Searching for a reliable set of tires for your minivan? You’ve come to the right place. In this article, we’ve reviewed the 11 best tires for minivan. Our selection criteria are ride comfort, fuel efficiency, puncture resistance, dry and wet traction, and treadlife guarantee.
The Continental TrueContact tops our list. This all-season touring tire offers superb traction in dry and wet conditions alike. It is more fuel-efficient than rivals and backed with an excellent 80,000-mile guarantee. Plus, it provides excellent resistance against cuts and punctures.
However, if you want reliable traction in harsh wintry conditions, the Michelin X-Ice Xi3 deserves your attention. This tire has extremely short braking distances in freezing weather and works better than most of its rivals on ice. A 40,000-mile warranty further enhances its reputation.
Finally, if you’re on the lookout for a cheap yet dependable set of tires, don’t underestimate the Toyo Extensa A/S. Price of this tire starts at less than half of its premium counterparts. Even then, it offers all-season characteristics, longer wear characteristics, and a 65,000-mile warranty
#1. Continental TrueContact Tour – Best Tire Overall
The Continental TrueContact Tour offers minivan drivers the best of both worlds. This tire has all the cutting-edge technologies and features that you associate with the Continental brand name. At the same time, its asking price is relatively low for a premium tire.
Continental’s EcoPlus Technology helps decrease the tire’s weight, which in turn brings down the rolling resistance and enhances its fuel efficiency. The technology also helps this model wear evenly. This means you won’t have to replace this tire anytime soon.
Data released by Continental confirms this. Tests conducted by the US tire manufacturer show that the TrueContact Tour has a 27% longer treadlife than its predecessor. And while fuel savings aren’t quantified as such, you’ll experience them first hand while driving.
Continental has made the TrueContact Tour available in 15- to 19-inch sizes. This extensive size range means it can fit most minivans. All the sizes come with QuickView Maintenance Indicators to let you check the tires’ health as well as when its need for an alignment.
An 80,000-mile treadlife warranty helps this tire truly stand out. We’re yet to come across an all-season touring tire whose warranty beats that of the TrueContact Tour. All in all, then, this model has all the ingredients to be one of the best tires for Minivan.
Pros
- Comes with QuickView maintenance indicators
- Short braking distances for a tire in this category
- 80,000-mile treadwear warranty on some models
Cons
- Long braking distances on snowy and icy roads
#2. Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack – Best Runner Up
The Bridgestone Turanza QuietTrack is an upgrade over the model it replaced. This tire offers 20% more traction in wet conditions than the Turanza Serenity Plus. Its traction on snow is also 20% higher, making the QuietTrack a dependable option for minivan drivers.
These numbers aren’t taken out of thin air – Bridgestone released them after pitting both the tires against one another. Neither are they to be taken lightly. The Turanza Serenity Plus is an absolute beast on the road. That the QuietTrack can beat it shows how good this model will be on the road.
Aquaplaning won’t also be an issue with this tire. Four circumferential and multiple longitudinal grooves ensure timely evacuation of water from the tread area. The result? A dry contact patch (the part of the tire that meets the road) for enhanced traction in wet and slippery conditions.
Ride quality will also be superb. Continental’s Comfort Cruise Technology will make sure of that by helping the tire spread evenly as it rolls over obstructions and speed-breakers. So too is the case with road noise, dampened to a minimum by the brand’s QuietTrack Technology.
An 80,000-mile treadlife warranty means Bridgestone is counting on this tire to last 5-6 years on everyday use. Why, then, is the QuietTrack not our top pick? Unlike the TrueContact Tour, which has a modest price for a premium touring tire, this model is super-expensive.
Pros
- 80,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Excellent dry and wet performance
- Exceptional ride quality and minimal road noise
Cons
- Pricier than rivals
#3. Michelin Defender T+H – Best for Highway
The Michelin Defender T+H is one of the most exciting highway and touring tires on the market. This model offers exceptional straight line tracking and steering response. High-speed stability is also great for a touring tire, making the Defender T+H a good option for your minivan.
Michelin has a habit of using the same tread compounds for many of its models. The Defender T+H is a case in point. This tire’s tread compound is similar to what you get with the LTX M/S, albeit with a different tread pattern (asymmetric) for better dry and wet performance.
Wet traction is where this model makes its mark. Michelin’s IntelliSipe Technology has provided this tire with inter-locking sipes to help it grip the road better than most of its rivals. These biting edges also help the Defender T+H remain usable in light wintry conditions.
Comfort Control Technology ensures a cozy and noise-free ride on the highway. A mesh layer in the sidewall isolates the tire from road vibrations. Plus, a unique center rib ensures better high-speed handling, letting you retain full control over your minivan on the highway.
