best tire for 08 highlander

[boxxed]

I will be moving to Colorado real soon and I was wondering what people think will be the best tire for the colorado enviorment? I am coming from MI and the stock tires suck here so I cant think they will do any better in CO..

Thanks

Opps, I have an 08 highlander

[rupert08]

Do you have the 19" or 17" rims?

[boxxed]

Originally Posted by rupert08

Do you have the 19" or 17" rims?

They are 19"

[organ]

I live in Colorado and I can say the Toyo OC H/Ts are vastly superior to the stock A20s. Toyo as a company though doesn't stand behind their products, so my next tires will be Bridgestones unless something else comes out in the meantime.

You don't have many options in the 245/55 size today, Toyos and Bridgestone Duelers. You have a couple more options in 255/55, which is what I now on mine and will continue with this size. Slightly more surface area, and the speedometer is now almost dead on instead of reading high. I swear I even get higher gas mileage with the slightly larger tires, but its probably in my head.

You may want to invest in tire cables. I keep chains/cables in all of my vehicles, and have used them on more than one occasion. Make sure you get ones that meet or exceed "S" class clearance. I have the SCC Z-chain Z-575s and they fit just fine. They are also easy to get on/off.

If you are going to live in the mountains, you are probably going to end up getting dedicated winter tires. I'm on the front range, and the streets generally aren't bad enough to warrant that here.

[boxxed]

Ok Thanks..good info

[becks]

I replaced my Toyo A20's with Toyo OC's H/T 255/55 19" I have had them for about 1.5 years and so far they have been great.

[tjaisport]

arent there the new hankook ventus as rh07 now??

http://www.discounttiredirect.com/di...438&vid=013988

http://www.tirerack.com/tires/tires....t&autoModClar=

[91TB78]

Has anyone gone to a more aggressive A/T tire like a BF Goodrich AT? On an AWD Highlander I think it would make it look that much more aggressive and add more on/off road traction.

[deadrx7conv]

There are many choices available now that weren't available 12-months ago in the stock 19" size 245/55/19. Since not everyone can afford or have the space for 2 sets of tires or rims, I'll voice my opinion.

Toyo A20, stock pathetic tire even when upgraded to A20a. Avoid! This tire single handily turned me into an anti-Toyo club member. And, I've used Toyo's on Nissans, Fords, Mazdas...... never again. A tire with no traction in ANY conditions and wears out in a few months. And, these tires single handily forced ABS, TCS, VSC & all the bells and whistles to work overtime.

In Colorado, I'd have no problem using a snow-tire year round and enjoy visiting family there. Bridgestone Blizzak it! I use the DM-Z3 year round which isn't available anymore. Bridgestone has upgraded it to DM-V1. This would be my 1st choice stock 19" sized tire that I'd use in the mountains of Colorado. I have no problems using it year round since summer is short enough in the northeast. My Blizzaks will last about twice as long as the stock A20's. They do hum a little but I enjoy knowing that the Highlander is glued to the road in all weather conditions. Besides the Blizzak's, another snow tire is the Toyo Open Country G-02 plus. I hate Toyo but these G-02+ would be a good Colorado choice.
And, stepping up to the 255/55/r19 size adds Goodyear UltraGrip SUV, Pirellli Scorpion Ice & Snow, Nokian WRG2 & Hakkapeliitta....

The following 4 are probably a good choice for non snow states. My parents live in Florida and I would flip a coin among these in the stock 19" size for their climate:
Goodyear Assurance CS fuel max is probably the tire I'd use if I lived further south away from the snow.
Hankook Ventus AS RH07 is another option in place of the Goodyear.
Falken Ziex ZE-912 is another recent addition to the 19" size.
Toyo Versado CUV and Open Country H/T either which probably should have been the OE tire. Someone at Toyota should be fired for stamping the A20 purchase.

Bridgestone Dueler H/L 400, why would anyone want to use a tire with UTQG "B" traction and "B" temperature in this day and age?

BTW, I'm pretty biased toward traction over life of a tire. How long a tire lasts is meaningless if I hydroplane into a telephone pole in the rain, or slide off the road during a snow storm. A20's have neither life or traction.