counterintuitive, but here it goes: if you have a FWD vehicle and need to replace 2 tires, the new tires should go in the back. It's important that the front stays in the front, and the back stays in the back, rather than being able to get traction/speed at the front.
    -even if you never go above 80mph, try to buy tires speed rated H or better. Without going into details, their internal construction is much more robust than for lower rated tires, thus the risk of the tire exploding or dissintegrating is vastly reduced.

    Daniel
  • davem18davem18 Member Posts: 6
    Has anyone had any experience with the Hankook Ventus AS RH07, especially in the snow? I live in Wisconsin and need a tire that has some decent traction in the snow. Like all of you, the options are some what limited. I wanted to have an all season tire, so any opinions/experiences would be appreciated. I am considering the Hankook and the Gookyear Assurance CS Fuel Max.... any thoughts? I too have complained to Toyota customer service and oh yeah, I even have case number, but one week later, no response/call from Toyota.
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    Dave,

    Read back through this forum and the Hankooks have been found to be pretty good in the snow. Not the best on the market, but light years better than any of the OEM junk. The biggest problem you'll have with the Hankooks is finding them. I ordered thru Tire Rack for what was promised to be early-mid December delivery and now I'm told Feb 1 at the earliest. I have a lead on another source that supposedly has them in stock now.... I'll know for sure on Monday, then will tell Tire Rack to go stick it.

    I'm in the Chicago area, and need the snow performance too. The Goodyears you mentioned seemed to get some decent reviews, too.
  • nowlennowlen Member Posts: 35
    I've been following this thread for some time now and finally ordered my 245/55-19 Versado CUV's from Treadepot.com. I have a 2008 Highlander Sport AWD that I use mostly for the winter months and put a separate set of 17" OEM wheels with Michelin snow tires just for our Pittsburgh winters, so that's why I'm only now getting around to replacing my 'summer' 19" tires - I'll be ready to swap them when I see the robins appear. Got them delivered to my door <$750. Originally, I was sold on the Hankook Ventus, but I've read mixed reviews on the Ventus having noise and weird wear patterns in old age. I've also considered the HT's, but again there's that noise.

    So... why the Toyo Versado CUV? 1) Exact OEM size (no Toyota warranty issues) 2) 50,000 mile warranty (I know the other two are a bit longer but I've found IMHO that extended tread life tires seem to use a tire compound that's very hard: ie: slick in wet, lower ride comfort, less 'sticky' - everything is a tradeoff ) 3) The other tires in the Versado CUV and LX line have great reviews, so I'm hoping these follow. 4) Good review by purchasers on this site 5) Other on-line reviews ar highly positive 6) they were immediately available at numerous online retailers for a great price (order quickly though, I understand the price is going up significantly on the Versados and the HTs) 7) I was looking for comfort and handling, not snow performance and these seem to fit the bill (although they have reasonable snow reviews). According to Toyo propaganda and reviews these are designed for quiet and handling and the reviews support that with top ratings in these categories. I will probably never find out how they perform in the winter, unless we get one of those odd October snowfalls, but that's not why I got them. 8) These are supposedly one of the highest fuel efficiency tires available.

    So... Being the nice guy I am, I'll be be guinea pig and give these a shot for the be benefit of the group. I'll report back once I get them mounted.

