So Am I Screwed Since My HL Came w/Toyo A20s? - Toyota Nation Forum : Toyota Car and Truck Forums

kcmo · 02-03-2011, 07:46 PM

Guys/Gals,

I've been reading up on older threads since joining recently and getting my Highlander less than a week ago.

Mine did come with the 'dreaded' Toyo A20 tires and it seems that most of you hate them and replaced them immediately. Do I have cause for concern with these?

I'm no tire expert and frankly I think the HL offers a very smooth ride...no complaints on day #5 with it.

I don't have to worry about snow where I live (well, except for tomorrow!), and I only drive about 4000 miles a year, so my question is, will I be 'okay' with these Toyos?

Thanks!

dennydp · 02-03-2011, 09:29 PM

I wouldnt bother to change them.If you were driving a lot in snow and ice-maybe.Give them a chance and decide for yourself.

zero4zero4zero4 · 02-03-2011, 11:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmo

Guys/Gals,

I've been reading up on older threads since joining recently and getting my Highlander less than a week ago.

Mine did come with the 'dreaded' Toyo A20 tires and it seems that most of you hate them and replaced them immediately. Do I have cause for concern with these?

I'm no tire expert and frankly I think the HL offers a very smooth ride...no complaints on day #5 with it.

I don't have to worry about snow where I live (well, except for tomorrow!), and I only drive about 4000 miles a year, so my question is, will I be 'okay' with these Toyos?

Thanks!

I didn't think they were that bad. The only thing is that it doesn't last long at all.

abimom · 02-04-2011, 05:50 AM

If it doesn't snow it should be OK for a few years. They were Ok in the rain, but better tires are out their.

nickhl · 02-04-2011, 08:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kcmo

Guys/Gals,

I've been reading up on older threads since joining recently and getting my Highlander less than a week ago.

Mine did come with the 'dreaded' Toyo A20 tires and it seems that most of you hate them and replaced them immediately. Do I have cause for concern with these?

I'm no tire expert and frankly I think the HL offers a very smooth ride...no complaints on day #5 with it.

I don't have to worry about snow where I live (well, except for tomorrow!), and I only drive about 4000 miles a year, so my question is, will I be 'okay' with these Toyos?

Thanks!

The only real issue with A20 is wear(which won't be an issue in your case), but then most new cars aren't sold with the most durable tires either.

There are better tires than A20 for heavy snow, but a highlander with 50:50 full time all wheel drive + A20 is still way superior than most of its competitors(with reactive AWD system) in the class, let alone all those RWD/FWD vehicle on the roads. Honda pilot comes with Michelin Latitude lx, which is better for snow/mud (occasionally helpful) but poor braking performance in normal driving condition (safety concern most of the time).

There are tires offer more grip/better handling (e.g. harder side wall/more aggressive compounds), but these tires usually comes with worse ride quality, road noise and fuel economy. Another downside for many of these high grip tires are the tendency to break-loose at the limit: good tires will offer graduate feedback to the driver and remain largely controllable at/beyond the limit, so the driver can sense/control the vehicle when things start to go wrong.

My power slide experience with A20 is quite positive in this regard -- its limit is not high but it won't bite you when the car slide on ice/snow, everything is easily controllable. I have spent enough $$ on buying high grip tires with off the roof review and later found out the car became an animal whenever I was closed to the limit.

Just my $0.02

grandpapa · 02-04-2011, 10:09 AM

why waste money replacing them? You paid for it might as welll just let it wear out. At the same time, you can tell us how it holds out

Or save it and put new tire then by the time you sell your car, put it back, listed "brand new tires"

MikeyD25 · 02-04-2011, 10:30 AM

Even though you're in Texas you might want to get a dedicated winter/ice tire for the winter months - keep the OEM tires for the summer months. With weather patterns all askew I wouldn't be a bit surprised if ice/snow didn't show up more often then not in the south from here on in.

Just a thought!

MD

kcmo · 02-04-2011, 10:40 AM

Thanks for the feedback everyone! Funnily enough we have ice on the roads today which is a very rare occurrence in Houston. Let's just say that my HL is going to be sleeping in the garage all day! I'm working from home.

I'm going to stick with the tires and see how I go, especially knowing my driving patterns...in the 4 years of driving my X3 which I traded, I only put on 14,900 miles.

JimT · 02-04-2011, 11:12 AM

You probably have A20 A's. From what I was told by Toyo, they revised the older A20's and new highlanders come with the improved tires. When they replaced my original A20"s, they gave me two options. A20 A's and the HT's.

kcmo · 02-04-2011, 11:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JimT

You probably have A20 A's. From what I was told by Toyo, they revised the older A20's and new highlanders come with the improved tires. When they replaced my original A20"s, they gave me two options. A20 A's and the HT's.

I wonder if I have them.....guess I should go check the tires again. Anywhere else I could find the info? I'm supposed to go to the dealer tomorrow to get my running boards and mudguards installed...guess I can ask him.

Thanks for the info!

JMSinMD · 02-04-2011, 11:47 AM

I replaced my OE tires with 500 miles on them knowing that they don't handle well in snow (which we get yearly here in Maryland). In your situation, as long as you understand that they are not to be used on snow/ice you'll be fine.

Flame Red · 02-05-2011, 06:19 AM

Don't worry, they will ware out soon enough and you will get to replace them...

kcmo · 02-05-2011, 02:03 PM

Thanks everyone

toy08 · 02-05-2011, 03:50 PM

Are you sure you don't have A20A's? If you do, you'll be alright. I think the old A20's were on the 2008's. I have the A20A's and they're fine, but I do have dedicated snow tires since I drive to the mountains alot.

kcmo · 02-05-2011, 05:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by toy08

Are you sure you don't have A20A's? If you do, you'll be alright. I think the old A20's were on the 2008's. I have the A20A's and they're fine, but I do have dedicated snow tires since I drive to the mountains alot.

I don't know. My tires say A20. Maybe I should check the window sticker that is now in my glove compartment. Would that kind of detail be on there?