Best Tires for Toyota RAV4 in 2024
When the time comes to replace the tires on your Toyota RAV4, the many choices out there can be confusing. The RAV4 is one of the most popular vehicles in the United States, and its tires are the most common sizes, so the selection is massive. Here is an overview of the best tire options for the Toyota RAV4 crossover, including the original equipment tires, as well as several choices based on your budget and driving style.
Car Talk's Top Tire Picks for the Toyota RAV4
Best Overall Tire: Falken Ziex CT60 A/S »
Best Budget Tire: Cooper Endeavor Plus »
Best Alternative Budget Tire: Kumho Crugen Premium »
Best General Use Touring Tire: Falken Ziex CT60 A/S »
Best Premium Touring Tire: Michelin Defender 2 »
Best All-Season Tire For Winter: Michelin CrossClimate2 »
Best All-Season Tire For Off-Pavement: Falken WildPeak A/T Trail »
Best Dedicated Winter Tire: Michelin X-Ice »
The RAV4 has been around for decades, and it has three general tire sizes of 17”, 18”, and 19”. Before you begin shopping for the best tires for your RAV4, find the right size by looking at your existing tires. We also suggest that you double check the right fitment with your tire retailer.
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Original equipment RAV4 tires
Over its many generations, the Toyota RAV4 has been equipped with numerous OEM tires from the factory. Many owners dislike the OEM tires their vehicle came with. The main reason is that they are often selected by the manufacturers because they are the lowest cost option that provides low noise and high fuel efficiency. When you shop for tires, think about what attributes you may wish for your tires to have—for example, snow traction or a long treadwear design.
Here is a quick listing of some of the tires that your RAV4 may have come with. Keep in mind that you don't have to buy them again if you prefer a tire that has other strengths. In many cases, the tire model your vehicle came with may already have been replaced in the market by a better one from the same brand, or a different brand may have the best tire for your size and driving style.
17” OEM RAV4 tire examples:
18” OEM RAV4 tire examples:
19” OEM RAV4 tire examples:
Top replacement tire brands for the Toyota RAV4
We’re going to recommend tires for the RAV4 by budget and some specific types of driving. Always check to ensure the tires we suggest are available in your RAV4’s specific size. You will note that we sometimes offer two or more choices. This is because the top pick is not available in all sizes that fit all RAV4s.
Best budget tire for RAV4 - Cooper Endeavor Plus:
If your main priority is purchase price and value, the Cooper Endeavor Plus general purpose all-season touring tire is hard to beat. This tire earns a very high overall rating from users and is roughly 50% less expensive than most tires for the RAV4. In addition to being low cost, this tire also has a 65K-mile treadwear warranty.
Alternative pick - Best budget tire for RAV4 - Kumho Crugen Premium:
If the Cooper Endeavor Plus does not come in your size, try the Kumho Crugen Premium all-season general-purpose tire. This budget tire earns decent reviews and has a long treadlife warranty of 65K miles. We found this tire can cost half of what some other tires in its category do.
Best general use touring tire for RAV4 - Falken Ziex CT60 A/S:
This tire was designed by Falken specifically for crossover SUVs like the RAV4. In our testing, it performed well in all areas. It is a quiet tire with a smooth, predictable ride. We found it worked exceptionally well in heavy rain. The Falken Ziex CT60 A/S is also very affordable, so be sure to cross-shop it against our budget tire choices. This tire is Car Talk tested and approved.
Best premium touring tire for RAV4 - Michelin Defender 2:
Those looking for an all-season touring tire from a premium tire brand that checks all the boxes should consider the Michelin Defender 2, The Defender2 does well in light snow, and it features an 80K-mile treadwear warranty. This tire is Car Talk tested and approved.
Best all-season tire for winter - Michelin CrossClimate2:
The Michelin CrossClimate2 tire is the solution for those who frequently drive in light to moderate snow but who don't want the hassle of having a dedicated set of winter tires. This tire is quickly becoming the de facto choice for drivers who battle winter weather. In our testing over more than three years, the CrossClimate2 had no bad habits and definitely performed better in snow than any other all-season tire we have ever tried. The CrossClimate2 earns the three-peak-mountain snowflake, denoting its applicability to severe snow duty. This tire is Car Talk tested and approved.