    If there are any other brave souls willing to take their chances and give these a shot, i would get them before the price goes up. I actually called Treaddepot.com because the price went from $168 per on 1/2/11 to $196 on 1/5/11 when I was ready to place my order. I called to biatch and they 'temporarily' lowered the price back so I could get them for the $168. But, for those interested, I noticed that they are still showing at the lowered $168 price. So they either were BS-ing me or forgot to raise the price back. In any case <$750 total to my door and they'll be here Monday. Good luck.
  • nowlennowlen Member Posts: 35
    Agree about the accident. I also run a separate set of wheels with winter tires, and the way I look at it: I'm going to be wearing out something; whether it's my snow tires or winter tires, so while I'm wearing out the winter tires, my summers are in the shed hibernating and visa-versa. And another BIG plus: the salt and calcium don't eat away at my nice summer alloy wheels as I run them through the winter and I could care less about the winter tires as they're always covered with winter road crap and never look good anyway - they're sacrificial. But the real plus is the margin of safety the snow tires provide in the bad weather; I've never got stuck or even came close in my AWD Highlander Sport with the Michelin xIce tires.
  • davem18davem18 Member Posts: 6
    An update, I made the plunge and purchased the Hankook AS RH07. So far, I have about 200 miles on them and at this point I am very pleased. I have driven in light snow (2 inches) and the traction was excellent, can't wait to try them in deeper snow. Wet traction has been very good. There does seem to be a bit more road noise than the OEM but hey, I would rather had good traction and deal with a bit more road noise. Will see if it worsens as the tires wear. I will update my posting once I have a few thousand miles on the tires.
  • mama2allymama2ally Member Posts: 23
    I put these on my 2008 highlander in the spring and I LOVE them. I've already put over 20000 miles on them and they show no wear. I live in Michigan and we've had measurable snow. I've driven in 4-5" and they have awesome traction. The only time I slip is due to ice under the snow. HUGE difference from last year when my factory Bridgestones were practically bald at 25,000 miles causing me to slide & actually get STUCK in the snow. I highly recommend the Hankooks. As a bonus I do believe they come with a 65,000 mile warranty.
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    So here's a summary and the latest:

    I ordered Hankook 245/55r19s from Tire Rack the first week of December with a 12/27 ETA. That date arrives and I'm told that it will be another 4-6 weeks, which puts us to now. Tire Rack contacts me today and says they haven't the foggiest idea when they could ever think of seeing these tires anytime soon and asks if I'd like to modify/change/cancel my order.

    I saw my choices as 1) Stay with the Hankook's, but +1 them and go with 255/55r19s which can ship today, or 2) Try the Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max, also in stock now. Tire Rack was willing to honor the original price for the OEM size on whichever I chose.

    The Hankook's have received very decent ratings anywhere I've looked, so they're on the way with delivery set for Monday 1/24. I'll update then. It's been a LONG Chicago winter so far on the now bald OEM Bridgestones.
  • 2old2worry2old2worry Member Posts: 10
    I feel sorry for you on those Bridgestone's in a Chicago winter. But the good news is you will love your Hankook's I do. I went from a sled to a tank. Very happy with my 245/55-19 Ventus from tire-easy.com. I hope the 255' work for you.
  • davem18davem18 Member Posts: 6
    I just called up the local dealer in Madison (Holmes Tire) and they were able to get delivery the next day for the 245/55R19. Don't understand what Tire Racks problem is. Total cost to me was $228.00 each installed. When you factor in shipping and installation, I thought my final cost per tire was very reasonable. Had a bit more snow and slush this past week or so and the tires were great. At this point I would recommend these tires.
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    I had the 255's installed as scheduled yesterday, and WOW !! We even got 2-3" of new powder just as I was leaving the shop. After tip-toeing around for the last 3 months in Chicago's winter, I now feel like I'll die in my old age from some disease like I'm supposed to rather than in a wrecked HL.
  • tankerjocktankerjock Member Posts: 1
    edited January 2011
    Are these issues only with the 19" tires or are the 17" in the same situation?
  • mama2allymama2ally Member Posts: 23
    As far as I know, it's the 19". That is what I have on mine. There are not a lot of options for replacements.
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    PLENTY of options in the 17" size. Just the 19s are problematic.
  • rl newbierl newbie Member Posts: 17
    edited January 2011
    I just received a 43% "goodwill" credit from Toyo for my four A20 tires in exchange for purchasing four Open Country H/T tires.

    Two A20's had 4-5mm of tread left and the other two had 5-6 mm left with 21,000 miles on the Highlander.

    Happy to be rid of those A20's. Glad the manufacturer is assuming some financial responsibility for the mess they created.

    Thanks to you for the good info here that pointed me to the $500 savings.