Independent tread blocks provide this model with extra gripping power on dry roads, whereas circumferential grooves and lateral notches improve its wet traction. Plus, it offers the same 80,000-mile warranty that you get from our top two picks.
Pros
- Excellent handling and braking on dry surfaces
- Quiet and comfortable handling in most conditions
- Excellent treadwear warranty (80,000 miles)
Cons
- Doesn’t come cheap
#4. Michelin Energy Saver A/S – Best Fuel-Efficient
One of the major benefits of owning a minivan is getting better fuel efficiency than a big SUV. That is especially the case with the likes of Toyota Sienna, Chrysler Pacifica and Honda Odyssey – all these models offer better fuel mileage than similar-sized crossovers.
However, even if your minivan is a fuel-guzzler, you could still count on the Michelin Energy Saver A/S to help you enjoy fuel savings. This all-season tire’s unique silica-based tread compound and EnergySaver Construction are the primary reasons why.
The silica-based tread compound helps reduced this tire’s weight vis-à-vis its rivals. The result is low rolling resistance, which is the inertia a tire experiences as it rolls on the ground. This in turn reduces the energy loss and enables the engine to optimize fuel economy.
Next comes its EnergySaver Construction. Michelin insists that this feature helps the tire remain cooler, helping your engine improve fuel efficiency. It further claims that the Energy Saver A/S can offer up to 400 USD in fuel savings over its life versus a leading competitor.
Fuel economy isn’t the be-all and end-all of this tire, though. MaxTouch Construction helps maximize this tire’s contact with the road, resulting in even wear for a long treadlife. A 65,000-mile mileage warranty and 55,000-mile treadlife warranty are also on offer.
Pros
- Ultimate fuel efficiency
- Boasts a long treadlife
- Backed with a 65,000 miles mileage warranty
Cons
- Not the quietest tire on the market
#5. Michelin X-Ice Xi3 – Best Winter
The Michelin X-Ice Xi3 is one of the best winter tires for minivans. Its tread life and high-speed cornering are also among the best in-class. And unlike most winter tires you see on the road, the Xi3 doesn’t use its high winter traction as an excuse to enhance its fuel economy.
Its tread life is also pretty decent for a dedicated winter tire. This tire’s FleX-Ice silica tread compound has made it more flexible than most winter tires on the market. This enables it to provide excellent year-round traction, resulting in an above-average tread life.
GreenX technology enables this tire to take the middle road between rolling resistance and fuel consumption. This technology lowers the tire’s weight which, inevitably, brings down the rolling resistance. The tire and by extension your minivan’s fuel consumption will follow suit.
This tire’s tread pattern feature Cross Z sipes. These biting edges plough through ice and snow and keep on going until they land on hard tarmac. The result? A road-on-rubber contact for better traction on snow- and ice-laden roads.
Cornering is one of two areas this tire could have done better, the other being its lofty asking price. Having said that, most sensible drivers opt against driving at high speeds during winters. So the first shortcoming shouldn’t bother them too much.
Pros
- Offers exceptional snow and ice traction
- Very comfortable on the highway and the street
- Low rolling resistance translates to better fuel efficiency
Cons
- Average cornering in harsh wintry conditions
#6. Cooper CS5 Grand Touring – Best Grand Touring
The Cooper CS5 Grand Touring is another excellent choice if you own a minivan. This tire offers all the attributes of standard touring tires yet places more emphasis on high-speed stability and handling, making it a decent option for minivan owners who mostly drive on the highway.
A coupled silica tread compound has been used to make the CS5 Grand Touring. The tread compound has been molded into an asymmetric tread pattern to enable effortless side-to-side movement, crucial for minimizing wear and helping the tire last longer.
High-speed stability is where this tire excels. The credit for this goes to the outboard shoulder blocks with massive tread blocks and minimum tread areas. This design also ensures a larger contact patch, improving the tire’s grip and traction in wet and dry conditions.
Cooper’s decision to equip this tire’s inboard shoulder and ribs with higher sipe density has done wonders for its wet performance. That’s because sipes are used to evacuate water from the contact patch. So, the higher their number, the more usable a tire in wet conditions.
Wear Square Indicators are also on offer. These maintenance indicators are located under the tread and only become visible once the tread depth reduces. The moment you see them flush with the tread, it’s an indicator that the tires need replacement.
Pros
- Comes with an 80,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Offers a quiet and comfortable ride
- Excellent wet performance
Cons
- Not usable in snowy conditions
#7. General Altimax RT43 – Best Budget Grand Touring
The General Altimax RT43 offers you the performance of a grand touring tire at the price of a standard touring tire. Its unique set of qualities make the Altimax RT43 a popular choice among the minivan owners in the US, Canada and around the world.
