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Toyota Highlander Tires and Wheels

788 messages,  Last post on Apr 28, 2013 at 4:42 AM

You are in the Toyota Highlander Forum.

What is this discussion about? Toyota Highlander, Tires, SUV

Messages Page 56 of 80

#544 of 788 Re: 19" Highlander tires [howards1] by maryjoleblanc

Feb 13, 2010 (5:40 pm)

Replying to: howards1 (Feb 26, 2009 2:08 pm)
I liked your suggestion and submitted the following at the Toyota site:
 
"My 2008 Highlander Hybrid has 21,000 miles and it needs new tires! This is unacceptable and inexcusable. Like other Highlander Hybrid owners, I am now forced into purchasing replacement tires to ensure the safety of my family.
 
I am not alone in my disappointment and anger around this problem. It will only take one savvy lawyer to make this into a class action law suit and, when it does happen, I will happily sign up to fight Toyota for equipping their Highlanders with inferior tires.
 
Toyota MUST also do the right thing and compensate Toyota Highlander Hybrid owners like myself for tire replacements."

#545 of 788 Re: Toyota Service Bulletin - 18 Wheels [topdawg] by tventre

Feb 13, 2010 (6:05 pm)

Replying to: topdawg (Jan 31, 2010 6:15 pm)
Try the Toyo HTs. They are the same size and I'm having very good luck with them. I have the 2008 Highlander Sport and I had to replace my original Toyos after 14K.

#546 of 788 Re: 19" Highlander tires [maryjoleblanc] by topdawg

Feb 15, 2010 (12:23 pm)

Replying to: maryjoleblanc (Feb 13, 2010 5:40 pm)
Way to go Mary Jo! Unhappy tire owners need to go beyond complaining here and take it to Toyota! I recommend a regular letter in addition to email.
 
Toyota is now being sued by shareholders who claim the price of the stock was kept articifically high by hiding the gas pedal problems. It is a class action suit.
 
Any lawyers own these 19" tires?

#547 of 788 To complain about your tires, use these .. by topdawg

Feb 15, 2010 (12:43 pm)

A one ounce letter to Japan takes $0.98 postage. Bypass the USA PR machine and go straight to the top.
 
Mr. Akio Toyoda
President and CEO
Toyota Motor Corporation
Toyota City Head Office
1, Toyota-cho, Toyota City,
Aichi Prefecture 471-8571, Japan
 
Tel: (0565) 28-2121
 Fax: (0565) 23-5800
 
For the corporate web site, not the USA 'buy your car here' sales site, go here:
 
http://www.toyota.co.jp/en/index.html
 
To file a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), use this site. They have a complaint form on line. You need the DOT identification for your tire found on the side wall near the rim after the letters "DOT" it is a combination of letters and numbers. It also helps to have your VIN found on your title and maybe your registration.
 
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Complaint.cfm
 
The House Oversight Committe is holding hearings on the Toyota recalls. Add your tire complaints to their agenda. Email your representative in Congress. You can locate that person using this link.
 
http://www.contactingthecongress.org/
 
One of the best blogs about these tires is found at Consumer Reports. Read the article, then add a post like you have here. You can also scoot around the Consumer site until you find a way to send them an email -- it can be done from the site, but it is not obvious. The more people who directly contact them, the better the chance they will investigate and run an article.
 
http://blogs.consumerreports.org/cars/2009/04/toyota-highlander-how-to-choose-th- e-best-replacement-tire-.html
 
A good complaint has these things:
 
The year and model of your vehicle.
Where it was purchased.
The name and size of the tire that is the problem.
The mileage on the tires.
Any problems related to the tires, such as skidding, near misses, collisions, etc.
Anything you have already tried to get the problem resolved (visited dealer, etc.) and the result of that (e.g., nothing).
What you want done about it (rebate $XXX, replacement).
Emotions such as anger and disappointment should be mentioned.
Threats to take your next car purchase to another brand are legitimate.
Profanity will not help (although you may swear at the tires themselves).
 
 

#548 of 788 Re: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport TOYO 19" tires [TekinFamily] by jer_wag

Mar 04, 2010 (10:24 am)

Replying to: TekinFamily (Jan 22, 2009 8:18 am)
I'm so angry at Toyota right now and these junk Toyo A20's. It's March 2010 and still no good tires in 245/55 19's. I have 19,500 miles and they are seriously worn. With minimal snowfall I slid about 200 yards down a hill and almost wrecked with my wife and 18 month old along for the ride. I consider myself a cautious snow driver, but these tires break lose with minimal snowfall. I got AWD so I could go in the snow. The wife's Odyssey preforms better than the Highlander in the snow. So here are my options as I see them:
 
1) Get a new tire size (255/55-19). I don't want to do this. Computers on these vehicles are so sophisticated, I'm worried about what it will do to the gas mileage and overall performace of the vehicle. Toyota and many tire shops are leary of this as well.
 
2) Get the newer expensive Toyo HT's which are rare. How is the snow performance for these? I'm leary of Toyos in general now.
 
