Tires for our van

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2012

Tire suggestions have been run into the ground here, but I'm going to dig it up for one more round.

I put Kuhmo Solus KR21 225/60/17 tires on our 08 Toyota van when the van had about 35000 miles. A person I talked to got 80000 miles out of this brand and model of tire on a car so I went by that recommendation.

Maybe I got into a bad batch of tires, but at 5000 miles I replaced one because it was pulling to the side. Had the alignment checked first and it was fine. 2000 miles later another one was pulling and I rotated it to the back. Problem solved. Next rotation that one was back on the front and pulling so I replaced it and all was well. Now, with 80000 miles on the van and estimated 35000 on the two origional tires left, the two origionals are worn to the point where they need to go. The two replacements look like they have 20000 miles left or more. One origional is on the front and one is on the back. We've had a shake in the front at 65 MPH or above since last summer but I'm getting tired of tire swapping so I've just run it.

Soooooo, what would you guys and gals recommend for tires on a Toyota van. It seems to get a lot of highway driving. I don't have a clue as to what to buy anymore. These were high priced tires and 35000 miles is all I got out of them. I'm about to go to (ahem, choke) Wallyworld and tell them to throw something on it. Jim

Bill(Wis) · Dec 17, 2012

Michelin.

pete 23 · Dec 17, 2012

I drive a little Mazda. First set of tires which were rated at only 180 tread wear got me 50 thousand miles, Next set Michelin,don't remember the style I got 40000, next set Toyo, 40000, next set, good rich, 20000 and pounding, next set, Yokohama, 20000 they are all four down to below 1 /16 tread. Now, I will admit, I haven't rotated as religiously as I should have in last years but did at about 10000. Just bit the bullet, l00 bucks apiece and put on Michelin's new tire with almost 800 tread wear rating. They seem to really grip the snow and drive really nice. Hope they outlast me and my 19 year old car. I asked tire dealer, what is a good tire he said , none. He did like the looks of these little buggers though.

Longmeadow farm · Dec 17, 2012

My son has a Toyota AWD van... eats tires. I'd try the Michelin, as per prior comments. However, I've had very good luck throughout the years on Honda cars and now my Toyota Tundra with Cooper tires. Not as hard as Michelin and they don't go as far, but you can get them at a reasonable price at Mavis Tire and they provide a bit more traction in snow/ice conditions.

TMo · Dec 17, 2012

Michelin LTX or Bridgestone H/L

John in Nebraska · Dec 17, 2012

I see a couple of things here, if you got a vibration, its tire balance not alignment. It could be a slipped belt but that will show at any speed. If the alignment guy says the alignment is fine, maybe it is, to spec. Some cars need fine tuning out to the edge of the specifications, to drive right. Were these tires rotated often? It helps, a lot. Seen a lot of Kumho tires, don't seem any worse than other brands. I rotate every oil change, and have 75k on an 08 Jeep with original Wranglers.

El Toro · Dec 17, 2012

I would second the Michelin tires. Our daughter was driving back and forth to a hospital
that was about 75 miles round trip. She had bias ply tires and I told her she should buy a set of Michelin tires. She told me to have the tires installed and she ran them 40k miles and they still looked good. I had a set of those tires with 80K miles warranty from Costco. They were on a 1981 Cougar. The tires seem to flat spot like the old nylon bias ply tires for a few miles. I sold the tires and installed a set from Pepboys that had 40k warranty. Made a big difference. Hal

Vernon in Ks · Dec 17, 2012

I stopped with the "tire shopping" thing a few years ago. I could never get the mileage or service everyone else was getting. I now only by one brand of tire. It hurts on the cost but at least I get what I pay for. TOYO!!!

ShadetreeRet · Dec 17, 2012

Just a couple of thoughts, do you buy tires from the same dealer on a regular basis? Does the same man do your alignments on a regular basis? I have found in almost 58 years of driving that these are two very important factors. Find a dealer and an alignment man that you can trust, AND that ain't always easy. I have been fortunate in these two respects over the years and feel that I have benefited greatly. Allow me one example. I bought a new car in 1962. When it became necessary, replace the tires. Very soon developed a vibration in the rear end at road speed. Took it to a mechanic who diagnosed a bad drive shaft. Still under warranty so took it to dealership. Replaced drive shaft. Still had vibration. One day I was hanging out at my favorite gas station and a front end and suspension man who worked across the street for a firm that did everything from building truck bodies to restoring vehicles, came in for a drink. I just mentioned it to him and he said bring it over, I think I can take care of it. He re-balanced the tires. End of problem. He had my business for years afterward.

