The latest model of the Toyota RAV 4 offers excellent fuel economy, lots of standard and optional features, and free maintenance for two years. It also boasts an abundant cargo and passenger space, and with the right set of tires, the ride quality is lavishly comfortable.
Little wonder then that the Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling vehicles of its kind in the United States. This means that you will have no shortage of tires for this compact crossover SUV. Regardless of whether you’re on a budget or could afford a set of premium tires.
Whatever your price range is, there are many things you should consider when buying a set of tires, including your driving habits, the road conditions you’ll mostly drive your Toyota RAV 4 in, and the weather conditions in your area, as well as tire size, type, etc.
To streamline your tire buying process, we have come up with this article. We’ll kick things off by reviewing the best tires for Toyota RAV4. Next, we’ll turn our attention to the factors you should consider when buying these tires. Without further ado, let’s jump in.
#1. Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus – Best Overall
Three features make the Bridgestone Dueler H/L Alenza Plus one of the best tires for RAV4. The first of which is that it was designed for SUVs as well as smaller trucks. This means that by opting for the Alenza Plus, you’d be going for a tire made for vehicles like RAV4.
Secondly, the H/L Alenza Plus is one of the few tires that offer year-round traction. Sure, many tires claim to perform admirably 365 days a year. But only a few justify this claim with their performance. On this count, at least, the Alenza H/L sides with the minority.
Its systematic tread pattern helps this tire keep your vehicle stable in sunshine, rain, and even snow. It also provides a quiet and comfortable ride by absorbing road vibrations. Plus, increased traction with the road is on offer as well, translating into better high-speed stability.
While this tire doesn’t have what it takes to handle deep snow – it lacks the biting edges that you see on dedicated winter tires. It can still handle light snow or ice without a fuss. So you can count on this tire to safely carry you from point A to point B through a light snowstorm.
Bridgestone usually pulls out all the stops when it comes to backing its tires with a warranty. It has done the same with the RAV4. This tire is backed with an amazing 80,000 miles treadwear warranty, a number you don’t see too often with any kind of tires.
Pros
- 80,000-mile warranty
- Offers year-round traction
- Quiet and comfortable ride
Cons
- Not designed for deep snow driving
#2. Continental CrossContact LX25 – Best All-Season
The Continental CrossContact LX25 replaced CrossContact LX20 on the market as its manufacturer’s flagship replacement tire for crossovers, SUVs, and light trucks.
There are many areas where this tire has improved over its predecessor. The first of which is dry traction, with the LX25 much more dependable in dry conditions than the LX20. This tire’s steering responsiveness and corner stability is also a few notches higher than the model it replaced.
These aren’t the only features that make it the best all-season tire for RAV4.
The CrossContactLX25 offers a plush and quiet ride regardless of the vehicle you’re running it on. That was one of the reasons why it was our top pick for Audi Q5. Plus, its low rolling resistance will translate to more fuel savings, resulting in fewer trips to the refilling station.
This tire’s wet performance isn’t bad, either.
The deep grooves in its tread area perform a fine job of evacuating water particles. Plus, the large sidewall and shoulder blocks pose excellent resistance to hydroplaning. As long as you are driving below the speed limit, this tire won’t cause you any problems in the rain.
Sure, it doesn’t have the best warranty in its class. But the 70,000-miles treadwear warranty is still pretty competitive. Throw into the mix its dependable dry and wet performance, adequate light snow traction and a comfortable ride, and it makes for a perfect tire for your RAV4.
Pros
- Great overall handling
- Plush ride quality
- Incredibly quiet on the highway
- Excellent fuel economy
Cons
- Treadwear warranty could have been better
#3. Michelin Premier LTX – Best All-Season Touring
The Michelin Premier LTX is one of its manufacturer’s best-selling tires. And it is also perfect for everyday driving on your RAV4. Here is why that is the case.
Michelin has a long-standing tradition of equipping its tire with cutting edge technologies. One of which is the EverGrip Technology, which the Premier LTX possesses. This technology helps this tire retain its original traction even when its tread has wear down, resulting in a safe driving experience.
At the time of writing, the Premier LTX is the best touring tire when it comes to dry traction. Steering responsiveness is off-the-charts for a touring tire, while its high-speed stability will make you doubt whether you’re driving a touring or a sporty tire.
Wet traction isn’t bad, either. The credit for this goes to the Emerging Grooves across the shoulder and Expanding Rain Grooves around the circumference. Both give this tire the biting edges it needs to be ranked among the best in wet conditions and light snow.