3) Downgrade to the 17" as you mentioned. Is this the wheel you used? Are you still having good luck doing this? At least I could have an OEM size tire in 245/65-17 with a little more rubber on the road.
 
Any input is greatly appreciated.

#549 of 788 Re: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport TOYO 19" tires [jer_wag] by hlander

Mar 04, 2010 (1:15 pm)

Replying to: jer_wag (Mar 04, 2010 10:24 am)
Dear "jer wag"
 
I changed my tire at 18500 miles. I already called Toyo Tires and Toyota so many times and I didn't get any response except Toyo Tires agent sent me out to 3 different dealers and the claimed their self that they are not Toyo Tire dealer anymore.
 
The winter was very near at that time and I have baby girl whose enjoy the ride a lot. So I changed the tire for my family safety.
 
I report complaint to 3 websites including bbb.org and finally I got partial credit from Toyo Tire via bbb.org about 40% of my new tire purchase.
 
I have no idea about Highlander Sport.
But for me, Highlander Hybrid, have no choice rather than to stick with 245/55 19" due to computer calculation input. I already discussed with 2 mechanics and they told me to stick with original tire size.

#550 of 788 Re: 2008 Toyota Highlander Sport TOYO 19" tires [jer_wag] by damifinomike

Mar 04, 2010 (2:47 pm)

Replying to: jer_wag (Mar 04, 2010 10:24 am)
Greetings:
Understand your frustration. I am in same boat. Maybe not quite as bad, but close.
My experience is:
If you switch to different tire size either rims or tire size, I have been told by Toyota dealership and mechanics that Toyota will void warranty if/when you experience any front end, transmission, or AWD issues. The likelihood of this happening might be "rare", but if it ever did and dealership noticed non-OEM tire size, you are OUT of LUCK for warranty repairs.
 
Next is computer recalculation: Might not seem like a big deal, but I also have been told the transmission is computer controlled and many other issues. In short, be prepared for weird shifting, poor gas mileage, and potential other issues if you go to 17 inch rims.
 
My tires (Toyo A20) lasted about 25k with frequent rotations and air pressure monitoring. I did replace them with another set of A20 because the HT were not available "anywhere" in early November 2009. Now for interesting part...
 
Very unhappy with A20 tires with 5,000 miles on them. Called TOYO about this issue and they told my tire shop to call them directly once I got to tire store where purchased. Tire manager discussed issue with TOYO and they offered to replace my tires with HT tires shipping from California. I too, experienced very terrible traction, poor snow conditions in Michigan with AWD, overall safety issues with spin out, etc. I will be paying for dismouting of tires and remounting of new HT tires on 03/06/2010 of original size.
Also call and send letter to the National Highway Safety council as noted in this thread about the TOYO tires. Interesting item: TOYO is almost the same as TOYOTA.... go figure.
IF you call TOYO, be patient but firm and tell them you are elevating the issue to Washington DC, just like the many other TOYOTA issues at present time. This is what I did and got some partial relief.. I hope.
Good luck in your tire search.
MICHIGAN MIKE.

#551 of 788 Re: suitable non snow tires, any thoughts? [stripeman] by damifinomike

Mar 04, 2010 (2:49 pm)

Replying to: stripeman (Jan 30, 2010 3:45 pm)
Bad overall even on wet pavement. I imagine you do get some rain... Luck you ! No snow to contend with, but the A20 tires do not perform well on wet road either.
MICHIGAN MIKE

#552 of 788 Re: Toyota Service Bulletin - 18 Wheels [tventre] by bri719

Mar 11, 2010 (11:54 am)

Replying to: tventre (Feb 13, 2010 6:05 pm)
I didn't initially understand what you're saying, as my fiancee has the exact same car (2008 Highlander Sport) and just wanted to be sure which tires you're talking about that were original.
 
on hers, they've only lasted about 26k and then started to wear unevenly to boot, so I also had the car aligned after only that many miles which also seems strange. we previously had her tires rotated and I think they were also rebalanced at one point.
 
so are you saying the "Open Country" (A20) were terrible and only lasted 14k? so I should check out the "HT" instead? not impressed with what I've read about the Bridgestones, most people seem to hate them especially in snow (which we drive through for a few months out of the year).

#553 of 788 followup with Toyo on our '08 Highlander Sport by bri719

Mar 11, 2010 (1:52 pm)

called Toyo today. in addition to the premature wear, lower grip than previous under wet / snowy conditions, etc, seems like our uneven wear that the non-Toyo dealer pointed out is due more to the faulty tires than bad alignment or anything else.
 
had the car in for the 15,000 mi dealer service (18k) which was 8k ago, and they never mentioned one thing about premature tire wear or bad alignment. also, the car never pulls or exhibits other signs of possible alignment.
 
have an appointment to take the car to Toyo dealer in the next two days from now for inspection per their recommendation. car won't be driven much until then, we just have other committments to deal with. the woman already conceded to me that there could be something wrong with the tires and if so, they would offer some concession ($) on replacing them, without even much goading. I will definitely insist on the HT, and that they don't just replace them with another set of junky A20 or some other tire (unlikely, being that the only other is Bridgestone).

Messages Page 56 of 80

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