What To Look For When Buying The Best Tires For Toyota Highlander?
Here are a few tell-tale signs of a great tire selection for your Toyota Highlander:
Types of tires/Tread patterns
Be picky about which treads you choose because your decision will affect fuel economy and offroad traction capability.
Mileage warranties
The mileage warranties on tires recommended above range anywhere from 50-85 thousand miles. Other treadwear warranties are prorated depending on the condition of the tire. Make sure you read the fine print in the warranty info to avoid curveballs when buying new tires for your Toyota Highlander.
Sidewall height/Aspect ratio
I like the all-season feel for the Highlander because the taller sidewall height creates a lot of road comfort compared to sport tires. Check the middle tire number to help get a feel for how aggressive the tires will ride. Lower aspect ratio numbers are a bit bumpier but have more responsive handling.
Rebates
It’s never a bad idea to buy the set of tires that are on sale for your Toyota Highlander. Check Tire Rack, and take advantage of low prices—sometimes the price matters more than the brand.
How Much Do Tires For Toyota Highlander Cost?
The cheapest Toyota Highlander tires cost $100/tire, and the most expensive run around $220.
Four New Tires
$400 + mount and balance on the cheap side (Starfire Solaris), and $880 + mount and balance for the most expensive (Pirelli).
Two New Tires
$200-$440 + mount and balance. Don’t forget potential shipping costs if you’re buying online.
Single Tire
Don’t spend any more than $250 or any less than $100 for a single Toyota Highlander tire. Also remember, many Highlanders are all-wheel-drive requiring that tires be replaced in pairs to avoid causing damage to the AWD system and drivetrain.
What Tire Size Is Best For A Toyota Highlander?
Stock tires for a Highlander with 18-inch wheels are P235/65R18, but exact tire sizes vary depending on the submodel and year of the car.
Always use the VIN or other vehicle information when buying new tires (also check previous tire size) to avoid buying the wrong size.
How Long Should Your Toyota Highlander Tires Last?
If you keep your alignment/suspension perfect, your tire pressures inflated properly, and rotate tires every 3-5k miles, then your Highlander tires will last anywhere from 40 to 100 thousand miles depending on how you drive.
Check treadwear warranties for each specific tire. You’ll notice that warranties range from 50-85 thousand miles from brand to brand.
When To Replace Tires On Your Toyota Highlander?
Replace your Highlander tires every 40-80 thousand miles depending on which tires you buy.
Keep a tread-depth measurement tool in the glovebox, and don’t let your Highlander tread depths get below 2/32” (1.6mm).
If you do a lot of offroading, you might want to replace them even sooner. Also, if one or two of the treads is wearing unevenly, you might want to fix the steering alignment/suspension issues and install a new set to keep everything running smoothly.
Does The Brand Matter For A Toyota Highlander When Replacing Tires?
Yeah, I always put Japanese tires on Toyotas because I think they run smoother. Japanese brands like Toyo, Yokohama, and Sumitomo (Falken Wildpeak) are my favorites.
Other mentionable tire brands for the Toyota Highlander include Michelin X-Ice (winter tires), Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza, etc.
Does the Year of Your Toyota Highlander Matter When Buying New Tires?
Yes, the older Toyota Highlanders have smaller wheel diameters.
Also, it’s not necessary to buy an expensive set of tires for an old beat-up Highlander. The cheapest option will work just fine in most cases.
What Are The Biggest Tires I Can Put On A Toyota Highlander?
Always plug in your Highlander’s year and submodel into Tire Rack’s website to see all compatible tire sizes. The tire selections with the largest middle number (aspect ratio) have the tallest sidewalls.
You’ll also notice differences in the first tire number which is the tire width measured in millimeters. The larger the number, the fatter the tire. If you have a custom suspension lift, you’ll be better off asking the tire shop which option is the biggest tire option depending on what work you’ve done.