Ride is also quiet and comfortable, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given that almost every Michelin tire fares brilliantly in these two departments. However, the 60,000-miles treadwear warranty is a bit lackluster, especially when you compare it with that of our top picks
Pros
- Responsiveness is best-in class
- Outstanding traction and grip in dry and wet conditions
- Noticeably quiet and comfortable
Cons
- Competitors offer better treadwear warranty
#4. Pirelli Scorpion All Terrain Plus – Best All-Terrain
The Pirelli Scorpion All-Terrain Plus is designed to handle extreme off-road conditions. If you intend to test your Toyota RAV4 to its limits, there aren’t many better options out there.
Pirelli has equipped the Scorpion All-Terrain Plus with its New Generation compound. One that keeps cuts and chips at bay, a crucial feature once you consider that this tire is meant to be driven and driven hard on rocky or hardpacked surfaces for extended periods.
This tire’s high-void and symmetric tread pattern offers exceptional cut- and chip-resistance, minimizing the risk of punctures. Intended tread blocks, supported by deep grooves, equip it with the clawing action needed to push small rocks out of the tread.
Its three-peak mountain snowflake (3PMSF) symbol tells you all you need to know about this tire’s performance in harsh wintry conditions. This symbol is only awarded to tires that meet the rater’s strict criteria for severe snow testing.
Dry traction and grip are also decent for a tire of this category. Pirelli’s decision to equip it with a symmetric high-void pattern has done wonders to its performance on dry roads. As a result, you can count on this tire to handle the demands of everyday driving.
Pros
- Cut- and chip-resistant tread compound
- Comes with the 3PMSF symbol
- Excellent hydroplaning resistance
Cons
- Ride quality could have been better
#5. Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 – Best Winter
The Bridgestone Blizzak DM-V2 is one of the highest-quality winter tires money can buy. This tire is designed for crossovers, SUVs, and trucks – the type of vehicles that carry massive loads and are usually driven in the most demanding conditions.
Cold weather places unique demands on a tire, as the rubber is subjected to frigid temperatures. To ensure that the tire retains a grip on frozen road surface, Bridgestone has opted for a special rubber compound. One that stays flexible and compliant in sub-zero temperatures.
Yet it isn’t only the tread compound that helps this tire perform well in the winter. Its tread blocks, molded with Bridgestone’s Multicell compound, also play their part. Their multi-cell structure eliminates the thin layer of water between the tire and the road, improving braking on snow.
Aside from that, a close inspection of the tread blocks will reveal thousands of sipes. These are biting edges that help the tire claw and hold the snow, helping it offer snow-on-snow traction, which is much higher than when rubber is coming into contact with the snow.
One of the most remarkable features of this tire is that it will push you up against the seatbelt during panic braking. This is a testament to this tire’s strong braking power. However, it also shows that this tire’s rolling resistance isn’t insignificant, so be prepared for less fuel-efficiency.
Pros
- Superb braking power
- Great hydroplaning resistance
- Excellent traction on deep snow and ice
Cons
- Less fuel-efficient than all-season tires
#6. Michelin CrossClimate SUV
The Michelin CrossClimate SUV is an all-weather/all-season touring tire for SUVs and crossovers. It is built for drivers who want reliable traction on dry, wet, and snowy conditions.
To make all these things possible, Michelin opted for an extreme silica tread compound. The rubber compound is renowned for staying flexible enough for lower temperatures, while at the same time staying firm enough to not give you any problems in the summer.
While most all-weather tires go with small zig-zag sipes on the tread blocks, Michelin has opted for a directional tread pattern with solid ribs. The result is better traction in thick snow, something you cannot say about most all-season tires, which struggle in harsh wintry conditions.
Tire’s internal construction is yet another area where Michelin breaks away from tradition. A single-ply polyester casing buffeted by twin steel belts strengths this tire from inside. This design should make the tire sturdy, with the added strength than improving its directional stability.
Treadwear indicators (TWIs) are also on offer. They are essential for the driver’s safety as they reveal when the tire has worn down so much that driving it further might put your safety in danger. Even when the tire is new, you can see the TWIs on close inspection.
The only area where this tire could have done better is treadwear warranties. Michelin offers a 40,000-mile treadwear warranty for W- and Y-Speed Rated models, and a 50,000-mile treadwear warranty for H- and Y-Speed Rated models. No matter how you look at them, these numbers aren’t competitive.
Pros
- Exceptional braking on dry surfaces
- Best-in-class wet braking
- Low-rolling resistance for added highway stability
Cons
- Treadwear warranty isn’t the best in category
#7. Firestone Destination LE 2
The Firestone Destination LE 2 is a highway all-season tire. It is designed for pickups, crossovers, SUVs and light trucks and is arguably one of Firestone’s highest-rated models.