Best all-season tire for off-pavement use - Falken WildPeak A/T Trail:
By our count, there are now three different RAV4 trims that are targeted at off-pavement adventures. If you own a Woodland Edition, TRD, or Adventure RAV4 trim, the Falken WildPeak A/T Trail tire is a must. This tire will also work very well on any RAV4 its owner plans to point down a logging trail or muddy trailhead. This tire would also be suitable for sandy adventures and overlanding. It is capable of being used while aired down to less than full pressure for maximum grip and comfort on off-road adventures. Best of all, this tire also earns the three-peak-mountain snowflake, denoting its applicability to severe snow duty so that you won’t need a set of dedicated winter tires. This tire is Car Talk tested and approved.
Best winter tire for RAV4 - Michelin X-Ice:
The Michelin X-Ice has a solid reputation for outstanding winter-weather performance. Other good choices include the Bridgestone Blizzak WS90 and the Pirelli Ice Zero FR. If you are planning to buy dedicated rims and tire sensors for your winter tire setup, don’t forget that you may be able to buy a smaller RAV4 trim’s tire size to maximize your sidewall. Ask your retailer for more information.
When should you replace the tires on your RAV4?
There are two regular milestones that will suggest that it’s time to replace the tires, not only on your Toyota RAV4, but any vehicle in your driveway: Time and Mileage.
Considering most drivers cover between 12,000 and 15,000 miles per year, the vast majority of RAV4 owners are going to be past the mileage that their original equipment tires were intended to cover before they’ll go past the tire’s usable age.
The life of your tire can be somewhat predicted by its UTQG (Uniform Tire Quality Grade) rating. Tire manufacturers apply their own grades to tires for treadwear, traction, and temperature. When you’re researching tires online, a UTQG will come up next to the tire name in three digits and a number (ex. 500 A A).
You can glean a bit of info from the tires by reading this rating:
- 500 - The durability rating of a tire, compared to a control tire with a tread life of 100. To obtain a grade, tires run on a 640-kilometer course for 11,520 km. Every 1,280 km, the tread depth is measured, to provide a projected tread life. The higher the number, the longer the predicted tread life.
- A - This is the Traction rating of a tire, which indicates how well a tire stops in wet conditions. The highest letter grade is AA, followed by A, B, and C.
- A - The second letter in the UTQG is the Temperature rating, which indicates how well a tire holds up to extreme heat. A is the highest, followed by B and C.
The other consideration is time. Each tire has a raised date code on the sidewall. The number begins with the letters “DOT” followed by 12 digits in three four-digit groups. The date code is the third group of four digits. To decipher the date of your tires, the first two digits represent the WEEK the tire was produced, and the second two digits represent the YEAR.
For example, if your tire’s date code is 3217, that indicates the tire was manufactured in the 37th week of 2017, or sometime between September 11 and 17th that year.
Once tires go beyond five years old, it’s time to consider replacing them. Tires are made up not just of rubber and steel or kevlar belts, but chemicals that help the tires resist UV rays, temperature changes and a lot of other environmental hazards. Those chemicals start to break down after five years or so, and the tires aren’t doing the job that they need to do.
See our recommendations for the Best Insurance for your Toyota RAV4
See our recommendations for the Best Extended Warranty for your Toyota RAV4
Why not replace with original Toyota equipment tires?
There’s no harm in replacing your tires with the shoes it came with from the factory. However, depending on what kind of driver you are, there are significant reasons to purchase something different.
You only need to purchase ONE set of tires for your car every four years or so, depending on how much you drive. When an auto manufacturer purchases tires, they buy them by the hundreds of thousands. For the manufacturer, the decision to choose usually comes down to price point, fuel efficiency, and the tire’s quietness.
Your priorities may be completely different. If you could get a tire that stopped 20 feet shorter for an additional $10 per tire over the original equipment, you’d probably do it. Similarly, if there was a tire that provided better winter traction, less road noise, or longer tread life for a minimal investment over stock, chances are, you’d probably decide on the slightly more expensive tire.