Jonak · Dec 17, 2012

Michelin, Period!!!

JRSutton · Dec 17, 2012

cooper - the only tire still made in america.

tjiniowa · Dec 17, 2012

Don't go to Wally world unless you want more JUNK like you had. They have there own Michilen and Goodyear, not the same as dealers sell, cheap ones, made to walmart specs. Kumho used to be good, but are now made cheap and don't last. Go with Goodyear, Cooper or Firestone, Hankook isn't too bad. I have been a tire dealer for 12 years so I know what I am doing.

Dick2 · Dec 17, 2012

Is there a Costco anywhere in the area? I haven't bought new tires from anywhere else than Costco since 1987. They sold a brand of imported tire once; the set that I bought was bad so they replaced them all.

Now the sell Michelin made to their specs. I have a set of 80,000 mile Michelin on the Tundra; they still have 12,000 miles to go and they will make it and more. Free R&B as long as the tires are on the vehicle.

I don't trust tire dealers; there seems to be too many different grades of tires being made by name brand manufacturers.

Erik Ks farmer · Dec 17, 2012

We have had good luck with coopers, we're on the second set on the wife's 07 Yaris, the current set's been on about 3 years ago. They now around 40K on them and seem to be holding up well. This is with highway and a fair amount of gravel travel. I put a set of hankook's on my Ranger since they were cheaper then Cooper's but I am not happy with them, they have about 15K on them and are showing wear. I also put hankook dynapros on my 3/4ton and I like them, but for the price they ought to be good tires.

Northvale PA · Dec 17, 2012

I got 80,000 miles on a set of Michellins. They were bald by then. Came on my new Ford Escape.

ASEguy · Dec 17, 2012

Michelin. Read the UTQG label for the tire wear expectancy before you buy.

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2012

Tj, where are you in Iowa? Jim

JayinNY · Dec 17, 2012

Kuhmo tires must be junk, I had them on the front of my truck when I bought the truck used, the back had goodyear wranglers on it, about 1/4 tread, the brand new kuhmos on the front wore out before the old wranglers on the back! Never bought kuhmo tires again!

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2012

Thanks for the suggestions so far. Michelin seems to be the most mentioned one.

The alignment was done by a rural body shop near to me that is known for good work. He straightens frames for other body shops and dealers and is fussy.

I do not trust the local big tire shops. Period! The dealer I've been going to is a small town mom and pop station owned by a local co-op elevator. They have no bias as to brand. If I can't trust them I can't trust anybody. They do not do alignments and their tire stock is small so if I have a problem with a tire they have to order it, but it's usually worth it. I just don't know what to buy after this fiasco. Years ago we had our stable American made brands that we could depend on, but not today. Today an old name brand may not have a good tire to offer. Jim

jeffcat · Dec 17, 2012

On company Astro and Ford 150 vans I had Michelan VAN tires. LOVED them. Got plenty of miles and very good handling. Now my Ford Explorer I have gone through a set of Goodyear Wrangler 235 75 15 tires till there was almost no tread left. They ran smooth and quiet their whole life. New set is Michelan van tires. These things are scarey how quiet and smooth they run. Very nice tires. Now my Explorer has 312,000 miles on it. Hooo Boy!jeffcat

Hobo,NC · Dec 17, 2012

shake at 65,,, bent rims are a common problem and will destroy a tire (broke belts and pull issues)... In the last few years I have seen issues with memory steer in a tire... They are directional and remember it...

fixerupper · Dec 17, 2012

Hobo, when I'm making a slow turn the feeling in the steering wheel sometimes feels exactly like a bent rim, I haven't come up with which one it is, but I'm suspecting right and that's the one that's an origional tire that's getting down on tread. The tread is even all the way around. When I have the tires changed I'll mention bent rim to them. Jim

Anonymous-0 · Dec 18, 2012

Micheln LTX m&s. End of problems. Best tires I have ever run. Tom

HenryO) · Dec 18, 2012

I ran Michelins on a van for over 70000 miles and had now problems. Only buy Michelins or Coopers now.

tjiniowa · Dec 18, 2012

West Union

tjiniowa · Dec 18, 2012

Jim, I am near West Union, TJ

Tires for our van

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