    Hope there are more tire choices when it's time to get rid of the H/T's. Versado CUV was not an in-stock option.
  • suzannysuzanny Member Posts: 1
    I have the Toyo tires that are bald on my 08 Hy. How do I get the 25% credit and what are the tires to replace them?
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    Oh yeah !!! Just made it home from work in ~20" of Chicago Blizzard conditions with the Hankook Ventus' I wrote about last week. Outstanding! Simply outstanding!
  • wncmountainmanwncmountainman Member Posts: 1
    As has happened to many Highlander owners on this forum, the OEM Toyo tires on my 2009 Highlander Limited with 19" wheels were seriously worn with NO snow traction at just over 20,000 miles. Other than the dubious Toyo and Bridgestone tires, the only 19" replacement was the Hankook Ventus AS RH07, but these were on national backorder.

    As 17" all season tires are widely available, I tried to switch to 17" wheels -- which come standard on the Base and SE Highlander models. However, 17" wheels from those models will NOT work on the Limited edition -- brake calipers on front hit the wheel's spokes and the wheel will not turn. My local Toyota worked very hard to find a 17" wheel that would work -- he even tried Lexus wheels, but could not find any 17" wheel that would clear the calipers. Hope this info is useful to Highlander Limited ownersw who are considering switching wheels.

    Very recently, Goodyear care out with a P245/55R19 version of its well-regarded Assurance Fuel Max all season tire for crossover/SUV models. These were delivered within 48 hours. My initial reaction -- excellent tread with low road noise, especially for an all-season tire, and good handling characteristics.

    At least now there is a very good alternative to the hard-to-get Hankooks.
  • nowlennowlen Member Posts: 35
    edited February 2011
    NOT TRUE... the 17" wheels will fit - I have done it. Go to the dealer and check the part numbers for the hubs, calipers, and brake pads. They are the same part number whether you have a Base, Sport, or Limited gas vehicle (i did not check the hybrid and suspect some of those might be different). At least it was that way for the 2008 model year - I doubt they have changed. It is impossible that there will be a problem if you are using true OEM wheels from the same year!

    Please tell your mechanic that the shiny side of the wheel with the valve stem should point to the outside of the vehicle, perhaps YOUR mechanic is mounting the wheels improperly. ;)
  • darnyankeedarnyankee Member Posts: 6
    Put a set of the Fuel Max 245/55/19,.Good ride,low noise level ,handles as well ,if not better than Toyo OEM.Had rotated all 5 Toyos-had 30,000 miles with sliding on wet pavement etc.
    Fortunately live in Va. so little snow this year.Would not drive with Toyos in snow(could not visit daughter in Syracue this winter-100+")
  • 2tollers2tollers Member Posts: 1
    Just replaced my 2008 Highlander hybrid Toyo OEM tires with less then 26000 miles on them. Being in North Dakota I had enough of driving a hybrid toboggan around town. One of the local tire shop in town did me a great service and talked to their Toyo rep. They agreed to cut 25% off retail price for a set of Toyo Open Country H/Ts. Very Happy.
  • damifinomikedamifinomike Member Posts: 64
    Glad to hear you got rid of those tires. Sad to hear the Toyo rep and your tire store only got you 25% off a set of replacement Toyo tires. When that happened to me (same issue), I got replacement tires from Toyo for 50% off and free mounting. I have same tires as you noted in your post and they have performed so-so in Michigan winter. Have them for about one year and this winter season has been brutal. At the time, Toyo tires were only company that I could get 19" wheel size to replace OEM tires. Hopefully, when it comes time to replace these Toyo tires, there will be more options like Goodyear or other major brand tires. Never had been a big fan of Toyo tires and especially the 19" variety. Good luck with those...
  • joethetrolljoethetroll Member Posts: 1
    As far as I know they are. I found a good replacement at Tire Kingdom here in Orange City, Florida. Bought 4 Goodyear Assurance CS Fuel Max tires 245/55R19 for $975.00 out the door including mounting, balancing, and road hazard warranty. Tire is rated at 65,000 miles. Just got them so I have no stories to tell yet....but, at least they are made in the USA (I think). I don't trust Toyo...although I got 34,000 miles out of mine on a 2008 Highlander Limited. I heard that the Bridgestone Duelers aren't very good either. Falken makes the size, but I can't get past the name. I thought I had falken tires in the Toyos.
  • mama2allymama2ally Member Posts: 23
    I had the bridgestones and they were just as bad. Got just over 30,000 mi on them, but shouldn't have been driving that long on them. I don't think the Goodyear Fuel Max was available last year when I bought my Hankooks. Hankook Ventus AS RH07
    255/55R19XL 111V SBL
    I did adjust the size a bit, but they have handles well in rain & snow. I've had them about a year now.
    I do have to add that I've ALWAYS driven on Michelin's until I bought this Toyota. NEVER had a problem with Mich's. I was very hesitant on the Hankooks, but so far so good!
  • georgeb10georgeb10 Member Posts: 2
    Can someone please help what tires should I replace on my Toyota Highlander 2009 Sport? It has only 22,000 miles but the front tires are already worn out. I understand only choices are TOYO and Bridgstone in 19'' and both are NOT good based on reviews. It is a new vehicle I bought and it is surprising that I have to do this in 1.5 years. Do I get any credit from OEM TOYO company?
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    My recommendation is the Hankook Ventus AS RH07, which IS available in the original 245/55r19 size, but is VERY difficult to find in that size. You won't go wrong with an upsize to 255/55r19 in the same tire, which is almost always readily available, especially through an online retailer such as Tire Rack.