A double-layer tread compound helps this tire stand out from the competition. The upper layer, which is the firmer of the two, helps the tire retain its original shape for long. The lower layer is slightly softer, a crucial characteristic which helps it absorb road vibrations.
Sound Wave Suppression Technology makes this tire extremely quiet. The technology makes use of the tire’s independent tread blocks and double-layer tread compound to dissipate road noise. So, you can drive your minivan with its windows rolled all the way down.
Multiple maintenance indicators are also on offer. The Visual Alignment Indicator, or VAI for short, lets you check the wheel alignment in your garage. The VAI comprises of two sipes on opposing shoulder blocks. As long as the sipes are aligned, so are your minivan’s wheels.
The Replacement Tire Monitor (RTM) lets you monitor the tire’s tread depth. A 75,000-mile treadwear warranty and a budget price point further enhance this tire’s reputation.
Pros
- Comes with two highly useful tire indicators
- Has Sound Wave Suppression technology
- Twin cushion silica tread compound absorbs road vibrations
Cons
- Poor performance on snow and ice
#8. Pirelli Cinturato P7 – Best Eco Friendly
Pirelli tires are well known for lowering vehicles’ fuel emissions. The Scorpion Verde has earned legendary status among the more environmentally conscious drivers due to its ability to keep emissions under control. Yet its limited size range means it may not be the best choice for minivan drivers.
Enter Cinturato P7. This is the tire to purchase if you want comfort, high-mileage, safety, and low noise at a budget asking price. And the fact that it is widely available in 16- to 20-inch diameters means that this tire can fit most domestic as well as imported minivans.
This tire is engineering to reduce rolling resistances by as much as 20% than your standard tire, lowering CO2 emissions and boosting fuel economy.
Road noise is also kept to a minimum. The credit for this goes to the P7’s optimized tread pattern. Or to be more precise the pitch sequencing and phasing within the tread pattern. Both design elements help the Cinturato P7 lower your vehicle’s internal noise.
Bear in mind, though, that this tire wears quickly. If you have a habit of attacking corners, the Cinturato P7 may not be able to outlast its 70,000-mile treadwear coverage.
Pros
- Available in a budget price point
- Backed with an excellent 70,000-mile treadlife warranty
- Offers excellent fuel economy
Cons
- Wears pretty quickly
#9. Michelin CrossClimate+ – Best All-Weather
Why is that many people who can afford buying larger SUVs end up purchasing minivans? Big sliding doors and high seats make them a comfortable ride. Throw into the mix their big cargo compartments, and it’s easier to see why minivans are a practical option for most families.
Practicality is also the term one could use to describe the Michelin CrossClimate+. This tire’s firm-yet-flexible tread compound make it a decent option for year-round traveling. You won’t have to remove these tires when the temperatures get too hot or mildly cold.
A tread design featuring transverse ribs allows for better cornering ability. Open shoulders and wide lateral grooves help with water evacuation and a combination of 3D self-locking sipes and bevel-edged tread blocks provide better traction on damp and snow-laden surfaces.
Similar to most Michelin tires that hit the market after its release, the CrossClimate+ features Emerging Grooves. These are hidden grooves that can only be seen when the tire wears down, which is when they’ll bare their teeth to keep this tire’s snow and wet traction intact.
A Three Peak Mountain Snowflake emblem (3PMSF) means this tire remains usable in light snow and icy roads. Michelin also offers a 40,000-mile warranty for W- and Y-speed rated models and a 50,000-mile warranty for H- & V-speed rated models.
Pros
- Comes with the Three Peak Mountain Snowflake (3PMSF) emblem
- Emerging Traction Grooves keep the snow and wet traction intact
- Stable and surefooted wet handling
Cons
- Very expensive
#10. Bridgestone DriveGuard – Best Run Flat Tire
If you’re always thinking about what will happen if your minivan gets punctured in the middle of nowhere, or you regularly drive on roads where there aren’t many tire shops, a run-flat tire might ease your worries. Run-flat tires can be driven for as many as 100 miles even when they’re flat.
The Bridgestone DriveGuard offers an example. Even when this tire is punctured, you can drive it for as many as 55 miles, enough distance to find a safe parking spot or a tire shop. In doing so, this run-flat tire reduces your risk of getting stranded in the middle of nowhere.
This tire also excels in the comfort department. Twin internal steel belts help it absorb road vibrations most other tires will transmit to the cabin. A NanoPro-Tech Sidewall Technology allows it to deflect road noise, helping you enjoy the ride in absolute silence.