This tire is equally good on dry and wet roads. A silica enhanced all-season tread compound keeps the tire firm enough to grip dry tarmac, while not too firm so as to slip on wet roads. Handling and cornering performance are great too, thanks to the notched shoulder blocks and the center rib.
All these features were also available with the original LE, the predecessor of this tire. Where this tire differs is that it takes the driving experience to a whole new level.
Most highway tires you see on the market come with circumferential grooves. This is done to expel water from the tread area and minimize the risk of hydroplaning. The LE 2 comes with circumferential + lateral grooves. So you can expect its hydroplaning resistance to be double.
Snow performance is another area where this tire shines. The zig-zag sipes around its shoulder and unique cross grooves are the reason for that. Whether you’re driving through slush, sleet, light or deep snow, the LE 2 will safely get you from point A to point B.
A polyester cord body takes care of ride comfort, giving you a great feel on the road. Road noise is also bearable, letting the passengers in the cabin carry on with their conversation in normal voices. On top of everything else, you get a 60,000-mile treadwear warranty.
Pros
- Competitively priced
- Best-in-class hydroplaning resistance
- Performs admirably in wet conditions
- Much quieter than competitors
Cons
- Could be more responsive on highway at higher speeds
Best tires for RAV4
All-Season Touring – Best for most RAV4 drivers
All-season touring tires offer a balanced driving experience in normal conditions. For the average RAV4 driver, this means a reliable and comfortable everyday driving experience. The credit for this goes to their all-season rubber, which helps these tires perform well under most circumstances.
Yet another thing that distinguishes touring tires is their price. These tires are super-cheap, especially when you compare them with the competition. That is despite the fact that their tread life is massive. So you would be saving money both in the short as well as the long term.
Lastly, today’s touring tires come packed with technologies that minimize their noise on the road. Remember the time when you could hear an SUV or crossover coming from a mile away? The reason for that was excessive tire noise. Luckily, those days are long gone now.
All-Terrain – Best for Off-Roading
Sure, the Toyota RAV4 isn’t the first crossover SUV most people think of when they want some serious off-road fun, yet some people still use this vehicle for off-roading. If you are one of those people, all-season all-terrain tires might be the perfect fit for you.
The reason why we’re recommending all-terrain tires and not mud-terrain or maximum traction off-road tires is because we know that the latter categories won’t be useful on the road. In contrast, all-season all-terrain tires strike a balance between on-road stability and off-road traction.
Street/Sport Tires – Best for Enthusiasts
All-season sport/street tires are the best choice for drivers who intend to push their RAV4 to the limits. They deliver more sporty handling then touring tires and their low rolling resistance will help you take full advantage of the excellent pick of this crossover SUV.
Yet another thing these tires will do is enhance your RAV4’s handling. The steering will get more precise than it ever was and the RAV will start feeling more responsive. At the same time, you’ll be able to enjoy better grip, stronger traction and shorter braking distances.
All in all, you can fly through straight roads or attack the corners without working about losing traction or veering off the road. Bear in mind, though, that these tires sacrifice ride comfort to achieve all these things. Neither will they be quiet on the highway.
Winter Tires
Do you live somewhere that gets a lot of snow? In that case, running winter tires might be a no-brainer for you. Available in two types – studdable and studless – these tires have extra sipes or biting edges in their tread area that help them offer extra grip during harsh wintry conditions.
Winter tires are perfect for use when the temperature drops below 7 degrees Celsius. They have deep grooves in the tread area that enables them to resist hydroplaning like a charm. Plus, their soft rubber compound helps them evacuate snow and ice in low temperatures.
However, these tires aren’t meant to be used in warmer conditions. If you are thinking of running winter tires during summer, be ready for premature tire wear.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much air should RAV4 tire have?
The recommended tire pressure on a 2022 RAV4 is 36PSI.
What tires come on the Toyota RAV4?
The Toyota RAV 2022 comes with the following tires depending on the wheel size.
If your model has 17-inch wheels, you can have your pick from four tires. These include Toyo Open Country A38, Firestone Destination LE2 60K, Dunlop Grandtrek PT20, and Michelin Primacy AS>
If your model has 18-inch wheels, you’ll be given a list of three tires. These include Toyo Open Country A39, Michelin Primacy AS, and Yokohama Avid GT.
Conclusion
Since the Toyota RAV4 is one of the best-selling crossovers in the US, there are thousands of tires for this vehicle on the market. This makes it difficult, if not alright impossible, to try and select the best tires for your RAV4. Which is why we have come up with this guide.
However, before selecting any of the abovementioend tires, there are a few things you need to consider. These include brand, weather conditions in your area and your driving style. Use this three-point criteria to select the tire that meets your requirements.