    This different size is only 10mm wider and WON'T cause any clearance, rubbing or warranty issues, despite what some will have you believe. Wet traction and light snow/ice handling have been supurb for me so far and even deep snow traction was above-average in Chicago's 22" blizzard about a month ago.
  • markr346markr346 Member Posts: 3
    I went with Toyo H/T Open Country replacements and find them to be very good esp in the heavy snow we've had this winter up here in the Northern Plains. 13,000 miles on them and they look (still) brand new. 60,000 mile warranty, too. FWIW.
    I can't help you on getting a credit from TOYO.
  • bob259bob259 Member Posts: 280
    I second the Toyo H/T's great tire and in my opinion should have been on the vehicle in the first place.
  • darnyankeedarnyankee Member Posts: 6
    I put Goodyear Assurance Fuel Max on Highlander.Have 2000 miles ,so far very good-quiet,handling/traction fine.Mileage may have improved,but not noticeably.
  • damifinomikedamifinomike Member Posts: 64
    Don't mean to be "rude" to you post regarding different tire sizes you noted in your post and warranty issues. Give a call to Toyota and ask to speak with technical advisors on the matter. Also, I got straight story from reputable Toyota guys in two different States on the matter. For the most part, it depends on your "relationship" with Toyota dealership and how far they are willing to go to bat for you in event of transmission failure, AWD issues, or other matters. For the most part, you must follow warranty to the letter of the law and be sure to read FINE print in your warranty book. If you only plan on driving vehicle another year or so, it is mute point. However, down the road if you develop warranty issues and do not have "actual" sized tires on vehicle as specifications dictate, you are out of luck. Not my story, but story summarized by technical advisors and Toyota head mechanics at (2) dealerships. My Toyo tires (OEM) wore out at 24,000 and got on phone with Toyo. Received good credit from Toyo as others did in this thread. Have the H/T tires on vehicle now for about 1.3 years. They are ok.. NOT great, but ok. Will NOT buy another set and hope Michelin or Goodyear have right size tires out when next purchase comes my way. They handle OK in snow and rain, but still not the best tires I have ever owned. Yes, in "olden" days you could mix and match oversize tires on cars when you were 16 and had "race" tires on your car. But now, every manufacturer is out to cover their own "butt" and will stick it to the owner of the vehicle any chance they can.. UNLESS you have good Toyota dealer and head mechanic that can work some "magic" with Toyota warranty departments. Should not be an issue because it is a "Toyota after all"... But if you have issues down the road with any front end or tranny problems all I can say is "beware"...
  • mama2allymama2ally Member Posts: 23
    I had the bridgestones and they were only sightly better than the Toyos. Check with Toyo...I heard of a tire recall recently, but didn't pay much attention since I don't own them. I switched to a Hankook and have been pleasantly surprised (considering I'm a huge Michellin fan). Good luck.
  • mama2allymama2ally Member Posts: 23
    I switched sizes, but I'm no longer under any warranty except maybe powertrain. My 2008 has over 60,000 mi.
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    Appreciate your thoughts, but I spoke directly to Toyota USA HQ in California and have been told warranty won't be an issue. Also have an excellent working relationship with local dealer. Only time will tell if and when I have any issues, I guess.
  • georgeb10georgeb10 Member Posts: 2
    Thanks to everyone who responded. I have decided to go with the TOYO H/T and went to the dealer and ordered a pair last week. The wear was due to a an alignment issue and did not qualify for any credit. The back tires are in good shape. And I was told it was going to cost me $304 per tire. I agreed assuming it is TOYO H/T tires. Today, I got it replaced at the dealership. To my surprise, they put TOYO A20 tires. When I complained about the price, after argument, gave me a credit for $35 on each tire. So, I still paid, $269 per tire for TOYO A20. Looks like I wasted about $120! Planning to complain to the dealershipo management. What else a poor customer can do?
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    Plus now you've got tires that are so dangerous they should be illegal. Go to dealership management, zone management, Toyota USA management, and then Tokyo until you're satisfied. If I'm you, I don't stop until they get you the H/Ts. Period.

