I don’t disagree than minivans and especially the Toyota Siennas are tough on tires. But I swear if I was the exception as I got 55K out of the OE Firestone FR710 with even wear just by keeping 40psig and 10K rotations. If it wasn’t for the annual state inspection, I’m sure I could have pushed another 5K as I was measuring about 3/32 depth. I now have Conti LX25 and like them a lot with 10K of same quiet, smooth, and great performing rain driving tire to date. As far as XL being more robust makes sense with respect to longevity but I have OE Bridgestone OE Turanza LS100 which are XL rated on my wife’s X1 and don’t think the tires will go more than 30K as the outer edges are wearing thin. So my experience is quite opposite but I also don’t drive spirited, late braking, jack rabbit starts, etc. etc so proving driving style does influence tire longevity.
Minivans eat tires…anyone put XL rated tires on?
- Thread starter t1snwrbrdr12
- Start date
OP I apologize if this seems provocative or offensive (not my intention by any means) but honestly try driving less aggressively.
A minivan is a very heavy vehicle. I have personally noticed the less aggressive I drive my 1/2 ton pickup (almost 6k Tundra) the longer my tires last and the less gas I use. Even though most modern heavy family vehicles perform like Honda Civics does not mean they should be driven like one…
Yes, I realize many assumptions are being made here but I believe there is a direct correlation between aggressive driving and tire wear (not matter the vehicle).
A minivan is a very heavy vehicle. I have personally noticed the less aggressive I drive my 1/2 ton pickup (almost 6k Tundra) the longer my tires last and the less gas I use. Even though most modern heavy family vehicles perform like Honda Civics does not mean they should be driven like one…
Yes, I realize many assumptions are being made here but I believe there is a direct correlation between aggressive driving and tire wear (not matter the vehicle).
I put Michelin Defenders on my Sienna. But they still need to be rotated every 4 or 5,000 miles religiously.
4WD
$50 site donor 2025
Yeah, as has been pointed out by our site tire engineer …
My son gets about 2/3 the miles I do - his driving can be described as stomp left or stomp right … and he does get them rotated
Like sand through the hour glass, how the tire turns (or you turn) …
JHZR2
Staff member
100% right. This is good guidance for everyone. Being wasteful is folly.
My understanding of tire engineering says that inflation pressure is way, way more important than SL/XL. Another way to do this is to increase tire size, but this can run into rubbing problems - very bad!!
So I'd recommend using 5 psi more than the placard pressure even if that exceeds the max pressure on the tire. Long story as to why this is OK.
So I'd recommend using 5 psi more than the placard pressure even if that exceeds the max pressure on the tire. Long story as to why this is OK.
JHZR2
Staff member
We always run higher pressure than the manufacturer recommended levels.
Maybe that’s why we have pretty significant success with long tire life.
edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
Yep. On Sienna that was known trick. I ran 42psi instead of 35.
Is this is Sienna concern in lieu of a minivan concern? I've had a Chrysler minivan variant in the garage since 1995 and have never, ever experienced shortened tire life. I buy the highest rated UTQG tire for the money and rotate every oil change (5-6K miles).
Recently replaced a set of CS5 Grand Tourings on my 2005 Caravan after 6 years and 66,899 miles. Wonderful tires.
+4
This solved the tire wear problem on my Sienna. The 35 PSI recommendation on the placard is way to low for the weight of the vehicle causing accelerated wear on the inside and outside edges of the tire tread (the classic symptom of tire pressure that is too low). To solve this wear problem the tire's contact patch needs to be flattened-out which requires raising the tire pressure. The only downside to doing this is that the ride is slightly firmer, but in addition to the decreased tire wear, the handling and braking performance are improved. Better contact patch = better traction.
On any vehicle that is experiencing higher wear on the inside and outside edges of the tire tread, raising the tire pressure is the way to fix the problem. If your vehicle is getting even wear across the tire tread you do not need to raise the tire pressure.
Conversely, if you are experiencing higher tire wear in the middle of the tire tread the tire pressure you are running is too high.
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edyvw
$50 site donor 2025
True about comfort. But than, my Sienna came with RFT. Ditching RFT for regular tires is like getting another vehicle. No amount of increased pressure could match harshness of “StoneBridges” that came with a car.
I don't know about other minivans, although I have heard owners of other minivans talk about unexpected tire wear.
As far as the CS5s go, I have no doubt that they are great tires. They are or at least were, highly rated here, which is why I bought the set.
As far as the CS5s go, I have no doubt that they are great tires. They are or at least were, highly rated here, which is why I bought the set.
My experience with minivans goes all the way back to the invention of the minivan - and there have been tire wear problems from the beginning - mostly alignment wear. That seems to be the same situation today.
Increasing the inflation pressure is a trick that shouldn't be necessary. What the minivan designers need to do is use larger tires - but that isn't going to happen. It would take a complete redesign - something some manufacturers have done successfully!
Increasing the inflation pressure is a trick that shouldn't be necessary. What the minivan designers need to do is use larger tires - but that isn't going to happen. It would take a complete redesign - something some manufacturers have done successfully!
You said "mostly" alignment wear. Each time I get a new set, I ask the folks at AT if the tread wear was even, and they say yes, so that tells me that alignment wasn't the issue. Or is that not a warranted conclusion?
I run 38psi front and 36psi rear on Sportage, recommended is 35psi for both. Forte - 36 front and 34 rear with recommended 32psi.
I had bad alignment wear and some squirrely behaviour on ice, on the rear of my Focus wagon, from too much toe in and negative camber(at the limits of "in spec" but too much when combined!).
I went to an alignment shop and told him what I wanted, minimal negative camber and toe in, and it wore the tires and drove much better on ice after.
I went to an alignment shop and told him what I wanted, minimal negative camber and toe in, and it wore the tires and drove much better on ice after.
While I do agree with this, however, the suspension (especially struts) will take a huge toll due to the stiffer ride. Struts are stupid expensive to replace. So in the end, it depends on which you value more.
The ride is not that much stiffer to where it would have any detrimental affect on the suspension. I have been running my Sienna on the higher tire pressure for 17 years or so and I am still on my original struts (which are still good).
JHZR2
Staff member
Our van takes 235/60-17 tires, IIRC.
Heavy duty trucks took 245/75-16 forever. Granted high load range.
How bid would be appropriate in terms of bigger tires for minivans? I can’t imagine how much larger they can go!
JHZR2
Staff member
A set of tires will cost about the same as a set of struts, if you buy quality tires with the right ratings.
Getting 24k miles out of tires, and low use like that would tell me maximize life on the tires all the way.