Wet traction is also excellent for a run-flat tire. Circumferential and cross grooves running across the tread area do a superb job of evacuating water and reducing the risk of hydroplaning. Bridgestone has also provided this model with more biting edges than its predecessor.
Bridgestone backs the H- and V-speed rated models with a 60,000-mile warranty and the W-speed model with a 50,000-mile warranty. This warranty might look smaller when compared with that of touring tires. But for a run-flat tires you couldn’t ask for more.
Pros
- Can be run flat for miles and miles
- Excellent ride quality for a tire in this category
- Enhanced wet traction and snow performance
Cons
- Isn’t the most responsive tire on the market
#11. Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring
The Goodyear Assurance ComforTred Touring epitomizes what premium grand touring tires are all about. This tire is pricier than your standard grand touring tires, but justifies its asking price with great riding comfort, a responsive ride in summer climates and industry-leading wet traction.
Start with the riding comfort. Goodyear’s internal tests reveal that the Assurance ComforTred Touring features 20% higher cushioning than the rivals. The result? Higher shock absorbing characteristics, which, in turn, result in reduction of road and off-road vibrations.
Goodyear’s engineers didn’t stop there. They also provided this tire with a dual-layer ComfortEdge sidewall, helping it strike a balance between handling and comfort. Overall, the two features discussed till now should make this tire one of the most comfortable out there.
This tire also features the industry-leading four wide circumferential grooves. These grooves are located inside the tread pattern and perform a fine job of evacuating water from the contact patch. This results in an improved hydroplaning resistance and overall wet traction.
Goodyear has also provided this tire with tread wear indicators (TWI’s). These are narrow rubber bars etched into the tire’s grooves and only become visible as the tread wears down. Once the tread hits the 2/32-inch mark, the TWI’s will be level with its surface.
Pros
- Offers an exceptionally comfortable ride
- Strikes balance between ride comfort and handling
- Comes with tread wear indicators
Cons
- Not the most responsive grand touring tires on the market
How to Choose Minivan Tires
According to a CNN report, minivan sales picked up in 2021 after years of sluggish growth. Most of the increase in demand was driven by families for whom there are fewer better vehicle choices than a minivan due to the latter’s robust and safe driving, spacious interior and big cargo compartments.
However, while they are safe and robust, different road conditions and climates require different types. Those living in a cold climate with lots of snow would do well with dedicated winter tires, whereas people in moderate climates might want to consider choosing all-season touring tires.
Here are the most popular minivan tires:
All-Season Touring
All-season touring tires are the most popular choice of minivan owners. The reason behind this is straightforward – touring tires offer better characteristics than your average tire at a price most people can afford paying. Plus, they work in a wider range of temperatures.
Aside from traction and grip, touring tires are also sought after thanks to their comfortable riding. Not even all-weather tires, let alone high-performance or winter tires, can be as quiet or comfortable as a touring or grand-touring tires. Your minivan’s passengers will appreciate this.
Equally important for minivan owners, touring tires are backed with long-term warranties. Take the top three picks in this review. All of them are offered with outstanding 80,000-mile treadwear coverage. This means you can count on premium touring tires to last 5 – 6 years.
Winter Tires
If you live in an area which receives more than its fair share of snow, a proper set of winter tires might be the best choice. These tires have a flexible tread compound and sidewall that enables them to safely carry you from point A to point B on snow-laden roads.
Winter tires are available in two configurations: studded and studless. Studded tires have metal studs inserted into the tread. These are steel beads that break the ice and hardpacked snow, improving the tires’ traction for shorter stopping distances in the winter.
However, since studless winter tires cause damage to roads, many states ban their usage. This is not the case with studless winter tires, which are legal 365 days a year.
Frequently Asked Questions
What tires are best for a minivan?
All-season touring tires are best for a minivan. They are much more comfortable than other types of tires, are quiet on the highway and backed with long-term treadlife warranties. Plus, touring tires offer higher fuel savings and have the shortest braking distances.
What’s the best tire for a minivan?
The Continental TrueContact Tour is the best tire for a minivan. This tire has all the cutting-edge technologies and features that you associate with the Continental brand name. At the same time, its asking price is relatively low for a premium tire.
How long should tires last on a minivan?
All-season touring tires should last 4-5 years on a minivan. The road life of winter tires is much lower, though, with an average winter tire lasting 2-3 years at most.
Conclusion
Your search for the best tires for minivan ends here. All the tires reviewed above have been tried and tested on minivans by drivers like you. They have decent road manners, are backed with above-average treadlife guarantees and feature other characteristics that make them a must-have.