    Be their worst nightmare !!!!
  • car_buff2car_buff2 Member Posts: 5
    Here's a question I haven't seen discussed:

    Is there any substantial difference in actual wear and traction between Japanese manufactured 19" Bridgestone OEM tires on the Highlander and US made tires?

    I traded my 2008 Highlander Limited in December that had Japanese made Bridgestones with 23,000 miles on it. Tires had around 4/32" of tread left. My new 2011, which is assembled in the US, has US manufactured Bridgestones. Only have 2,100 miles so far, and don't have a handle on how they will do over the long haul.
  • crvdccrvdc Member Posts: 9
    Yesterday I took my car to the Toyota dealer for regular service. They told me that I needed 4 new tires. Two years ago they replaced the original tires after 50K miles and 4 years . Now two years and about 28K miles later they need replacing. They showed me the front two tires that has some some bald tread. Because all 4 tires are affected, it is not an alignment issue. I've been bringing my car regularly for service which includes tire inspection and rotating. Not once were the tires brought to my attention. They're recommending the top Yokohama tires and will give me one free with the purchase of 3. Not knowing alot about tires, I'm wondering if the replacements they put on two years ago were old. Very disappointed here.
  • grahampetersgrahampeters Member Posts: 1,786
    G'day

    Your comment on the alignment issue may not be as straightforward as it seems. The Highlander requires a four wheel wheel alignment on an infrequent basis to maximise tyre life.

    I had a bad experience with the original Toyo tyres and switched to Yokohamas after 45,000km (abour 28,000 miles) the Yokohmas gave 90,000 km of god service and wore evenly with regular alignment. MY tyre shoip suggets a check every 10,000km but this seems excessive so I have them done at about 20,000 to 30,000km (say 12,000-20,000 miles). The cost of alignment is small compared to the saving in tyre replacment costs and handling is much improved.

    As to the Yokohamas, I'd say that they are definitely worthwhile. Very good handling, braking and wear performance.

    Cheers

    Graham
  • anneoakleyanneoakley Member Posts: 1
    I also had excessive wear on my stock highlander hybrid 245/55/19 tires. They needed replacement at 13,700 miles. I brought my Highlander
    every 3000 miles for oil changes/ tire rotations and do not race teenagers. There are no skid marks down my driveway!
    I discussed with with the manager at my toyota service and they agreed to replace my tires for free with the Toyo HT tires as Toyota (the company,not the dealer) agreed to cover the cost. I had to pay $80 for the installation and $60 for the alignment.
    I think you can get more satisfaction from your dealership than Toyo, assuming you have a good relationship with your service center.
    I sense this is a common problem and perhaps Toyota is stepping up to the plate on this issue- they need some good PR!
  • pkassolispkassolis Member Posts: 2
    My tires are worn on the 08 highlander i bought used 2 years ago. Just moved to FL from Baltimore - Are the Goodyear Fuel max's the best tire to go with? The toyo and bridgestone do not offer a warranty but it appears as the Good year does.
    Thanks for all your help
  • pkassolispkassolis Member Posts: 2
    are you still happy with the Fuel Max's?
  • damifinomikedamifinomike Member Posts: 64
    From what I have read, the Bridgestones are almost as bad as the TOYO. Mine were shot at 21,000 miles on Highlander 08 - LTD.