Changing Toyota RAV4 tire sizes
Depending on the year and model, you may be shopping tires to fit anything between 15-inch for older models to 19-inch wheels with various widths and sidewall sizes along the way. It is possible to change the wheel and tire sizes, but a general rule of thumb is to keep the total diameter of the wheel and tire the same. So, that means that downsizing an 18-inch wheel to a 17-inch wheel would include a proportionate upsizing of the tire sidewall to compensate.
Downsizing wheels has its advantages. Benefits include:
- Better ride quality – More rubber means more cushion for poor road conditions.
- Cost reduction – Big tires are expensive, so moving to a smaller wheel size will mean less costly tire purchases.
- Seasonal changes – Winter and snow tires are available for a larger selection of smaller wheel sizes and the narrower footprint will provide better traction.
- Off-road – Many people choose to downsize wheels for off-road use to increase the vehicle’s shock absorption capabilities and bump traction on loose surfaces.
On the other side of the coin, going up in wheel size has its benefits:
- Better handling – Slimmer profile tires make for less rubber to move around
- Better looks – This one’s subjective, but many people feel that larger wheels look better than smaller wheels with more rubber.
- Better braking – Larger, wider wheels provide a bigger patch of rubber on the ground to slow the vehicle, reducing braking distance.
How to read tire sizes
When reading tire sizes, it’s important to understand what the numbers mean. Let’s use an all-season tire with a 235/65R17 103H specification as an example:
- 235 - indicates the width of the tire from one sidewall to the other in millimeters. This tire is 235 millimeters wide.
- 65 indicates the aspect ratio, or sidewall height, as a percentage of the tire’s width. In this case, it’s 50 percent or of the tire’s width.
- R - means radial tires. Radials are the most common type of automotive tire and have fabric woven in at various angles with a tread that is strengthened with additional layers of rubber.
- 17 - indicates the wheel diameter.
- 103 - is the tire’s load rating.
- H - is the tire’s speed rating. V-rated tires have a maximum top speed of 130 mph.
You may have noticed that the Toyota RAV4’s three tire sizes have different diameters and also different aspect ratios. Generally, automakers choose tires that have the same or similar outer diameter. This allows them to have only one speedometer setting.
Now that you know what comes on the new RAV4 and how to read the size numbers, let’s look at the different types of tires available to you. Depending on the type of driving you’re doing, where you live, and the weather, you have a variety of choices for tire types:
- Touring and All-season - tires provide a smooth ride, good wet and dry traction, decent winter traction, and longer tread life. These tires are acceptable for winter use but can’t be expected to provide the traction and stopping power than a dedicated winter tire can.
- Performance tires - are focused on providing confident handling, better wet and dry traction, and a sporty feel. Their higher grip and speed ratings come with a tradeoff of shortened tread life and reduced ride quality.
- All-terrain tires - are built to maximize off-road traction and provide good durability overall. Their construction means more noise and less comfort on the road, but winter traction and tread wear are acceptable.
- Winter and snow tires - are made with special rubber compounds that maintain grip and pliability when temperatures drop. They are also built with special tread patterns to maximize the vehicle’s ability to start and stop on very slippery roads.
Car Talk Community's favorite tires
Car Talk's very active online Community has many interesting and thoughtful perspectives on the best tire brands in the industry, based on real life user experience and knowledge.
Read more on the Best Tires in the industry according to the Car Talk Community here.
Tire sizes by year
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FAQ
- What is the best Toyota RAV4 tire pressure?
Check inside your driver’s side door for a white and yellow label that will tell you the exact tire pressure recommendations for your RAV4 model. Note that the pressure on the tire itself is never the correct setting, but rather a maximum.
- How often should I rotate my RAV4’s tires?
Rotating tires is more about the tire than it is about the car. A typical rotation interval is somewhere between 5,000 and 7,000 miles, though specific cars and tires may change those numbers a bit. The RAV4 is a front-wheel drive-based vehicle, so the front tires will be worn more quickly than the rears. It’s important to keep this in mind and to not ignore the need to rotate your tires.
- What is the best RAV4 tire change kit?
Your RAV4 should have come equipped with a compact spare tire and changing tools in the trunk. In this case, you already have everything you need to physically change the tire, but you may want to carry an extra roadside emergency kit with an upgraded lug wrench, jumper cables, and emergency markers just in case.