    At present time, I have TOYO - H/T tires as replacement because at the time, this is only brand having OEM size for my vehicle. Now, there are other brands available as you can see in this thread. I've always have had good luck with Goodyear for quiet ride, lasting ok as long as you are faithful and rotate them for good wearing ability, and offer ok rolling resistance for fuel economy.

    I've read good reviews on Hankook Ventus and others but do not have any advice because I have never had a set. Poster from Chicago area indicated they are doing ok on his vehicle in Chicago traffic and the snow. SNOW -- something you do not need to worry about any longer, you lucky devil.

    Goodyear Assurance tires are the style I've had on regular cars and if this model is anything like those for passenger cars, you will be happy. Quiet ride without the truck tire "humm" and wore really good on my car. Although, they were a bit on the expensive side, they were good performing tires all around. If you plan to "keep" the vehicle awhile, would be another deciding factor on how much to "spend" on a set of quality tires.
  • darnyankeedarnyankee Member Posts: 6
    Have about 2000 miles on tires.Quiet,handle well.MPG did not increase but
    I did not buy for that.Like 65000 mile warranty and an American company.Will check MPG on our next trip ,current MPG is local suburban driving.Would buy again.
  • crvdccrvdc Member Posts: 9
    I recently put 4 new Mastercraft Touring tires on my 2005 Highlander. They come with a 80,000 warranty. The shop said that the Goodyear Integrity (what a name!) tires that the dealer put on 2 years ago were not good tires and definitely not as good as the ones I now have.
  • c_emptorc_emptor Member Posts: 2
    edited March 2011
    Here&#146;s my May 2009 customer experience by phone with Brandy at Toyota Customer Experience, and then with Debbie at Toyo Tire, both a couple of seasoned pros in explaining how to jump in the lake -- quite the customer experience.

    Toyota&#146;s Brandy deftly explained that her company has no responsibility for prematurely worn original-equipment Toyo tires (replaced at 17,000 miles). She was, however, very helpful in providing Toyo&#146;s telephone number, a deft deflection by someone who&#146;s done that before (hard to hide from Google) -- practice makes perfect.

    Debbie at Toyo Tire answered the phone. Applying her company&#146;s corporate policy, deft Debbie was able to explain that since the tires have been replaced, and therefore being unable to gauge the tread wear, Toyo would be unable to provide any assistance. She assured me that the dealer's measurements and recommendation of tire replacement would not, of course, be acceptable. Actually a moot point, as Debbie deftly explained, since the tires were &#147;made to Toyota&#146;s specs,&#148; not Toyo&#146;s, and are therefore Toyota&#146;s responsibility.

    Did I mention that I called Toyota?

    So there you have it, a couple of skilled reps of two major Japanese companies explaining how to take a hike.

    C_emptor ('07 Highlander)
  • mdhuttonmdhutton Member Posts: 195
    Toyo makes the tire, not Toyota, so Brandy was correct in advising you that Toyota would not bear any responsibility for prematurely-worn tires and referring you to the tires' manufacturer.

    Debbie at Toyo probably could have helped had you not already replaced the tires before calling her company. I can understand why they would prefer to analyze the tires in question rather than rely on a third party.

    Do I think both of these responses suck? You bet, but I can understand why they are so.
  • capriracercapriracer Member Posts: 907
    There's another wrinkle:

    Toyota decides what specs the tire has to meet - and then requires any tire supplier to meet those before they allow the first tire to be shipped - and those specs are rarely what the tire manufacturer would specify if left to their own deviices.

    Obviously Toyota's targets would be different than Toyo's - and in particular, Toyota would be very interested in rolling resistance (fuel economy) and handling, and not so much treadwear. But Toyota doesn't offer a warranty on tires, so they would feel no responsibility if the tires do not perform up to the customer's expectations.

    On the other hand, Toyo doesn't offer a treadwear warranty on tires supplied as Original Equipment. No tire manufacturer does. Since Toyo supplied tires to Toyota's spec, Toyo would not feel any responsibility if there was a wear problem.
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